Uma Aggarwal

My manager told me that taking parental leave at an important point in my career would "obviously affect my trajectory." They didn't explicitly threaten anything, but now I'm wondering whether taking...

Remember your priorities. Your health, your family, your job in that order.
If you have a new child and are taking parental leave, you should take the... leave and enjoy your new child. If you are taking leave for convenience and can manage without the leave, make your family decision. In any case, weigh your decision carefully and do what is best for you. more

I refused to work during my annual leave because I had already promised my children a holiday. My manager later told me I wasn't showing enough commitment to the team. I'm now being considered for...

Discuss and set boundaries before accepting the promotion. No point in getting irritated later. You do not have to be overly rigid, but the talk... upfront will serve you well later. more

My employer offered me a significant raise after I complained about working weekends. The catch is that I would now officially be expected to be available outside normal hours. My family thinks I...

Why guess? You can have a conversation and understand what is expected of you. You can object and set some boundaries. You may want to think it... through beforehand. Hopefully you can find a happy medium between extra money and extra hours and disruption. Good luck. more

my recent job is offering me a lower salary though i have an experience in the role. calculating my day-today- expenditure means that i can't save. any advise on how to persuade the HR to do something...

All the best

Hello! It’s an open position in my department and we’re choosing between two candidates: an experienced 48-year-old man and a recent college graduate with no experience but very motivated. I prefer...

you are welcome

Hi! I recently became the manager of the courier department and everything has been going well. But last week we hired a new courier and he keeps coming to work with his dad. His father tries to get...

Nvidia is currently most valuable company in the world. They continue to stay ahead of the competition and are still growing rapidly. If you qualify... for the position, I hope you get it. Good Luck
As you probably know, people working for high tech companies put in long hours. Assess your time commitment and work life balance. more

I started working from home after having a baby and my productivity actually improved. My new manager says remote employees aren't visible enough for promotion. Should I return to the office just to...

First things first. Enjoy your baby.
You can become more visible by coming to work one day a week or two half days a week. You can pick the days when... they have important meetings.
If your manager is still not satisfied, look for another job while you have this job. Remember a mention of a possible promotion is not a promise but you will have missed seeing your child grow up. more

My partner says my job has changed me because I'm constantly stressed and distracted at home. I earn very good money and genuinely enjoy the work, but I'm beginning to worry they're right. Has anyone...

Let us start with a saying 'your health, your family, your jos..in that order.
The stress affects your relationships and your health. Look at stress... first. All of us look for external factors to blame rather than looking inward. Make a list of all things that get you stressed. That could include too many hours at work, too many deadlines, too much interference. At home, has there been any change in your partner, are there many demands from family, are things like cooking, cleaning and laundry adding to stress.
Seek counseling if you need to. Have somebody clean your house and do laundry. Reduce time in the kitchen.
Leaving a job you love will make you resentful. More so if you do not land on your feet quickly. If there has been a change in your partner and you are drifting apart, you could end up with no partner and no job.
You may want to go away alone to a spa for a week and do your thinking without other influences, Then make your decision. Good luck. more

My employer expects me to be available during vacation because I'm "too important to the team." I haven't had a completely disconnected holiday in three years. Would you draw a hard boundary even if...

Is it the company or your supervisor? You can tell them that you do not find this idea appealing and would like to talk to HR. If you do agree to... call, see if you can call in once a week at a specified time.
It is not uncommon for people in higher positions to stay in touch with the company. But try to limit them calling you. That can interfere with your family vacation. Calling in occasionally may turn out to be the outcome. more

I got an offer that would double my salary, but I'd have to move across the country and my partner doesn't want to go. Everyone tells me I shouldn't sacrifice my career for a relationship, but that's...

You are asking the question. That means you are inclined to take the offer. You would like your partner to come also. But that answer is negative. If... there is true commitment, you and your partner would figure something out. Video calls, meeting halfway etc. If your partner is not committed to your town, then a trip to the new city to explore job opportunities for the partner would be in order.
If your partner does not care about your ambitions and career advancement, then letting this job go will make you resentful. Letting go of such opportunity can put you way back in your career. Think long and hard, not just about today but also about 5 years hence. Then make the decision and do not look back. Good luck. more

was recently employed as an accountant in a manufacturing company, and it has been four months since I joined. However, I still don’t have access to the company’s bank accounts or information...

Big companies divide up different functions. May be your position does not interface with banking information. If you do need the information to get... your job done, then go and ask. more

My company has started tracking how long we're active on our computers. I finish my work early most days, so I sometimes use that time for personal things. Now I'm worried that admitting this could...

Most companies frown on use of company computers for personal business. They also do not like you to receive personal emails there. If you are done... with your work, best thing is to work on something that helps prepare you for the next promotion. Breaks are your personal time but use your own phone or laptop. more

My manager told me that if I want to reach the next level, I need to start "acting like an executive," which apparently means answering messages at 10pm. Is this really what career progression looks...

No. Your personal time is your own. You may choose to spend extra time to help a coworker or in special situations such as entertaining clients. In... executive ranks, it may be more prevalent. Anyway you can discuss it with him. Remember your priorities: your health, your family, your job..in that order. more

I recently became a parent and realized I don't care about climbing the corporate ladder anymore. I still want to do good work, but I'm no longer interested in promotions or working nights. Is it...

Congratulations. It makes sense to put family first and enjoy seeing your baby grow up.
You will probably be happier working from home, which gives... you flexibility in deciding when to work and when to take care of the family. Since COVID 19, companies have adapted to having employees work from home.
The best situation will be to try your current or old employer. They already know your work. Otherwise network and check for advertised positions. Polish up your resume and rehearse your interview. Good luck. more

I work for a company in another time zone, so meetings regularly start at 6am. The salary is excellent and the work itself is great, but I'm exhausted. Would you sacrifice a great job for a normal...

Even though you start at 6 AM, I assume you work regular hours and also finish early. Lots of people start at 6 AM and if you get exhausted, that may... still be the case at other hours. It is a tough world and people make all kinds of compromises for a good job. If you like the job and compensation, try to adapt to these hours, such as going to bed early. If you do want to change, get your story together. Many employers may not understand your reasoning.
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My manager sent me a message at 11:30pm and expected an immediate response. I ignored it until morning and got criticized for not being "responsive." Would you consider this enough reason to start job...

Your manager needs to grow up and distinguish between work and frat party. It is probably a small private company and he may be an owner. In any case,... you will be better off to start looking while you have the job. more

I've been asked to relocate, but the salary increase barely covers the higher cost of living. Would you negotiate or decline?

The company may be trying to accommodate you and does not feel the need to also give you a raise. In that case, evaluate your options and do what... makes most sense to you. more

My manager keeps scheduling meetings during my lunch break and says I can "eat while we're talking." It's happening several times a week. Is this normal in senior roles, or should I push back?

Occasional meetings over lunch are not uncommon. If it becomes a routine, you can tell them the meetings are encroaching on your personal time and... need to be scheduled outside of the lunch break.  more

My employer expects everyone to turn their camera on for every meeting. I work from home specifically because I have small children, and sometimes there is simply no quiet room. Would you refuse the...

When you work from home, it is understood that there may be family interruptions some time. You can tell your boss that you would prefer not to have... the camera on. If they insist, tell them not to be angry or offended if a child walks in or needs attention.
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My employer expects everyone to turn their camera on for every meeting. I work from home specifically because I have small children, and sometimes there is simply no quiet room. Would you refuse the...

When you work from home, it is understood that there may be family interruptions some time. You can tell your boss that you would prefer not to have... the camera on. If they insist, tell them not to be angry or offended if a child walks in or needs attention.
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