Ask a Manager

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m the manager (also parent) for the lives of two kids under 5 years old. Their first childcare provider was a miraculously perfect fit for part-time work; lived nearby (convenient for last minute shifts, never late due to 5 minute car commute) was very flexible, […]

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question.  A reader writes: Most of my company has been working from home due to the pandemic, like everyone. The only people in the office consistently right now are me, our VP, and occasionally the president. Since I am the most junior person in the office now, I have […]

Earlier this month, I asked you to share your funniest office holiday stories. Here are 10 of my favorites. 1. The coal I worked in a mess of a frat party type workplace. The Christmas Eve midnight shift was just us two interns, and a big boss. Myself and the other intern were working in […]

We have so many updates this year that I’m going to be posting six to seven times a day this week — so keep checking back throughout the entire day. In the spirit of the season, let’s hear about workplace gift debacles. Did a game of Secret Santa end in tears? Did a coworker throw […]

We have so many updates this year that I’m going to be posting six to seven times a day for the next several weeks — so keep checking back throughout the entire day. It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” question. A reader writes: I’m writing because for the first time in my managerial experience, I’m […]

We have once again entered the season of forced workplace merriment, inappropriate gifts, holiday party disasters, and other seasonal delights! Will there be fewer amusing debacles this year since so many of us are remote? Or will human nature triumph and bring us nude, spray-painted gold Barbies, tantrums over holiday raffles, and Hanukkah balls? I have faith that […]

It’s the weekly “ask the readers” question (I’m bumping it up to today since tomorrow is a holiday). This one is tough. A reader writes: How do I talk to my friends and family about my work when it is depressing? I work for an international development nonprofit. The situation in the country where we […]

It’s the Thursday “ask the readers” — and this week we have two questions on a similar theme: changing careers. Here’s the first letter: I daydream about doing “something else” — but I’m not sure if it’s just “grass is greener” or if I should plan to do something about it! My job (software engineering […]