My Office’s “Wellness Week” Just Adds to Our Stress
Ask a Manager highlights a former government attorney’s experience with a mandated “Wellness Week” that, despite being labeled optional, created pressure to participate in team‑based challenges. Employees had to sacrifice actual self‑care or donate time and money, while workloads remained unchanged, turning the initiative into an added stressor. The article argues that true employee well‑being must come from reduced workloads, better benefits, and genuine opt‑in options rather than token activities. It also offers practical advice for workers to set boundaries and for managers to redesign wellness programs.
Senior Employee Is a Terrible Communicator, Retaliation via Nut, and More
The Ask a Manager column tackles four distinct workplace dilemmas: a senior employee who repeatedly fails to communicate effectively despite years of coaching, a small‑business coworker battling personal crises while neglecting duties, the risk of candid feedback in non‑anonymous stay...
How Do I Handle Being Off My Game at Work because of a Medical Situation?
An employee struggling with sleep deprivation from a new CPAP machine and medication side effects saw performance drop, leading to a performance‑improvement plan. The article advises workers to proactively disclose medical challenges to managers with a concise, non‑detailed statement and...
People Who Don’t Realize They Definitely Don’t Want THIS Job
Ask a Manager published a reader‑driven post highlighting candidates who apply for roles that don’t match their true ambitions. The piece cites a lobbyist‑hopeful who wanted to push psychedelic legalization, an admin applicant eyeing a lobbyist promotion, and a clothing‑production...
Should You Fire Someone You Wouldn’t Hire Now, Coworker Wanted to Step Back and Then Changed His Mind, and More
The article offers practical advice for managers facing five common workplace dilemmas. It recommends using the “Would you hire them today?” and a “replace‑button” thought experiment to assess low‑performing staff, while stressing that the answer isn’t an automatic termination trigger....
Employment Lawyers Won’t Talk to Me Until I’ve Already Been Fired — How Do I Find a Legal Consult Now?
Employment lawyers increasingly use contingency fees, so many refuse pre‑termination advice, especially on ADA issues. Plaintiff‑side firms screen aggressively because they can’t monetize a case without a firing. However, management‑side attorneys and boutique HR‑compliance practices still bill hourly and will...
As a Manager, when Should I Delegate Work versus Doing It Myself?
A new university communications manager is unsure whether to delegate tasks or handle them personally, especially when requests from her own manager are phrased as “can you…?”. The team’s uneven capacity—one member on sick leave, a part‑timer, a junior, and...
My Angry Boss Uses AI to Write Kinder Emails … and It Feels Weird
A growing number of managers are turning to generative AI tools such as Claude to rewrite their emails and chat messages, producing softer, grammatically flawless communication. While the AI‑enhanced messages are welcomed by staff, the managers’ in‑person demeanor remains aggressive...
How Do I Train My Team to Do My Job without Making It Obvious I’m Planning to Leave?
An employee at a fast‑growing, under‑staffed firm is overwhelmed doing the work of three roles and is actively job‑searching. The employee worries that coworkers lack the skills to cover their duties and wonders how to train them without revealing the...
My Rock-Star Coworker Will Quit if She Has to Return to the Office
A senior contributor at a global tech firm is urging action after a high‑performing colleague, Molly, received an ultimatum to relocate for a new hybrid work policy. Despite strong support from her manager and director, HR denied an exemption that...
My Employee Wants to Be Reimbursed for Not Eating when I Buy Everyone Lunch
An employer at a small tax firm provides Friday lunches to boost morale, allowing staff to order within a price limit. One employee, Cara, fasts all day and requests a cash equivalent of the average lunch spend instead of the...
A Candidate Used My Experience as Hers, when I Was on the Interview Panel
During an internal promotion interview, candidate Bella claimed credit for a database‑improvement project that the panelist had led and taught her. The panelist was unsure whether Bella was deliberately lying or simply misremembering her role. The article advises interviewers to...
My Boss Asked Me to Mentor My Coworker, but It’s Really My Boss Who Needs Mentoring
A new manager, Fergus, struggles with project management, communication, and HR tasks, leading him to delegate mentorship of a peer, Chip, to an experienced employee. The employee discovers that many of Chip’s issues stem from unclear department procedures rather than...
Should I Work From Home if I Have a Cold?
A reader with a cold wonders whether to exceed her hybrid schedule and work from home. The advice emphasizes that hybrid policies typically permit remote work for mild illnesses, allowing employees to stay comfortable and avoid exposing coworkers. Open communication...
Update: My New Team Thinks They’re Incredibly Overworked, but They Actually Do Nothing
An employee recounts an update on a team that believes it is overworked while actually having little to do. The team’s tasks, once demanding before smartphones, have been automated, yet a competitive culture and management’s obsession with coverage sustain a...
Should We Stop Sending Interview Questions in Advance Since Candidates Are Running Them Through AI?
Sending interview questions 30 minutes before a remote interview aims to boost equity and candidate comfort, but generative AI enables applicants to produce polished, pre‑written answers, compromising authenticity. Hiring panels worry that AI‑generated responses mask true competence, prompting a debate...
Why Don’t More Companies Try to Retain Key Employees with Raises?
A mid‑size firm promoted an experienced employee to acting manager without a salary increase, prompting him to leave for a better‑paid role. The article argues that many companies rely on interim promotions to fill gaps while avoiding immediate compensation costs....
People Are Gossiping About How Close 2 Supervisors I Manage Are
A manager learns that two department supervisors—one married, one single—are perceived as overly close, sharing desks, breaks, and whispering, which has sparked gossip and jokes about a possible affair. Although their work output remains acceptable, delays in communication and reports...
How Do We Hire People Who Won’t Be Alarmed by Our Cardboard Coworker?
A manager seeks guidance on hiring employees who will embrace a quirky office culture featuring a cardboard cutout named Robert and off‑beat lunch conversations. The article advises transparent job postings that describe these traditions while warning that topics like alien...
I’m in Trouble for Leaving for a Business Trip without a Late Coworker
An employee and a coworker were scheduled to leave at 5:30 am for a conference, but the coworker arrived 35 minutes late. The employee waited only 15 minutes before departing alone in the company car, arriving on time while the coworker drove separately....
Key Phrases to Use when You Talk to Your Boss
The article outlines seven practical phrases employees can use to improve conversations with their managers. By proposing solutions, flagging potential issues, seeking clarification, and requesting prioritization, workers demonstrate proactive problem‑solving and clear communication. Expressing gratitude for feedback and asking how...
Employee Won’t Stop Hugging People
A nonprofit manager is dealing with a gregarious employee who habitually initiates full‑body hugs with visitors and volunteers, creating discomfort among staff and guests. The advice emphasizes addressing the behavior directly rather than drafting new policies, stressing immediate, clear feedback...
Remote Employee Is Doing Child Care Instead of Working, Should I Buy a Cake for a Jerk Who’s Retiring, and...
The Ask a Manager column answered four distinct workplace dilemmas: a remote employee appearing to juggle childcare during work hours, whether to provide a retirement cake for a disliked senior colleague, sharing photos of an aerial‑silks hobby, and coping with...
A Sex Offender (Related to the CEO) Is Moving on to My Team
A senior employee, related to the CEO, was arrested for soliciting a minor and is slated to join the reader’s team. The employee has not been terminated, raising concerns of nepotism and inconsistent enforcement of past policies. The manager seeks...
In Customer-Facing Jobs, Where’s the Line for Tolerating Abuse From the Public?
A healthcare worker describes a tense encounter where a patient’s husband verbally berated staff after a system outage prevented treatment. The incident highlights the gray area between understandable frustration and verbal abuse, especially when staff lack clear guidelines. The article...
My Employee Complained About Me to HR
A manager overseeing three staff members handled a new hire’s personal‑issue‑related performance lapses informally, while a seasoned employee raised concerns to HR during the manager’s vacation. HR urged formal documentation, prompting the manager to wonder if the complaint was justified...
Everything You Need to Know About Snow Days at Work
Recent eastern U.S. snowstorms have raised common questions about employee rights and employer duties during weather‑related office closures. Employers can legally require staff to report to work, but many opt for safety‑first policies. Pay rules differ: nonexempt workers are not...
My Company Doesn’t “Do” Raises, Ever
A small firm with 40 employees openly states it "doesn't give raises," keeping salaries between $80K and $95K static despite inflation. Long‑tenured, highly qualified staff often earn less than newer hires who negotiated higher starting pay, and only a few...
Will My Angry Work Friend Harm My Reputation?
A worker worries that a close colleague’s increasingly hostile behavior at work could tarnish his own reputation. The advice recommends a candid, private conversation with the colleague rather than involving the manager, unless clear reputational damage emerges. Maintaining a distinct...
Company Wants References From “Coworkers You Didn’t Get Along With”
A candidate interviewing for a remote, mission‑driven company faced an extreme hiring process, including 10+ video calls, unpaid work tests, and a request for references from coworkers they didn’t get along with. The article condemns the practice as unreasonable and...
My Boss Asked Me to Reflect on My Conflicts with Coworkers and I Don’t Want To
A university lab supervisor added two development goals to an employee’s performance development review: improve conflict‑management skills by reflecting on past disputes and enhance communication with senior staff. The employee pushed back, arguing the conflicts were resolved and didn’t belong...
My Job Sent Police to My Home when I Was 2 Hours Late
A worker with three decades of attendance reported two extreme employer reactions to lateness: a one‑hour delay prompted a call to an emergency contact, and a two‑hour delay led the manager to request a police wellness check. Both actions far...