Cubicle Coach Blog Archive

Power Coffee Breaks: Craving caffeine? Here's a plan to get the best jolt out of your java.

I oversee workers in India, London, and New York, so my first conference call starts every day at 7 a.m. and my last one ends by midnight, if I'm lucky. I'm desperate for help, but my bank just downsized. How long should I put up with this?

What does the happily unmarried woman do when her boss won't invite her to dinner parties because they're couples-only? I feel like I'm missing out on networking opportunities.

I have a precious little teacup dog who doesn't bother anyone and can fit in my purse. Can I bring her to work with me?

QUESTION: On Seinfeld, when George slept with the cleaning woman in the office, what present did he try to buy her silence with?

There's a colleague I simply cannot get along with, and we were just assigned to work on a project together. I asked my boss to reconsider, and she said, "You have to work out your differences." Was that a cop-out?

My boss gets moody every time he finishes a phone call with his wife, then takes it out on our whole team, often yelling at us. Do we have any recourse?

I've been getting calls lately from competitors about job openings. Should I take the meetings even if I'm not really interested?

Sure, I enjoy cake in the afternoon, but do I have to pitch in for every coworker's birthday, even the people I'd never talk to outside the office?

Dear Cubicle Coach: My consulting firm just oversaw the downsizing of a client, and the company--or what's left of it anyway - was so impressed by my insights that they've offered me a job.

Although none of my colleagues knows it, I'm going through a divorce. I'm an emotional wreck at work, acting irritable and sobbing in the bathroom. Should I share what's going on or keep my problems to myself?

Dear Cubicle Coach: What's the best response when a recruiter asks in an interview how much money you make at your current job?

My team recently got a new director who has us do bonding and trust-building exercises, like telling revealing personal stories. I feel uncomfortable doing this. How do I bow out without looking like a whiner?

Dear Cubicle Coach: The younger staffers in my office feel entitled. They leave on time and get sullen when I ask them to go above and beyond.

While my supervisor has been on maternity leave, I've stepped up and become the leader of the department. Can I ask for a new title, or at least a raise?

Sometimes I like to take a snooze for 15 minutes during my lunch break, either at my desk or occasionally in the stairwell. Bad career move?

I have this annoying colleague who simply won't leave my office. I've tried the usual tricks but she doesn't get the hint. Other than calling security, what can I do?