Ask a Manager

Back in February, a reader wrote in wondering how to avoid inadvertently accepting a job that would expect him to work ridiculously long hours. Here the update: The contract-to-hire job I was working at the time of my email ended abruptly when I turned down the offer to go full-time. Initially they asked me to […]

We’re getting to the end of the “where are they now” updates from this year. There are just a few more coming. Remember the reader whose manager wouldn’t let him take an internal promotion? Here’s his update: I finally sent a follow-up email with all of the previous (few weeks of no response) emails to […]

Remember the reader whose disgusting boss was fixated on her (perfectly normal) weight, constantly making jokes about anorexia? Here’s her (even more disturbing) update: I can’t believe how many people responded to that post. I was actually reading through the comments again today! The reader comments really gave me the strength I needed to pull […]

Here are three more reader updates. The subject line for each links back to the person’s original post. 1. The reader whose boss was monitoring his computer usage I ended up requesting a meeting with my boss to talk about it. He said that he had noticed a drop in my productivity, and other employees […]

Here’s an update from the reader whose entire team was planning to resign at once: On Friday afternoon, December 16, each of us wrote our own resignation letters. The four of us turned them into our supervisor, and in turn he added his own, scanned them in and called HR. He then sent the email […]

Remember the reader who had inherited a staff of people who had been held to a low bar and was trying to figure out if his expectations of them were too high? Here’s his update: I wish I had a more definitive update about my question but it is still very much a grey area for […]

Remember the reader who managed an employee who kept leaving work early, even after being told to stop doing it? Here’s her update: Your response motivated me to really take a second look and not only evaluate the situation, but also my managing tactics. I do believe you were correct in saying that I wasn’t […]