Ask a Manager

Three years ago, I answered a letter from someone who had heard that her former employer was telling reference checkers that she had been fired even though she hadn’t been (#4 at the link). Here’s the update. When you very kindly answered my question three years ago, I had been completely devastated by my time […]

Remember the letter-writer who accidentally tossed condoms all over his interviewer’s desk? He had mentioned in the comments that he had been contacted for a second interview, and here’s the update. I’m so thrilled to already have an update for you about the infamous Condom Throwing Incident. First things first: I GOT THE JOB! The […]

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. My dog barks during work calls Thank you so much for publishing my letter! Your advice and those in the comments have been very helpful. Since I wrote in, my one-to-one meetings are now nonexistent apart from my manager so I am taking everyone’s advice to start […]

Remember the manager last week whose employee given her an “it’s her or me” ultimatum? I wrote that it seemed like that employee had it in for her coworker and wasn’t trustworthy and that the manager was pretty badly mishandling the situation. She got a lot of criticism from both me and the commenters, but […]

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. A friend of my ex-boyfriend verbally attacked me at work I’m the one who asked you about a new hire who blew up on me because he is friends with my ex. The day after you posted my question, I went on a week-long business trip out […]

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. I made an anonymous complaint about a coworker and she’s blaming someone else for it (#2 at the link, first update here) First, a not-so-nice update. Remember I mentioned in my original letter that Jane was part of a group of three women? I gave updates on […]

Remember the letter-writer who was concerned that someone kept farting in important, high-level client meetings? Here’s the update. Thought I would give an update on the farting in the boardroom story of a little while back as the issue did not go away and things turned out a lot differently than how I expected. So […]

Remember the letter-writer whose interviewer asked how she’d been supporting herself while she was unemployed and kept prodding for an answer? Here’s the update. First, I’d like to thank you for answering my question. Your perspective and advice were so helpful during a weird and confusing time. You confirmed for me that this was not behavior […]

Remember the letter-writer who had found a way to see in advance which Saturdays he’d be required to work and was requesting them all off before he could be scheduled, despite being required to work them? His manager knew something was going on but couldn’t figure out how he was getting the info in advance. […]

It’s a special “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager, where all month I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. Our staff aren’t underpaid but think they are I did use a lot of the techniques and scripts […]