Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My manager constantly talks about her personal finances I am the only direct report to a manager who constantly talks about how much money she is spending in her personal life. Her spouse owns an international company, which allows her to have a pretty nice […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Asking my wife not to attend a work dinner Am I wrong for not wanting my wife to attend an after hours dinner where I’m excluded? Probably, yes. It’s very, very normal to have work dinners where spouses and partners aren’t invited. These are business […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. We can’t have couches anymore I work as a staff member at a college. The other day, the HR director told us he is getting rid of all of the couches around administrative offices and lobbies. When asked why, he said, “Title IX. We want […]

I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. My coworker is wearing jewelry that signifies a dominant/submissive relationship I recently realized that one of my coworkers wears D/s jewelry every day. (Funny enough, I wouldn’t have recognized it had I […]

I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. I saw a coworker’s “people I need to hit” list In a meeting last week, my coworker Tony shared his screen while his OneNote was still visible and the title of the […]

I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. My coworker keeps making minor corrections to my work I am experiencing a weird feedback situation at work and don’t know how to handle it. One of my coworkers, Jane, frequently corrects […]

I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. Two coworkers are attacking people over grammar At my company, we have a couple of grammar fanatics who go out of their way to correct people even when they’re not in the […]

I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. Coworker tags our CEO on Twitter to point out my mistakes I’m part of an incredibly progressive, supportive team, where one of my responsibilities is my organization’s social media. In six months, […]

I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. I got drunk and flipped out at a company dinner Friday night, we had my company’s annual dinner, which includes all management. My husband works for the same company and we are […]

I’m on vacation. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. I don’t want my partner to take a job on my team I was recently hired after a months-long job search because a friend (Fergus) recommended me for a position in his […]