Question: Soon after I landed an entry-level job with a major Anchorage employer, a senior member of their team sent me sexually suggestive texts.  I did nothing to solicit these texts and they shocked and scared me.  I told my supervisor, who alerted HR. HR investigated, but nothing ever happened. After several months, I resigned and now work for a consulting firm and one of our largest clients is my former employer…. Read More

Question: Three months ago, I finally found an employer that would let me work between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., giving me the ability to drop my kids off at and pick them up from school. I do not want to quit or lose this job. At the same time, my boss does things that worry me. Last month, I let my boss know that a customer had overpaid $85 for an order and… Read More

Question:  After five years in my job, during which I’ve received many accolades, I almost walked out this morning. The owners I work for provide quality professional services but lack management experience and hired me as senior administrator to run their firm. When I took over, the firm hovered near bankruptcy, partially as a result of how the owners caved in to employees pressuring them. Whenever an employee asked an owner for… Read More

Question: I’ve supported myself and my kids for three years by cleaning houses. Five months ago, I got tired of turning potential new clients down and decided it was time to hire one or two cleaners to work for me. So I got a business license, opened a company bank account and made two hires. Both were women I knew well from working out with them at the Alaska Club. It turns… Read More

Question: We’ve just learned that our very best applicant for a hard-to-fill position has an outstanding warrant against her. My business partner says this immediately rules her out of consideration, but I’m having a hard time accepting this. This candidate has all the skills we’ve been looking for, along with a truly charismatic personality. She could do great things for our business. I’m hoping you’ll say something that I can pass on to… Read More

Your coworker keeps it up all day long. You return from the staff meeting after you’ve reported on your recent and upcoming projects and he says, “You certainly made a mess of that.” You don’t want to ask him what he means, as that’s an open invitation to him dishing out more disparaging remarks. When he comes back with coffee from the breakroom, he keeps looking at you and snickering. You finally… Read More

Question:  After 15 years of working long, hard hours without complaint and at the end of a day when I’d done everything my employer asked of me, I got fired. I’m a delivery driver and this morning I wanted to get a head start on my route because I knew the roads would be slick. When I pull my truck up to the warehouse, there’s always supposed to be a warehouse worker… Read More

You’ve tried three times in a row, and not succeeded — how come you can’t figure this out? Your coworker’s late again, putting you behind the 8-ball — you’d like to wring her neck. Frustration with yourself or others winds you up and sucks the energy right out of you, stealing your productivity. So, what can you do? If you don’t let frustration get to you, you can work through or even… Read More