05/06/2008

Sylists upset with salon owner
She charges me and other senior stylists the same fees she charges the newer stylists, but it should be considerably less.

04/29/2008

Worker criticized for criticizing management
I just can't stand people who bash those of us in management and then turn around and decide that they want to be one of us.

04/22/2008

Baker is frosted over wedding cake request
After I made the offer to make the cake for free, my friend told me that she wanted me to make a cake she had seen on the web and that the number of people coming had increased from 120 people to 160.

04/15/2008

Worker's growing tired of no time off
My boss has no problem finding someone to fill in for me when he wants to have a meeting with all of us managers, but when I want to take a day off he can't seem to find anyone.

04/08/2008

Restaurant manager says money talk is out of line
I am so mad at one of the other managers. I have heard from a trusted employee that she has told some of my employees how much money they can make if they work at my store.

04/01/2008

Proposed gas allowance cap drives worker crazy
Our management's proposal to keep gas costs down makes no sense because we all drive different kinds of vehicles and some of us live closer to work than others.

03/25/2008

Salesman says boss crushes morale
Sales and morale have been in the toilet, so we thought our idea could only help. Our boss's response only demoralized us more, which sure didn't help sales.

03/18/2008

Worker worried about input in 360 review
Even though my boss and colleagues know how competent and professional I am, I'm very concerned about my assistant participating in this 360 thing. We have butted heads quite a bit.

03/11/2008

Office manager reprimands entire staff for one employee's slip-up
The office manager took the easy way out, which caused all the staff to freak out and wonder who the notice pertained to. This mess is so aggravating and gets very old.

03/04/2008

PTs say tattler needs to give it a rest
If she sees that one or more of us appears to be monopolizing equipment or using it longer than we should be, she will immediately go tattle to our general manager.

02/26/2008

Salon worker says beauty shop boss is beast to work for
She yelled at me like I was 4 years old, but what added to the humiliation is that she did this in front of other employees, one of my customers and some customers I didn't know.

02/19/2008

Applicant fears commute statement may jeopardize chance for job
I'm worried that I may not get a job I interviewed for because the company may think that the only reason I applied for it is because it is less than five miles from my house.

02/12/2008

Party planner left holding the bag on gift bag costs
I charge a flat fee for the parties and then $7.00 for each child's gift bag. At a recent party, I was paid my flat fee but the family didn't include the $84 for the 12 bags.

02/05/2008

Frustration mounts because everyone seems to need reminders
Why is it that when I call someone and ask him or her to do something for me on a certain date, they tell me to call him or her again to remind them??? Give me a break!

01/29/2008

Worker feels blindsided by boss
My boss continually pretends to have previously asked for a task to be accomplished that she had never asked for in the first place.

01/22/2008

Customer uncomfortable that company discusses costs in public
What kills me is how the proprietors of a business I have to frequent for medicinal purposes discuss the costs of their services with clients out in the waiting room area in front of everyone else.

01/15/2008

Rudeness frustrates co-worker
I've tried your advice of having a respectful talk with a co-worker I've had problems with for quite some time. In a nutshell, this co-worker treats me like crap.

01/08/2008

Start 2008 with H.E.A.R.T.
I believe there are ways to improve a work environment. We can tackle workplace woes with H.E.A.R.T. -- Honesty, Empathy, Adaptability, Responsibility, and Teamwork -- enveloped in passion and respect.

12/18/2007

Worker feels like prisoner at work
I literally am not allowed to move from my desk when my boss is in. I can't even go to the restroom when it's not my lunch break unless she's working out of town or in a meeting outside the office.

12/11/2007

Employee feels unappreciated during Employee Appreciation Week
My boss's handling of the occasion was so pathetic that I can't help but laugh to keep from crying. I'm hoping that if any bosses read my email to you, they will learn something from my boss's faux pas.

12/04/2007

Contract worker angry over apparent lies about pay
A person in the company told me the woman in charge of my contracts has plenty of money to pay me more and that all the other contractors who provide similar services to mine are being paid more.

11/27/2007

Laid off experienced worker wants to stay put
I want to remain in the Hampton Roads area, but I am finding that I made more money than most jobs in my field are paying in this area. How do I say in my cover letter that the opportunity is more important than the money?

11/20/2007

Grateful but uncomfortable with Thanksgiving invitation
I like keeping my personal life separate from my work life and I think the two will get blurred if I go to a co-worker's home for Thanksgiving.

11/13/2007

Job seeker looking for direction for job interview question
What would you do if potential employers keep asking why you are no longer with your last employer?

11/06/2007

Proof will give employee a real 'lift'
I was late for work and I need to prove to my boss that there really was a bridge lift on October 30.

10/30/2007

Worker feels boss has favorites
The problem has become chronic where the med-fellow and technician will revel in the boss's attention to the point of telling me and the post-doc every detail of every encounter.

10/23/2007

Employee can't get along with rude co-worker, wants to punch her
I recently started having a problem with a specific co-worker at my place of work. This person is constantly rude to me and talks bad behind my back. I feel as if I just want to punch her. Not a good idea, right?

10/16/2007

Boss doesn't engender employees' good will
For the last five years, I took it upon myself to take up a collection for a gift for Boss's Day. This year, half the department does not want to participate and be hypocritical.

10/09/2007

Firing has office abuzz
Not too long ago, I had to let go of one of my customer service reps. I'm sensing the other customer service reps want to hear from me about this firing - they want the nitty gritty.

10/02/2007

Cussing gets employee in hot water with HR
A coworker overheard a conversation I was having with another coworker where I said a few curse words.

09/25/2007

Injured worker looking for lawyer
I was injured at my place of work in Sept. '04 and since Jan. '05, I've had to endure six surgeries. What would you suggest is the best way to learn who is the best attorney to hire to represent me?

09/18/2007

Worker wants more challenges on the job
My boss gives me assignments like inventorying souvenirs and delivering banners, but leaves me out of more substantive projects, even though I've expressed an interest in them.

09/11/2007

Receptionist not receptive to employee's advice
The receptionist refused to check in my visitor because it was almost five minutes before she was supposed to go on duty. She told me in front of my visitor that she wasn't on duty and she was going to get some coffee.

09/04/2007

Office manager/bookkeeper feels company reputation hurt by late paperwork
The guy who is responsible for giving me paperwork does things when he wants to, not when he is supposed to. The general manager doesn't pay attention to these types of things.

08/28/2007

Employee wants a little notice when when extra work is needed
Our boss knew a worker was going to need our help, but he didn't notify any of us that we were going to have to work late until right before the end of the day. Come on, why did our boss do that?

08/21/2007

Ex-employee battling company for 5 years
I had to leave and then I applied for unemployment. I received the unemployment benefits, but I was in court with the company showing that I did not need or was qualified for unemployment. Now I have to pay back $3,000.00.

08/14/2007

Resentment rises up with boss's e-mail
A couple of years ago I got into a showdown with my immediate supervisor. He said I said things and did things that were out right lies.

08/07/2007

Worker needs advice on reporting boss's behavior
I was searching the Web for articles/stories/advice on what to do if I know (with 110% certainty) that my boss is having an affair with one of our employees. This has been going on for over a year and he clearly favors this person.

07/31/2007

Promoted employee thinks bosses taking advantage of her
I like my job, but lately I feel as though I am merely around to do the tasks the owners don't want to do. Are they taking advantage of me or am I imagining this?

07/24/2007

Worker wonders if supervisor passed email 'up the line'
I asked my boss what the big boss said about my email. He didn't answer my question. Should I let it go or should I make my boss tell me exactly what he did or did not do?

07/17/2007

Worker says summer dress code bogged down in detail
A very detailed document states what we can and cannot wear, which has a way of destroying the niceness of management's nice seasonal gesture.  I think they need not be so rigid.

07/10/2007

Worker questions whether to use future graduation date
Some of my buddies have told me that it would be okay to give the name of the school, the degree I'm getting, and the year 2007 on my resume, even though I should have my degree by this December. 

07/03/2007

Worker puzzled by commute compensation plan
We just moved into a new office that is causing many of us to have a much longer commute. The big boss came up with a complicated plan to assist us with the expense, but he didn't consult with anyone when he came up with it.

06/26/2007

Addressing issue with boss gets results
Since the meeting, she has asked the other part-timers to pick up extra days and hired a couple contingent workers.

06/19/2007

Business owner having growing pains
My business has grown quite a bit over the last five years. Now, I'm not able to give the 100 to 200% to all my clients and potential clients like I used to and some are going elsewhere. I'm terrified about trusting someone to be my assistant. 

06/12/2007

Worker ready to move on but can't
I need some advice on how to stay focused and decrease the animosity I feel towards my supervisor and manager while working out my notice.

06/05/2007

Bad breath is bad news for co-worker
I always offer my co-worker a mint or stick of gum when I get one for myself.  Sometimes he takes it and sometimes he doesn't.  I would gag if I had to deal with it 24-7.

05/29/2007

Worker worried meetings aren't inclusive
Some of us are concerned that the General Director, who is overseeing many aspects of our theater renovation, has left out our production staff in meetings about changes for our stage.

05/22/2007

Worker worries comments may have been misunderstood
During an all-employee/manager meeting, I tried to clarify some things for our General Director, but now I'm concerned he didn't take it that way.

05/15/2007

Worker wants to lower the volume in the office
A colleague of mine speaks very loud, oblivious of everyone else in the office or how busy everyone is. I've even left the office for a walk on several occasions because I cannot stand the noise she creates.

03/20/2007

Worker wonders if new boss feels threatened by previous one
The other day I was talking to my supervisor and when I said something about my previous supervisor, who retired about a year ago, he told me not to mention this retired guy's name again.

01/30/2007

Veteran secretary rattled by crafty newcomer
She is all about herself and I know she wants to dethrone me. She thinks she should be the secretary with all the power and major duties because she works for the big boss.

01/09/2007

Student worker having trouble with 'known troublemaker'
The director placed me with a known troublemaker. Other employees have told me he is trying to get me into trouble and trying to run me off. What should I do?

01/02/2007

Angry confrontation on job leaves worker stressed out
The company just wasn't aware that there are different personality types and not everyone is going to be able to play nice and get along.

11/21/2006

Boss's holiday party bad-mouthed by employee
He's going around the office, bashing my party and telling everyone (except me) that he won't be going to it. I'm very tempted to tell this employee that I don't want him to attend, since I've been told and overheard him tell people that he won't be coming.

12/14/2005

Employee feels pressured to participate in office party
I don't want to participate in this stupid office activity, but I'm concerned that the boss will look at me negatively if I don't. Please tell me what I should do about this.

Worker wants advice on the right way to resign
I have plans to resign from my job for another job I've been offered. I'd like to give the appropriate two to three weeks notice to my boss, but I've seen how he treated a former employee who gave a two week notice.