Ask a Manager

I was recently contacted by someone from the International Ombuds Association, suggesting that Ask a Manager readers might be interested in learning about the work that ombuds (previously called ombudsmen) do. I learned a little more, and it is fascinating! Ombuds help employees navigate workplace conflicts and organizational processes, including helping them identify their concerns […]

We sometimes talk here about EAP (Employee Assistance Programs) but have never explored how they work. A reader, Em, who works for one, left an incredibly interesting comment about her work on a post last week, and generously agreed to talk with me more about what she does. Here’s our conversation. How would you describe an […]

Symone is a regular reader here, and she works for a majority-autistic company and is autistic herself. I asked if she’d let me interview her about what working there is like, in advance of Autism Awareness Month (which starts tomorrow), and she generously agreed to talk with me. Some quick background: Her employer is auticon, a […]

I recently started talking with someone on Twitter who sent me an amusing story about her work in the adult industry, and I of course had more questions I wanted answered so she kindly agreed to let me interview her, and here’s our conversation. (She also comments here as Carrie Oakie.) Tell us a little […]

Occasionally I do interviews here with people who have had particularly interesting jobs. Recently a commenter here mentioned that she used to be a nanny for a famous psychic, and I wanted to know more. She kindly agreed to be interviewed, and here’s our conversation. Note: This interview contains references to the interviewee’s spiritual beliefs, […]

Recently a commenter here, Seejay, mentioned that she used to be a private investigator, and I wanted to know more. She kindly agreed to be interviewed, and here’s our conversation. So tell us a bit about the work you did. My training and background is in Internet investigations and computer forensics. I initially got into […]

Lynne Somerman is a regular reader here, and she’s also a budget and money coach. I asked her if she’d do an interview here about her work, and she gracious agreed. Here’s our Q&A (and here’s her website). So you’re a budget and money coach! Tell us more about what that means — what kind of […]

My 16-year-old niece, M., has appeared here before — when she was 12, she and her sister helped me answer this letter about a boss who was always making out with his girlfriend in his office, and when she was 14, they helped me answer this letter about a boss stopping up a toilet and asking someone […]

Recently a commenter here mentioned that she used to be a professional belly dancer, and I wanted to know more. She kindly agreed to be interviewed, and here’s our conversation. So you were a professional belly dancer! How did you get into that line of work?  I started belly dancing classes on a whim at […]