As We Work

Worried that your boss – or soon-to-be boss – is checking your social media? Some employers are screening social media as part of background checks, and what you post can make a difference in whether you get a job. But that doesn’t mean you have to scrub your online history. Background check executive Dan Shoemaker tells us what companies are really looking out for when they eye your social media feeds before hiring. And social media consultant Rachel Karten offers some advice for promoting your personal brand online in a way that will get you hired. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: How People Can Make Smarter—and Healthier—Social-Media Choices When Twitter’s Watching, Companies Behave Better Workplace Report Careers Newsletter

Are your co-workers' quirks driving you crazy? From the cubicle-mate who talks too loudly on the phone, to the person who always microwaves fish for lunch, to the supervisor who’s never on time for a meeting, every office has people who get on your nerves. But you don’t have to let that get in the way of doing your job. Allison Gabriel studies relationships at work and what makes us stressed, and explains why those quirky co-workers sometimes get on our nerves. And conflict resolution consultant Jeremy Pollack gives us the tips and tricks to have conversations with your colleagues so you can work better together. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: You’re Back at the Office. Your Annoying Colleagues Are, Too Weird, Loud and Toxic: Deal With Your Co-Workers’ Annoying Quirks Workplace Report Careers Newsletter

Many big-name companies are cutting staff, restructuring or pausing hiring. Getting laid off, or facing the prospect of it, can be very scary. But it doesn’t have to be. In this conversation from the WSJ Jobs Summit, LinkedIn Career Expert Catherine Fisher, Rora CEO Brian Liou, and Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda tell you how to navigate layoffs and put yourself in the best position to get hired for that next job. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: How Big Companies Choose Who Is Laid Off The New Rules of Layoffs Workplace Report Careers Newsletter

Worried that AI is coming for your job? From ChatGPT writing emails to Midjourney making up images, it’s easy to think that AI could replace many of us at work. But the reality is, AI’s been part of some workplaces for longer than you might realize, including in call centers. WSJ’s Lisa Bannon takes us inside one call center where the AI bot, nicknamed Charlie, is getting mixed reviews. And researcher Stephanie Bell gives us some advice on using AI as a tool to do our jobs better. Spoiler: it’s all about evolving with new technology. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: AI in the Workplace Is Already Here. The First Battleground? Call Centers The Jobs Most Exposed to ChatGPT Workplace Report Careers Newsletter

The headlines seem to come out every day: another big tech company is laying off big chunks of its staff. But at the same time, the U.S. created more than 800,000 jobs so far this year, and some employers are desperate for workers. If you’re one of the many Americans looking for a new job, but confused about how mass layoffs and a hot labor market can both be possible, you’re not alone. We speak to WSJ reporters Sarah Chaney Cambon and Lindsay Ellis to cut through the chatter of this confusing time. They give us the real economic picture and tell us how job seekers – both new and seasoned – are finding their way through. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Register for the WSJ Jobs Summit Further Reading Mass Layoffs or Hiring Boom? What’s Actually Happening in the Jobs Market U.S. Economy Added 311,000 Jobs in February Why the Recession Is Always Six Months Away Workplace Report Careers Newsletter

What do you miss when you skip out on that after-work happy hour? How will your boss, and colleagues, treat you if you say “no thanks” to that company retreat? Those sometimes-obligatory work events that fall outside work hours – often called “mandatory fun” – can be no fun to attend. But, if you don’t go, experts say you may be passing up opportunities to build connections that will help you later in life. Producer Charlotte Gartenberg checked out pre-holiday gatherings in New York City to find out what workers think about hanging out with colleagues. Then, Northwestern University’s Adam Waytz weighs in on what these events mean for your career and why you might just have to attend, even if you don’t want to. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: You’re Good at Your Job, but Are You ‘Fun’ Enough? Some Companies Are Ditching the Holiday Party. Others Are Busting Out the Lobster. Workplace Report Careers Newsletter

Looking for love this Valentine’s Day? Many people are finding it at work. According to the Society for Human Resources Management, around a quarter of U.S. employees are romantically involved with someone at work right now, or have been in the past. But navigating a consensual office romance can be risky both emotionally and legally. We hear from people who’ve navigated romance on the job – from those first butterflies to post-breakup. Then, employment lawyer Joshua Goodbaum tells us why he thinks “people are really stupid when it comes to romance,” and walks us through the challenges of making sure your workplace love story doesn’t end up causing trouble for you, your romantic partner or your colleagues. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: Are Office Romances Worth the Risk? Office Romance? Many Millennials and Gen Zers Would Never Workplace Report Careers Newsletter

Did you get a new boss for the new year? With turnover still high, and many people seeking out new jobs, it’s not uncommon to walk into work and find out a new person is leading your team. Wall Street Journal reporter Chip Cutter tells us about the challenges these new bosses face, and why some are struggling. Then, teamwork doctor Liane Davey gives us the tips to figuring out what makes your new boss tick, and how you can help them while also helping yourself get on their good side. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: The War to Define What Work Looks Like What ‘Get Into a Fistfight’ and Bosses’ Other New Year’s Resolutions Mean for You The Workplace Report Careers Newsletter

The economic picture is complex right now. There’s still more than 10 million job openings in the U.S. and relatively low unemployment. But some companies have begun layoffs, and high inflation has many Americans worried about an economic slowdown. So, what does this all mean for you? We sit down with two of the Wall Street Journal’s Life & Work columnists, Callum Borchers and Rachel Feintzeig, to answer some of your most pressing questions about building your career in a time of uncertainty. Plus, Callum and Rachel share their best work advice as we head into the year to come. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: A Survival Guide for When You’ve Been Laid Off Can You Get Ahead and Still Have a Life? Younger Women are Trying to Find Out The War to Define What Work Looks Like Workplace Report

How much do Americans hate commuting? Four-in-ten would rather clean their toilets than undergo the daily back-and-forth to the office, according to a survey by communications platform RingCentral. Now more workers are returning to the office, and time spent in cars, trains and buses is unavoidable. But Julia Lee Cunningham, professor of management and organizations at The University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, says that we can use our commutes to make our workdays – and our lives – better. And we speak to a Los Angeles commuter, Jules Gillo, for some tips on how to love your drive in a city known for bad traffic. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: U.S. Return-to-Office Rates Hit Pandemic High as More Employers Get Tougher Commutes Haven’t Changed Since the Days of the Roman Empire Commuting is the Worst. It Doesn’t Have to Be. Workplace Report

Middle managers are in charge of implementing the slew of changes taking effect in workplaces nationwide — and polling shows it’s making them miserable. A new report from the Future Forum finds that middle managers are more stressed than any of their co-workers. Why? According to Brian Elliott, a senior vice president at Slack and Executive Leader of the Future Forum, it’s because middle managers are in a game of tug of war between executives and their direct reports. He tells us what executives can do to pave paths for middle managers to find success now. And we hear from a middle manager who decided she felt too squeezed to stay in a corporate job. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: The War to Define What Work Looks Like Here’s How the Modern Manager is Changing Why Bosses Should Ask Employees to do Less, Not More Workplace Report

Inflation is up, and many workers are demanding a raise. But what about the roughly 58 million independent workers in the U.S. who have to set their pay with individual clients? Even though many things cost more than they did a year ago, more than 70% of freelancers haven’t raised their rates. We talk to freelancer and author Jamie Brindle, who dispenses advice about building your own business to his hundreds of thousands of social media followers. He tells us how to effectively ask for more money and keep clients coming back. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: People Are Quitting Full-Time Jobs for Contract Work—and Making Six Figures Souring Economy Gives Tech Freelancers a Lift Workers Quit Jobs in Droves to Become Their Own Bosses Workplace Report

The old rules of business etiquette are in big bleeping trouble. Ghosting is on the rise, with some workers not even showing up for their first day. Those who do stay are texting during meetings, skipping those team bonding happy hours or not returning emails and Slack messages. Is this a result of the pandemic or just an evolution of the cultural norms we expect in the office? Psychology professor Tessa West tells us how a perfect storm of disengagement and avoidance led to what some consider a rise in rudeness. Then Toni Purvis, the founder of the School of Disruptive Etiquette, gives us a lesson in the dos and don’ts of workplace manners. Further Reading What the #@$%! Happened to Our Manners at Work? Sure, Work Makes Us Want to Swear. But Should You? Finally, We Can Wear Shorts in the Office. (Maybe) The Workplace Report