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You can find posts from 2021 below, or find earlier years here: 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2021 January April July October February May August November March June September November 2021 weekend open thread – November 20-21, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – November 19-20, 2021 employee threatens to sue us when we tell her to save work files, I don’t want to put up holiday decorations, and more a candidate told a random lie and doubled-down when we asked about it I made a gift guide for every employee on your team my partner and I both work from home … and we’re moving in together does my emergency make me look like a flake, discussing salary with friends, and more my boss was furious that I went to a work party after calling out sick my employee punched her supervisor during a disagreement my team is requiring us to do a diet/exercise/”mental toughness” program coworker takes all his calls on speakerphone, demoted boss asked me to be a character witness, and more how do I negotiate salary when I’m overpaid? update: my boyfriend left me for an intern at work and her manager called my friend about it my employees got into a religious argument and now things are in chaos my coworker takes too many smoke breaks, applying for a job when you can’t afford their products, and more our polyamorous employee wants to bring their 3 partners to the holiday party my employee won’t take time off my VP of HR says my service dog is too small coming to work with wet hair, I don’t want friends as clients, and more weekend open thread – November 13-14, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – November 12-13, 2021 my safety partner won’t accompany me when he’s supposed to, what am I allowed to do on sick leave, and more we have to thank our coworkers for coming to work update: my company is issuing new work-from-home standards because we should have the hang of it by now when office potlucks go wrong do managers need to foster team relationships, company doesn’t want remote managers, and more a toxic duo, a bitter chat group, a firing, and a lot of drama is there any point in “courtesy interviews”? I manage an employee who pushes too much positivity on her team blackballing people who didn’t work this year, my coworker is bad at Twitter, and more my employee took money under false pretenses from a nonprofit employers shouldn’t use video for short first-round interviews my boss says he can’t hire me at his new company because he’s attracted to me HR called employee’s wife about his bad behavior, should my employer pay for my flat tire, and more my coworker’s son is interning for us … and it’s not going well I think a job candidate is lying about his work experience my boss pays me an extra $500/month from her own money — but didn’t pay me this month I can’t stand my coworker’s voice, I feel guilty about taking maternity leave again, and more weekend open thread – November 6-7, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – November 5-6, 2021 coworker asks for “confidential” help, charity wants us to volunteer for a for-profit company, and more do I have to work in-office during my notice period? my employee takes credit for work she didn’t do my colleagues treat me like a kid and think I’m younger than I am interviewing when I just started a new job, unpaid quarantine, and more my husband has to discuss his eating habits with the CEO we hired without checking references … and it went badly I’m working 2 full-time remote jobs — is this unethical? employee got pulled over during a Zoom call, are firm offers a mistake, and more I started a job without agreeing on a salary — and then it turned out to be too low how do I give feedback in an open office where everyone can hear my conversations? I walked in on the company owner having sex in his office drama over kids’ fundraisers, can I charge for dream time, and more update: I’m frustrated that my employees don’t want to return to the office about that letter from the manager angry her employee wanted to be paid… my employers want to pay for my surgery — but I want a raise employee wants bereavement leave for her dog, costume contest fundraiser, and more October 2021 weekend open thread – October 30-31, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 29-30, 2021 I used to drink on the job with my new boss, quitting with no notice, and more coworker keeps interrupting my work and told me it’s “good practice” to keep myself focused should you tell your boss if you’re struggling with mental health issues? my dysfunctional company will give me a free day off every week if I stay several more years my boss is throwing a maskless team Thanksgiving dinner, company says our coworker who quit is actually still here, and more are better managers … ever actually worse? where are you now? (a call for updates) my coworker accidentally sent me a recording making fun of me coworker’s grisly Halloween decor, I don’t want to dance in my office’s TikTok videos, and more our highly-paid, overworked junior staff keep leaving just as we get them fully trained I’m frustrated that my employees don’t want to return to the office I caught my coworker masturbating at his desk my boss cried when I asked for a raise, when to tell applicants about our vaccine requirement, and more my company wants me to work Halloween and I’m a Halloween fanatic job seekers are ghosting employers … just like employers have done to them for years my coworker is secretly living at the office I quit my job but they insist I have to participate in an investigation, putting Mensa on your resume, and more weekend open thread – October 23-24, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 22-23, 2021 inviting only some coworkers to a party, rude IMs, and more my boss told me not to tell anyone I’m quitting updates: the better offer, the long business trip, and more what’s the most unreasonable thing you’ve ever been asked to do at a job? company has a men-only weekend trip, did employer lie about their interview process, and more my coworker keeps saying men only ask me for help because I’m hot how can I avoid business contacts who just want to pitch me? should I report my abusive former boss to her current employer? my new coworkers keep saying I’m going to hate my job, parents posting their kids’ resumes on LinkedIn, and more how do I talk to my anti-vaccine coworker? my boss sucks and there’s nothing I can do my employee wasn’t respectful enough after the company messed up her paycheck paratransit is making me look like a slacker, paying back training costs when we leave, and more did I make a mistake by sharing my salary with a coworker? how to manage an employee who rambles our job candidates show up in ultra-casual interview attire my boss keeps telling me to clean up my office, carpooling with someone I manage, and more weekend open thread – October 16-17, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 15-16, 2021 my friend’s work problems are stressing me out, I got accused of trash-talking a former job, and more when the red flags are even more ominous than you know… update: how much of a red flag is it if a job candidate was fired twice previously? what should I bring to the office now that we’re going back? boss says we can’t share our lunches, employee fell for a scam, and more our head of security took upskirt photos of an intern my employees keep contacting me when I’m off work the boss who fired me got hired at my new job — and she’s joking about how bad my work was another manager complained about my employee, resigning before you’re fired, and more how do I talk to an employee about her distracting dog? what do I do about work if my kids are sent home to quarantine? my boss flirts with (and sometimes sleeps with) our vendors — and tells me all about it my manager talks about religion daily, my boss makes a huge profit on my work, and more employer says candidates must accept the job if it’s offered my employee keeps changing her appearance during the work day should I expose my boss for her mean and gossipy Twitter account? company wants our baby photos, getting away from a boss who’s yelling, and more weekend open thread – October 9-10, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 8-9, 2021 volunteer’s mom hangs out in our office, refusing to comply with a vaccine mandate, and more how to make waiting to hear back about a job more bearable update: how can I fix my procrastination problem? how do you network in the era of Covid? what do I do if I can’t find child care, HR asked if I’m job-searching, and more boss organizes a poker game to determine end-of-year bonuses can you give an employee time to find a new job before they’re fired? the controversial calculator, the highlighter war, and other drama over office supplies writing an improvement plan for a pastor, job-searching outside of business hours, and more our Zoom meetings are a disorganized mess my coworker complains all day long my employee vents to me about her job and personal life and wants constant reassurance coworker buys us things we don’t want, putting vaccination on your resume, and more update: a coworker prayed for my fiancé’s death so we didn’t invite her to our wedding … and now there is drama I’m constantly anxious that one of my employees will quit job seekers are ghosting us on interviews and job offers my boss threatened to sue me when I quit, Netflix on work laptops, and more weekend open thread – October 2-3, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – October 1-2, 2021 interviewing from a parked car, asking employees to solve problems on their own, and more September 2021 is it unprofessional to use fidget toys at work? updates: the 3-year probation, the furlough, and more let’s talk about drama over office supplies candidate lied about the dates of a job, ex-mentee still brings me all her questions, and more my employees are getting married and having a baby — can I insist they tell the rest of the team? my employee wants flexible hours in a job that doesn’t allow it our white manager centers herself in conversations about racism — and other questions with Michelle Silverthorn can my company make me have child care when I work from home, wedding officiants, and more my coworker keeps whispering sexually explicit things in the office bathroom are unlimited vacation days really unlimited? a coworker prayed for my fiancé’s death so we didn’t invite her to our wedding … and now there is drama employee showed up at kid’s birthday party, coworker keeps taking our snacks, and more my employee relocated and didn’t tell me companies’ lip service about “self-care” isn’t what employees need our employee forged the owner’s signature on his mortgage documents employee lied for months about his work, coworker wants me to turn down my radio, and more weekend open thread – September 25-26, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 24-25, 2021 a rogue admin, a silent snacker, and more don’t pretend to have a question just so you can talk about yourself — in interviews and in life how do I manage a great employee who finishes everything ahead of schedule? how do I not feel jealous of my wealthier coworkers? employee got pregnant to avoid working on Christmas, I told my boss to F off, and more CEO’s wife ruined my job prospects when should you go to HR — and when should you not? I manage my daughter and someone complained about her giving tattoos at work, boss lied about getting engaged, and more I’m in trouble for what I wore when when my boss made me pick him up for the airport in the middle of the night how will the vaccine mandate work exactly? I’m hypersensitive to criticism — how do I fix this? I disabled my coworker’s caps-lock key, employee calls me his “manageress,” and more update: should I explain I quit on my second day because my coworker was overwhelmingly difficult? can I tell clients I don’t talk on the phone? I was fired for taking initiative (and undermining my manager) drunken scene at a coworker’s wedding, I said something profane to my boss, and more weekend open thread – September 18-19, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 17-18, 2021 employer wouldn’t give me paid time off for Covid, my job won’t let me quit, and more interview with a person who responds to Glassdoor reviews for her company update: is my former employer telling reference checkers I was fired? how do I manage an unmanageable workload? grandboss’s favoritism toward a new hire, lunch meeting without masks in a small room, and more my friend is angry that I can’t help more in her job search how do I fire a volunteer who’s not getting her work done? is there a way to find out if someone secretly has two full-time jobs? guilt about applying for a new job, new hire didn’t negotiate, and more my ex-boss isn’t that into me (but I’m still into her) my job offer was rescinded — after I already quit my old job employer wants friends and family to participate in 360 feedback reviews is it ungrateful to ask for more money when you get promoted, my mentee is out of touch, and more my boss is angry that I lied about the reason for my vacation can I turn a request for free help into paid consulting? my employee sent me a “letter of intent” to look for another job I have two bosses, my manager attends a notoriously bigoted university, and more weekend open thread – September 11-12, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 10-11, 2021 does sloppy writing indicate lack of attention to detail, resigning when I won’t go back to the office, and more if I don’t accept calendar invitations, will people assume I won’t be at meetings? disgusting shared fridges, loud talkers, and other things we haven’t missed about the office how can I ease the transition back to working from the office? compliments I don’t deserve, people keep giving me plants, and more the intern who set up a cot and other stories of internships gone wrong my employees have been mocking a coworker behind his back should I explain I quit on my second day because my coworker was overwhelmingly difficult? my boss asked us to share deeply painful experiences, smelly candles, and more update: I accidentally threw condoms all over my interviewer’s desk how soon is too soon to leave a panic job? I’m upset that my friend wants to work for the company that laid me off should I tell my boss I’m in therapy, coworker forged a signature, and more Labor Day open thread weekend open thread – September 4-6, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – September 3-4, 2021 will I be fired if I refuse a Covid test, I didn’t get a thank-you after helping someone, and more is there any good reason not to share salary bands within a company? updates: the barking dog, the fan accounts, and more how do I transition from a corporate job to non-office work? my boss reads my emails, TV’s best bosses, and more how do I know if it’s safe to be out at work … and other questions about LGBTQ+ issues at work if I work in HR, can I have friends at work? my office got us turtles to take care of and bring home on weekends everyone is brushing their teeth at work, a terribly-named award, and more August 2021 should I stay at a job I don’t like if it could lead to a big pay-off in a few years? my coworker won’t volunteer for any of our work my boss told me not to give greeting cards to older men because it could seem sexual riding a motorcycle to work, is my chronic sneezing distracting my coworkers, and more update: my employee gave me an “it’s her or me” ultimatum inside the weird world of out-of-office messages my company wants me to investigate what expensive medical treatments employees are having and why candidate read all their answers from a script, I don’t want to talk to people while they’re driving, and more weekend open thread – August 28-29, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – August 27-28, 2021 what’s the deal with outplacement agencies, my boss won’t support any professional development, and more my coworker cried and called me militant updates: the ex’s hostile friend, the bait and switch, and more dealing with customers who are angry that we require masks and proof of vaccination my unvaccinated coworker may have exposed me to Covid, is my boss bullying me, and more how do I tell my brand new job I’m leaving for a better offer? you should ask for more money when you get a job offer. here’s how. my employee gave me an “it’s her or me” ultimatum some of my team did horribly working from home, regaining privacy at work, and more I accidentally threw condoms all over my interviewer’s desk my boss is so pro-remote-work that it’s annoying did I burn a bridge by resigning right after I was promoted? my coworker keeps crying in meetings, my boss only wants to hire friends, and more the confetti, the playwright, and other stories of revenge on jerks at work how do I tell a difficult employee she’s right without undermining my authority? my employee lies to me about things he just said 30 seconds ago my coworker throws my papers away, a fingernail conundrum, and more weekend open thread – August 21-22, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – August 20-21, 2021 can I nap at work, asking why someone was pushed out of a job, and more the sick call with sound effects, the cheesecake, and other stories of triumphs over jerks at work can I rescind a job offer on the spot if an applicant seems curt? is it crazy to quit my job to go freelance in 2021? I’m not included in meetings about my team’s work, my boss says remote workers should get paid less, and more our new entry-level coworker thinks he’s our boss how do I keep working in a job I hate while I look for a new one? my employee complains that her coworker has too much flexibility am I being pushed out of my job because I’m moving, fundraising when everyone’s remote, and more my boss said sick days aren’t something you can announce in advance my company isn’t enforcing its vaccine mandate how do I manage an employee who doesn’t need the job? I got Covid at work and my company won’t cover my sick time, horrible new coworker wants to be friends, and more how can I tell our boss we’ll all quit if we can’t work from home? I re-hired an employee … who promptly quit again my awful former boss works at the new job I’m about to start my dog barks on work calls, how far out can I schedule an interview, and more weekend open thread – August 14-15, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – August 13-14, 2021 I secretly moved people’s desks 2 inches and they freaked out, late-night work emails, and more Mortification Week: the county lock-up, the disrupted town hall, and more Ask a Manager in the media tell us your stories of triumphing over work jerks can I take a year off work, do I have to use nicknames, and more Mortification Week: the sleepover, the angry bees, and more my employee won’t speak to me Mortification Week: the museum captive, the accidental grope, and more my mom is pushing too hard on my job search, I can’t do the work fun scheduled just for me, and more Mortification Week: the copied texts, the unamused clients, and more should I have to go to happy hours to get a promotion? Mortification Week: the terrible interview answer, the velvet bra, and more my friend is a bad employee, will attending an anti-gay college hurt me, and more the intern who took over an office, the dragon pajamas, and other stories to cringe over/revel in a senior staffer is inviting junior staff to her house for drinking parties remote jobs that aren’t really remote my boss says I lied about my level of experience because I took maternity leave, same-day interviews, and more weekend open thread – August 7-8, 2021 open thread – August 6-7, 2021 it’s your Friday good news clients don’t understand what I do, business casual for men, and more should I reach out to an employer who ghosted me? this is why you need a good cover letter how do I adjust to working 8 hours a day? employee is taking free snacks, Parks and Rec vs. The Office, and more our boss won’t speak to us, hides in his office, and drops off calls if anyone greets him should I give a bad reference for a nightmare employee? a friend of my ex-boyfriend verbally attacked me at work I was rejected for not sending a thank-you note, aggressive office money collections, and more my coworker won’t stop poking me 10 really good questions to ask in a job interview my company’s survey questions are awfully intrusive — are they really anonymous? annoying coworker lurks near every conversation, am I over-dressing, and more is it dishonest not to disclose you’re pregnant when you’re interviewing? my employee constantly talks about waiting for 5:00 and the weekend my company is requiring us to travel because “they miss us” July 2021 cutting off a hired mentor, dealing with pushy new grads, and more weekend open thread – July 31-August 1, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 30-31, 2021 company didn’t even read my application, forced to take a promotion you don’t want, and more can I refuse to do a self-assessment? updates: the anonymous complaint, the biopsy, and more how can I look more polished at work? my coworker lied to me, warning someone before reporting them, and more coworkers can’t hear me on calls from home because it’s loud here my employee keeps staying late even though I’ve told her to stop interviewer badmouthed me to my references because I didn’t want to “harness the power of QAnon” my boss thinks perks should be earned, working at a bathhouse, and more my new hire quit after his first day my remote employees say our in-office perks are unfair my boss won’t speak to us and says “please” is disrespectful I’ve been offered a job I’m not qualified for, a potential client who can’t use email, and more update: someone keeps farting in important client meetings the people who’d rather quit than give up remote work a manager scolded me for having a cold sore on my face coworker steals people’s snacks, a sales rep who rants on social media, and more weekend open thread – July 24-25, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 23-24, 2021 my boss never praises my work, my awful ex-manager lists me as a protege, and more my boss says I’m an “unapproachable” manager Ask a Manager in the media should I leave my job if I don’t have to work for money? my boss objects to a joke I made a year ago, employers who freak out when you turn down a job, and more my coworkers keep asking me when I’m due — and I’m not pregnant my boss hasn’t talked to me in months I found my boss’s highly critical notes about a coworker employee’s weird email about a coworker, job wants people who enjoy jokes made at their expense, and more am I supposed to remember the details of every job I apply to? should I warn my work friend she might get fired? I had a meltdown during an office welcome back party in my honor companies incentivizing returning to work, shaking your hair out in a meeting, and more update: my interviewer asked about my personal finances my coworker treats me like a child my coworker told HR I was interviewing and now they’re posting my job my boyfriend left me for an intern, we under-estimated how long a nursing employee would need to pump, and more weekend open thread – July 17-18, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 16-17, 2021 I’m overhearing my partner’s work conversations and they’re bad, rude companies during a labor shortage, and more my coworker tells others I’m going to be overwhelmed I was rejected after a manager looked at my LinkedIn profile my coworker’s bad customer service is irritating me … and she’s friends with my mom thermostat wars with a classist twist, boss won’t return clients’ calls, and more did the pandemic really show we can be just as effective working from home? how exactly do you quit a job? my boss will not physically acknowledge me in social settings false affair rumors, a boss who talks of self-harm, and more do employers set up secret “gotcha” tests for job candidates? why haven’t I heard back after my interview? my coworker sends us incessant updates about her kid employee is trying to force me to accept a loan I don’t want, a raise for covering for remote coworkers, and more update: my manager is annoyed that I keep getting Saturdays off my freelancers don’t turn in work on time my trust fund coworker bullies staff for being “poor” unfireable employee is having affair with the boss, dealing with a pushy donor, and more weekend open thread – July 10-11, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 9-10, 2021 my client altered my email to make himself look better, what’s a good job, and more should I take my Etsy business off my resume? updates: the berating coworker, the higher salary, and more has the last year changed your thinking about what you want to do with your work hours? is my girlfriend cheating with her old boss, turning down handshakes, and more why do interviewers expect you to have already researched their company? my coworker’s stress is stressing me out do I need to keep covering a remote employee’s work? can I work from a museum or the zoo if I’m remote, how open should I be about retiring really early, and more I think my assistant would be better at my job than I am how to turn down a job offer my employee takes over meetings with endless monologues and no one can get a word in required to jump in the pool to get a day off, recovering from over-sharing, and more open thread – July 5, 2021 weekend open thread – July 3-4, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – July 2-3, 2021 my boss might drink during work hours, work acronyms gone wrong, and more how professional-sounding do resume email addresses need to be? updates: the short maternity leave, the needy replacement, and more how can a full-time parent support their breadwinner partner? backing out of a social trip with coworkers, colleague has a bad attitude with a good reason, and more June 2021 updates: the terrible attitude, the lack of real world experience, and more should you connect with strangers on LinkedIn? my coworker is really aggressive about commuting home with me my coworker is overworking herself, are tank tops business casual, and more updates: the complaining coworkers, the embarrassed boss, and more my new job said I could work from home – and then changed their minds can I keep mentioning my period at work? our babysitter ghosted us and now works at my office, replacing a beloved employee who died, and more updates: disgusting boss touches and chews on everything on my desk, and more can I leave an unproductive meeting? should I leave my family business? contractor deleted shared files I paid for, it is OK to discuss a firing with others, and more weekend open thread – June 26-27, 2021 updates: no job descriptions, struggling with working from home, and more it’s your Friday good news open thread – June 25-26, 2021 how to handle a creep at someone else’s workplace, should I return to the office if I’m immunocompromised, and more updates: the unsafe holiday party, the dominatrix, and more update: I resist pressure to work long hours — but my coworkers don’t would you quit over your employer’s work-from-home policy? my employees prefer remote work but I don’t, feeling emotional about resigning, and more update: a client sent me a thank-you check as a way to avoid paying my boss my new employee keeps complaining about missing her kids my office wants my pronouns — but I’m still figuring it out managing an abusive manager, coworkers keep talking about my new luxury car, and more update: really aggressive spam callers are giving me anxiety attacks I hate working from home my new office has a no-humor policy we’re asked to share our bra and underwear sizes with the team, crawling at work, and more updates: the scream-yawns, the condescending coworker, and more update: my new job is a nightmare built on a hellmouth asking to use the boss’s limo and other unprofessional mishaps I sent an angry response to a work email — was I in the wrong? I don’t want to chip in for a birthday gift for our boss, apologizing to a former coworker, and more weekend open thread — June 19-20, 2021 updates: my boss wants me to help him jump the line for the Covid vaccine, and more it’s your Friday good news open thread — June 18-19, 2021 my boss hates when I mute myself on group calls, telling a job I’d only take it if I could work remotely, and more update: can I leave my job after one year if I committed to more? our employee lied about having a sick child how can we get older members of our field to stop complimenting women on their appearances? I’m earning less than someone who lied on their resume, difficult client will only deal with one of my employees, and more updates: my coworker told everyone we’re married (we’re not) and more updates: I work with my awful boss’s sister, afraid to give feedback, and more are all jobs bad? my ex-boss is using my firing as content for her company social media pages manager keeps talking about astrology, recording video calls, and more update: I accidentally threw a sandwich and it caused a work crisis remember the manager who wouldn’t let her best employee attend her own graduation? I’m afraid I’m terrible at my new job should I warn our terrible managers that most of our team is about to leave? it’s time to close the life insurance gender gap when HR cuddles with an employee, asking kids what they want to be when they grow up, and more updates: the meditation and yoga office, the detective, and more update: my coworker is upset that I’m pregnant did Covid kill office dress codes? can I apply for a temporarily remote job and then insist on remaining remote? employer asked if we should use force to protect traditional values, working with a coworker who drops balls, and more weekend open thread – June 12-13, 2021 updates: the nosy coworker, not oversharing as a manager, and more it’s your Friday good news open thread – June 11-12, 2021 do younger managers still care about thank-you notes, I don’t want to hire my ex’s father, and more updates: I insulted my boss’s daughter, and more updates: avoiding political talk, the feelings boss, and more I feel mediocre compared to our new hires frequent bathroom visits, putting an out-of-state address on your resume, and more updates: the false affair rumor, the coworker ripping artwork down, and more my employee says I can’t stop her from leaving work early is this job description full of red flags? telling an interviewer God said this is the right job for you, my mentee hasn’t taken Covid seriously, and more updates: the hidden breast milk, the wedding chaos, and more how is the return to work supposed to work, exactly? I’m worried my new hire won’t fit into our very liberal — and vocal — team my manager is annoyed with my days off, missing work because “something came up,” and more update: my coworker put a magical curse on her boss are employees obligated to speak up when they’re unhappy at work? what to say to job applicants when you know you can’t offer fair compensation joking about people getting fired, what’s up with pantyhose, and more weekend open thread – June 5-6, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – June 4-5, 2021 hiring a replacement before someone is fired, I accidentally sent a dirty message to my friend’s work email, and more unvaccinated employees are complaining about a $100 bonus for getting vaccinated Ask a Manager in the media when out-of-office messages go wrong coworker loves to abuse robocallers, boss uses Facebook photos without permission, and more should I let my staff take retroactive leave for unproductive days? my employee doesn’t work enough hours we’re being put back in cubicles even though we’re more productive in private offices interviewer became rude after I got his name wrong, coworkers keep asking to see my baby bump, and more I’m ready to rage-quit my job — am I being unfair to my boss? how can I get a management job without management experience? my company’s leadership program for women excludes men coworker made a rude comment about a family death, a reference stole my job offer, and more May 2021 a coworker stole my spicy food, got sick, and is blaming me can an employer steal your work when you apply for a job, why can’t low-wage jobs retain workers, and more weekend open thread – May 29-30, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – May 28-29, 2021 video cover letters, asking for money to cover a lost perk, and more my interviewer asked about my personal finances update: our employer wants to cut our pay — retroactively will office dress codes relax permanently after Covid? using a famous athlete as a reference, boss showed up at friends’ barbecue, and more does working remotely harm your chances of advancement? where are you now? (a call for updates) my boss liked my work — until we met in person and she saw my weight is “thanks in advance” rude, interviewer kept saying he liked my smile, and more how to help coworkers who have been in the office all along someone gave me a terrible review on Glassdoor a creepy customer complained my employees aren’t friendly enough who will look after your digital and social assets when you die? how do I stop my boss from contacting my dad, new hire dresses too casually, and more someone keeps farting in important client meetings my terrible intern is a VIP’s son and can’t be fired should I blow the whistle on the harm my organization is causing? coworkers who complain about returning to the office, job candidate disclosed autism, and more weekend open thread – May 22-23, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – May 21-22, 2021 the commute to my new job makes me too anxious, brushing your teeth at work, and more what’s the etiquette for people in the background on Zoom calls? update: I work at a boarding school and my partner can’t visit during the week because we’re unmarried how can I come out as queer mid-career? dealing with abusive patients, incompetent coworker needs too much help, and more an expert on how to get what you need from your health insurance my employee injured his coworker in an office prank my boss wants me to ask a rejected problematic job candidate to volunteer names that make a religious statement, HR keeps sending anxiety-provoking emails, and more am I the only one excited to return to the office? my nightmare former coworker is now a superstar my condescending coworker tries to take over my work and is a disruptive know-it-all my boss excludes me from social events, I’m leaving my job after promising not to, and more some findings from 24,000 people’s salaries the loose cannon job candidate, the interview from a toilet, and other tales of interview mishaps my office is doing “circle work” with “offerings to the ancestors” and lots of talk about feelings my job is causing me physical pain, I want to keep wearing a mask, and more weekend open thread – May 15-16, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – May 14-15, 2021 talking about Jesus on a resume, I threw my boss under the bus when I quit, and more we need paid family and medical leave — and a new bill in Congress would give it to us my employee barely speaks to me how can I stop coming across as quiet and timid? my dad wants to call my boss, are out-of-office auto-replies unprofessional, and more I had a great interview but didn’t get the job — what happened? what’s the etiquette for taking vacation time? my employee is overwhelmingly emotionally needy CEO wants staff to buy his wife’s book, junior assistant keeps calling me “hun,” and more don’t do this my coworker’s constant emails make me less productive student employee keeps venting on social media about a work decision I manage the CEO’s horrible nephew, quitting a job I love over money, and more here’s an example of a cover letter that will make you a stronger candidate people who haven’t been working from home feel invisible my coworker asks me to google things for her and treats me like her assistant my boss had a long-term affair with my husband, allergies on video calls, and more weekend free-for-all – May 8-9, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – May 7-8, 2021 my boss set up a secret email with my name, coworker keeps gushing over her married crush, and more I’m being pressured to chauffeur interns to and from work update: my office includes me in Administrative Professionals Day just because I’m a woman veterinarian is breaking under the weight of free-advice seekers do I have to come out at work to support diversity initiatives, new boss sends our team ads for other jobs, and more look at 24,000 people’s real-life salaries and sort by industry, job, and location my old employer is trying to intimidate me into removing a Glassdoor review did I make a mistake by reprimanding my direct report’s employee? company will let us work from home — but our pay will fluctuate based on our productivity traveling with my boss when I’ll need two airplane seats, sending “thanks!” emails, and more how should I respond to feedback from my boss to show I’m not upset? my interviewer wants a reference from my current boss my boss’s dog rampages through our work gatherings asking my boss to reimburse weight loss surgery, company fires people by phone after work, and more my coworkers said they’d write me LinkedIn recommendations — but never came through how to recover after yelling at an employee I’m about to be the manager of an employee who made my child cry manager complains about my time off, flower theft, and more weekend open thread – May 1-2, 2021 April 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 30-May 1, 2021 my neighbor plays loud adult content while I’m on work calls, letting candidates know my boss is a micromanager, and more was my “probably not, but maybe” response to a recruiter appropriate? update: HR treats my autistic employee like he’s an incompetent child my boss is having an affair with our assistant — and I’m friends with his wife how to fire a jerk, is it OK to drink with the team I manage, and more how do I respond to employees asking if they should be worried about an upcoming bad-news meeting? what to do when your coworkers keep coming back from lunch drunk interview with an employee at an employee assistance program (EAP) boss keeps removing his clothes in front of me, I worked for months while everyone else got paid to do nothing, and more my boss’s wife just called me to yell at me how can I ask to keep working from home long-term? how much money do you make? my coworker quit but our CEO is pretending he’s still here, having to pay to work at an event, and more my new coworker can’t handle our new-agey woo environment my employees won the lottery and quit, but now they want their jobs back my new hire is too attractive for me to manage her employee isn’t flushing, colleague puts “read me” in every subject line, and more weekend open thread – April 24-25, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 23-24, 2021 where’s the line on religious accommodation, my boss says she can see work is “wearing” on me, and more can I ask contacts at other companies how much money they make? updates: the partner’s employer’s quarantine requirements, the boss who thinks everything is fun, and more people who have been at work all along are exhausted should I tell my boss I’m unhappy with my job, being assertive about safety, and more I’m a woman — does my interview attire have to be feminine? my company is planning an overnight trip with secret activities my whole office works from home except me — and I’m getting stuck with everyone’s admin work rejecting a candidate because they can’t interview by video, interviewer asked to see the writing I do for fun, and more my former coworkers hired me to work for them … but it was a bait and switch, they fired me, and I’m ashamed you need to ask for a raise — here’s how my employee wants to work from home without child care for his baby forever scheduling a Zoom call to reject a candidate, an insulting trophy, and more my employee is paranoid — can I help or is it not my business? how can I protect my team from last-minute rushes? our boss’s high salary is tanking morale coworker doesn’t pay attention in meetings, LinkedIn’s “stay-at-home-mom” job title, and more weekend open thread – April 17-18, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 16-17, 2021 lunch meetings when I can’t eat, I’ve fired my new employee before, and more have I destroyed boundaries with my team during Covid? how to screen out micromanagers in a job interview how have other people helped you in your career? new employee has gone AWOL, asking someone to mentor me, and more Ask a Manager speed round do I really have to have career ambition? my coworker is a talker and whines when I ask him to stop job candidate was fired twice previously, I have to pay to volunteer, and more speed round — submit your questions how should I address my interviewer in application emails? how bad is job-hopping, really? how do I get out of my office’s toxic positivity meetings? coworkers keep interrupting my closed-door meetings, is it weird to throw a party for coworkers at your house, and more do I have to wear a bra when I go back to the office? people are freaked out about going back to their offices is this office culture cutting-edge or a cult? pretending not to know my old boss, waiting for a ride after an interview, and more weekend open thread – April 10-11, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 9-10, 2021 I’m constantly interrupted while I work, no comfortable space to work in at home, and more should staying remote when my coworkers go back to work mean I get left out of everything again? updates: the personality tests, the storage stealer, and more how should I deal with a pompous, sexist coworker? can I ignore a toxic employee who’s leaving, warning candidates about weirdness in our hiring, and more I was offered a job, not given much time for an answer, and then things went south my boss won’t leave me alone when I’m sick or on vacation is a salary request 40% over the max enough to rescind an offer? leaving right after a huge bonus, rejected because I wasn’t relaxed enough, and more a person I asked to be a reference is telling people I’m job hunting I’m becoming my friend’s boss — do things have to change? HR questioned me for hours about a sex injury my boss wants my husband to come to work so he can scold him, vaccines and BMI, and more my interviewer said I lacked “real world work experience” — what does that mean? how to say “I don’t know” with confidence do you really need to say “I want this job” in interviews? coworker is writing a dissertation on our boss being a narcissist, using social media comments to get a job, and more weekend open thread – April 3-4, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – April 2-3, 2021 mentoring a very timid employee, secretary asks every day if I’ve been vaccinated yet, and more my staff is anxious about reopening, even though they’re vaccinated if you lost your job recently, you’re eligible for 6 months of free health insurance the plastic-wrapped office, the fake brownies, and other pranks at work being in a play with an employee, my boss yelled at my recruiter for hiring me away, and more March 2021 I want my employee to be more engaged and work more hours how to deal with meetings that never end on time interview with an employee at a majority-autistic company coworkers hold daily prayer sessions, employee might be working a side gig during work hours, and more is “dear sirs” outdated or sexist? my coworker suddenly dislikes me my coworker is too personally invested in her job boss is pressuring me to attend a drunken weekend, thank-you notes when you resign, and more should we require resumes from high school volunteers? why do companies lead candidates on about salary? a VP wants me to out myself at work and won’t take no for an answer are angry customers just part of life, my company overpaid me, and more weekend free-for-all – March 27-28, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – March 26-27, 2021 colleague won’t leave me alone after my former employee died, lunches with a strictly kosher employee, and more my boss sent me work questions while I was in the hospital Ask a Manager in five languages what’s the best networking experience you’ve had? my company is way too positive, my boss won’t let go of a months-old disagreement, and more is it weird to text a job applicant for your first contact with them? how do we fire a well-liked employee who can’t do the job? can I leave my job after one year if I committed to more? do I need to tell my employer I’ve been vaccinated, interviews that don’t include higher-ups, and more a man claiming to have an Oscar (he doesn’t) wants to give me advice on my field (that he’s not in) I feel no ambition whatsoever at work my boss offered me money to film a sex tape with two coworkers my coworker thinks I’m being abused, I don’t know how to do my interview assignment, and more should I tell my boss I hate my job? can you bill for your time after a long interview process? my employees ignore my wife I was falsely accused of messing up the bathroom, I declined a lowball offer, and more weekend open thread – March 20-21, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – March 19-20, 2021 my younger staff prefer communicating by text, boss keeps missing our meetings, and more is there a professional way to call BS? managers can’t be held hostage by a bad employee I’m always late to everything! our boss told us where we can and can’t grocery shop, unfriending someone I have to fire, and more I want to ban my staff from debating who should be eligible for a Covid vaccine every job posting asks for more experience than I have my coworker sounds drunk on work calls my old boss is now my peer, asking for a pay increase for working from home, and more I thought of work as my family — and then they laid me off can I recover from a bad reputation at work? the office admin refuses to speak to me company sent us PayDay candy as “appreciation,” manager discouraged me from getting vaccinated, and more I flew out for an interview — and they ended it after one question has Covid killed work-life balance? Captain Awkward and I answered some letters I reported my boss to HR on my first day, an AWOL manager, and more weekend open thread – March 13-14, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – March 12-13, 2021 partner’s employer makes me quarantine whenever I have contact with another person, and more how to talk about past jobs as a former sex worker updates: the complaining coworkers, the awful boss, and more my career hit a dead end when we moved to a small town employee doesn’t want to leave her baby, I keep getting assigned work that’s not my job, and more can my company require employees to get the Covid vaccine? my team complains I don’t give them feedback fast enough my office loves expensive, physically demanding team-building activities pink hair at a job interview, coworkers who don’t knock, and more is being salaried a scam? I hate my boss’s mandatory Zoom happy hours I quit a new job after they took away my office, and my friend says I’m being petty should I try to get my HR rep fired, new boss lives on my street, and more is it okay to take advantage of calm weeks at work? employee’s long bathroom breaks are tying up our bathroom I had to fire someone and I feel like a failure my boss won’t stop calling my dogs my children, hiring the boss’s girlfriend, and more weekend open thread – March 6-7, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – March 5-6, 2021 expecting too much when interviewing students, what to wear on the first day of a virtual job, and more how can I explain a mistake wasn’t mine without looking like a tattletale? update: can my job make me travel during the pandemic? how can companies be fair to people who can’t work from home? manager’s toxic positivity, why you can’t badmouth your boss in an interview, and more I’m forgetful and disorganized — and I’m a project manager here’s a massive discount on the Ask a Manager job-searching bible my employee refuses to use her coworker’s correct pronouns I have a professional crush on my boss, should I tell my office when I’m vaccinated, and more employer rejected me, then sent a list of everything I did wrong my terrible boss asked for feedback — should I be honest? is it normal to assign hotel roommates on a work trip? I’m stuck with my coworker’s work because she has kids, denying employee bathroom breaks, and more my boss told me I’m “not a good human” when I asked to be paid for my time how to talk to an employee about a struggling coworker should I report to someone with less education than me? coworker complains non-stop, inappropriate games at happy hour, and more February 2021 weekend open thread – February 27-28, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – February 26-27, 2021 explaining a drastic appearance change, employees won’t use hearing aids, and more company gives employees 6 months to “fix” their health issues update: I want to quit … but if I leave, my project will die how can I move out of working in retail? trainer says I need to shadow her for a year, charged vacation days during a natural disaster, and more my coworker doesn’t quarantine after flying all over the country a drunken cowboy, gingerbread house chaos, and other office contests that went badly my employee is level 10 drama all the time my mother-in-law got a job at my company, my new coworker is someone I talked to on a dating app, and more how can I convince my employee not to work until 2 AM? I got promoted, but I can’t get a fair salary our staff aren’t underpaid but think they are what are you wearing on work Zoom calls these days? start-up founder with no work experience, my boss says I killed the business, and more update: my new team is taunting me because I have a nut allergy what to do when a low performer asks for a massive raise my boss called me “disgusting” for not cleaning up my male coworkers’ mess my ex-friend is my new boss, employer sending rides for us in the snow, and more weekend open thread – February 20-21, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – February 19-20, 2021 my boss won’t manage a terrible employee, my coworker scream-yawns, and more interviewers want to know how I’ve been spending my time out of work … during the pandemic is applying for jobs a numbers game? the hot sauce contest, soup-gate, and other work contests gone awry board member brings a gun to meetings (but he’s a cop), coworker leaves early every day, and more how should I handle joking around during mental health discussions with my team? how to manage an employee with anxiety my employee keeps criticizing my food the best time of day to apply for jobs, working for an unethical industry, and more when asked about salary, I say “I’ll start for $X and earn the rest through merit” is it irresponsible to quit my job without having another one lined up? my company punishes single people who have to quarantine more than once — but not married people my coworker is copying my look, I blasted a recruiter for not answering me, and more thoughts on rejection from a hiring manager in a competitive field my employee debates every assignment I was used as a public example of what not to do at a team meeting can I ask my employee to remove his pronouns from his email signature, stuck paying for a business hotel, and more weekend open thread – February 13-14, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – February 12-13, 2021 boss sends us daily sales pitches for a money management app, pressure for virtual socializing, and more should we provide the name behind anonymous feedback to a customer? updates: the coworker who came to work with Covid and more how do I talk to my husband about his poor work ethic and bad attitude? do I have to cover self-harm scars, boss resents that I can work from home after having a baby, and more I negotiated and got more money — why do I feel so weird? should I re-hire an employee with a bad attitude? my employee told me “I prefer not to” when I tried to give him a new project boss gives hand-me-down clothes to staff, employee wants help cutting the vaccination line, and more can my job make me travel during the pandemic? can I refuse more work without a raise? when I asked for a raise, my boss went through my bills my boss is being catfished, can I ask to be laid off instead of a coworker, and more my boss won’t talk to me and gave me a document of anonymous criticism employees who won’t wear masks should be fired HR treats my autistic employee like he’s an incompetent child colleague’s wife and mommy group attended our work talk, references from a romantic partner, and more weekend open thread – February 6-7, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – February 5-6, 2021 coworker keeps buying me gifts, explaining a surrogacy pregnancy, and more is reading books at work ever OK? update: my boss’s stress is out of control what are you doing to advance racial justice? (plus win a free copy of Authentic Diversity) warning coworkers about my book’s adult content, returning to work 2 weeks after having a baby, and more my interview was great — but they hired no one instead of me should a job offer be “take it or leave it”? our new hire started another full-time job the same week he started ours interviews when you have food allergies, snow days when not everyone can work from home, and more I have to read my boss’s emails … including ones about the love nest he’s setting up to cheat on his wife I want to quit … but if I leave, my project will die my employee fired someone whose mother had died the night before I shaved my head and now my coworkers think I have cancer, I don’t want to take time off, and more people keep asking me for meetings that could just be an email how much do you need to self-promote when you apply for a job? I’m furious that my boss refused to interview my partner my assistant lies about days off, I don’t like our new hire, and more January 2021 weekend open thread – January 30-31, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 29-30, 2021 employee cursed at a coworker over politics, boss has weaponized her personality test, and more how do I adjust to not being the boss anymore? update: how can we get privacy with a live-in nanny? sore winners: let’s talk about people who get weirdly competitive at work my employee got vaccinated ahead of high-risk people, my boss says you can’t negotiate salary, and more my employee started a false rumor that two coworkers were having an affair what to do when a top job candidate has another offer how companies can build more equitable workplaces … and what’s getting in the way company delayed telling us about a possible Covid exposure, coworkers won’t use my correct title, and more my boss’s relative treats me like his personal assistant should I fake interest in the job during an interview? your culture does not include everyone … or what employers need to do for racial equity I’m in trouble for sharing confidential info, boss is spying on our Zoom meetings, and more my colleague’s auto-reply says she might never answer your email how to manage a combative, negative employee my coworker refuses to wear a mask what does an “end of day” deadline really mean, bathroom breaks on video calls, and more weekend open thread – January 23-24, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 22-23, 2021 anti-vaxx coworker is verifying vaccinations, paying for a cover letter, and more my networking meetings aren’t leading to interviews update: we’re being re-hired for work that doesn’t exist household employees keep ghosting me yelling at work, coworkers smokes e-cigarettes after being told to stop, and more my awful former boss is my new coworker’s sister how big of a deal is lying on a resume? my coworker is changing her appearance to match mine and rips my work off the walls when she’s mad should I tell a candidate her goals are unrealistic, I don’t want to lead all our meetings, and more am I being a dress code snob? my coworker hijacks our meetings with endless questions my boss wants me to help him jump the line for the Covid vaccine should I apologize if my fly is down, telling my bosses they need to work more, and more I pushed back on my coworker’s bigotry: a success story what to do (even now) if you’re stuck in a job you hate my boss complains constantly, mending things with a job I ghosted, and more weekend open thread – January 16-17, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 15-16, 2021 quitting would destroy my company, I gossiped about a coworker, and more is it a red flag when a job is posted for a long time? can I keep working from home after my office re-opens? how to become a slacker … with Laurie Ruettimann my boss sits outside my house for hours, parking woes, and more should we let an employee resign instead of being fired? updates: the micromanagement, the fertility treatments, and more the head of my division gave me (and my niece and friend) COVID-19 and no one cares I resent coworkers coming back from furlough, I took over a colleague’s work, and more I didn’t even get interviewed for an internal role I was told I was a strong candidate for my boss’s stress is out of control was my company right to fire my coworker for accidentally sending me a graphic email? you need life insurance – and now you don’t need a medical exam can I ask my interviewer to get a Covid test, should my resume say I’ve been vaccinated, and more can I freeze out my coworkers who aren’t social distancing and refuse to work with them? my employee overshares medical details my coworker asked me to hide my breast milk because she doesn’t like seeing it in the office fridge is this resume writer shady, telling my boss I’m sober, and more weekend open thread – January 9-10, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 8-9, 2021 coworker is throwing a tantrum over having to interview for a promotion, inviting coworkers to your wedding, and more can we all just keep working from home forever now? update: can job-hopping BE my career somehow? really aggressive spam callers are giving me anxiety attacks my job told me to ignore safety rules for kids, should I tell my boss a coworker is job-searching, and more am I being inflexible for not doing non-work things during work hours? how to support a struggling new manager 2 of my coworkers spend all their time together and don’t do any work my boss bought me new clothes, couriers who don’t wear masks, and more I accidentally threw a sandwich and it caused a work crisis should I disclose my depression to my boss? I work at a boarding school and my partner can’t visit during the week because we’re unmarried I have a crush on an older coworker, my wife read her boss’s diary, and more my coworker put a magical curse on her boss my team’s assistant is grumpy and impatient we went to the home of an employee who didn’t show up for work — and it went badly my boss is upset I won’t drive long distances, getting reimbursed for pole dancing classes, and more weekend open thread – January 2-3, 2021 it’s your Friday good news open thread – January 1-2, 2021