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Ask a Manager

@AskAManager

Creator of Ask a Manager – home to all your questions about lunch-stealing bosses, coworkers who won't stop hugging you, and how much you can drink at work.

 Washington, DC
askamanager.org
Joined August 2008
  • Tweets12K
  • Following3.9K
  • Followers80.8K
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telling coworkers I’m leaving because of them, blindsided by a vandalism investigation, and more askamanager.org/2026/11/tell…
telling coworkers I'm leaving because of them, blindsided by a vandalism investigation, and more

telling coworkers I'm leaving because of them, blindsided by a vandalism investigation, and more

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Should I tell coworkers I’m leaving because of them? I’ve spent the last year in a work environment where my coworkers have ranged from unfriendly...

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I responded angrily to a rejection — can I get them to consider me again? askamanager.org/2026/11/i-re…
I responded angrily to a rejection — can I get them to consider me again?

I responded angrily to a rejection — can I get them to consider me again?

I’m off for the holiday, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2019. A reader writes: I’ve applied twice to a long established small theater troupe on a farm. I...

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updates: the noisy work event, interviewing with blue hair, and more askamanager.org/2026/11/upda…
updates: the noisy work event, interviewing with blue hair, and more

updates: the noisy work event, interviewing with blue hair, and more

Here are three updates from past letter-writers. 1. I left a work event because of too much noise (#2 at the link) I’m the lady who walked away from a street festival where I was doing public...

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how do I work with someone I can’t stand? askamanager.org/2026/11/how-…
how do I work with someone I can’t stand?

how do I work with someone I can’t stand?

I’m off for the holiday, so here’s an older post from the archives. This was originally published in 2017. A reader writes: My question is regarding an irritating coworker, who I will call Karen. We...

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boss wants me to fire an employee if she won’t use a heavy duty chair, coworker only drinks out of caps and lids, and more askamanager.org/2026/11/boss…
boss wants me to fire an employee if she won’t use a heavy duty chair, coworker only drinks out of...

boss wants me to fire an employee if she won’t use a heavy duty chair, coworker only drinks out of...

I’m off for the holiday today. Here are some past letters that I’m making new again, rather than leaving them to wilt in the archives. 1. My boss wants me to fire a heavier employee if she won’t use...

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I’m struggling with being laid off, but I have to keep working for another month askamanager.org/2026/11/im-s…
I'm struggling with being laid off, but I have to keep working for another month

I'm struggling with being laid off, but I have to keep working for another month

A reader writes: I have been working for a small nonprofit (less than 12 people) for a year. In September I was told that I was going to be laid off on December 1 due to a new strategic direction and...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/my-c…
my coworkers keep pushing food on me

my coworkers keep pushing food on me

A reader writes: I’m having an issue with navigating a new “skipping lunch” habit. I was recently diagnosed with ADHD and am now on medication. It’s a mixed bag, as it helps me focus but I’ve found...

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I don’t think my coworker should be at work since they’re a chronic vomiter askamanager.org/2026/11/i-do…
I don't think my coworker should be at work since they're a chronic vomiter

I don't think my coworker should be at work since they're a chronic vomiter

A reader writes: I work in a very laid-back office. We have hybrid/remote, and everyone uses the remote option whenever possible. There really is no reason for anyone to be in the office, but the...

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coworkers kept commenting on my hickey, employee turns every one-on-one into a venting session, and more askamanager.org/2026/11/cowo…
coworkers kept commenting on my hickey, employee turns every one-on-one into a venting session, and...

coworkers kept commenting on my hickey, employee turns every one-on-one into a venting session, and...

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My coworkers kept commenting on my hickey I work at a OB-GYN. My husband gave me a hickey. Some of my coworkers were making jokes and I covered it...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/the-…
the fancy shower, the livestock, and other stories about being pregnant at work

the fancy shower, the livestock, and other stories about being pregnant at work

We recently talked about pregnancy and work, and here are 12 of my favorite stories you shared. 1. The livestock expertise I was HR at a rural manufacturing facility. A lot of the guys there also ran...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/my-e…
my employee told me "I prefer not to" when I assigned him work

my employee told me "I prefer not to" when I assigned him work

A reader writes: I am a senior manager in a competitive industry. Today I sent a cool opportunity to collaborate with a partner agency to an employee of mine who I know currently has a light worklo...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/can-…
can I use sick time for haircuts and massages?

can I use sick time for haircuts and massages?

A reader writes: Help me settle this not very serious argument I had with a friend recently. My workplace has an average or slightly above average PTO policy with separate vacation and sick leave. My...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/my-b…
my boss makes up fake reasons for decisions, job hunting when you share a name with a criminal, and...

my boss makes up fake reasons for decisions, job hunting when you share a name with a criminal, and...

It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. My boss makes up fake reasons for decisions My supervisor, “Brie,” has a habit of giving shifting, inauthentic justifications rather than just...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/week…
weekend open thread - November 7-8, 2026

weekend open thread - November 7-8, 2026

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 weekend posts. Book recommendation of the week:...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/prev…
previously on Ask a Manager...

previously on Ask a Manager...

A look back at what we were talking about around this time in previous years: One year ago… my employee chewed out local officials at a business event I was written up for having a visible thong...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/open…
open thread - November 6, 2026

open thread - November 6, 2026

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 talk about (that includes school). If you want...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/boss…
boss is displaying concerning mental health symptoms, why are they reposting the job if I'm a...

boss is displaying concerning mental health symptoms, why are they reposting the job if I'm a...

It’s four answers to four questions. Here we go… 1. My boss is displaying concerning mental health symptoms, and I don’t know who to tell When my boss, Alex, joined our existing team, they were...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/recr…
recruiter wants me to pay to have my resume rewritten

recruiter wants me to pay to have my resume rewritten

A reader writes: I was recently approached by a headhunting firm for a high-level position at a well-known firm. The work is right in line with what I do, so I responded enthusiastically and sent...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/how-…
how to deal with a micromanager

how to deal with a micromanager

Here’s a round-up of advice about how to deal with a micromanager. how to deal with a micromanager help — I work for a micromanager! my boss is a micromanager my boss is a non-communicative microma...

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askamanager.org/2026/11/when…
when office potlucks and catered parties go wrong

when office potlucks and catered parties go wrong

As we approach the season of office potlucks, catered parties, and other holiday meals with coworkers, let’s discuss the many ways in which they can go wrong — from alarming cuisine to cheap-ass...

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