November 2016

when an employee misses work with a self-inflicted illness

A reader writes: An employee requested the weekend off for an upcoming fitness competition (body-building). Despite her not having enough vacation time banked for me to approve the request, I worked with her to arrange a switch so that she could work a different weekend instead. On the Thursday before the competition, she called in […]

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weekend free-for-all – November 12-13, 2016

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. (This one is truly no work and no school. If you have a work question, you can email it to me or post it in the work-related open thread on Fridays.) No politics, please. There are lots […]

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3 updates from letter-writers

Here are three updates from people who had their questions answered here earlier this year. 1. I’m temporarily mute due to a medical condition (#4 at the link) So, I got my voice back! I saved the flashcards I used with common words and phrases for the next time. I lose my voice at least […]

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open thread – November 11-12, 2016

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on anything work-related that you want to talk about. If you want an answer from me, emailing me is still your best bet*, but this is a chance to talk to other readers. No politics. Thanks. * […]

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I’m annoyed that my boss asks me to give her reminders, should we tell our boss to shut our company down, and more

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I’m annoyed that my boss asks me to give her reminders I have an office problem I’m trying to deal with; it’s a small issue, but it’s representative. I’m an attorney in contract administration working for a mid-size defense firm, in a satellite office several […]

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