This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I am dealing with a bizarre situation at work and could use some advice on how to proceed. My coworker, Charlie, has several concerning habits involving the lighter and several utility knives he carries around on a daily basis. When we’re in team meetings or...

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. Here’s some coverage of Ask a Manager in the media recently: I talked to Vox about how to disagree at work without ruining the relationship. I talked to CNBC about what topics to avoid discussing with your boss. I was on Slate’s How To! podcast this week, advising a woman who...

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I work in a clinic setting. Eighteen of us are in and out of a room of cubicles all day as we see patients. Even with the open office, it is easy to have a quiet, even private, conversation. A coworker recently returned after having her first child. She had...

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go… 1. Sharing a house with the boss on a work trip I work for a small company of four people, including our boss. We are all remote. There is an upcoming conference in my city where the three of them are flying in. We have several...

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: In this age of streaming, it seems like every show I watch is very, very R-rated. I feel a little uncomfortable talking about these shows during normal coworker chit-chat about what everyone has been watching lately. I wondering how best to navigate these conversations....

This post was written by Alison Green and published on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: I hope to get pregnant in the next two or three years and I have realized that I know absolutely nothing about how maternity leave works in the U.S. Do most companies offer paid leave and, if so, for how long? If it’s not paid, how are people taking months off?...