No one ever said that new office policies wouldn't be met with a little pushback, especially when it comes to in-person work. We all know that return-to-work policies should be delicately handled in a way that, at the very least, feels like a suitable compromise between the employer and the employee. Unfortunately, that compromise rarely happens; instead, we as employees often are expected to take these new strict policies in stride. Thankfully, every so often, someone finds an opportunity to t…

Rules that aren't enforced or followed might as well not exist at all, especially when the rules aren't enacted fairly for all parties—and change at a moment's notice to favor the one making them. As they say, all's fair in love and war… and—if you're not willing to play by the rules—don't expect anyone else to either.

When this restaurant worker was running late for their shift, their manager reached out to ask if they were coming in, probably not realizing that the simmering heat of anger that had been bubbling below the surface was about to boil over. After a series of unmet promises, unrealistic expectations, and even being cheated out of pay, this restaurant worker was more than happy to call it quits. The reason they were late to their shift in the first place was that they had actually been interviewin…

Surely most, if not all of us, have fantasized at one point or another about quitting our jobs on the spot, getting up and just walking out, either silently slipping out an exit door never to be seen again or adding a little fanfare to the occasion and going out with a touch of bravado by telling your boss and coworkers what you really think of them. Yet, for most of us, these fantasies will remain exactly that. When it comes to employment, there's too much at stake, and when you burn bridges,…

When you go out of your way to attend an interview, no one really owes you anything, but you might expect that you'd be treated with a little common decency—and that a little thing called decorum would be followed. Sure, there's nothing in writing, and no commitments have been made, but by going out of your way—and out of pocket—to put a vote of confidence in them and their process, you'd hope that you might actually get to sit down in a room with them… Not receiving a cancellation via text and…

Certain things in life bring with them a certain finality… Like getting fired, signing up for a mortgage, or having kids. But it's important to note that they also bring with them opportunity... Opportunity for new pathways and new experiences—even if those experiences are more mundane than the ones that came before. The reality is that when one door closes, another one opens, and you'll likely find that you end up in the right place eventually, even if you really wish that that initial door ha…

It's pretty safe to say that forcing out the only worker in your company who knows the contacts and data for all of your suppliers would be—well… not a great idea. It would be common sense to, at the very least, tactfully make sure that you understand the ins and outs and inner workings of their role before you decide to force them out of the company. But, if you're the sort of manager or employer who is willing to use this strategy as a management tactic, it's probably safe to say that critica…

"Comfort equals laziness" is an attitude that is pervasive throughout certain industries, with the idea that a comfortable employee is an unproductive one and that relative comfort is somehow offputting, prompting employers in these industries to treat their workers with cynicism and hostility.

At one point in everyone's professional career, you come across a manager who says something so ridiculous you have to question how it's possible that they are in charge of you. It could be a moment of sheer ignorance or a tone-deaf comment. Sometimes, it's troubleshooting technology, which is occasionally understandable. However, sometimes, it's as simple as “Where do I find the Spam folder?” and you really have to question how these people have functioned successfully over the last several de…

You'll never be appreciated in a toxic workplace until you're gone. Even then, instead of being grateful for everything you've done, they'll take to blaming you for all their own mistakes the moment you're out the door, making you a scapegoat for their own mistakes and incompetence. The problem is the remaining coworkers and friends you left behind in that toxic environment will keep their mouths shut for fear of drawing unnecessary attention to themselves, leaving your name tarnished and yours…

Sometimes, the best way to get revenge on your manager is by being as direct as possible. That means making it clear that they are the ones who are making your life at work all the more challenging. That means calling them out when you can. Sometimes, it's the only way you can actually stand up for yourself. Now, personally speaking, I would never do what this employee did. I'm too much of a people pleaser to name my work enemy in a company-wide email, but I understand that this person felt the…

Every member of a team brings with them their own unique traits, abilities, and experiences. No two people will be exactly the same or have the same perspective. Even on a single issue, it's surprising just how different different people's perceptions of that thing can be. In this same vein, it's important to accommodate other members of the team ; maybe they don't have the skills or even physical capabilities that you do, so it might make sense for you to pick up more of those tasks that you'r…

Money matters. Whether you're a blue collar tradesman, a desk jockey, a white collar C-level boss, or a preschool teacher, we all need to get cash in order to live our lives. Anyone who has a job these days has felt the hot breath of capitalism breathing down their necks for quite some time now, but recently, a lot of employees are feeling the added pressure of...

It's pretty confusing when your employer is losing workers faster than it can replace them and doesn't seem at all phased. Sometimes, you can chalk this up to general incompetence. Still, it's more likely that there are over-inflated egos involved, with key members of the company refusing even to consider that they, their policies, and the way they treat workers might be the problem. Other executives and HR play along, worried that if they acknowledge the situation, the entire company might imp…

It's not the best idea in the workplace to claim responsibility when you don't know the first thing about what you're doing. I'm all for the concept of “fake it till you make it," but within reason, and in this case, this administrative assistant was very much not within reason. One of the first jobs I ever had involved teaching subject matter to high school students and preparing them for college-level material. I primarily worked on reading comprehension, grammar, and SAT/ACT-level math. Howe…

“It's just business,” people (often your boss) love to spout… and it always is until it's personal. You can rest assured that anyone using this canned clamshell phrasing is probably using this to dismiss situations where they're exploiting you and are going to take it very personally should things one day not go their way. It's the same sort of tactic that is used when you're told by a notoriously toxic employer that “We're all a family here.” The hope is that you'll buy into the thin words the…