Ask a Manager

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. Is it rude to read in the car on work trips? I have a happy update. I have been using your “I’m having trouble hearing from back here, shout out if you need me” language — so simple. I am not normally an e-book reader but found […]

Remember the letter-writer whose new employee ran a background check on them and asked them about what he found? Here’s the update. Imagine my surprise when I opened the blog today to find you had re-released my letter! I felt an update was owed to the commentariat. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated […]

Remember the letter-writer whose boss wanted them to do early-morning and evening meetings so he could attend from his vacation? Here’s the update. My question was posted a couple months after I wrote in, toward the end of my boss’s “vacation,” but I ended up doing some of what was recommended. The particular issue I […]

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. Former coworker stole my work and keeps contacting me for help Thank you so much for publishing an answer to my question! I appreciated your advice, Alison, and the advice shared by the commentariat. It was validating to see that others agreed Lulu is, well, delulu. I […]

Remember the letter-writer whose boss reprimanded them for not answering an email in four minutes? Here’s the update. Your response was really helpful. Martha had already fucked with my head so much that she really had me doubting myself — so much so, that I honestly thought you might take her side and ask me, […]

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. Employee made a racist comment to her office-mate Thank you for answering my question! I already have an update. Apparently when Anne and Leah’s manager took the issue to HR, they discussed a plan to address it instead of just not doing anything until the following week. […]

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. My boss renegotiated my new job’s start date behind my back I took your advice with the exit interview and shared just enough for them to understand exactly why I was leaving without having to say it outright, without getting into detail or emotionality about it. I’ve […]

Remember the letter-writer whose office argued for five months about whether they could have an ergonomic chair? They finally received their chair after a five-month ordeal (over a chair) (first update here) but … well, here’s the latest. To recap, part of the arrangement I worked out with HR was that for this accommodation to […]

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. A disgruntled fired employee says he’s coming to a work event I’m planning (#3 at the link; first update here) I just thought I’d send a final update on the situation with Sam, the fired employee who threatened to attend a work event I was planning. The […]