As We Work

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 aswework@wsj.com, 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaves of absence are on the rise. In fact, leave requests were up more than 21% in 2022, according to a survey by the HR software company AbsenceSoft. And whether the leave is to care for yourself, a relative or a new baby, for military service or for a much-needed sabbatical, coming back to a job can be complicated. The same job may feel different. You might have trouble getting back into the groove. You may even have new co-workers or a new boss. We hear about one worker’s fears around a multi-month medical leave and what it took for her to reconnect with her job. Then, Denise Rousseau, who studies organizational behavior and employee relationships, tells us how to pave the way for a smooth return that will help you thrive in your organization. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email aswework@wsj.com, or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: Calling In Sick or Going on Vacation, Workers Aren’t Showing Up This Summer  Covid Leave Changes and the Future of the Worker-First Workplace  Workplace Report  Careers Newsletter  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 aswework@wsj.com, 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many of us were taught that the secret to workplace success is making yourself indispensable. You can’t be fired if you’re the only one who can do the job, right? But leadership expert Liz Wiseman says being indispensable is actually a trap that sucks up your time and keeps you stuck without any room for job growth. She wants us all to focus on a different goal: becoming the person who steps up when needed and helps others do their jobs better. She calls it being invaluable. And with an uncertain economy leading to layoff worries, she’ll give us the tools we need to make sure our bosses know our value without piling on the extra work we didn’t ask for.  Send us your stories about work and careers! Email aswework@wsj.com, or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: How to Succeed on Your First Day on a New Job  When Companies Do Layoffs, Is It Really ‘Last In, First Out?’  Workplace Report  Careers Newsletter  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 aswework@wsj.com, 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tired of your current job? Scared the layoff headlines are headed for your industry? It might be time to apply for a new job. But, how do you secure a new position while you’re still at your old one without your boss finding out? We talk to career coach Cara Heilmann, the president of the International Association of Career Coaches, about the importance of staying in stealth mode for nabbing that new job. Then, Michelle Reisdorf from staffing services company Robert Half walks us through the how-tos of building a stellar resume that will land you the interview. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email aswework@wsj.com, or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: Land a New Job, With Help From the Inside  To Find Your New Job, Ditch the Online Resume Portal  Make Your Job Application Robot-Proof  Workplace Report  Careers Newsletter  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 aswework@wsj.com, 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Social interactions expert Sara Algoe discusses the importance of showing appreciation at work and the benefits of expressing gratitude. Jacob Coite shares his strategies for showing appreciation to coworkers. Topics include the impact of compliments, inclusivity, and the positive effects of gratitude on workplace relationships and leadership perceptions.

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 aswework@wsj.com, 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  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, the Biden Administration proposed a new rule that could put more gig workers on company payrolls. It’s the latest attempt to clarify just what separates an independent contractor from an employee. We look at the last three administrations’ attempts to answer these questions and then move beyond the political football to find out how workers will actually experience these changes…if they go through at all. Mark Gough, professor of Labor and Employment Relations at Penn State, explains the effects of this potential rule on gig workers and companies. Send us your stories about work and careers! Email aswework@wsj.com, or leave us a voicemail at 212-416-2394. Further Reading: Biden Rule Would Add More Gig Workers to Company Payrolls  Biden Blocks Trump-Era Gig-Worker Rule  Gig-Economy Companies Get Worker Flexibility From Trump Administration  Workplace Report   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices