advice about your coworkers

Need advice about your coworkers? Here are answers to questions from dealing with a coworker who sings all day, to interrupters, to credit-stealers, and much more.

how should I deal with a pompous, sexist coworker?

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’ve recently started a new job, I love my team, the work is engaging, my manager is amazing, the company culture really suits me, and they’re super flexible around Covid. But (there’s always a but) I’ve run into an issue with a coworker that’s impacting […]

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HR questioned me for hours about a sex injury

A reader writes: This happened a few weeks ago and I’m hoping it’s resolved, but I’m at a loss as to what I could have done differently. In my personal life, I enjoy BDSM. I keep it out of my work life, obviously. I don’t ask anyone to call my partners master or wear obvious […]

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my coworker suddenly dislikes me

A reader writes: I have been working at my current company for a little more than a year. One of my coworkers, Zoe, was really nice to me and friendly in general, but the last month or so, she feels a little cold and honestly like she just does not want to talk to me […]

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my coworker is too personally invested in her job

A reader writes: I have a question about going over someone’s head to raise concerns to their supervisor. This isn’t a concern with her quality of work, nor anything she’s done wrong — it’s more out of concern for her as a person. She technically outranks me, but only in title, not in the kind […]

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should I tell my boss I hate my job?

A reader writes: I started a new job a few months ago, and at first I was crazy excited about it. I was really looking forward to all the cool things I’d get to work on, the smart people I’d get to meet, and the new things I’d get to learn. Plus, the company I […]

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my coworker sounds drunk on work calls

A reader writes: One of my coworkers is an older woman who lives alone. She could be a bit difficult before the pandemic because she gets very intense about her work, but during the pandemic she’s seemed markedly different. Lately it’s become apparent that she is impaired at times during the work day. She slurs […]

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the office admin refuses to speak to me

A reader writes: I began a job with a new organization in December, with a downgrade in responsibility but a moderate increase in salary. My supervisor was hired at the same time (from another department within the organization) and did not assume her new role until the new year. This left a few weeks where […]

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HR treats my autistic employee like he’s an incompetent child

A reader writes: I’m a newly-promoted manager and my very first hire, David, who just started a few weeks ago, recently told me he is on the autistic spectrum. (I had figured that previously during the hiring process, but it’s not like I could just diagnose him.) I approached our head of HR, Danielle, with […]

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my boss’s relative treats me like his personal assistant

A reader writes: I work as an administrative assistant for a small professional company. One of the owner’s older relatives, Karl, also works at the company and is a senior staff member. Karl frequently asks me to run personal errands for him on company and my off time, some of which are annoying and others […]

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