Ask a Manager

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker made up stories about my medical condition, HR is investigating, and my coworkers are upset I had a mastectomy in November. I didn’t tell my coworkers that I was having this procedure done because the last thing I wanted was people drawing attention […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Interviewing when I might need to quit the job quickly After two years in a freelance position, I’ve begun interviewing for in-house roles in my city. I’ve had some hesitation about doing this because, while I am really eager to find a consistent position, there […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I was forced to sing at a company dinner Recently I left a job of 10 years because of a great opportunity. Two weeks into this job, I’m at a dinner with my whole team, high bosses, and special guests. One of the high bosses […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss jokes about me having work “suitors” I work in a clubhouse for a community with a high volume of lonely old people. I have always been a conversationalist, and I don’t mind lending an ear when people want to talk, since it’s part […]

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. I wasn’t the first choice for my job, and I think it shows I’ve started a new position that is a really great opportunity for my career. However, I wasn’t the first choice candidate (their first hire didn’t show up) and it’s starting to show. […]

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. How to set up a meeting to ask for a raise I am gearing up to ask for a raise next week. I feel confident about my case, and confident about the numbers that I’m asking for. I have poured through your raise guide and […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employee doesn’t take the hint that she’s interrupting me I’m a senior-level employee at a small company that is generally pretty casual, collegial, and “open-door.” An employee on my team (not a direct report, but I review a lot of her work and am senior […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Saying the Pledge of Allegiance at work I have a long-standing issue at work and am at a loss over whether I should raise this, and if so, how. I am a full-time permanent federal employee. At my agency we honor monthly presidential declarations (think […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss moved in with my boyfriend’s sister and now things are awkward A couple of years ago, my long-term boyfriend’s sister had just gotten out of an emotional abusive relationship and needed a roommate. Around the same time, my boss had also just gotten […]

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Am I off-base about the value of a college degree “just in case”? I hope you can help me set up my high school junior for success and happiness in her work life. She’s very academically gifted, so her grades and test scores will help […]