2022 posts Return to main archives January February March April May June July August September October November December December 2022 weekend open thread – Dec. 31, 2022 – Jan. 1, 2023 open thread – December 30-31, 2022 my boss asked me to do her kid’s homework, written up for spitting, and more updates: my coworkers complained I’m not working fast enough, and more most popular posts of 2022 updates: the toxic positivity meetings, dramatic responses after not being promoted, and more pushed into a work event because I don’t have kids, tickling as team-building, and more updates: my boss accused me of writing a negative review but I didn’t, and more my favorite posts of 2022 updates: I’m too good at interviewing, suggesting an interviewer hire my friend, and more spider phobia, asking that my coworkers get my raise, and more update: my terrible yet charismatic former classmate is interested in my boss’s job updates: executive cries with delight every day, sounding more approachable during high stress, and more updates: my employee’s clothes accentuate her chest, turning a contact into a friend, and more boss pretended to be calling from Child Protective Services, required to sing on camera, and more updates: paying for your own travel, improvement plan for a pastor, and more updates: the employee who needs to figure some things out himself, the coworker working a second job, and more update: my office isn’t acknowledging my adopted baby my bosses want to give me advice for my chronic illness, reporting my former boss’s Twitter account, and more weekend open thread – December 24-25, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – December 23-24, 2022 I fought with my husband’s coworker over their affair, asking a coworker not to eat onions, and more update: my boss makes me wear her clothes, eat her food, and say I’m grateful for my job updates: the receptionist with a shopping habit, the slacker coworkers, and more updates: I got Covid at work and my company won’t cover my sick time, and more update: dealing with a problematic member of a board games group the snowflake dance, the infuriating elves, and other stories of holiday madness at work my team is flipping out over a lunch, correcting coworkers who use the wrong words, and more updates: coworker’s inattention to detail, employee blames others for her mistakes, and more updates: pointless perks, the throat-clearer, and more update: my boss wants me to ask a rejected problematic job candidate to volunteer updates: my boss is angry that I couldn’t work while I was sick with Covid, and more update: working from home with a four-year-old did I get too drunk at a work party, boss is super peppy, and more update: should I stay at a job I don’t like if it could lead to a big pay-off in a few years? updates: an acquaintance blabbed when I sent him a confidential email and now I might become his boss, and more update: new hire is monitoring our calendars update: my former employer wants “my side of the story” about a process I didn’t document when I left update: my employees got into a religious argument and now things are in chaos how can I intervene with a bullying coworker, HR told me I’m going overboard with a charity event, and more updates: the disrespectful trainee, I’m not productive every single minute of every day, and more updates: the imploding resignation, the excessive ice-breakers, and more update: my coworker lives with my boss, company may ruin my credit, and more update: boss organizes a poker game to determine end-of-year bonuses update: my husband is my boss — and we’re getting divorced the worst boss of 2022 is… coworker is posting about being “the other woman,” I cried when my coworkers gave me a birthday cake, and more weekend open thread – December 17-18, 2022 it’s more Friday good news … this time with updates it’s your Friday good news open thread – December 16-17, 2022 vote for the worst boss of 2022: the finals coworker anonymously left breath mints on my desk, employer won’t let us drive home if we’re sick, and more updates: coworker reported a colleague for injuring a client but it wasn’t true, and more update: my lovely but bumbling boss is driving me crazy updates: my coworker told me he’s hiding a terminal illness, and more update: my boss is rude to my husband (there’s more!) should you lay someone off right before Christmas? office holiday gift-giving stories: worst gifts and weirdest gifts should I put fan fiction on my resume, I want my boss to deny my vacation request so I don’t have to visit my family, and more update: I’m afraid the CEO will suck me back in when I try to resign update: my ex-boss wants me to pay a phone bill for months I didn’t work there update: I’m dating my boss — can I fix his conflict with another employee? update: my ambitious, driven self is gone – and I don’t feel like working anymore update: my bosses want our remote team to work out together 3 times a week vote for the worst boss of 2022: round 2 my interviewer called all the other applicants “pricks,” boss is hanging terrible artwork, and more update: my company is issuing new work-from-home standards because we should have the hang of it by now update: coworker is throwing a tantrum over having to interview for a promotion “I will confront you by Wednesday of this week” update: my boss keeps marijuana plants in the office should I ask a staff member why he’s not going to our holiday dinner? update: a dispute about customer skills is tearing apart my agrotourism business company wants me to pay back half my salary, playing a ukulele in an open office, and more update: how long will it take to change the culture at my new job? updates: the no-tattoos policy, the working mom with little kids, and more updates: the terrible game store manager, the emotional affair, and more update: my small open plan office is trying to enforce a semi-quiet work environment and I hate it how do I stop my employees from giving me gifts? update: my boss is rude to my husband vote for the worst boss of 2022 bank called my employer to complain I was rude, my boss wants me to take a sticker off my truck, and more weekend open thread – December 10-11, 2022 it’s more Friday good news … this time with updates it’s your Friday good news open thread – December 9-10, 2022 coworker is angry about a prank, contacting my daughter’s employer about her affair, and more updates: the wall of shame, the stolen laptop, and more update: my interviewer sent me an email saying my scars are triggering update: my employee makes off-color jokes my employee gossiped about a conversation she eavesdropped on all of my 2022 book recommendations what’s your company doing for the holidays this year? an update on my Twitter account hacking boss won’t leave me alone about her romantic problems, I’ve become the office seamstress, and more updates: employee cries at feedback, coworker doesn’t want me to lift things, and more updates: I’m drowning in work, the fan accounts, and more update: my boss made me fire my boyfriend … and then hired her cousin a truly hilarious company holiday party story, told in bullet points updates: company says they’ll fly me to another state if I need an abortion, and more update: my whole office works from home except me — and I’m getting stuck with everyone’s admin work my good employee is angry about my bad employee, boss insists I get my tonsils out, and more updates: the coworkers who asks what my clothes cost, the sleeping boss, and more updates: the bigoted university, the catfishing, and more updates: boss wants me to be upbeat all the time, the bathroom monitor, and more update: my new coworker keeps staring at my breasts my Twitter account has been hacked employee quit and deleted all his files update: how should we respond to complaints about a non-binary guest in the bathrooms? my boss is infesting our office with fruit flies, my work funds the office BBQs, and more updates: the terrible uniform policy, the acne, and more updates: my coworker’s a jerk to me because she’s pregnant, and more update: how do I write a peer review for my horrible coworker? updates: my coworker left her baby in the car while she worked, and more my boss loves planning an elaborate holiday extravaganza … we all hate it update: I work at Twitter … what do I do? can I keep my company truck to screw over my company, fired for a Halloween costume, and more weekend open thread – December 3-4, 2022 updates: boss wants to talk to my doctor, taking a job where the CEO is a dick, and more it’s your Friday good news open thread – December 2-3, 2022 interviewer asked “how low I was willing to go” on salary, will almost-floor-length hair hold me back professionally, and more updates: I was promised summer hours but it’s frowned upon to use them, and more updates: the birthday drama, the company swag that doesn’t fit, and more updates: the teenager who wanted to quit, the coworker pushing food, and more update: I sent my boss a long, angry email … but I turned out to be wrong how can I write warmer emails? share your funniest office holiday stories a drama-filled affair, coworker marks most of her emails as “highly important,” and more November 2022 updates: coworker refuses to share their screen, a nasty Glassdoor review with my title, and more updates: I’m the only one in the office, the fake alma mater, and more updates: pregnant coworker keeps saying awful things to my terminally ill sister, and more update: my coworker keeps bringing me “problems” that aren’t problems … and they’re definitely not HER problems our holiday party is mandatory, but I don’t want to be around unmasked coworkers update: the CEO is obsessed with me and wants me to be his emotional support dog rampage in the office, temps accused me of bullying, and more updates: my boss sent me a message urging me to follow Jesus, and more update: my boss won’t stop texting me — and I’m in a hospital bed update: new hire keeps kneeling in front of me update: our boss is demanding a gift with an accounting of names and how much each person contributed ice-breakers don’t have to suck update: governor yanked telework for state employees and my office is in chaos I’m starting to hate my customers, employee wants a month off in our busy period, and more updates: the physically demanding team-building, the weekend sleepover, and more update: my manager says my shyness is seen as rudeness update: my employee is freezing out a manager after he joked about King Charles the schedule for updates this year how to tell an assistant, “just fix the problem!” update: I started a business with two coworkers and I’m doing all the work coworker asks about my personal finances, gender differences in dress codes, and more weekend open thread – November 26-27, 2022 open thread – November 25-26, 2022 Thanksgiving free-for-all – November 24, 2022 Thanksgiving eve open thread the baby grand piano, the legend of Buddy, and other tales of holiday woes the cake hoarder, the missing egg, and other stories of holiday mayhem I don’t want to go to our holiday party, I think my coworker is working two jobs at once, and more the holiday perfume, the ancient fruitcake, and other stories of holidays at work the thief and the hero, the crockpot discrimination, and other stories of potlucks at work how can I take time off when my team needs it more? I saw a coworker’s email complaining about me, delayed written offer, and more the Thanksgiving tyrant, the very special salad, and other stories of potlucks at work how to ensure a religious new hire won’t proselytize at work my coworker wants me to do all the work he sends me ASAP, even when I have higher priorities my company wants remote employees to take a pay cut, free tuition for employees’ kids, and more weekend open thread – November 19-20, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – November 18-19, 2022 how to guide teens toward career goals, coworker sent a dramatic all-team email after I asked for my chair back, and more should I tell my tantrum-throwing coworker that she’s sabotaging herself? Ask a Manager in the media how do I manage a “regular” job with a parallel career as a musician? my coworker prayed that I’ll return to Jesus, coworker went through my laptop bag, and more we’re supposed to do ice-breakers at every single meeting, even routine ones should I let someone who no-called no-showed come back to work? my company will only give me a raise if I quit first I’m missing out on a lunch break because I’m vegetarian, coworker calls his girlfriend during projects, and more I get angry when I’m praised for doing work I don’t like my boss won’t let me move to another state — but I’m remote should I get rid of remote work because our in-office staff thinks it’s unfair? can I ask my new employee to babysit, my boss thinks I lack confidence but I don’t, and more my new boss scolded us about our private chat messages how can I stop my office’s “I’m sorry” culture? I work at Twitter … what do I do? my boss keeps weed in the office, should I warn coworkers about my chin tuck, and more weekend open thread – November 12-13, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – November 11-12, 2022 we can’t get the highest performance rating 2 years in a row, holding a retreat at a coworker’s house, and more how can I get recruiters to just tell me the job’s salary from the start? is “we have a great culture” an attempt to disguise low pay and weak benefits? when office potlucks go wrong employer recorded audio and video while I was in bed … and more my boss wants to know what the private appointments on my calendar are how to say no without sounding negative my team excludes me from lunches because of my dietary restrictions my coworker doesn’t understand anything I say, working from abroad without telling your employer, and more should I tell an employee that the new hire sitting right across from him all day is unvaccinated? my employee always gets other people’s help on his work my employee is upset that her work-life balance means she won’t get promoted here is it wrong to remind coworkers to vote, resting your eyes at work, and more the gong, the missing reply-all button, and other weird things companies thought would boost productivity my employee gets stressed out and snaps at me my manager told me that my male coworkers earn $40-60K more than I do boss confided family issues to me, I don’t want my horrible manager at my wedding, and more weekend open thread – November 5-6, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – November 4-5, 2022 I don’t want to start a business with my mom, misleading starting salary, and more can you ask an interviewer to stop talking so much? how to respond to “sorry” when you were inconvenienced my male coworkers keep vomiting emotionally on me teen daughter wants to quit her new job, can we tell our unhappy coworker to leave, and more our boss gave a lecture about self-care to our very overworked team my employee’s colleagues don’t like him my employee refuses to do her job and leads me in circles about why she won’t coworker brings her baby to every meeting, manager is shocked no one sent a thank-you note for our raises, and more my interviewer sent me an email saying my scars are triggering my manager insists on unreasonable deadlines for my projects how do I care about work when my life is falling apart … and other mental health questions employee wants more praise but he’s not doing a good job, nosy coworker, and more October 2022 I work next to a haunted house, and other tales of Halloween have you ever had a spooky experience at work? interview with a haunted house cast member the grisly Halloween decorations, wearing a costume to an interview, and more weekend open thread – October 29-30, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 28-29, 2022 should managers always “own the message,” personal info in the background of a coworker’s cat photos, and more my boss keeps commenting on my acne where are you now? (a call for updates) what’s the weirdest thing your company has done in the name of boosting productivity? everyone at my company golfs, employee is freezing out a manager after he joked about King Charles, and more can I tell my boss I’m a bad fit for my job? update: my company wants me to work Halloween and I’m a Halloween fanatic my mysterious boss disappears for hours and can’t be reached my workload is higher because my coworker is pregnant, coworker made up an elaborate lie about a cruise ship, and more my coworker is teasing me with a mascot of an animal I’m scared of my employee’s mental health is affecting her work my mom tells me to go to work sick, never take time off, and fear being fired every day how to ask to sit with my friends, employee misses key details in meetings, and more I think the reasons in my rejection email were bogus can I ask my boss to coach me on professionalism? can an employer require you to be “sexually pure”? my boss is angry that I turned down a job with his wife, wearing a Halloween costume on your first day of work, and more weekend open thread – October 22-23, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 21-22, 2022 should I tell my boss he’s why I’m leaving, fundraising at work, and more how do I rebuild trust in my incompetent manager? updates: disclosing PTSD, faking interest in a job, and more how do I balance my own disability needs with cultural sensitivity at work? my boss has terrible ideas about social media, video games on your resume, and more I’m about to inherit a bad employee who’s a jerk to our good employee my chatty employee is annoying his quieter coworker we had to share our “shadow sides” and “be more vulnerable” at a meeting play-fighting at work, love letters on a shared drive, and more we need to tell our remote employees they can’t take care of young kids while they’re working should I put more effort into making friends at work? I’m biased against people who went to women’s colleges apologies in out-of-office messages, avoiding Boss’s Day gifts, and more how should I handle my downtime when I’m working from home? all this talk about”quiet quitting” is absurd our health committee chair is anti-vax, anti-science, and out of control Halloween decorations when you’re video-interviewing, I snapped at a coworker, and more weekend open thread – October 15-16, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 14-15, 2022 employee came to work with a hair salon cape and dye cap on, recruiter wants me to pay if they find me a job, and more is being offered a job too quickly a red flag? update: I don’t want to change my hair routine for a coworker how can we make our benefits more inclusive? should the interviewer dress up, I can’t afford to go to an event recognizing my work, and more how to turn down “volunteer” (but not really) projects at work should I use my maternity leave to set an example for other women? my company advertises every job all the time to make sure we know we can be replaced spooky spider dilemma, coworker texts while driving, and more our new admin crashed the company car and lied about it how to work with clients who can’t make up their minds I was hit on at a conference … was I too friendly? employee quit after decorating expense disaster, can my wealthy family donate to my nonprofit employer, and more how many interviews are too many? my employee wants a demotion can I go braless as a medical accommodation? my boss gossiped about me to my mother-in-law, my team gave me bad ratings, and more weekend open thread – October 8-9, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 7-8, 2022 coworker wants me to change my hair routine, boss avoids meals with employees, and more is it dishonest to interview for a job when I’m not that interested in it anymore? should I have more of a sense of humor at work? dealing with menopause symptoms at work shouldn’t we hire younger candidates, coworker edited my email to make themself look better, and more are there times when you can’t ethically quit a job? how do I say no to admin tasks that aren’t my job? my employee is obsessed with cleaning my ex-boss pretends I still work there, HR said my size is intimidating, and more company wants references from “coworkers you didn’t get along with” how do I get less emotionally invested in my work? can I read erotica on work breaks? I called my boss a nasty name, my coworker is charging people for coffee, and more my manager’s partner speaks up in our private meetings how to put outcomes on your resume when you don’t know how to measure your work interview with a decision coach my coworker falsely reported a colleague, candidates changing their minds after accepting an offer, and more weekend open thread – October 1-2, 2022 September 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 30, 2022 the Try Guys drama, when a coworker badgers you about holiday time off, and more is it a bad sign if a company has lots of job vacancies? do you have to be paid if your office is closed because of a hurricane? how do you move away from ambition and traditional career paths? boyfriend’s employer keeps wrecking our plans, company doesn’t care about customer threats, and more how can I keep my temper at work? how to be an ally at work should I report my fatphobic boss or am I being too sensitive? should you put stay-at-home parenting on your resume, I don’t want to train my new manager, and more should I quit my high school job? my employee wastes too much time on bad ideas my performance evaluation is based on activities outside of work is “have a blessed day” inappropriate at work, promised promotion never happens, and more the locusts, the un-appreciation kits, and even more stories of corporate gifts that didn’t quite work out return-to office-incentives aren’t working … here’s what workers want I don’t want to interview a candidate who took 5 days to respond coworker asks me questions he could google, employer’s shirts don’t fit me, and more weekend open thread – September 24-25, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 23-24, 2022 coworker says fetuses are judging mothers-to-be, sending a cake with your resume on it, and more what does self-care look like at work? Ask a Manager in the media a coworker’s child keeps saying insulting and bigoted things to me I accidentally sent my team erotica, mumbling boss, and more my new boss needs constant reassurance should we hire a candidate who talked non-stop? how should I deal with an anxious and needy coworker? boss makes us discuss all our mistakes in a group, elf work on a resume, and more Ask a Manager speed round my coworker keeps trying to undermine me my boss only wants to hire attractive young women my coworkers are sick of me having cancer, replying to late-night messages, and more the wallets of destruction, the backpack indignity, and other corporate gifts gone very wrong my assistant thinks she’s my peer some of my employees have a butts-in-seats mentality … and some just disappear CEO attacked me in an all-staff email, I can’t give my employee satisfying answers, and more weekend open thread – September 17-18, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 16-17, 2022 manager only invites senior employees to drinks, smoking on camera, and more an employer “challenged” me and other applicants to work for free for 2 weeks dealing with a problematic member of a board games group what gifts should we give employees when nothing has universal appeal? my boss changes her mind after I’ve already started a project, how common is swearing at work, and more I stood up to a sexist coworker who wanted me to take all the notes for a team I’m not even on update: my coworker refuses to wear a mask I can’t escape Halloween Town employee stole a coworker’s food delivery, drinking non-alcoholic beer at work, and more the flasher, the scathing tirade, and other stories of magnificent rage-quits should I let a struggling employee work from home? my remote coworkers refuse to chat or make social pleasantries with me my coworker is high on pain pills, mentor gets credit for my work, and more what’s up with the term “work wife”? how should I handle friends who apply for jobs with me? I quit my horrible job but they’re pressuring me to stay and I feel like a villain will I be implicated in my coworker leaving early, stopping a nickname, and more weekend open thread – September 10-11, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 9-10, 2022 too much driving, belt bags at work, and more how can I tell my boss I work better when she’s not here? updates: the ominous recruiter, interviewing with Covid, and more how can we help teams feel connected when people are working remotely? the organization will fall apart if I quit, how rare are nice coworkers, and more my male colleagues wait for me to set up all our meetings (even meetings I’m not in) the employee who quit via cod and other dramatic resignations how can managers spot people who are working two full-time jobs at once? kicking a coworker out of our social huddles, disclosing PTSD at work, and more is sitting on a couch for video calls unprofessional? my boss took away part of my job and I feel humiliated I accidentally started a rumor about a coworker fantasy football offensiveness, asking about my boss’s personal situation, and more Labor Day open thread weekend open thread – September 3-4, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 2-3, 2022 new receptionist’s shopping habit, resigning while covering for my boss, and more employer invited me to interview but then canceled within 24 hours updates: exercising during work breaks, being under-qualified, and more companies that want to bring people back on-site … but aren’t succeeding coworkers keep hugging me, scales in our break room, and more August 2022 pregnant coworker keeps saying awful things to my terminally ill sister are we asking for too much work from job candidates? is it bad to be alone with coworkers of the opposite sex? is this investor shady, low-paying jobs that expect your family to support you, and more my brothers’ wives are interfering in our family business update: my overpaid coworker is rude, rarely here, and calls us “uptight” and “slaves” for caring about our jobs my new hire built a blanket nest in her office coworker refuses to talk to anyone because I asked him to stop calling us “young ladies,” I’m afraid my friend might get fired, and more when should I let my new boss fail? how can I tell a job applicant we rejected them for being rude? pushy coworker won’t stop bringing me food I didn’t ask for my employee blames others for her mistakes, lying about when you left your last job, and more weekend open thread – August 27-28, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – August 26-27, 2022 asking coworkers to hang out socially, interviewing with Covid symptoms, and more can non-work activities count toward years of work experience? updates: the problem manager, the ghosting job candidate, and more how do I weigh the risks of staying where I am vs. changing fields? I kept my ex-boss’s affair a secret and now I work with her husband, my manager is upset about my new salary, and more my manager says my shyness is seen as rudeness can I push back on in-office work? my coworker is using paid paternity leave to work a second job instead of taking care of his baby I stole my coworker’s food, high school workers keep no-showing, and more my coworker posts love notes from their partner all over our shared office update: how do I get my chatty coworkers to stop saying wildly inappropriate things? my boss and I share an office with a volatile jerk wearing the same dress the first 100 days of a new job, disinviting coworkers from my wedding, and more new design my employee makes off-color jokes should I really conduct exit interviews? I’m missing out on face time with the CEO because I don’t go on our monthly hikes my boss sent me a message urging me to follow Jesus, my coworker reported me for saying “data Nazi,” and more weekend open thread – August 20-21, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – August 19-20, 2022 my coworker saves hair, applying for a job with a huge salary range, and more should I be concerned that my two employees do all their work together? updates: former coworkers crashed my party, asked to deep-clean the office, and more let’s talk about workers taking power back for themselves a stolen work laptop, employee wants me to fire her coworker, and more Ask a Manager speed round my employee keeps trash-talking herself I flashed my entire team during a video call can I bring my dog on a business trip, manager made up fake reasons for a firing, and more speed round — submit your questions how do I manage an employee who’s terrified of me? a real-life salary negotiation, with emails I sent my boss a long, angry email … but I turned out to be wrong I disagree with my partner on how to run our business, another manager dislikes my employee, and more update: I’m working 2 full-time remote jobs — is this unethical? my employee won’t stop pushing for a job she’s not qualified for my boss wants us to help his coach get certified in pseudoscience our desks were packed up and photographed without our knowing, offering to help my replacement, and more weekend open thread – August 13-14, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – August 12-13, 2022 my mentor won’t acknowledge my family’s loss, a disorganized boss, and more my constantly available coworkers keep commenting on my healthier work-life balance update: my husband and I are both working from our small apartment and it’s bad what fields have hiring booms right now? asking to meet in person when you’re remote, asking for tuition reimbursement for a degree I already finished, and more my boss says I’m not ready for a promotion, but is giving me work above my pay grade my employee keeps joking about getting fired can I ignore my coworker’s calls and only communicate by email? employee walks off the job to cry every day, getting more info before an interview, and more my employee delivered a status update … in song I’ve been overworked for months and my manager won’t help how do I ask the CEO if I can “borrow” his assistant for my projects? will it hurt me to stay in a job where my boss doesn’t like me, cheating in the office bake-off, and more is it still OK to wear a mask to a job interview? my new hire was secretly working a second full-time job during his hours for us I feel terrible performance-managing an octogenarian my coworker told HR I’m resigning when I’m not, boss wants daily task updates, and more weekend open thread – August 6-7, 2022 it’s your Friday good news … with updates open thread – August 5-6, 2022 I gave notice 2 months ago but I’m still here, I can’t get a raise without taking on more work, and more do I have any recourse when an employer ghosts me after saying a job offer is coming? updates: the awful summer intern, the too-low salary, and more should employees be paid differently based on where they live? my coworker is being a jerk because she’s pregnant, working near a throat-clearer, and more I own a game store with a terrible manager who I’m afraid to fire update: my employer made me a counteroffer, then rescinded it I can’t handle my boss’s stories about her emotionally abusive relationship can I change teams because of my coworker’s values, I’m working for my parents’ business, and more my overpaid coworker is rude, rarely here, and calls us “uptight” and “slaves” for caring about our jobs what to say to employees who ask, “am I in trouble?” my company wants us to sign a loyalty oath friend says we’re not supportive enough of their business idea, my boss sleeps in meetings, and more my younger employee doesn’t know professional norms how to deal with a client who’s always late candidate showed up in-person for a Zoom interview “to demonstrate their interest” hostile assistant won’t do their job, booking a luxury hotel for business travel, and more July 2022 weekend open thread – July 30-31, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 29-30, 2022 birthday drama, telling my boss before I accept a new job, and more should I offer to work for less so that someone will hire me? update: should I mention I’m trans when interviewing? how can you set up a home office space in tight quarters? new company is really micromanagery, I got promoted but they won’t change my salary for months, and more my new employee is getting bad advice from my older employee our remote staff want the same perks we give in-office staff my employee keeps freaking out that lower-paid coworkers aren’t as productive as he is can I train people not to bother me when I have headphones on, I promised to tell my boss when I’m job-searching, and more should you always ask for the top of the salary range? how do I juggle different employers’ timelines when I’m interviewing? a dispute about customer skills is tearing apart my agrotourism business ridiculously long job application, mistakes in your cover letter, and more my friend won’t stop complaining about the candidates I’ve referred to her candidates who say they’re open to relocation … but really aren’t my relative is lying about race to get a job in my department can I ask out my interviewer, are Yahoo email addresses unprofessional, and more weekend open thread – July 23-24, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 22-23, 2022 my coworker left her baby in the car while she worked, ads that want a “bubbly personality,” and more Mortification Week: the winter party, the wet socks, and other stories to cringe over updates: the pay cuts, the terrible ex-friend, and more what can I do in my current job to help the environment? awful HR person is married to the owner, can I push my start date back to the fall, and more Mortification Week: the declined offer, the obscene amigurumi, and more is rejecting people by phone more respectful? Mortification Week: the mud disaster, the dream lunch, and other stories to cringe over boss gives different perks to people with kids, asking for a raise when your company doesn’t do raises, and more Mortification Week: the wizened coworker, the hot cheetos, and more my employee is rude and combative Mortification Week: the rock star, the Fabio flowchart, and other stories to cringe over should I tell my boss I have a crush on him, I got in trouble for tracking my coworkers’ time off, and more Mortification Week: the spooky question, the breakfast burritos, and more workers are running out of time off and companies don’t care Mortification Week: the nosy father, the dish of bacon, and other stories to cringe over employer made me a counteroffer and then rescinded it, talking to a mediocre employee about leaving, and more weekend open thread – July 16-17, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 15-16, 2022 boss asked me to to read a Christian leadership book, emotional affair, and more how to ask about salary when you’re invited to interview update: household employees keep ghosting me ask the readers: let’s talk about unions exec keeps asking what we’ve learned today, coworker wants too much help, and more companies offering to pay for abortion travel: genuine help or performative stunt? my employee can’t afford team lunches should I tell my boss my coworker is working a second job? a client pooped in my car, HR person is married to an employee, and more how much training and support should I expect in a job I wasn’t totally qualified for? I’m good at my job but I’m worried I’m lazy my small open plan office is trying to enforce a semi-quiet work environment and I hate it enneagrams in hiring, sheer blouses at work, and more updates: my coworker cried and called me militant, and more dealing with domestic abuse in the workplace my employee didn’t want the post-baby flexibility I arranged for her my bosses want our remote team to work out together 3 times a week I’m going to lose hundreds of dollars on a “perk,” coworker told interns the wrong dress code, and more weekend open thread – July 9-10, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 8-9, 2022 teacher shared bad medical advice, former employer wants “my side of the story,” and more why do so many managers do firings and layoffs at the end of the day? updates: going gray, I don’t want my boss to represent me at a meeting, and more let’s talk about your mortifying moments at work intern avoids all networking, reprimanded for watching TV on a lunch break, and more my manager posted a “wall of shame” of people who didn’t volunteer to work more an affair is causing drama on my team my boss is rude to my husband can I ask my employee why she’s leaving, I think my boss and I see the same therapist, and more update: the CEO is obsessed with me and wants me to be his emotional support how can I tell if an overqualified applicant is right for the job? why do companies fall for grifter “consultants”? my boss butt-dialed me and I heard an awful conversation, company wants us to provide mental health support to our coworkers, and more 4th of July open thread weekend open thread – July 2-3, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 1-2, 2022 my coworker refused to share their screen for training, employee checked out after giving notice, and more June 2022 my coworkers are asking if my pregnancy was planned update: my boss will not physically acknowledge me in social settings I was a public speaking coach – but I can’t speak up in meetings working from home with a 4-year-old, my husband was bullied by the office jerk, and more my remote boss wants to know every time I go to the bathroom some Ask a Manager books my coworker is living in my boss’s house — and we all work there too I lost my temper at a teammate, coworkers keep using my desk, and more the new hires at work are driving me up a wall how do I talk with my incompetent boss about his ridiculously inaccurate organizational chart? I don’t want to work with my childhood bully, employee wants to start earlier than everyone else, and more I agreed to help a student with a grad school project … it’s gone badly my employee is abusing our incentive program being direct as a Black woman, coworkers identify people by race, and other questions with Michelle Silverthorn my coworker says we shouldn’t hire women of child-bearing age, new colleague lied about his name, and more weekend open thread – June 25-26, 2022 update: my boss says it’s “not her place” to say anything to my smelly, messy coworker it’s your Friday good news open thread – June 24-25, 2022 crop tops at work, arguing with a client, and more updates: the negligent safety partner, the commuting time, and more updates: employee threatens to sue when we tell her to save her work, and more how many times can I ask a networking contact for help? coworkers and clients won’t stop commenting on my arms coworkers complained that I’m not fast enough, coordinating a work trip with my spouse’s trip, and more update: I walked in on a coworker making out with our married colleague — do I say something? updates: my boss is having an affair with his assistant, and more update: how can I avoid taking a job in an open-plan office? update: coworker keeps interrupting my work and told me it’s “good practice” to keep myself focused my boss wants 6 months notice, quirky backgrounds on video calls, and more update: I’m afraid people at work will think I’m being abused update: I found my boss’s highly critical notes about a coworker a fired employee showed up to our office party updates: I walked in on the company owner having sex, coworker sent a horrible email company-wide after a janitor won our contest, and more I’m afraid I’ll be sucked back in when I resign, I’m stung by my exit interview, and more updates: should I lie on my resume, offering references on me as a manager, and more updates: we have to take a pay cut to work from home, part-time admin with full-time job, and more the mystery of “remote” job listings that aren’t actually remote update: my team demands aggressive positivity … and I have a medical condition that leaves me exhausted did candidate invent his alma mater, coworker doesn’t want me to lift things, and more weekend open thread – June 18-19, 2022 update: do I need to make coffee and tea for coworkers when I don’t drink it myself? it’s your Friday good news open thread – June 17-18, 2022 panel member doesn’t realize I’m an expert, favorite work potluck dishes, and more updates: volunteer’s mom hangs out in our office, coworker wants us to pay for things we never agreed to, and more updates: should I tell my boss I’m job-hunting, the LinkedIn monitor, and more update: my coworker says I bullied her … should I tell her boss she needs more of a backbone? update: my boss says he can’t hire me at his new company because he’s attracted to me I love running my own business but it’s killing me hiccups in a meeting, hybrid work but no equipment for home offices, and more updates: HR questioned me for hours about a sex injury, and more update: my boss makes me sign personal contracts for every rule he implements updates: new hire isn’t trying to move, employee wants bereavement leave for her dog, and more do I need to organize social outings for my staff? update: how do I write a peer review for my horrible coworker? employee’s drinking affects her work, live-zooming a Covid test, and more letters that make you say, “wait, what?” updates: should I have to go to happy hours to get a promotion, the referral bonus, and more my job offer was rescinded after I asked for more money updates: company-branded clothing in the wrong sizes, the men’s forum, and more update: my employers want to pay for my surgery — but I want a raise my coworker trash-talks other women’s clothes, putting work expenses on a personal credit card, and more update: the new hire who showed up is not the same person we interviewed updates: religious decor in a shared office, not donating blood, and more candidates keep turning down our job offers update: what’s the definition of “professional hours”? update: my coworkers told my boss I talk about my baby too much I got Covid on a work trip, our “competitive” pay is well below market, and more weekend open thread – June 11-12, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – June 10-11, 2022 I hate being called “lady,” is it rude to ask to be moved to BCC, and more I can’t afford to keep paying for work I’m not receiving from our nanny updates: my coworker won’t take corrections, raising ethical objections about a client, and more I’m supposed to be a superstar, but I don’t know how coworkers are annoyed by my intern, candidates who respond badly to rejection, and more I reported my boss’s boss for racism and now feel guilty should you make job offers by phone or email? I started a business with two coworkers and I’m doing all the work watching movies at work, my company is ignoring inflation, and more do I care too much about email style? how can I help a new employee learn to be more professional? how soon can I quit a new job with a tyrannical boss? surprise interview projects, turning down optional training, and more why don’t recruiters send me any information on the jobs they’re recruiting me for? should employees have to ask for a raise? our company pushes us to identify our personal values, like family, religion, wealth, and power company will offer paternity leave but not maternity leave, intern makes nearly as much as me, and more weekend open thread – June 4-5, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – June 3-4, 2022 suspended for Covid-related absences, cost of gas is making my commute impossible, and more how do you tell a company that this is truly your dream company/job? updates: teaching with cancer, moving in with a coworker, and more how do office relaxation/recharge rooms work? did my mom ruin my chances for a job, my ex’s now-wife applied for a job on my small team, and more what’s up with unannounced video calls? my employee insists at leaving at 5 on the dot — and is missing deadlines our uniform policy is ludicrous and pisses me off constantly I had to clean up after my boss’s toddler, refusing to interview after business hours, and more May 2022 am I obligated to tell interviewers that I’m considering other jobs? should I tell my boss about a personal situation that might affect my work? governor yanked telework for state employees and my office is in chaos physically demanding team-building exercise, stinky bathroom, and more 15 years of Ask a Manager Memorial Day open thread weekend open thread – May 28-29, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – May 27-28, 2022 should I take a job where the CEO is a dick, coworker wants training on things that aren’t her job, and more interview candidates have stopped giving me their availability when I ask for it interviews with a prison librarian, a brothel receptionist, an Arctic Circle lab worker, and other interesting jobs should I let my parents help me network? my boss hasn’t talked to me in a year, a coworker named Babe, and more the popcorn calamity, the chair battle, and more stories of dramatic reactions to small changes at work update: employer wants friends and family to participate in 360 feedback reviews should we require “they/them” pronouns as the default for everyone at our meetings? my boss talked me out of quitting, addressing hiring managers by their first names, and more the shirt crusade, the bacon crisis, and other stories of dramatic reactions to small changes at work our receptionist is rude to people is it OK to say “Jesus Christ” as an expression of frustration at work? my boss doesn’t know I’ve stopped going into the office, does everyone job-hop now, and more someone tampered with an employee’s smelly shoes and now there are hurt feelings workers are being forced to put up with truly awful behavior from the public my boss removed me from a work trip because I’m a woman manager came to work with Covid, can I have stickers on my wheelchair, and more weekend open thread – May 21-22, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – May 20-21, 2022 I’m drowning in work, mentioning my dad in a job application, and more who’s in charge of making sure a scheduled meeting happens? where are you now? (a call for updates) strangely dramatic responses to mundane office changes religious decor in a shared work space, yoga pants at a team-building event, and more can I ask a company to speed up their hiring process? my employee keeps falling asleep in meetings our boss is demanding a gift with an accounting of names and how much each person contributed can I ethically hire when the company is a mess, employers that want a reference from your current boss, and more how do I spot red flags in a job interview if I have no work experience? my coworkers were fired … am I next? my wife says my relationship with my coworker is inappropriate rejected on a video call, meetings on Juneteenth, and more update: I’m a member of The Satanic Temple and got outed at work my employee can’t accept that his work is bad is it unfair to give my best employee more work than everyone else? explaining why I’m not donating blood, boss flies first class but put me in coach, and more weekend open thread – May 14-15, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – May 13-14, 2022 is it OK to expense drinks with a coworker, my ex-boss blew up when I accepted a different job, and more my coworker treats me like I’m their boss Ask a Manager in the media confess your moments of unprofessionalism here my coworker guilt-trips me when I won’t help, high-earning colleagues joke about my pay, and more my manager yells at her boss through my office wall updates: asking for more money to stay, the disorganized project manager, and more my employer gives extra perks to thin people do I have to wear concealer, should I edit the job posting when applying, and more my boss won’t stop texting me — and I’m in a hospital bed my employee is bad at taking feedback I apply for remote jobs … and then it turns out they’re not remote evaluations penalize my highest performer, getting rid of company swag, and more is my melodramatic, credit-hogging boss a deal-breaker? a parent called me to ask about their adult kid’s work travel my male coworkers are insisting on taking “period leave” should I tell my coworker she’ll never get promoted, are two-week vacations excessive, and more weekend open thread – May 6-8, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – May 6-7, 2022 flowery goodbye emails, very fast interview invitations, and more an acquaintance blabbed when I sent him a confidential email … and now I might become his boss updates: the filmed pregnancy announcement, the dress code, and more what kind of leave policy should a small business offer? team sleepover, firing abusive clients, and more can I push back on my company’s Mother’s Day activities? should I hire family members for my new business? my rock star employee needs time off for health … and her coworkers are complaining I’m on a “positivity” committee, job applicants whose voicemail doesn’t work, and more jobs that require a time-consuming exercise before you can even apply my coworker is a Zoom pest I’m a member of The Satanic Temple and got outed at work job candidates keep ghosting us, coworkers sharing a house, and more can I ask for a raise if I wouldn’t leave over salary? is my employee lying about needing sick time? I gave notice to our daycare provider and she freaked out my coworker reeks of weed, I asked for help and got put on a PIP, and more April 2022 weekend open thread – April 30-May 1, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 29-30, 2022 manager asks if she can call us on our days off, exhausted by comments on my hair and clothes, and more was my interviewer in the wrong … or was I? update: employee doesn’t want to use a name for themselves is rudeness and hostility on the rise in your profession? I saw my manager’s rude texts about my resignation, a dramatic haircut at lunch, and more my family member says it’s bad to withdraw from a hiring process even if I know I don’t want the job what’s the best time to send rejection letters? interesting jobs: interview with an ombuds I don’t want my new boss to come to my extracurricular event, coworker uses the n-word, and more a coworker who I referred to a job is demanding I share my referral bonus with him I found out my employee is job-hunting the CEO is obsessed with me and wants me to be his emotional support new boss monitors our LinkedIn profiles, I prepared for a video interview and didn’t need to, and more I’m not productive every single minute of every day Administrative Professionals Day is weird how should we respond to complaints about a non-binary guest in the bathrooms? making a friend at work, people ask why I’m still wearing a mask, and more weekend open thread – April 23-24, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 22-23, 2022 employee is too focused on typos, can I put my cat’s TikTok account on my resume, and more my professor wants us to walk into local businesses and ask if we can do a free project for them updates: my coworker won’t take corrections, the swollen face, and more I know my colleagues with kids are struggling … but it’s causing more work for me my employer is pushing a sketchy healthcare app, high-pressure interviewer, and more my boss called a mysterious meeting with me and I’m afraid I’m going to be fired my employee is missing too much work, but always has reasons I got in trouble for talking to my coworker about how much money I make my boss wants to check in with my doctor, employer wants to hear our worst lockdown moments, and more clients hire me to edit their books and then get angry about my feedback how can I find a job in another state without moving there first? should you turn on an out-of-office message when you’re away for a few hours? religious whataboutism, coworker’s side job is causing problems, and more here’s a template to make writing cover letters easier how do I get away from clingy networkers at events? I walked in on a coworker making out with our married colleague — do I say something? my coworker went through my trash, using bereavement leave for a vacation, and more weekend open thread – April 16-17, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 15-16, 2022 should I have to hire my replacement, I don’t want my boss to represent me at a meeting, and more how to ask my company to pay me more if they want me to stay updates: pumping during a training, boss annoyed by flexible schedule, and more how do you learn what types of jobs exist? did I spread gossip about my boss, company-branded clothing doesn’t fit me, and more my company called my coworker’s resignation “a horrific decision” the dog-riding child, the overheard therapy session, and other Zoom meeting mishaps how long will it take to change the culture at my new job? company singled out a wheelchair user to get us back to the office, work friend shared a private conversation with our boss, and more my coworker keeps asking what my clothes cost in front of other colleagues how do I tell an employee that I’m not promoting him? my employee wastes a huge amount of everyone’s time with “helpful” suggestions and questioning embarrassing bathroom incident, coworker won’t go to trainings, and more are personal calls OK at work? what if it’s an argument? my employee’s work is bad … but he gets a ton of public praise employee doesn’t want to use a name for themselves my company has a “Men’s Forum,” employee responds to feedback by saying her former boss loved her, and more weekend open thread – April 9-10, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 8-9, 2022 can I tell my friend the interview questions in advance, finding out if an employer drug tests, and more can I set a limit on how many interviews I’ll do with a company? updates: the horrible team lead, the bait and switch job offer, and more the flosser, the disrobers, and other Zoom mishaps: share your stories CEO says he’s being bullied, getting a job offer at an inconvenient time, and more when your boss has to correct your behavior, does it impact their impression of you forever? what consequences can managers enforce instead of firing someone? my employee shouted “F*** you!” at a coworker — but he was provoked coworker is pregnant with my boss’s baby, rejection email insulted me, and more when does an employer burn a bridge with an employee? my boss wants me to do her dirty work how much money do you make? promotion was announced on April Fool’s Day, fired employee’s LinkedIn says she still works for us, and more my coworker keeps bringing me “problems” that aren’t problems … and they’re definitely not HER problems my employee complains about her coworker but doesn’t want me to step in my boss makes me sign personal contracts for every rule he implements older coworker makes divisive comments about age, language tensions, and more weekend open thread – April 2-3, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 1-2, 2022 how do I get coworkers to stop printing things for me, old job still lists me as an employee, and more March 2022 do I have to tell my boss where I’m going when I quit? update: is it weird to incorporate martial arts at my job? my ambitious, driven self is gone – and I don’t feel like working anymore new employee refuses to learn technology, pigeon poop drama, and more are remote workers more likely to be laid off? the axe thrower, the carpet glue, and other astounding first impressions made by new employees my office contacts me CONSTANTLY while I’m on vacation I’m managing the mom of the ex-friend who catfished me, and more my boss won’t stop hassling me about my smoking and my weight my employee bothers her coworker with constant questions employee said she was leaving and has been replaced, but now doesn’t know when she is going to leave my boss started using Yiddish after she found out I’m Jewish, sleepwear for work travel, and more should I withdraw from an interview process to force an offer? returning to the office to “collaborate” isn’t always working my ex-boss wants me to pay a phone bill for months I didn’t work there community member asks to hear from male employees instead of me, saying “that’s above my pay grade,” and more weekend open thread – March 26-27, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – March 25-26, 2022 my boss accused me of writing a negative review, no big raise without switching jobs, and more what’s the deal with business cards? update: freelance agency keeps paying me late, but they give me a lot of work what’s the most astounding first impression you’ve seen a new hire make? exec cries with delight every day, no one reads my how-to guides, and more my new boss ran his own background check on me when an employee is too sick to call in sick I’m dating my boss — can I fix his conflict with another employee? can I work a gig job at lunch, coworker uses slurs, and more is it a mistake to turn down an interview because you’re not enthusiastic about the job? I don’t want to be the go-to person for everything at work how do I write a peer review for my horrible coworker? my boss is lying about having a PhD, companies that say you can’t ask coworkers to wear a mask, and more the quiet floor, the ghost cat, and other stories from college RAs my new employee argues even when he’s wrong my boss is angry that I couldn’t work while I was sick with Covid friend tried to steal my job, lactation room is now a “mask relief” room, and more weekend open thread – March 19-20, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – March 18-19, 2022 my company’s hiring managers are obsessed with thank-you notes, is a “hard stop” rude, and more people think I’m returning to my old job … but I’m definitely not update: how soon is too soon to leave a panic job? if you were an RA in college, now is your time to spill asking an exec to stop using the only gender-neutral bathroom, new manager loves ice-breakers, and more my older male colleague gives me condescending, unsolicited advice update: my coworker says I bullied her … should I tell her boss she needs more of a backbone? my coworkers keep dropping balls — is some of this normal in the workplace? bringing in muffins after a mistake at work, my coworker talked to HR about my mental health, and more can I ask my coworkers to keep masking around me and not come to work sick? employee only does well after I warn her about her work job candidate was distracted by her baby throughout our interview I might become my roommate’s boss, calling a regular lunch date an “appointment,” and more the plum liquor, the free lunches, and other times people used their power for good I get angry when employees make mistakes we gave an expensive goodbye gift and the person didn’t leave my boss jokes about firing people, my awful ex-coworker works at the company I’m interviewing with, and more weekend open thread – March 12-13, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – March 11-12, 2022 my friend has never had a job, company wants me to cheat the recruiter, and more what’s the definition of “professional hours”? updates: the prank falls, the entitled coworker, and more let’s talk about people “misusing” their power for good I’m left out of work events, interviewer thought I was drunk, and more my company fired a bad employee, then un-fired him the same day my employee keeps fake quitting my coworker sent a classist, racist email company-wide after a janitor won our Christmas contest food restrictions at a lunch interview, X-rated background noise on phone calls, and more obnoxiously pushy recruiter wouldn’t let me decline a job interview, then snarked me when I turned down the job should I tell my boss I’m job-searching? I don’t like my super popular coworker … and she complained to my boss about it people keep asking me to do admin work, coworkers don’t wash their hands, and more the fake crossing guard, the controversial coat rack, and other abuses of tiny amounts of power what are my obligations to a client when a project drags on? my coworker gets upset when I say “thank you” and takes offense to routine work stuff … and my boss won’t manage her drinking and overnight visits to the boss, sounding approachable when you’re stressed, and more weekend open thread – March 5-6, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – March 4-5, 2022 using martial arts at work, I saw my job posted online, and more making a remote employee pay for their own travel to visit the office updates: the ominous recruiter, the clueless intern, and more what’s the smallest amount of power you’ve seen someone abuse? I’d rather work than attend a family funeral, client constantly cancels, and more is my manager the problem … or am I? my employee takes out her stress on coworkers my employee seemed really frustrated in a meeting where she didn’t realize she was on camera office romance drama, my contact ghosted my friend, and more can you frame time off to care for a baby as a “sabbatical”? my employees took offense to my social media post 3 of my employees are having a conflict … and I can’t tell who’s right or wrong packing up your office before you quit, boss is abusive when people resign, and more February 2022 new hire keeps kneeling in front of me what to say in response to “I’m sorry” from employees how do I ask for monthly time off to deal with my period? asking an employee to IM instead of calling, bad writing in hiring emails, and more weekend open thread – February 26-27, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – February 25-26, 2022 our boss’s lack of self-esteem drives us crazy, interviewing when you can be very picky, and more when recruiters ask, “how did the interview go?” update: the mom quitting her job because of Covid my wife’s complaints about work are overwhelming me I took a promotion without knowing the salary, coworker uses Comic Sans, and more I can’t get my boss to give me feedback or solve problems my team keeps coming to work hungover how do I get my chatty coworkers to stop saying wildly inappropriate things? stopping comments on weight loss before they start, angry rejected candidate, and more changing pronouns at work: a success story was I wrong to quit my job? my new boss is changing the team culture I loved should I let my neighbor hire me, should I remove my mask in an interview, and more our new phones have fewer speed dial buttons and everyone is freaking out my boss gets angry when I won’t share my food with her I learned off-putting info about a job candidate, our CEO keeps replying-all to BCCs, and more weekend open thread – February 19-20, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – February 18-19, 2022 job offered me half the salary I was expecting, vastly over-paying a student, and more can I tell sick coworkers to go home? can you really ever get past being a procrastinator? updates: the missed promotion, the religious mission, and more pressured to donate blood, interviewee flubbed a softball question, and more why is this interview question stumping our candidates? I interviewed a candidate who didn’t know what was on his resume my boss is coming back after going AWOL for 2 years employer sent out a fried chicken recipe for Black History Month, quitting at a bad time, and more our new team lead is horrible and keeps sharing private details about us with our colleagues update: my coworker’s son is interning for us … and it’s not going well my coworker passes me messages “from the CEO” … that I think are really from her forced to celebrate the boss’s birthday, snow day favoritism, and more your coworkers with kids are not OK my employee is having an affair with a client’s spouse I’m 35 and my job wants me to live in a college dorm for 6 months I always have to cover for my sick coworker, director thinks I’m an intern, and more weekend open thread – February 12-13, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – February 11-12, 2022 an unreasonable tattoo policy, I went to a college run by a religion I no longer follow, and more how can I hire people when my company won’t negotiate on salary or remote work? update: my best employee quit on the spot because I wouldn’t let her go to her college graduation Covid has made my job a slog — when should I give up on it? warning a hothead personal trainer, taking six months off to hike, and more should I get IV fluids for a hangover at work? my employee is always distracted by her phone my team demands aggressive positivity … and I have a medical condition that leaves me exhausted too unattractive to get a job, old boss expects me to keep working for her, and more is networking overrated? can you end a job interview early if it’s not a good fit? my coworker says I bullied her … should I tell her boss she needs more of a backbone? should you refinance your student loans? boss might be lying about being vaccinated, a terrible resume typo, and more how to tell an employee he needs to figure some things out himself my employee spends too much time justifying everything she says my lovely but bumbling boss is driving me crazy naked saunas with colleagues, avoiding eating lunch with a boss, and more weekend open thread – February 5-6, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – February 4-5, 2022 new hire with a criminal record, backing out of a job offer, and more what should I do if I need more time to think of an answer to an interview question? how can I get time off work for therapy? working parents with little kids: how can your coworkers help you? we have to assess our spiritual strengths, a nail-clipping coworker, and more my interviewer asked if I “needed” the job here’s a huge discount on the Ask a Manager job-searching bible do I have any recourse when an employer ghosts me? can I bring my own furniture to a new job, an ominous recruiter, and more update: my new office has a no-humor policy my shy employee wants to use email for everything my office isn’t acknowledging my adopted baby coworker watches adult material in our shared office, what to say when an interviewer warns of long hours, and more January 2022 what’s the point of making me work from the office to “collaborate” if no one else is here? my employee quit smoking and has become cranky at work the new hire who showed up is not the same person we interviewed the tyrant and the coffeemaker, a clothes-obsessed coworker, and more weekend open thread – January 29-30, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 28-29, 2022 shower thoughts, managing without a private office, and more a medical issue means I have to keep saying no … but I don’t want to over-share updates: director is so bad that everyone is leaving, and more it feels impossible to be a working mom with little kids a great job working for someone I can’t stand, coworker is on reality TV, and more my employee keeps working long hours even after we’ve told her to stop my employee is angry that I’m using the baby name she wanted employers need to hire more people with disabilities … here’s how do I have to wear makeup to look professional, my boss wants “fun” but pointless perks, and more my boss made me fire my boyfriend … and then hired her cousin my new job isn’t what I was promised — can I quit? my boss wants me to be positive and upbeat all the time … we work in disaster relief being an environmentalist at a fossil fuel company, boss wants us to work from his house, and more our motivational speaker got drunk and went off the rails why aren’t the companies “desperate” for workers doing the one thing that would attract them? my coworker told me he’s hiding a terminal illness recovering from angry outbursts at work, surgery right after starting a new job, and more weekend open thread – January 22-23, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 21-22, 2022 part-time admin got a full-time job, what to say when your boss is laid off, and more don’t trust the answers to “how would you describe your management style?” updates: employee got pulled over during a Zoom meeting, and more how can I advocate for workers’ rights when I’m the customer? men with bare chests at work, charging late fees when freelancing, and more our new-grad employees see less glamorous work as beneath them about medical practices that can’t pay enough to keep their employees… my coworkers told my boss I talk about my baby too much is an “intro meeting” the same as an interview, dress codes when you’re non-binary, and more is it ethical for a recruiter to require you to agree to a salary up-front and not discuss the offer with your current job? my employee apologizes for mistakes she didn’t make calling out racism, supporting a Black manager, and other questions with Michelle Silverthorn I was told I could bring my dog to work but now I can’t, companies that don’t check references, and more how can I stop softening the message in tough conversations with my staff? update: I hate my boss’s mandatory Zoom happy hours fired for forwarding resumes to myself, boss wants me to buy everyone expensive coffee, and more weekend open thread – January 15-16, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 14-15, 2022 I was kicked out of a work lunch because I couldn’t eat, attracting employees when we can’t pay more, and more how to respond to unclear “let me know when you have some time” requests update: can I ask for a raise after covering for remote coworkers for over a year? my coworker tried to film her pregnancy announcement and now there is chaos my longtime job doesn’t know I have 9 kids, long walks to the bathroom, and more how long should you wait if someone is late to a virtual meeting? my employee is too cavalier about mistakes my new coworker keeps staring at my breasts my boss wants me to deep-clean the office, company is going to ruin my credit, and more is it OK to look very different from your online photos? my boss is unreachable when I need him how do I balance my labor shortage sympathy with annoyance at the inconvenience it causes? is it weird for my employees to see me naked at a spa, traveling for a job at my expense, and more is our intern just clueless and inexperienced — or a con artist? my employee wants constant praise and support I got in trouble for wearing the same dress every day my slacker coworkers make more work for me, constant trainings disrupt my job, and more weekend open thread – January 8-9, 2022 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 7-8, 2022 can I tell interviewers my hobby is drinking, going from scruffy to polished at work, and more was our workshop facilitator too controlling? updates: I used to drink on the job with my new boss, the pushy mother-in-law, and more are employers really so eager to hire right now? wedding invite from employee’s daughter, coworker is being a jerk about our new boss, and more my office says we can keep working from home if we take 5% pay cuts I can’t get the info I need from an employee who’s on leave my office Secret Santa gave me a gift from a pornstar board member shares too much on social media, was I dressed too casually for a Zoom call, and more I’ve accidentally convinced my coworkers that I’m homeless – but I’m not! is my team too much of a clique? can I send a male assistant to get me tampons? our new strategy has a risqué name, my employees didn’t give me anything after their holiday bonuses, and more my favorite posts of 2021 update: my awful former boss works at the new job I’m about to start most popular posts of 2021 weekend open thread – January 1-2, 2022