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You can find posts from 2019 below, or find earlier years here: 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2019 January February March April May June July August September October November November 2019 my former employee lied to get a new job, paper turkeys, and more where do you start when you inherit a bad employee? should I email my complaints to my team when I resign? my coworker wants “pawternity” leave new manager wants to step down, coworker washes dishes without soap, and more how excited should I seem in an interview? my coworker hates me how can I fix my boss’s obsessive focus on face time over results? coworkers say “I love you,” how to answer the phone for an interview, and more my employee takes over other people’s work is it worth mentioning to my boss how irritating my coworker is? my coworker asked why he wasn’t invited to my wedding, company PTO buy-backs, and more weekend free-for-all – November 9-10, 2019 open thread – November 8-9, 2019 my new employee says he won’t help a coworker, my boss suggested I cry, and more my coworker saw the Excel sheet I use to track his sick days my employee announced she’s leaving but doesn’t know when how to run a tiny business that isn’t an iceberg of dysfunction my boss wants me to share my location with her constantly, interviewer asked if I was pregnant, and more I’m in recovery and my office just moved above a bar how big a deal is employee lateness? I’m afraid to give critical feedback after two employees threatened suicide is it rude to send emails late at night, should I tell my boss I’m job hunting, and more job postings that list “happy” and “high self-esteem” as requirements my new coworker is the woman my husband had an affair with my coworker is trying to get me transferred so his girlfriend can have my job I was fired because of a tarot card reading, how do I learn business jargon, and more where are you now? (a call for updates) our CEO calls employees’ babies “future employees” and gives us no paid parental leave the cc line is the most passive-aggressive email field my boss drops his sick kid off in our small office CEO assigns work to my staff without telling me, vandalized posters, and more weekend free-for-all – November 2-3, 2019 how should you deal with a boss who yells at you? open thread – November 1-2, 2019 bedbug-sniffing dogs at work, using vacation time for a work training, and more October 2019 none of my coworkers have contacted me after my layoff my boss goes overboard for Halloween has anything spooky happened to you at work? boss refuses to wear hearing aids, putting strengths in your email signature, and more my manager and a coworker had sex in his office, loudly the problem with “can I pick your brain?” my mother is tracking my comings and goings at work our “kid-friendly” Halloween party was terrifying, will video interviews hurt my chances of getting hired, and more employer required me to agree to a salary during our first conversation how can I avoid ending up in another horrible job? my boss asked me to project-manage a peer — and the peer treats me like his assistant my office set up fake layoffs, coworker thinks he’s a celebrity spokesperson, and more how to get better at using a coworker’s nonbinary pronouns can I refuse to be alone with a coworker who I had an emotional affair with? my new junior employee said he’s “disappointed” in his job my boss blames me for getting sick, will piercings harm my career, and more weekend free-for-all – October 26-27, 2019 open thread – October 25-26, 2019 my director lied to HR about me, company wouldn’t tell us our coworker was gone, and more should I have told my employee I figured out she’s pregnant so I could offer her flexibility? updates: giving up on a promotion, the swollen neck, and more is contract-to-hire worth it? should I wear a Halloween costume my first week on the job, losing a best friend over a job, and more should I not tell interviewers I left my last job because of bad management? my employee quit, but now wants to stay my partner’s career means we move all the time and it’s destroying my resume new hire was in jail on his first day, I’m drowning in work, and more I asked an interviewer for his own reference — and he thought it was weird I’m so nervous at work that it’s holding me back will smoking hurt my promotion chances? is wet hair unprofessional, I got in trouble for photographing the royal family, and more how should I talk about my cancer diagnosis at work? here’s what to do if your coworkers won’t shut up about politics should I ask my employer to take down a Blue Lives Matter flag? should I hire someone who’s unhappy with the salary, a coworker’s “people I need to hit” list, and more weekend free-for-all — October 19-20, 2019 open thread – October 18-19, 2019 can you put firing someone on your resume, I know who’s clogging our toilets, and more can I avoid talking football without annoying my boss? my new hire went AWOL on her first day I’m worried my coworkers’ food handling is going to make someone seriously ill company is giving my job to the boss’s daughter, do I have to pay if I invite someone to a networking lunch, and more my coworker hangs out with my boss all day in our shared office my boss is mad that I’m quitting my coworker turns everything into a doomsday scenario my new coworkers embarrassed me in front of my old team, our new uniforms don’t fit women, and more my employee is constantly hyping himself — but his work isn’t good Boss’s Day is a crock and we need to kill it off my male boss won’t have closed-door meetings with me because he’s married employee “likes” critical posts on LinkedIn, avoiding dog-sitting for my boss, and more my coworker tipped me how to interview job candidates who won’t stop talking I keep breaking my own heart by turning down great job offers do I have to go to my boss’s son’s wedding, I manage a habitual phone checker, and more weekend free-for-all — October 12-13, 2019 open thread – October 11-12, 2019 I overheard leadership criticizing me, can I ban an employee from my home bathroom, and more how much does your job in college matter? update: I now manage the guy who hired me — and I’m afraid he might quit over it requesting accommodations at work: share your experiences my coworker is hassling me about his peer feedback, employee calls me “buttercup,” and more how to answer “how are you?” when you’re grieving my employee accused me of favoring her coworker my employee locked me out of a work document in a fit of pettiness I’m insulted by a junior hire with the same title as me, thank-you notes after terrible interviews, and more a job candidate tried to give us a presentation we didn’t want is it a bad idea to work with my boyfriend? my coworker is obsessed with us being happy all the time student workers are using me for therapy, people try to reach my husband through my social media, and more I have a crush on my boss and he’s being standoffish your lunch might be stolen from your office fridge today my coworkers make orgasm sounds while I’m on the phone is it okay to write my partner’s cover letters, I don’t want to sign a petition about bathrooms, and more weekend free-for-all – October 5-6, 2019 open thread – October 4-5, 2019 I’m doing two jobs, my boss thinks I’m dating a coworker but I’m not, and more my coworker won’t stop doing my job, despite our manager’s direct orders update: I share an office with a smoker, and the smell is making me sick managing remote work when you’re in a different time zone from everyone else coworker might be abusing her disability leave, employer shamed candidate over a swimsuit photo, and more our new coworker is obsessed with age and says we’re all old my employee keeps working long hours even though I asked him to stop I burned a bridge in a spectacular way — how do I deal with everyone talking about it? what’s the deal with life insurance? do I have to work from home when I’m sick, replying-all to welcome messages, and more going on vacation with my company execs when I’m covered in tattoos these are the most important things I want you to know about being a good interviewer I’m afraid I’m going to get fired — and I’ve had this same bad feedback before showing up in-person for a job I really want, saying “y’all” at work, and more September 2019 I don’t want to tell my boss I’m quitting until after I tell the rest of my team how do I deal with a lazy coworker? my company says we’re dog-friendly — but we’re not coworker assumes we’ll give him rides, can I fire a new hire for being pregnant, and more weekend free-for-all – September 28-29, 2019 open thread – September 27-28, 2019 cooking fish at work, unusually long layoffs, and more how do I know when it’s time to give up on a promotion? updates: office parties with secret destinations, the sarcastic junior coworker, and more can job-hopping BE my career somehow? the other intern makes me look bad, airlines lost my bags on a work trip, and more my office interviews people who randomly show up without appointments my old boss trash-talks my new boss I’m training my replacement — and she’s condescending, rude, and won’t listen I can’t fire an awful employee, coworker wants to standardize email subjects, and more the new overtime pay law is here (for real this time) what are the ethics of poaching an employee from someone I know professionally? was my job interview full of red flags – or is it just me? our coworker asked us to help him eat better — and I’m concerned for his health my coworker flaked out on pet-sitting, are in-person rejections unkind, and more do prospective employers expect me to take time off work for interviews? forcing employees to talk about their feelings isn’t good for our mental health my boss excessively Photoshops herself on our company’s social media giving a reference when you have a moral objection to the employer, what a closed door means, and more weekend free-for-all – September 21-22, 2019 Ask a Manager in the media open thread – September 20-21, 2019 my coworkers are in a cult, all-day work road trips, and more my coworker keeps getting in my personal space update: my coworker feels entitled to my time, expertise, car, and house I’m so anxious about working that I keep ghosting employers before I start employee keeps leaving early, coworker’s son’s bathroom etiquette, and more my boss spends too much personal money on us how to research the company you’re interviewing with my boss’s angry husband calls multiple times a day for her I’m being physically bullied at work, coworker leaves bathroom in chaos, and more my office banned email — we can only use Slack and all messages disappear after a few days I’m my boss’s favorite — and it sucks how to say “it’s not okay” at work can I steal my boss’s job while he’s on leave, women in menswear, and more when my office lets us out early before a holiday, why don’t they tell us in advance? how do I tell our HR director she’s breaking the law? is it bad for managers to sound frustrated or impatient? new employee wants me to give him money, I wet myself during a board meeting, and more weekend free-for-all – September 14-15, 2019 open thread – September 13-14, 2019 coworker tags our CEO on Twitter to point out my mistakes, office baby talk, and more are my clients hiring me to do work their companies believe they’re doing on their own? updates: the fake pregnancy rumor and more how do people survive jobs with long hours — and is it worth it in the long-run? I don’t want to stay in an Airbnb with coworkers, illegal requests for salary history, and more my boss has 10,000 unread emails my office sticks women with all the party-planning when giving good news, my boss first pretends to be upset as a “joke” I don’t want to talk shop outside of work, a weird firing, and more my coworker lied about her entire resume — should I tell anyone? how do I get over being rejected for a job I’m perfect for? how work changes when you’re a woman: an interview with a transgender woman coworkers keep asking about my girlfriend, asking job candidates how lucky they are, and more to get an interview, I have to spend a week at a writing retreat at my own expense meetings are awful — why do we have so many of them? my coworker feels entitled to my time, expertise, car, and house being a picky eater at team lunches, boss accidentally texted me after firing me, and more weekend free-for-all – September 7-8, 2019 open thread – September 6-7, 2019 my coworker gets angry when we chew, peer interviews, and more cold contacting employees at the place where you’ve applied for a job my employer took my overtime pay away (with an update already included!) changing jobs — navigating the devil you know vs. the devil you don’t pranking coworkers by repeatedly falling down, is it bad to ask questions about an assignment, and more my employee is needy and gossipy my employee keeps correcting my work I now manage the guy who hired me — and I’m afraid he might quit over it we’re supposed to share emotional baggage at meetings, manager calls to me whenever I pass his door, and more can I ask what to expect at a job interview? my boss wants me to take on a new task – and I don’t want to! my boss has ideas all the time — and I don’t know which ones she’s serious about our office showed a disturbing safety video, am I a mentor now, and more Labor Day open thread my company wants my police report, boss wants me to lie about a layoff, and more August 2019 weekend free-for-all – August 31-September 1, 2019 open thread – August 30-31, 2019 someone is violating our bathrooms, coworker takes over my desk when I’m out, and more I’m too sick to do a volunteer job — but they’re insisting I attend anyway update: my boss got weirdly aggressive about winning a game and now keeps claiming I’m angry about it what are the ethics of reporting social media posts to someone’s employer? men apologize for swearing around me, coworker likes to quiz me in front of others, and more I saw a document in our printer saying we’re all being laid off my interviewer contacted a reference I didn’t approve how patient do I need to be with a coworker with mental health issues who lashes out at me? talking about your period in a male-dominated office, telling candidates we don’t give raises, and more I think my coworker is an alcoholic my coworker’s personal life is disrupting our shared office can I use sick leave to take my cat to the vet? we’re supposed to stay in the owner’s house when we travel, I’m upset our best candidate withdrew, and more my coworker keeps butting into my conversations with higher-ups how can I recover from being the office grump? my employee keeps groaning in pain — and won’t get medical treatment should I tell my boss about a screw-up that turned out okay, drinking at work events, and more weekend free-for-all – August 24-25, 2019 open thread – August 23-24, 2019 how important are educational requirements, unexpected visitors when working from home, and more terrible interviewers, and why people don’t take time off update: I’m scared to tell my boss how behind on work I am how can I navigate office politics when I hate hierarchy and authority? interviewer had a photo of my house, charging smokers more for insurance, and more how can I avoid jobs with horrible hours? my boss gave me critical feedback without any specifics our boss cross-examines us over minor mistakes my client won’t pay my cancellation fee, company asked us to donate a kidney to a board member, and more will it hurt me if my current salary is much less than a job’s posted range? severance pay: who gets it and how it works I saw my employee’s X-rated chat my employee asked me to be a job reference, interpersonal issues and HR, and more interviewer said if you get a raise, the workload will go up for the entire team why the littlest things at work can be so maddening my coworker keeps giving me “help” that I don’t want or need is a really short interview a bad sign, cooking a roast at work, and more weekend free-for-all – August 17-18, 2019 open thread – August 16-17, 2019 coworker tells me to order more food “for the men,” my email will display a name I don’t go by, and more how should I navigate social media connections during a job search? how to tell your employer that you’re bringing in a lawyer how do I learn what is and isn’t okay at professional jobs? how much snooping can you do on coworkers, my manager told a reference-checker my salary, and more my job is getting reposted for a lot more money than I’m making now I don’t want to move into a leadership role my employees’ juice cleanses are getting in the way of their work I don’t want to talk about my cool job, boss’s bachelorette weekend, and more what’s up with surprise phone interviews? my boss lectured me about arriving on time – when I’m working a ton of hours my company won’t let me DJ on the weekends — and refuses to say why fall is coming! here’s how to find affordable professional clothes lingerie party at work, having a parent call in sick for you, and more my employee is way too helpful and accommodating my new employee lied on his resume I’m distracted by my coworker’s very visible cleavage I resent my coworker’s sick days, getting out of a carpool, and more weekend free-for-all – August 10-11, 2019 open thread – August 9-10, 2019 we have to give our coworkers anonymous praise, coworker is offended when I don’t say “hi,” and more is it true that nothing in a performance review can ever be a surprise? update: my boss wanted to go over my personal budget should my office allow parents to bring babies to work? expensing a hotel because of ghosts, coworker got us sick and ruined our vacation, and more my new employee ran a background check on me and asked me about what he found should you give job candidates the questions ahead of time? my employee keeps telling me his “expectations” of me coworker over-performs sympathy for minor things, employer used the free work I did in an interview, and more can I ask employees to stay late during busy times? how to criticize someone’s work without making it awkward I’m really uncomfortable with my husband’s work set-up — and how it could affect us both how to say “I’m not volunteering for this, but I’ll do it if it’s required,” using bathrooms on a different floor, and more I don’t want to fist-bump my coworker multiple times a day why is it so hard to take time off work? my assistant doesn’t know how to prioritize how to say “do you know anyone who will hire me,” I have tons of extra sick leave, and more weekend free-for-all – August 3-4, 2019 open thread – August 2-3, 2019 do I need to make coffee for coworkers when I don’t drink it, interviewing for the same job that rejected me previously, and more my boss trying to find out who wrote an anonymous sexism report updates: the no motivation, the allergies, and more how do I put together a business casual wardrobe? office parties with secret destinations, getting your nails done at lunch, and more July 2019 my boss wanted to go over my personal budget my employees chat too much at work I’m addicted to snooping in my boss’s email my boss blocked me on LinkedIn, boss is giving me bad medical advice I don’t want, and more what to do about new hires who quit after their first week I feel awful about giving a bad performance review our intern’s cube is covered in handwritten affirmations of her worth interviewer asked me to pick up his lunch, coworker comments on my appearance, and more do I really have to use formal openings and closings in every email? I turned down a job — and the recruiter sent me an invoice how do I reconcile my heart and my brain when making big career decisions? did I send too many follow-up emails, I’m worried about working with a childhood friend, and more weekend free-for-all – July 27-28, 2019 open thread – July 26-27, 2019 talkative job candidates, baby showers at work, and more do job titles matter? updates: the harsh email, the school supplies, and more ask the readers: what do I do once I retire? my employee wants to know where I am at all times, public transit crisis is making me late for work, and more can you fire someone solely for being racist? should recruiters tell you up-front what a job pays? my employee LOVES his job and wants to do more — but is bad at the work my vendor fired my son, I don’t want to do the outdoors volunteer work my manager planned, and more I might not have the skills for the job — should I point that out to my interviewer? how to answer “why are you interested in this job?” is my employee taking advantage of the flexibility I give her? can I ask for a vacation do-over, people make fun of me for not using my law degree, and more I feel guilty about getting a job in my competitive field when others are still struggling is there any point to exit interviews? job candidate says she has to work for us secretly employee’s reading skills aren’t good, coworkers were aghast at a change in lunch plans, and more weekend free-for-all – July 20-21, 2019 another salary negotiation success story open thread – July 19-20, 2019 coworkers are mad they can’t play with my puppy, my work anniversary gift is causing drama, and more how can I get my boss to talk to me in person instead of over chat? update: my coworker had an affair with a colleague’s husband, and now is treating her badly at work can you advance professionally without giving up your evenings and weekends? my boss read my Skype conversations, parental involvement with employees under 18, and more how do I explain being fired for sharing confidential info with a friend? what to say to an intern who’s chronically late my boss and mentor runs hot and cold with me my boss lied to my coworker about his firing, insecurity and graduate degrees, and more personalized rejection letters are crushing my spirit I have no motivation to do my job my employee is overly budget-conscious and freaks out when we spend money asking junior staff to speak for their generation, doing well in panel interviews, and more our office may be haunted — how do I keep it from distracting from our work? should I warn a contact not to take a job at my awful company? how do incompetent people get work? can I ask my boss to stop bringing in alcohol, coworker aggressively greets everyone who walks by, and more weekend free-for-all – July 13-14, 2019 open thread – July 12-13, 2019 my intern asked if my pregnancy was planned, cold-emailing companies about job openings, and more how can I tell if I’m a good manager? my coworker writes a mean blog about me how can I help a job-searching friend who can’t catch a break? my coworkers trash people in another language, my boss wants to play Cards Against Humanity, and more am I being unrealistic in my expectations of the interview process? a follow-up on the boss dumping pee in the sink … with Ask a Clean Person my employer pressures us to volunteer for its charitable events ridiculous work travel itineraries, our branded clothing doesn’t fit everyone, and more how far back should your resume go? what to do if you were just laid off (or are about to be) can I ask my boss to check on me more regularly so I’ll get more done? can I report my daughter’s affair to HR, exit interviews in tiny organizations, and more I responded angrily to a rejection — can I get them to consider me again? office pranks shouldn’t end with the ER, vomit, or tears my boss pees in a cup and dumps it in the kitchen sink telling applicants that their parents are hurting their chances, parking space war, and more weekend free-for-all – July 6-7, 2019 open thread – July 5-6, 2019 fending off questions about baby plans, my office-mate throws temper tantrums, and more 4th of July open thread I accidentally hugged my interviewer, which office should I choose, and more people can be really annoying with email updates: the bad intern, keeping the boss out of the goodbye happy hour, and more my boss sends scolding emails to all of us — and then tells me I shouldn’t take them personally my boss stranded me without a hotel room, my boss believes fake news, and more how much socializing at work is too much? my boss trash-talks all my coworkers coworkers treat me as a therapist and I just want to get back to talking about work managing a difficult volunteer, putting a short-term job you were fired from on your resume, and more an underage intern told me she got drunk at a staff event my employee asked me to stop giving him feedback I run a business and I feel exhausted and exploited by employees rowdy role-playing interview in public, kilts at work, and more June 2019 weekend free-for-all – June 29-30, 2019 open thread – June 28-29, 2019 our boss got invited to our rowdy beach weekend, cold-contacting strangers on LinkedIn, and more can my employer dock my time off when I work less than 40 hours if I’m salaried? update: coworker complains about my tattoos ask the readers: have you seen ripple effects from minimum wage increases? my boss wants me to hang up on elderly callers who can’t hear me, asking to work from home with a new puppy, and more my coworker is always dieting — do we have to accommodate her? what should I say to an employee who’s requesting too much time off? my employee keeps commenting on my looks employee cries when she’s frustrated, my boss felt “personally disrespected” by me, and more how do I tell an employee he doesn’t have what it takes to do the job he wants? how to write the perfect out-of-office message my boss makes me wear her clothes, eat her food, and say I’m grateful for my job my dad says I should offer to work for free to prove myself, hiding my dating life as a teacher, and more our boss’s wife camps out in our office for hours at a time kids at work doesn’t always end well I joked about a coworker’s slowness — and he overheard how do I get out of a mandatory lip sync battle, employee can’t touch-type, and more weekend free-for-all – June 22-23, 2019 open thread – June 21-22, 2019 how to tell a pushy networker to back off, applying for a job with someone who asked me to leave a college job, and more how much should I tell a team whose boss is on a performance plan? updates: the racist memes, the flowers, and the tai chi share your salary negotiation success stories employee’s boyfriend keeps making her late for work, seriously ill employee who’s making mistakes, and more my boss got weirdly aggressive about winning a game and now keeps claiming I’m angry about it why won’t employers tell you why they rejected you? I’m terrified of making mistakes at my first job my coworkers are joking I’m pregnant when I’m not, sharing a gym with coworkers, and more my employer is asking invasive questions as part of a “wellness benefit” how to shut down gossip at work are these men hitting on me via LinkedIn or are they legit business contacts? interviewer asked about my politics, showing reliability on a resume, and more can I ask my coworkers why they didn’t hire my daughter? my employee caused a drunken scene at coworker’s wedding I’m the boss who’s always late can I fly business class while my boss is in coach, employee keeps challenging my expertise, and more weekend free-for-all – June 15-16, 2019 open thread – June 14-15, 2019 we ask all job candidates to give PowerPoint presentations, employee disappeared with our data, and more do I have to give two weeks notice? update: should I tell my new boss about my previous poor performance in this job? what tools help you focus on work when you’re in a loud or distracting environment? everyone got laid off except me, men who pretend to be scared of women now, and more my coworkers love talking about murder when a job candidate asks “how did I do?” should I report coworkers for mean tweets about an intern if someone could get caught in the crossfire? using a heating pad for cramps at work, secretly recording a bad boss, and more how can you determine how old a job posting is? salary transparency, office temperature wars, and asking for more vacation time our HR director might be a pathological liar my boss thinks our new hire shouldn’t use a disabled parking pass, employee flips from great to terrible, and more I ran into my new boss in the apartment of my one-night stand what to do about a coworker who slacks off all day long how much should I hand-hold a disorganized employee? I have to coach a negative employee, can I recover from a terrible interview, and more weekend free-for-all – June 8-9, 2019 speak up directly to an annoying coworker: a success story open thread – June 7-8, 2019 update: tubs of butter are taking up all the room in our tiny fridge how can I say no to my coworker’s boyfriend sharing our co-working space? update: my office wants us to celebrate by wearing pink and blue by gender what’s the worst case of helicopter parenting you’ve seen at work? my boss says “yes, my child,” I don’t want to travel to an unsafe country, and more my boss sent a chat message I wasn’t supposed to see — but it popped up on a shared screen can we just assign interview dates to job candidates? my employee tells me “good job” when I correct his work here’s a subscription box that will simplify your life parking space shuffle, coworker is stealing money from my purse, and more can I fix how my boss treats people? how to answer “tell me about yourself” in a job interview I’m in trouble for re-sorting a coworker’s trash — and I’m enraged my boss doesn’t focus during our meetings, I matched with my interviewer on a dating app, and more why do people get stuck in “reply all” hell on email lists? my boss emailed us a racist meme I don’t want to help horrible networkers coworker complains about my tattoos, sabotaged by another hotel’s manager, and more weekend free-for-all – June 1-2, 2019 May 2019 open thread – May 31-June 1, 2019 after I offered someone a job, her dad got on the phone with questions … and more how to tell coworkers “you need to do that yourself” update: I’m scared to tell my boss how behind on work I am how do I stop speaking without thinking in professional situations? can I ask about salary before a skills test, am I editing people’s work too heavily, and more my coworker won’t stop calling us ma’am and sir how to announce a firing to the rest of your staff when should you expect your boss to apologize? sending flowers on someone’s first day of work, I have a view of the apartment of an enthusiastic nudist, and more should you tell your coworkers how much money you earn? I don’t want to explain my allergies at work I think my bad personality is sabotaging my good work employee does needlepoint in meetings, company won’t let me say goodbye to clients, and more my boss has romantic phone conversations that bother me because I’m single intern doesn’t flush the toilet, antipathy toward fonts, and more weekend free-for-all – May 25-26, 2019 open thread – May 24-25, 2019 my boss wants me to drive her daughter to appointments, rejected candidate tried to get me fired, and more I’ve been offered the job — but they won’t tell me the salary until we can meet face-to-face updates: the men who wouldn’t be alone with women, the very good dog, and more I’m polyamorous — should I be out at work? asking job candidates to go scent-free, baggy clothes at work, and more how can you get around automated screening questions when you’re actually qualified for the job? I don’t want my employees to wear headphones how much should we compromise for a dog-phobic coworker in a dog-friendly office? giving extra time off to people who get married, how to end networking conversations, and more I feel guilty that I’m out of the office so much — and I’ve heard grumbling from my staff my coworkers follow me into the bathroom with work questions my coworker wants the company to pay for a week-long sex romp with his fired girlfriend coworker whispers a daily affirmation to me, do I have to tell people I met with about my strep throat, and more my recruiter is so overbearing and obnoxious that I’m thinking of withdrawing my application is there a best time of day to fire someone? how can I get coworkers to leave me alone about a humiliating TV experience? update your summer work wardrobe without blowing your bank account my boss wants me to be her assistant, what to wear in a casual office, and more weekend free-for-all – May 18-19, 2019 open thread – May 17-18, 2019 filling the time when you don’t have any work, a recruiter asked me to lie, and more the stolen toilet paper, the fake committee, and other petty moments at work update: I’m jealous of my attractive employee and it’s impacting how I treat her should I give feedback to people who haven’t asked for it during a collaborative writing project? coworker keeps making minor corrections to my work, using info from recruiters to negotiate salary, and more my interviewer was drinking a beer while sitting in a beanbag chair my boss won’t let me use any of my vacation time our traditionally male company has an annual golf trip — but our new female employees don’t play here’s a huge discount on the Ask a Manager job-searching bible can I have a drink before a work flight, fasting during team lunches, and more can you leave dates of employment off your resume? I had a great interview – why haven’t I heard anything back? my boss drinks and expects me to drive with him taking notes on an iPad during an interview, the poo police, and more do you have to control your emotions to be professional? the destructive myth of the “dream job” my coworker wants us to call her boyfriend her “master” my boss told me to be friendlier to my ex-BFF, interviewer seemed uninterested in me from the start, and more weekend free-for-all – May 11-12, 2019 a happy ending open thread – May 10-11, 2019 my office is obsessed with my professional athlete fiancé, I don’t have career goals, and more my coworker thinks she trained me more thoroughly than she did updates: afraid to show weakness, remote work bait and switch, and more what’s the pettiest thing you’ve done at work (or seen done)? my employee gives me too many status updates, staff asked me to fudge their sick leave, and more how can I back out of disagreements with my boss? how to ask to resign instead of being fired my boss trash-talks my coworker to me my coworker is pushing me to hire her daughter, my office is too quiet, and more I babble nervously when giving my staff feedback is my coworker trying to sabotage me? is it unprofessional to show accidental cleavage at work? coworkers keep asking when I’ll have kids, CEO advertises jobs we’re not hiring for, and more I got a job offer — then found out they’re negotiating with another candidate too since I gave notice, my boss has tripled my workload my coworker brought a spouse on our business trip and it was weird why won’t anyone eat the last cookie, former employee still logging into database, and more weekend free-for-all – May 4-5, 2019 open thread – May 3-4, 2019 telling my friend I don’t want to hire her, employer loves me but is still interviewing other people, and more is it ethical not to ask for more work when you have room to do more? update: I slept through an entire day of work what conversation starters can I use at industry events? my coworker doesn’t follow her own fragrance ban, my mentor got fired, and more why can’t I wear shorts to work? an employee’s husband emailed me to complain my employee is hassling coworkers about their clothes, their language, and her feelings should I tell my replacement about a cranky team member, coworkers devise bizarre solutions to simple problems, and more April 2019 how do I get my coworkers to shut up about Game of Thrones? my coworker is bad at her job, and I’m unofficially in charge of her I’m embarrassed by the problems my new staff member is uncovering — and keep getting defensive remote work bait-and-switch, changing clothes in the office bathroom, and more I went on a job interview and the office was filthy sleep terrors and a naked boss: when coworkers share hotel rooms we have to write deeply personal poems and share them at a staff meeting how much can my dog bark in the office, my manager rewrote my work, and more weekend free-for-all – April 27-28, 2019 open thread – April 26-27, 2019 interviewer asked how much I wanted the job on a scale of 1-10, ASMR videos at work, and more my office wants us to celebrate by wearing pink and blue by gender updates: managing a micromanager, using volunteers in a store, and more what cultural things do you need to know to succeed when you’re new to white collar work? coworker calls me “mama,” why are employers and job candidates held to different standards, and more I’m required to speak in meetings and I don’t know what to say my boss sends me work to do when I’m out sick if you’re having trouble sorting the salary spreadsheet… how much money do you make? my coworker/girlfriend might get fired soon, employee wants a second paid month off for her dissertation, and more potential employer sent me weirdly patronizing “interview tips” before the interview my boss found out I’m job-hunting someone emailed me about my employee’s behavior outside of work … and I don’t care interviewer asked what brings me pain, I reported a coworker for hitting a child, and more how do I stay in touch with former managers? how can I tell my boss to stop commenting on my food and my weight? do I need to work with the woman my father had an affair with? my boss wants us to go on an all-day rafting trip, coworker’s parents are threatening to call HR about our friendship, and more weekend free-for-all – April 20-21, 2019 open thread – April 19-20, 2019 I bombed in an interview I asked for, employee wants to skip lunch and leave early every day, and more why don’t we teach new grads about workplace norms? updates: the manager’s peeing dog, dressing like your boss, and more what’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you at work? my coworkers keep praising my work bully, emergency bathroom use during interviews, and more my coworkers think I’m flirting with them my employee gets drunk on business trips my boss says I’m too much of an “open book” emotionally I have to build with Legos during an interview, I don’t want to cross a picket line for work errands, and more should I have shared my salary with a coworker? my boss makes me hassle my coworkers for no reason I can see a coworker doing work for me incorrectly over her shoulder — can I step in? how can I follow up without being annoying, people ask “who’s in here?” when I’m in a bathroom stall, and more I hired a friend and it’s not going well my boss thinks I made a mistake, but I didn’t I can’t say no to clients, and my success is destroying me my office thinks I insulted a coworker, colleague refuses to take my input, and more weekend free-for-all – April 13-14, 2019 open thread – April 12-13, 2019 my coworker is routinely late because she stops for coffee, letting a man open a door at an interview, and more my boss told me to stop wearing headphones at work — but I wear them to drown out my coworker’s noise my coworker is my boss’s best friend ask the readers: how do you bounce back from burnout? my parents are shocked that interviewers can see my social media, can I help my nice but incompetent boss, and more I manage someone who’s upset that his employees don’t give him praise and validation should I pretend to be bad at work I hate? I’m about to fire an employee — and we just hired her husband should I warn a store their new hire will steal from them, manager mocks me for my chair choice, and more am I annoying my coworkers by asking for a ton of context on everything? rejecting anyone who doesn’t send a thank-you note is terrible hiring here’s a real-life example of a fantastic cover letter asking for a phone call before I interview in-person, I hit a coworker’s car, and more I wet my pants at my new job the person I was hired to replace won’t leave can I suggest a junior coworker tone down her sarcastic sense of humor? pushing back when an employee calls in sick, renegotiating an offer you’ve already accepted, and more weekend free-for-all – April 6-7, 2019 the Ask a Manager book is on sale right now open thread – April 5-6, 2019 how can I get my staff to figure things out on their own, asking about internal candidates, and more can my boss tell me how to manage my vacation time — and my “energy”? update: I work from home and my coworker wants me available 24/7 navigating LGBTQ issues at work: an open thread my boss thinks I’m his graphic designer, how to salvage my reputation at an internship, and more my employee identifies proudly as a grump how can I recover from a huge, fireable mistake? my boss brings her dog to work and he pees by my desk my coworker brags about how rich he is, application assignments when you’re on vacation, and more my boss hardly reads emails and says it’s my job to follow up with her when something’s important ask the readers: what are the best and worst pranks you’ve seen at work? my boss asked coworkers if my husband has violent tendencies can you work from home while caring for small kids, presenting with a coworker who swears, and more my boss wants me to tell her when I’m looking for a new job why hearing “can we talk?” from your boss evokes so much dread my intern thinks he’s good at things that he’s terrible at office lunch event is out of control, I hate video interviews, and more March 2019 weekend free-for-all – March 30-31, 2019 open thread – March 29-30, 2019 my husband’s boss says he can’t expense my meals, oujia boards at work and more “I’m so sorry you have to work on this garbage project with these horrible clients” what to do when a potential reference turns you down here’s your reality check: does your job suck or are you being too picky? my boss shakes men’s hands but fist-bumps women, streaming movies at work, and more my coworkers want status updates — but I don’t have them because my boss is a bottleneck my employee lied about a reference someone is taking phone calls while using the toilet in our shared bathroom working with anti-vaxxers, my boss is sending me ads for other jobs, and more my boss yells for employees to come to her — over and over what to do if you’re being paid less than a male coworker my boss asked if I felt “threatened” by a new hire when I complained about her my coworker was fired because of me, I sweated through my jacket at an interview, and more an employee keeps complaining to me about her boss, who I manage my coworker’s kids are disrupting our meetings should I take a job working for my dad? my coworkers want to bond over numerology, is my boss trying to thwart my raise request, and more weekend free-for-all – March 23-24, 2019 open thread – March 22-23, 2019 should I stop wearing makeup to fit in at work, unprepared interviewers, and more my boss constantly complains about how much he pays me what to look for when you’re interviewing students ask the readers: when you’re the chronically sick coworker my coworker uses all-caps for everything, can I ask my office to stop swearing, and more my team got matching tattoos … and other lack of boundaries at my start-up how to say no to your boss is being visibly stressed at work a sign of commitment? I replied-all with an adversarial email, my boss and I dress alike, and more my boss doesn’t trust my answers or my ideas — and keeps double-checking what I say with others how to negotiate salary after a job offer my office is walking on eggshells around our overly-friendly coworker coworkers at my new job want to oust the CEO, a company I rejected keeps rejecting me back, and more I was invited to a 300-person cattle-call interview, and now the company wants to know why I’m not interested what should you do if you’re asked to work for free in a job interview? can I use dark humor at work? should employers pay if employees need an extra airplane seat, I got sent to a conference where I didn’t belong, and more weekend free-for-all – March 16-17, 2019 everything you need to know about being a new employee, and more about the menstrual cup manager open thread – March 15-16, 2019 employee constantly uses astrology to analyze coworkers, former employee published hit piece on our company, and more don’t drunkenly email your boss this St. Patrick’s Day do I have to help someone I can’t stand? fighting “out of sight, out of mind” when you work from home I was promised a perk but discouraged from using it, my director plays with my hair, and more my boorish coworker dominates all our Slack channels help — I work for a micromanager! our new manager is pressuring the women on our team to use menstrual cups what’s up with people not eating lunch, asking about salary before agreeing to an interview, and more my boss is my new next-door neighbor this is your guide to asking for a raise … and getting it I manage a horrible micromanager my boss has strict kitchen rules, how to escape an exit interview, and more the overtime pay law may finally change my employee interrupts me with unnecessary questions and updates my boss told my office I’m lying about my health condition how much social media use at work is too much, how to cancel an interview with a rude job candidate, and more weekend free-for-all – March 9-10, 2019 open thread – March 8-9, 2019 my boss asked me to mediate with her and my coworkers, a detective showed up at my job, and more can I ask a rejected job candidate on a date? how bad is it to leave a job after less than a year? ask the readers: how to succeed at work when you’re not neurotypical I don’t want to hear about coworkers’ lavish vacations, job applicant keeps asking for another chance, and more how do I say “no thanks” to a GoFundMe organized on my behalf? I saw an email I wasn’t supposed to see should I tell my new boss about my previous poor performance in this job? employer is angry I didn’t show up for an interview I didn’t know about, how much working from home is too much, and more update: car alarm keeps disrupting our office how to find out what salary you should be making talking about my pregnancy at work when I’m placing the baby for adoption coworker asks for lavish gifts, fired employee is retaliating on Yelp, and more my boss sent my client a flirty message from my email account why do people go so nuts over free food at work? my junior employee won’t stop sharing his “expertise” I manage a friend and it’s going badly, coworker eavesdrops on my phone calls, and more weekend free-for-all – March 2-3, 2019 your bad boss can haunt you even after you leave open thread – March 1-2, 2019 my office is full of whispers, asking for a promotion without a raise, and more February 2019 what to put on a resume when you have zero work experience my employee responded badly to his raise what should I be planning for professionally as a single parent? employee quit and deleted his files, old job still contacts me daily, and more my coworker plans to work a second job during our work hours, without telling our boss here’s what you should sound like in a bunch of conversations with your job interviewer my boss pet-sat my animals and nearly killed them I don’t want my boss at my goodbye party, putting Dungeons & Dragons on a resume, and more my coworker is setting toilet paper on fire in the bathroom I’m scared to tell my boss how behind on work I am my husband keeps contacting my coworkers about funding his nonprofit my boss watches me by video call while I work, how much noise is too much, and more updates: my coworker wants me available 24/7, my boss had his wife do our work, and more how to help a coworker who hates our boss employer requires women to wear perfect makeup — and writes them up if it’s smudged my mom won’t stop bugging me with work questions, a dog in a wedding dress, and more weekend free-for-all – February 23-24, 2019 open thread – February 22-23, 2019 candidate was arrested for peeing in public, am I being too helpful, and more how to tell an employee to stay in their lane should I pay a fee for a networking meeting? ask the readers: reply-all horror stories this is how to assemble a professional wardrobe without spending a ton I got in trouble for saying “bite me” in a meeting, the best day to apply for jobs, and more what’s the deal with write-ups? my coworkers overshare really personal details my office has a burn book we all have to read and sign anonymous note said to pick up my feet when I walk, a coworker with greasy hair, and more update: we have twice-daily mandatory group therapy at work how do I rebuild my career after destroying it in my 30s? some men in my office refuse to be alone with women a client hit my parked car, is it gross to floss in the office bathroom, and more my employee is being rude to others — but I think it’s from the stress of cancer managers need to stop sugarcoating their feedback our laid-off coworker still shows up every day, employer wants a short story that will make them cry, and more weekend free-for-all – February 16-17, 2019 open thread – February 15-16, 2019 car alarm keeps disrupting our office, coworker is blocking me from work, and more our office won’t tell us in advance when people leave – and sometimes won’t confirm or deny if someone still works here my new job isn’t what I signed up for I feel unsafe in the neighborhood I work in I can’t keep helping friends with their writing, office butter bonanza, and more how do I not lose hope in a highly competitive field? my coworker is unbearably negative new manager keeps telling us we’re frustrated and defensive someone is stinking up the bathroom by my office, I’m forced to use a nickname, and more our firm asks job candidates, “what salary do you need to turn up happy every day?” how do you hide your job hunt when you’re working full-time? how should employers respond to employees being doxxed? employee says he has a problem with authority, coworker is praying for me to have a baby, and more I got scolded for coming to an interview with a cold I’m afraid a coworker will find my emails trash-talking her we have twice-daily mandatory group therapy at work coworkers keep praising my “growth,” when should you use an out-of-office message, and more weekend free-for-all – February 9-10, 2019 open thread – February 8-9, 2019 boss asked someone to take her family off her health insurance, how to encourage someone you’re rejecting, and more people call me “young lady” when I’m clearly not how to deal with a boss who flips out and yells how can I make my first business trip go smoothly? this is how to ensure you get contracts signed my staff is selling multi-level marketing products at work, my coworker makes R-rated noises, and more my coworkers treat me like I’m not very smart my coworkers say my boss is in love with me my arrogant coworker is trying to mentor me, but I’m his team lead have I been blacklisted from this company, HR is asking me about my sick coworker, and more I work long hours but don’t want my staff to feel pressure to do the same should I stay in my well-paid job even though I have nothing to do? I have a crush on my employee coworkers are attacking people over grammar, responding to alumni networking requests, and more I just started my new job and I miss my old one — did I make a mistake? don’t send chocolate or lottery tickets to hiring managers our weird and incompetent temp keeps getting rehired employee goes into emotional spirals, interviewers who ask if you’re applying to other companies, and more weekend free-for-all – February 2-3, 2019 open thread – February 1-2, 2019 my friend is bombarding me with urgent messages while I’m at work, I fell for an email scam, and more January 2019 my coworker doesn’t want me to have a communal candy dish because of temptation update: I accidentally hugged the CEO how do I deal with pregnancy talk at work when I’m dealing with miscarriages? my coworkers trash-talk me in a secret group chat, keeping unvaccinated kids out of our office, and more my boyfriend thinks only bad candidates prepare for interviews how can I be a good manager? my new job doesn’t give raises — ever we’re supposed to stay late “out of courtesy,” should I send employers a lottery ticket with my resume, and more my boss accidentally sent me a message complaining about me my problem employee is telling coworkers I’m unfair to her I work from home and my coworker wants me available 24/7 telling my coworker not to bring his kids in every week, accepting coffee from my boss, and more LinkedIn is telling strangers to ask me for referrals to jobs I have nothing to do with how to deal with a rude intern how can I fix my procrastination problem? can I steal my coworkers’ screaming monkey toy, telling an employee to remove a political post from her Facebook page, and more weekend free-for-all – January 26-27, 2019 Ask a Manager in the media open thread – January 25-26, 2019 my coworkers won’t cut expenses, pop culture references in interviews, and more should I apply to jobs I’m not fully qualified for? how do I tell my boss to fire our new hire? how do you avoid burnout when your work is under-funded and emotionally draining? my employees finish my sentences, my interviewer left me alone while she ran errands, and more my employee keeps editing my work — and it feels like a power play what’s wrong with being chilly at work? my coworkers interrupt me no matter what I’m doing — and keep going after I ask them to stop my manager wants to be cc’d on all my emails, using sick days after years of perfect attendance, and more how can I stop freaking out if I get a curt-sounding email? how do I announce my pregnancy at work? my new company is all about the Law of Attraction and other pseudoscience I can’t get my own hotel room even if I pay for it, I cried in a meeting, and more an entry-level candidate with no job history wants more money for their “experience” open offices are terrible for employees our interns have to buy food for everyone, HR wants to us to give ourselves “the gift of health,” and more weekend free-for-all – January 19-20, 2019 open thread – January 18-19, 2019 my coworker is a blood drive bully, non-monetary perks, and more I’m caught in the middle of an investigation at work I don’t have any work to do at my new job how do I stop my desk from looking like a tornado hit it? I can’t trust the snacks from my coworker, large employee won’t use heavy duty chair, and more at what point in a very long cold should I stay home? we are all awkward creatures my boss cares more about “confidence” and “strength” than truth and accuracy my boss is obsessed with not being invited to my wedding, I earn more comp time than I can use, and more my company moved me to 5 countries in 12 months, got me deported, and is angry I want to quit I’m not getting opportunities at work – should I move on? how to say “I’ll quit over this” can my husband be fired for my social media posts, letting a no-call no show return to work, and more passive-aggressive notes at work update: recovering professionally after an internet hate campaign is this job interviewer stringing me along? my office is requiring us to disclose all medications we take coworker watches her nanny cam all day long, am I bothering my vegan coworkers, and more weekend free-for-all – January 12-13, 2019 open thread – January 11-12, 2019 coworkers only ask me about ducks, adult facts in a work presentation, and more is “I get every job I interview for” really a bragging point? my coworker keeps emailing our bosses about typos my coworker won’t stop talking about how rich she is am I doing dog-friendly wrong, do I still need printed copies of my resume, and more can I warn people about my horrible boss? I don’t want to become the office secretary when I didn’t answer a call, my boss worried I’d attempted suicide and he called my mom employee missed work after birthday drinking, interviewer hung up on me, and more the weird world of writing an advice column my coworker won’t answer my emails do I wear too much black at work? can I talk to my husband’s boss about his unhappiness, speaker phone etiquette, and more I ghosted a client and now I need to finish my work for her our sick leave practices are a mess my coworkers complained that the look of my breasts post-mastectomy is making them uncomfortable I pretended I’m allergic to bees, is it ethical to buy a resume and cover letter, and more weekend free-for-all – January 5-6, 2019 open thread – January 4-5, 2019 my boss keeps suggesting I move, does “let me check” make me look incompetent, and more was this interview as bizarre as I think it was? my boss makes people work late for no reason the government shutdown: an open thread for people being furloughed I’m uncomfortable with my coworkers’ names, crying when laying someone off, and more how to ask for more money than the stated salary range how do I start a new job on the right foot? my office mate asks me 75 questions a day — literally should I push my job-searching friend harder, fired coworker was looking at colleague’s burlesque photos, and more New Year’s free-for-all – January 1, 2019