A reader writes: Today, during a screensharing session with my new employee, Barb, I saw something inappropriate on her screen and did not speak up. I was

Ask a Manager Blog

03.04.2025

potential employer wants me to disclose any medical conditions, including migraines, depression, eczema, and more — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I recently interviewed for an admin role, essentially front reception, for a private hospital. The job is entirely non-clinical. After

Ask a Manager Blog

03.04.2025

marketing team refuses to do our projects, second thoughts about a new job, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Our marketing team refuses to do projects for us, then complains if we do them ourselves I’m one of

Ask a Manager Blog

03.04.2025

the head of the nonprofit I volunteer for doesn't know what a budget is — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I've been doing some remote volunteer grant writing as part of a long-term plan to break out of my current job family (also

Ask a Manager Blog

02.04.2025

my interviewer wants a reference from my current boss — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I recently interviewed for a new job that I was really excited: it’s exactly what I want to be doing next in my career, at a company I’ve

Ask a Manager Blog

02.04.2025

my boss's constant self-deprecation and oversharing make me uncomfortable — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I want your help in understanding what, if anything, I can/should do about the way my boss talks about herself. I like my boss, but it's

Ask a Manager Blog

02.04.2025

when someone tells you you're too sick to be at work (but you're not) — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: How should I respond when someone tells me that I am too sick to be at work and I should be at home? The context here, one of my directs

Ask a Manager Blog

02.04.2025

drunk coworker's aggressive behavior outside of work, a retroactive pay cut, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Can I report my coworker’s drunken, racist aggression outside of work? This past weekend, after a

Ask a Manager Blog

01.04.2025

can my resume list a different title than my real one? — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: For some reason -- largely due to how bad the job market currently is for replaceable lifelong individual contributors -- I've been

Ask a Manager Blog

01.04.2025

should I write a list of rules so a colleague treats me decently? — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: This is a community organizing issue, but it is ultimately about working closely with someone where there’s conflict, and one where I

Ask a Manager Blog

01.04.2025

corporate executives are more out-of-touch than ever — Ask a Manager

At a time when many Americans are struggling with rising costs of living, too many corporate executives are making it clear that they have no idea what

Ask a Manager Blog

01.04.2025

old boss told potential new boss my salary, people who just say "hi" in messages, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. How to get someone to say what they want on Teams chat, not just say “hi" I'm looking for a polite

Ask a Manager Blog

31.03.2025

an inappropriate song in children's theater, coworker won’t stop insisting everything is fine, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I speak up about an inappropriate song in children's theater? I'm a volunteer in a community

Ask a Manager Blog

29.03.2025

open thread - March 28, 2025 — Ask a Manager

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to

Ask a Manager Blog

29.03.2025

weekend open thread - March 29-30, 2025 — Ask a Manager

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the

Ask a Manager Blog

28.03.2025

how to serve patients when you're feeling fragile yourself — Ask a Manager

It's the Thursday "ask the readers" question. A reader writes: I'd appreciate your and other workers' advice on how to cope providing service when you are

Ask a Manager Blog

28.03.2025

updates: my friend accused me of getting him fired, the jerk on the plane, and more — Ask a Manager

Here are four updates from past letter-writers. 1. My friend accused me of getting him fired, but I didn’t (#3 at the link) Thanks again for publishing my

Ask a Manager Blog

28.03.2025

is it my responsibility to have a work-from-home set-up even if I don’t normally work from home? — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I work for a company that has around 600 employees and several offices in a few different countries. Recently a different office was

Ask a Manager Blog

28.03.2025

perks for remote employees only, my mom says I shouldn’t leave a bad Glassdoor review, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. Perks for remote employees only Our company works mostly remotely. Employees who live locally come in

Ask a Manager Blog

27.03.2025

how to get people to answer my questions, without sounding rude or snarky — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I need help figuring out how to point out to someone they haven’t answered my question in a way that doesn’t sound rude. I’m a

Ask a Manager Blog

27.03.2025

update: my boss never praises my work — Ask a Manager

Remember the letter-writer whose boss never praised their work? Here’s the update. My undying thanks to you and all the commentariat for your

Ask a Manager Blog

27.03.2025

employee isn’t clearing decisions with me, I don't want baby gifts, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My employee isn’t clearing decisions with me and argued with me at a staff meeting I am the executive

Ask a Manager Blog

27.03.2025

my employee wants us to stop ordering "unhealthy snacks" — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I work in a small workplace, we're about 40 employees. When I started at the company about five years ago, I started ordering granola

Ask a Manager Blog

26.03.2025

were we wrong not to interview a volunteer for a paid job? — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I would really love your opinion on how we handled this hiring process -- and on the subsequent fallout. I work for a public library that

Ask a Manager Blog

26.03.2025

coworker doesn’t want to report our boss for harassment, I accidentally let a contact think my dad is still alive, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworker doesn’t want to report our boss for harassment Recently a coworker shared information with

Ask a Manager Blog

26.03.2025

my coworkers won't answer their phones, ever — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I feel bananas asking this, but could you give me a read on how/whether people still use phones in office/remote office work in 2025? I

Ask a Manager Blog

26.03.2025

are these men hitting on me, or legitimate business contacts? — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: In the past year or two, quite a few people (typically middle-aged men) have been reaching out to me via LinkedIn (I am a 20-something

Ask a Manager Blog

25.03.2025

when an employee doesn’t want to make a formal complaint, can I act anyway? — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I’ve got an employee who had a weird encounter with another employee. It wasn’t harassment but it’s made her feel uncomfortable whenever

Ask a Manager Blog

25.03.2025

the pinstripe suits, the fancy espresso machine, and other weird hills coworkers chose to die on — Ask a Manager

Last week we talked about weird hills to die on -- people who became so strongly committed to a minor fight that they lost all sight of logic and decorum

Ask a Manager Blog

25.03.2025

my coworker refuses to share her calendar and says she'll quit if she's ordered to — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I work at a small creative business with about 25 employees, Our structure is pretty flat, and there is no traditional HR or processes

Ask a Manager Blog

25.03.2025

mentee was fired for using a vulgar term, asking candidates which position in a band they'd choose, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My mentee was fired for using a vulgar term I work in a regulated industry and there are specific

Ask a Manager Blog

24.03.2025

I found “detox” propaganda in the office kitchen, I made a huge political mistake, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. I found weird “detox” propaganda in the office kitchen I work at a small nonprofit of under 30

Ask a Manager Blog

22.03.2025

weekend open thread - March 22-23, 2025 — Ask a Manager

This comment section is open for any non-work-related discussion you’d like to have with other readers, by popular demand. Here are the rules for the

Ask a Manager Blog

22.03.2025

open thread - March 21, 2025 — Ask a Manager

It’s the Friday open thread! The comment section on this post is open for discussion with other readers on any work-related questions that you want to

Ask a Manager Blog

21.03.2025

update: my coworkers have way more money than me … and they constantly expect me to shell out cash for meals and gifts — Ask a Manager

Remember the letter-writer whose coworkers had way more money than her but constantly expected her to shell out cash for meals and gifts? Here’s the

Ask a Manager Blog

21.03.2025

I'm a manager without enough work to do because my team handles everything — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I work at a fairly large international company with several offices and remote workers all over the country. I manage a team of three

Ask a Manager Blog

21.03.2025

boss embarrassed me at a meeting, pre-hire drug and alcohol testing, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My boss embarrassed me at a department meeting My company is being bought out for a larger

Ask a Manager Blog

21.03.2025

let's discuss the weirdest hills to die on you've seen at work — Ask a Manager

Over the years, we've heard about people who chose some pretty odd hills to die on -- people who became so strongly committed to a minor fight that they

Ask a Manager Blog

20.03.2025

swiping on a coworker on a dating app, bosses gave a perk to their spouses instead of to employees, and more — Ask a Manager

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Is swiping on a coworker on a dating app grounds for an HR meeting? Asking for a friend: They

Ask a Manager Blog

20.03.2025

everyone likes me, so why am I not in the group chat? — Ask a Manager

A reader writes: I started a new job about four months ago in a team of six people in a mid-sized company, and my five immediate coworkers have been

home›Ask a Manager Blog›Career

Ask a Manager Blog - Career

I saw my employee's X-rated chat — Ask a Manager

potential employer wants me to disclose any medical conditions, including migraines, depression, eczema, and more — Ask a Manager

marketing team refuses to do our projects, second thoughts about a new job, and more — Ask a Manager

the head of the nonprofit I volunteer for doesn't know what a budget is — Ask a Manager

my interviewer wants a reference from my current boss — Ask a Manager

my boss's constant self-deprecation and oversharing make me uncomfortable — Ask a Manager

when someone tells you you're too sick to be at work (but you're not) — Ask a Manager

drunk coworker's aggressive behavior outside of work, a retroactive pay cut, and more — Ask a Manager

can my resume list a different title than my real one? — Ask a Manager

should I write a list of rules so a colleague treats me decently? — Ask a Manager

corporate executives are more out-of-touch than ever — Ask a Manager

old boss told potential new boss my salary, people who just say "hi" in messages, and more — Ask a Manager

an inappropriate song in children's theater, coworker won’t stop insisting everything is fine, and more — Ask a Manager

open thread - March 28, 2025 — Ask a Manager

weekend open thread - March 29-30, 2025 — Ask a Manager

how to serve patients when you're feeling fragile yourself — Ask a Manager

updates: my friend accused me of getting him fired, the jerk on the plane, and more — Ask a Manager

is it my responsibility to have a work-from-home set-up even if I don’t normally work from home? — Ask a Manager

perks for remote employees only, my mom says I shouldn’t leave a bad Glassdoor review, and more — Ask a Manager

how to get people to answer my questions, without sounding rude or snarky — Ask a Manager

update: my boss never praises my work — Ask a Manager

employee isn’t clearing decisions with me, I don't want baby gifts, and more — Ask a Manager

my employee wants us to stop ordering "unhealthy snacks" — Ask a Manager

were we wrong not to interview a volunteer for a paid job? — Ask a Manager

coworker doesn’t want to report our boss for harassment, I accidentally let a contact think my dad is still alive, and more — Ask a Manager

my coworkers won't answer their phones, ever — Ask a Manager

are these men hitting on me, or legitimate business contacts? — Ask a Manager

when an employee doesn’t want to make a formal complaint, can I act anyway? — Ask a Manager

the pinstripe suits, the fancy espresso machine, and other weird hills coworkers chose to die on — Ask a Manager

my coworker refuses to share her calendar and says she'll quit if she's ordered to — Ask a Manager

mentee was fired for using a vulgar term, asking candidates which position in a band they'd choose, and more — Ask a Manager

I found “detox” propaganda in the office kitchen, I made a huge political mistake, and more — Ask a Manager

weekend open thread - March 22-23, 2025 — Ask a Manager

open thread - March 21, 2025 — Ask a Manager

update: my coworkers have way more money than me … and they constantly expect me to shell out cash for meals and gifts — Ask a Manager

I'm a manager without enough work to do because my team handles everything — Ask a Manager

boss embarrassed me at a meeting, pre-hire drug and alcohol testing, and more — Ask a Manager

let's discuss the weirdest hills to die on you've seen at work — Ask a Manager

swiping on a coworker on a dating app, bosses gave a perk to their spouses instead of to employees, and more — Ask a Manager

everyone likes me, so why am I not in the group chat? — Ask a Manager

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