CHELMSFORD, ENGLAND—Interrupting his hushed narration about the inanimate bird’s majesty as he observed it from a small boat, an embarrassed David Attenborough reportedly realized Friday that he had just spent the past 10 minutes describing the stillness of a duck decoy. “The male mallard is a temperate…
NEW YORK—Expressing his intention to spare no expense during his stay at New York–Presbyterian Hospital, wealthy patient Duncan Barrow reportedly ordered three of each procedure upon his admittance to the facility Friday. “You know what, all of these surgical interventions you have look so good—I’ll just take three…
Beginning in Jan. 2025, Costco plans to stop selling books regularly at stores around the United States, the company deciding instead to sell them only during the holiday shopping period, from September through December. What do you think?
99.5 percent of megaprojects are either over time, over budget or have lower benefits than expected. What's going wrong? Today, we look at case studies from California's high speed rail project to the Sydney Opera House to consider the do's and don'ts of ambitious projects.
Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner's book on megaprojects is How Big Things Get Done: The Surprising Factors that Determine the Fate of Every Project, from Home Renovations to Space Exploration and Everything In Between.
Related episodes:
Why building public transit in the US costs so much (Apple / Spotify)
Planes, trains and bad bridges (Apple / Spotify)
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Hovertext:
This is why He stopped answering prayers.
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
We talk a lot here about ways to avoid burning bridges when you leave a job. But sometimes burning the bridge is warranted — the provocation is sufficiently bad, and you’re willing to take the consequences.
One example: the person who got an email at 3 pm on a Friday saying they were being replaced by their boss’s unqualified friend and their salary cut by tens of thousands of dollars. So when they found a new job a few months later, they sent a 3 pm Friday email just before a big deliverable was due, quitting and giving two hours notice, the exact same notice they’d been given for their demotion.
Have you ever intentionally burned a bridge because you decided it was worth it? Let’s hear about it in the comments.
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
It’s a special “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager and I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are five updates from past letter-writers.
1. An employee 2 levels down refused to meet with me
Last year, I sent in a question about what to do about an employee who declined a skip-level meeting with me, the division director. Your response and the readers’ comments shook me out of the “is this a me problem or a him problem?” question. I was kind of embarrassed, frankly, that I was debating whether I was right or wrong after reading your response and the “no duh” comments from a lot of readers.
In the short term, I let the employee know that meeting with me wasn’t optional and used some of your language re: the purpose of these meetings is to make our workplace better and, especially as a manager, it’s vital that he participate in this process. He met with me, it was fine.
Longer term, I have since left that job and now realize how exhausted I was swimming against the current of company culture trying to create a more trusting, collaborative environment within my division. I worked there for more than a decade, the last two years as the head of the division. A few months ago, I accepted a similar role at a company I worked at for a few years right out of college. There is a lot of opportunity for improvement with my new team and sometimes I get exasperated by how empowered everyone feels to share their opinions about every little thing, but it’s because they don’t fear reprisal and genuinely care about their work and the company. I’m happier and healthier. (And wealthier! The company is smaller, but a better known one in our industry as a specialist in a niche area and I got a nice pay bump.)
2. I think my employee is being abused by her partner
At this point, Carrie is still with Bob.
I have implemented many of the suggestions: e.g., having staff point out when his behavior is uncomfortable or abnormal. We also point out situations where she is right to be concerned or frustrated (him requiring dozens of reminders, etc). I do feel more equipped to help the staff, and her as an individual. I have also improved the coverage of our security camera to cover more of the surrounding streets. Next month, staff will be completing a mandatory training on recognizing signs of domestic violence and resources in our area. We are (at this time) unable to bar him from the building in its entirety, for reasons I would prefer to keep private, lest I ruin all attempts at anonymity. I have been able to implement policies to prevent any non-staff from being in staff areas, especially during/after closing.
I can feel a shift, but know that this will take time. I really appreciate your advice, and that of the experts you consulted on my behalf. I hope one day soon I will have a happier update.
3. Colleague doesn’t want me to lift things but it’s my job (#2 at the link; first update)
I’m still in the same lone-archivist job, and until recently there was no news: I had continued to do the physical parts of my job without any commentary from Jennifer. However, just recently I have been planning for another large box-moving operation — they come up every so often — and Jennifer mentioned, as we were discussing the logistics, that she misses having maintenance staff we can call on for this kind of physical task, as she had gotten used to that in a previous job.
I replied that this had been possible at one of my previous jobs too, but (it seemed a natural opportunity to mention this) of course moving boxes about is normal in my role — and that most job descriptions for similar roles require applicants to be able to lift 40 pounds or thereabouts. She was surprised at this. I then mentioned that I enjoy that my job has some movement built-in and isn’t desk-bound all the time, so it’s a feature not a bug for me.
I don’t know if it was really necessary to bring that up, but I’m glad we had the conversation, and I felt much better prepared for it than I did the last time it came up, thanks to the advice from Alison and the commentariat!
4. My organization says they can’t pay me market rate because of it wouldn’t be fair to non-attorneys (#3 at the link)
Thanks for answering my question last year! My update: I left! Despite the issues with management/HR, I had been nervous about leaving, as I had quite a bit of flexibility in my role. But I started at another (nonprofit) organization that came with a 30% pay increase, less time in-office, more vacation time, and much less stress. Thanks to you and the comment section for reaffirming to me that this was definitely some hot nonsense and that it was time for me to move on!
5. Did our new hire take their ID photo with fake face tattoos? (#2 at the link)
I don’t have much of an update! My work environment is very unusually structured, which I did not make clear in my initial question; this individual *did not* have any sort of visual interview with anyone on the human resources team so no one had any “before” image to compare to. This hiring structure is standard practice for this type of non-employee who is still on site and required to attend orientation.
I never heard anything from security or this person’s supervisor, but I doubt very strongly they were real tattoos and like to think this person now lives with a very silly badge photo or paid the replacement fee to get a new photo.
This tiny house offers an economical alternative to larger, more expensive mausoleums that might be too much space for younger millennial corpses.
Claudia Sheinbaum, an environmental scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, was overwhelmingly elected Mexico’s first female president, a historic milestone in a country rife with gender-based violence and a strong culture of machismo. What do you think?
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, IL—Describing the serene smile that spread across the 87-year-old’s face, sources reported that local grandfather Murray Lowe’s eyes lit up Wednesday as he recalled his halcyon days as a regular at his town’s Old Country Buffet. “There was a sparkle in his eyes as he talked of all the good times he…
According to an Associated Press survey, the average compensation package for CEOs who run S&P 500 companies rose by 13% last year, growing to nearly 200 times the salaries of their employees and well outpacing inflation. What do you think?
A federal advisory committee voted overwhelmingly against the authorization of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, expressing concerns about the integrity of the particular trials up for review despite the treatment’s potential to transform a field with significant need.…
BETHESDA, MD—Shedding new light on the dangers of rope tied into a hangman’s knot, a study from the National Institutes of Health released Thursday found that the suicide rate was higher among noose owners. “Some people may think they need a noose to defend their home from intruders, but the sad truth is that those…
Boeing launched its first Starliner flight bound for the International Space Station with two astronauts on board, beginning a crucial final flight test of the years-delayed spacecraft. What do you think?
CALGARY – Days after announcing an UltraBasic fare that includes no carry-on bags or seat selection, WestJet has announced a SuperUltraBasic ticket that skips the plane ride entirely. “Here at WestJet, we realise that Canadians hate flying with WestJet,” said a WestJet representative. “So why not avoid all the stress and exhaustion of dealing with […]
The post WestJet announces SuperUltraBasic fare where customers just stay home and give them money appeared first on The Beaverton.
EDMONTON – With the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals fast approaching, sources close to the Edmonton Oilers have confirmed that the team has a new strategy for victory – namely, hoping the Florida Panthers are too demoralized by the sight of Edmonton, Alberta to play an effective game of hockey. Coaches for the Oilers have outlined […]
The post Oilers plan to damage Florida Panthers’ morale by forcing them to visit Edmonton appeared first on The Beaverton.
KINGSTON, ON – Friends of Kaitlin Barr, a 27-year-old neurodivergent copy editor, have recently said their goodbyes after Barr discovered a new hobby, and hyperfixation, of crocheting. “This is wood-burning all over again,” said Bianca Brennan, Barr’s “best friend” who she hasn’t seen in 3 weeks now. “Because of her ADHD she goes down rabbit […]
The post See you later! Neurodivergent friend discovers crocheting appeared first on The Beaverton.
Dear Members of the Search Committee:
Well, here we are again. I am sitting in my sunroom, listening to the robins, crows, and jays, and I’m trying to type out a list of all my achievements so that you will like me enough to invite me for a Zoom interview and possibly a campus visit.
I already have a teaching job at a small college in South Georgia. You may not know this, but the reason that I can’t leave the South is because I live in Florida (about thirty-five miles from the school where I have taught for the last fifteen years) and Florida is a “men’s rights” state, which meant that after I got a PhD and left my abusive ex, I wasn’t able to move anywhere without giving up custody of my children, which I would never do.
My job isn’t terrible, but I’m underpaid, and I’m looking for better opportunities. You may be wondering why I’m even applying for jobs if I can’t really leave the state of Florida. Good question. I’m applying because maybe my ex will die.
Just kidding.
I’m applying because if the teaching load is a 2/2, as advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education, I can fly there once a week, because I will schedule my courses back to back. I am really hoping for a campus visit. In fact, I have borrowed three suits (one black, one fuchsia, and one white) from my friend Melanie, who is a lawyer and has a lot of “lawyer clothes.” I figure it’s probably not worth it for me to buy a suit, as I would never wear a suit anywhere except during a campus visit for an academic job.
Yesterday, I read this on the internet: “It is impossible to impress on someone how psychically ruinous it is to receive some thirty rejections over the course of a few months, watching your employment prospects dwindle to zero, and see it happen to so many talented others at the same time. This profession feels over.” When I read this, I felt so melancholy (and I probably shouldn’t reveal this in my cover letter) that I fantasized about quitting academia and becoming a landscape architect. I have this theory that we could bring back Medieval Gardens and that some very rich people or museums could pay me to construct these gardens (walled, of course) and that I could spend my days, as it were, on the other side of the sunroom, with the birds rather than separated from them writing this letter.
Oh, and by the way, I did teach a class at Bennington College on Medieval Romance Poetry. My favorite of the poems we read was Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, which, to be fair, probably shouldn’t even have been included in the course, but I’ve always loved Gawain’s journey and long admired his faith that if he just did what he was supposed to do, then his head wouldn’t get chopped off.
But I digress. I’ve also chaired the promotions committee, and I’ve been the speaker of the faculty senate. It makes me sad that there are people out there who will never be where you are, and frankly, I can sort of include myself in that because all of you are teaching at a finer institution with more resources.
That’s why, of course, I’d love to join you. I would be delighted to bring my administrative and teaching experience to Other State University. I look forward to discussing this position with you in more detail soon.
Sincerely,
Sandra Simonds
Hovertext:
Lot of people are gonna say we can't build Star Trek teleporters, but we can do the first half, which is pretty good.
Windsor, ON – Local NHL fan/non-accountant Mark Wilinsky has determined that the reason teams like Tampa, Florida and Vegas are consistently good is because they play in states with no state income tax, which makes it easier to attract players who definitely pay their taxes like a regular employed person would. “When players are choosing […]
The post “Teams in states with no income tax have an unfair advantage” says adorable rube who thinks NHL players pay tax like normal people appeared first on The Beaverton.
INDIANAPOLIS—Saying he was deeply sorry about any pain his recent remarks about WNBA star Caitlin Clark might have caused, sports commentator Pat McAfee announced Tuesday that he would make a donation to a charity that helps white bitches. “After pausing to reflect on the views I expressed on my ESPN show yesterday, I…
This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager.
It’s a special “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager and I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are four updates from past letter-writers.
1. Our boss is being a jerk about bereavement leave for miscarriages
We had our directors’ meeting and it actually went way better than I thought! I was glad to hear that basically all of the directors were on the same page. As some back story, our executive director is very old school thinking in terms of workplace policies and such. She’ll ask for feedback from us but if we say anything that she doesn’t agree with or are at all critical of a policy she created, she takes it as a personal attack and does a very bad job of hiding that she doesn’t value your opinion anymore. I’m technically a “young” director and won’t shy away from expressing workplace concerns so she and I haven’t really ever gotten along in that regard.
So, in the actual meeting I was hesitant to express my concerns out of fear that she would brush them off solely because it was me saying it, but luckily one of the other directors spoke up and our ED listened (although, somewhat reluctantly). This director is very distinguished and a little older, so our ED always listens to what she has to say. The ED still felt the need to make comments about our PTO and how providing additional bereavement costs money for the organization, but no one said anything else cause we were just so happy we were getting bereavement leave for miscarriages!
I wanted to thank everyone for their comments! I read them all. Also, you mentioned in your response that this is just a small indicator of bigger problems within the company, and you are completely right. I’ve learned to just keep my head down and to not really speak up anymore out of fear of being ostracized. I’m currently looking for a new job and can hopefully leave soon.
2. I got rid of my office’s furniture by mistake
Thank you for answering my question! I finally met with my boss and admitted my mistake. I wish I had done it as soon as I saw your answer because I stressed about it all weekend, but it turns out it wasn’t nearly as big a mistake as I thought!
He said he wanted new furniture for that room anyway, reminded me that the old table was too small and the chairs were all at least partially damaged or just kind of crappy, and set me on the task of finding new furniture and tech for that room. He wasn’t upset at all.
I’m so relieved right now and grateful that you gave me the courage and motivation to own up. I’ll definitely do so much sooner in the future should I make another mistake.
3. How do I recover after an employee took advantage of my trust?
Less than a week after I wrote the letter, “Jane” told one of my team members that she lied to the rest of us about her reason for leaving (getting into a prestigious graduate program) because she wanted to save face. When she resigned, she showed us images from a celebration party for her acceptance and branded merch from that school, so this came as quite a shock but made it easier for me to laugh about the situation and move on.
In reflecting on what I could have done differently, I probably gave this person a few too many chances before addressing their performance issues. But otherwise, I liked the level of autonomy and oversight I was giving the rest of my team and wanted to continue to do so, even if it could give someone with bad intentions a way to cheat the system. I decided I needed to focus on hiring the right people that were less likely to do that. And I did, hiring an excellent replacement the following month.
Looking back, I can see so clearly how much I was struggling at the time I wrote this letter. I felt like my hard work in challenging circumstances didn’t matter and this incident was dishartening. Really, I was doing so many things well but I couldn’t see that in the midst of the frustration I felt at that time. I’m working on taking things less personally at work and accepting that no matter how hard I try there are just some things out of my control. It’s a tough mindset shift — I still struggle with it today — but I think it’s the only way to deal with the pressure of being a manager and not lose your mind!
4. Shutting down side chats on potentially sensitive topics (#3 at the link)
Your advice was great! I was able to curtail a conversation about scorpions (some of the folks live in Arizona) without killing the vibe. The team has continued to have its side banter, and some of the quieter team members have also started to join in. All in all, I couldn’t be happier with the outcome!
