It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. My boss insults us at the Christmas party every year. Every year, my company (150-200 people) has a company-wide Christmas party. I dread going because the president of my company has the same speech every year, which is basically a 20-minute tirade telling us we don’t work hard enough, we take too long breaks, and “some of you are winners, some of you are losers.” MORE

"It's better to be a pirate than join the Navy.". Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs was brutal in many ways, but with his brutality came moments of pure clarity. This quote is one of those moments. The stale way to make the same point is obvious - " Why do you want to go work for that big company? They're going to bury your talent. You know all those ideas you have? You won't get to chase any of them at IBM. MORE

In the spirit of the holiday season, I want to hear about office holiday-related debacles. Did a coworker throw a tantrum when she didn’t win a raffle? Did your CEO send out an epic email demanding apologies for bad behavior at the company holiday party? Did your boss celebrate the season by offering poinsettias in exchange for tales of woe ? Were you given a nude, spray-painted gold Barbie ? These are all real stories that we’ve heard here in the past, and no w you must top them. MORE

A reader writes: With the holiday season approaching, I need some advice. I agree with you that gifts in the office should only flow down (managers can give gifts to employees, but employees shouldn’t give gifts to managers because of the power dynamic). My office used to collect funds to purchase something for the owner and VP, but I put a stop to that when I took over as controller/HR. That being said, my department has always given me a joint gift. MORE

It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are four updates from past letter-writers. My office is obsessed with my professional athlete fiancé. I spoke with my department manager in a relaxed manner (but also in front of other co-workers to drive the point home) that perhaps we could offer my fiancé a position with the company since it seemed he was a constant presence there. MORE

It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Remember the letter-writer wondering about hiring someone who her colleague would be upset to lose ? Here’s the update. Thank you so much for answering my question! Your answer and the comments did confirm to me that, yes, this was an awkward issue and no, there wasn’t an easy answer. MORE

Earlier today, I asked people to share their funniest office holiday stories. I love this one with all my heart and hereby present it to you: When I was fresh out of college, a dude in my social circle invited me to his fancy work Christmas party. He was a teacher, so I’d kind of assumed I was there as friend to act as a buffer between well-intentioned female colleagues who wanted to set him up with one another, with their daughters, etc. I was wrong! MORE

It’s no secret that women do remarkable things every day. Whether it’s building a thriving career, inspiring others or overcoming a tumultuous incident, the power of women is alive and well. As you celebrate the season this year, remember to celebrate the successes of women who set positive role models for all of us? In celebration of amazing women, we’ve highlighted these seven books that will uplift and inspire you to go after the life you truly want. MORE

Listing volunteer work on your resume can be a great way to show who you are. And being part of any community, which volunteer work mainly entails, can show you care about teamwork and are compassionate about others. But what are some of the drawbacks of listing volunteer work on your resume? Here are the “pros” and “cons” of listing volunteer wor MORE

Hiring new graduates is a great way to get talented and enthusiastic entry-level employees on board. However, those fresh faces pose some unique challenges. Onboarding new employees properly is always important, but especially when you hire new grads. For many of them, their position at your company is their first experience spending consistent time in an office. As such, they may not know the ins and outs of workplace etiquette and expectations. MORE

The average person in the UK checks their phone every 12 minutes, cementing the fact that smartphones are engrained within the 21st-century culture. It is not just social media that is at our fingertips as work emails and office-based tools are just a click away. In the quest to create a relaxed office environment, many are. View Article. Checking Work Emails Outside of the Office is Damaging Your Health Undercover Recruiter - Recruiting & Talent Acquisition Blog. MORE