Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworkers rant about hating kids I’ve been working at a small company for about a year and a half. It’s my dream job, and I’m working for a great boss. The company is divided into two teams, and several times a year there are […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employer wants us to help with loan fraud I thankfully work in a field that hasn’t been impacted by COVID, at least not yet. Some of our clients have, but this hasn’t been an issue regarding money coming into our business (yet). My boss went […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Employee is vaping during video calls I am in a supervisory position for a state government that has moved to work-from-home during the pandemic. We are now holding all of our meetings through virtual interfaces. Recently, another supervisor and I have noticed one of our […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I take my (expert) mom to work? I am a first-time duty manager in my mid 20s, one year into my job at a small museum, with everyone at my level at least 10 years my senior, and most of my staff 10-20 years […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I wear a collar now that we’re on video? In my personal life, I sometimes wear a collar as part of my fun relationship with my partner. It is a narrow leather band with a small metal ring on it, kind of like this. […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss freaked out when I used bottled water in our coffee maker I do admin work for a small firm with two bosses: Isabella (who recruited me) and Ferdinand (to whom I directly report). I’ve known Isabella for many years and get along well […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My employee says “kind of” and “you know” constantly I recently on-boarded a new team member who I’m very excited to have in a long needed role, “Jane.” Jane’s interviews went fabulously, with myself and other managers agreeing she was the best fit of the […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss is mentoring my employee I am a director at a government agency. I’m recognized at work for being highly inclusive and engaged in the success of each person on my team. I regularly meet with my employees and coach them in real time. […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My employee gave her puppy the same unusual name as a coworker’s new baby A team member has just announced she’s getting a puppy and naming him Achilles, which, though an unusual name, is the same name of another team member’s baby. (“Achilles” isn’t the real name, but […]

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Telling friends at work I don’t want to talk about dieting Personally, I think diets belong in the list of things you shouldn’t discuss at work. I have a history of disordered eating and, while my relationship with food and exercise is mostly healthy now, […]