HR dilemma: What’s appropriate holiday office party attire?

• December 02, 2009

Question:  “Last year, a woman in our company wore a red satin corset, tight skirt and eight-inch platform heels to the holiday party. Although this outfit...

Kitchen etiquette dilemma: ‘I’m not the office maid. My name isn’t Hazel!’

• November 22, 2009

Problem: "I'm in charge of turning on the dishwasher each night before leaving. To some, this translates to my also being in charge of cleaning up after...

P’s and Q’s: What’s the proper way to address a woman with 2 last names?

• August 20, 2009

Q. How should I address a woman who uses two last names, such as "Geneva Besmer Silverstone"? By her maiden name, her surname or both?

Cubicle etiquette: Don’t be a prairie dog

• June 09, 2009

If you've noticed a lack of "cubicle etiquette" around the office lately, distribute the following "good neighbor" checklist to your co-workers. Example: Don't be an...

Any guidelines for ‘Take your child to work day’?

• May 01, 2009

Question: “This year, we had a number of employees bring their children to the office for “Take your child to work day.” The employees expected our...

Office etiquette: Sign gift card from “all” or only contributors sign?

• April 17, 2009

Question: “We took a collection to buy gifts for our managers, thanking them for contributing to a celebration they funded out of their own pockets.  Only...

What do you give the boss who is retiring?

• January 30, 2009

Question: “I have worked with my boss for 20 years, and he will retire in June after 33 years with the organization. He is moving out of state. He will receive a...

Hate going to the annual company outing? Must you attend?

• November 07, 2008

Question: “Our company has an outing every year. I felt very uncomfortable at the last couple that I attended, and I would rather work than be there. The same...

What do you give the board member who has everything?

• October 21, 2008

Question: “I work for a nonprofit board of directors (50 members). Every year, I give each board member a small token gift for our December meeting, and a little...

What’s an appropriate holiday gift for a boss?

• October 10, 2008

Question: “The holidays are approaching, and I need help thinking of a nice and reasonably priced holiday gift from my male boss (CEO). Any suggestions?”...

To sign or not sign the boss’s name?

• September 29, 2008

Your boss asks you to sign his name on correspondence on his behalf, without putting your own initials next to his signature.

My boss is losing it: How do I overcome this?

• August 08, 2008

Question: “My supervisor has memory lapses from time to time. He will give me only partial instructions and then get angry that I did not do things that he...

We can handle Chatty Cathy, but what do we do about Whistling Willie?

• July 18, 2008

Question: “We have a co-worker who is cooperative, personable, cheerful and a great employee. But his whistling is driving our office up a tree. Some people find...

Restroom etiquette? Whatever happened to “clean up after yourself”?

• April 18, 2008

Question: “I am an admin for a major corporation (group of 100 people, 75 % women). In addition, I am the facilities coordinator for two floors.  My problem...

Office birthday luncheons: Do I have to attend?

• February 21, 2008

Question: “Our department acknowledges birthdays by taking the birthday person out to lunch. The person gets to choose where to eat and the entire department...

Ever heard of television etiquette in the workplace?

• February 21, 2008

Question: “Our company recently installed a television in the break room. My boss asked me to find something online about television etiquette. I...

What holiday gifts do I buy for the directors who already have everything?

• October 18, 2007

Question: I am responsible for coming up with the holiday gift idea for our board members.  I was given a budget of $250 - $300 and I am, unfortunately, at a...

How should I handle a boss who flip-flops back and forth on issues?

• October 12, 2007

Question: The company I work for had an office/staff restructuring about a year ago. I was hired as the office administrator. My boss is also new. He tells me that as...

How should I approach the boss about my overdue raise?

• September 28, 2007

Question: “Earlier this year, my boss promised me a salary increase by midyear. When I reminded him, he said he'd forgotten … and then did nothing. (Other...

Employees’ kids in the office: Does your company set rules?

• September 20, 2007

Question: "I'm sympathetic with employees who have to juggle work and child care. But it becomes a distraction when employees bring in their kids for a couple hours...