know some of them will be returning to college or going pro in their sports, but what about the ones who retire from professional sports and want to enter the business world? It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Company asked what I have to earn, what I’d like to earn, and what I’d be thrilled to earn. Just saw this question on an online job application: “Give us three annual salaries. (1) What you HAVE to earn. (2) What you would LIKE to earn. (3) What you would be THRILLED to earn.” Putting the Olympics on your resume. Will it give them a better shot? MORE

Also, he will find out if I can cash out retirement funds to help with this, and he is offering as much overtime as possible. Remember the letter-writer last month who had racked up $20,000 in personal charges on his company credit card and was in a horrible cycle of using the card to take Paypal cash advances to pay it off each month, thus moving it to the next month, along with interest charges? Here’s his update. He had to go to his boss, and she had a teleconference with me, along with HR. Is that what you are saying?” My manager rang me just after this meeting finished. MORE

He told me he retired, but now needs to find a second career, unrelated to his 40 years of previous experience. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. I’m a heroin addict and I need time off to get clean. have been working at my current job for about eight months. I’m a pretty good employee, just got a raise, am asked to assist in other departments, etc. have a good relationship with my manager and no performance issues. But I don’t have the PTO to do so. Would it be a good idea to talk to HR to give me some time to take care of myself? What do you think? MORE

wait anxiously for Problem #3 to retire. pray Problem #4 wins the lottery and retires in Tahiti. A reader writes: I work in an academic institution, and I love what I do for a living. It’s a calling, I spent a lot of time in graduate school preparing for it, and some days, I couldn’t be happier. Those are the days when my boss and most of the other people who “work” with me are not here. have documented such statements, and have had four meetings will my boss about this person. love the work I do, and the one employee I supervise. What can I do? MORE

In the past, our old manager would very occasionally call for a group lunch — when a new person came on board, when she retired, etc. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Taking two week-long vacations as a summer intern. I was recently hired as an intern in a large scale company, but small scale office. Many of the employees are at a senior level, whereas about three of them are entry level. I was chosen as an intern for the summer. recently took a one-week vacation in which I was not required to work out of the office, after only interning there for a short time. MORE

Middle management is fine with me, and I dream of the day I can retire. A reader writes: I read all the letters here, and it feels like everybody loves their job and are passionate about it. need to be honest: I don’t love mine. fell into it and just kept going with it because it paid decently and allowed me to not to have to worry about what I was going to do after college. However, I am okay with that. I am not particularly ambitious with my work. like my coworkers, my job is fine. Who just… does it because they have to? You’re so very, very normal! work habits MORE

manage a staff of two in a small department and one of my employees tragically lost her husband after the new year very suddenly, and about 5 years before she was set to retire. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Grieving employee won’t come back full-time. I’m writing as a a manager of an academic department in a state institution of higher education. We have advised her she will need to return to her regularly scheduled full time hours in May, but we are encountering a unique (to us) circumstance. She is refusing to work full-time again. Any advice? What?! MORE

They treat the employees well, health and wellness is encouraged, and retirement is great. A reader writes: I started a new position at a wonderful organization four months ago. Previously, I was in a nonprofit position with unrealistic expectations, long and stressful days, and low employee morale. But in the 1.5 years I was there, I developed true workplace friendships that I still cherish today. My new organization is the happiest place on earth. love my job. The only issue: I don’t fit in. There are true friendships all around me. What can I do now? Yes, be patient! Four MORE

Namely, as part of a massive departmental merger, my teammates and I will be losing a lot of paid time off and taking a cut to our retirement plans. I did the math and it comes out to an ~8% loss in total compensation. In the academic setting that we work in, most of our salaries are below-market for the types of technical jobs we do; many of us were recruited and accepted our positions because our now-bosses rang the praises of all the paid time off and great retirement plan. only started my job here 10 months ago and I was in my gig before this for only four months. MORE

They appear to be a place to note employee achievements (either work- or non-work-related) as well as list new hires and retirements. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. I can’t get a former coworker to respond to me. left the organization I worked for several months ago. I did not part on good terms with this organization; a false allegation had been made against me, I wasn’t given a chance to tell my side, and I resigned. didn’t get to talk to anyone before my departure. Our boss never submits us for our employee recognition newsletter. Start a job search. MORE

Do minimum wage jobs expect you to accept on the spot, rather than asking for time to think it over? I’m retiring and plan to get a minimum wage job to supplement my social security income. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Boss is demanding gifts back. My mom’s boss gave her multiple new iPhone 6’s as gifts. One of those which was given to me as a gift by my mom. That’s too much money to pay for our own good right now. If they were gifts and my mom already quit anyway, do we absolutely have to pay her back? Gifts, once given, belong to the recipient. MORE

This boss is not the owner of the company, but the assumed successor of it when the owner retires. I’ve been at this company for one year, and this was said to me after the office I was working in closed and I could either relocate to a different office or leave the company. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. I’m worried my employee will be demoralized by a coworker’s promotion. I’m newly the manager of a very small group of three people. Nonetheless, she is valued for the number of things she does do very well. ” And then don’t. MORE

Of course, if the reason that everyone is scared to speak up about something so mild is because the owners are nightmares, that’s the real problem, and that’s where I’d focus your thinking about whether or not to return. 2. I can’t get people to answer pages when visitors show up. I’m the front desk manager at a large retirement community. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My office is in the lunchroom. I’ve been at my current job for almost 3 years. In the first year, my office space was relocated into our small lunchroom. MORE

As an office we celebrate birthdays, baby showers, wedding showers, retirements, etc. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1.  I can’t get added to our office email list for work parties. feel like this is a strange dilemma, and I believe 100% that it’s happening out of oversight and not maliciousness but… I’ve been at my current position about two years now. These parties take place during work hours and are open to the entire staff, often even former staff. These parties are announced via email a few days in advance. recently applied for a job via email. MORE

You may also like: I was told not to attend a former coworker’s retirement party when a coworker calls your family to say you’re in trouble at work my boyfriend asked my boss to give me a secret day off work — and my boss got angry my coworker wants us to call her boyfriend her “master” was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. I gasped out loud when I received this letter, and so will you. reader writes: An employee, “Sally,” started at our workplace about a year and a half ago. …until it did. How can I advise my colleague? MORE

You may also like: my boss told me to stop closing my office door when I’m on the phone my coworkers keep pressuring me to leave early I was told not to attend a former coworker’s retirement party is it true that 80% of job openings are never advertised, last-minute meetings, and more was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Is it true that 80% of job openings are never advertised? always hear the statement that “You know, 80% of job openings are never posted or advertised.” 80% is crazy high. MORE

But it’s very reasonable to ask. 2. I’m not sure if I can afford my coworker’s fancy retirement dinner. have a colleague who just retired, and a dinner has been planned for the group of us to go out with him and his wife. My meal alone will probably cost no less than $75, which is WAY more than I would ever spend on myself, but it’s a retirement thing, so whatever. Have you considered just having a conflict that prevents you from going, and instead giving your retiring colleague a card telling him how much you’ve enjoyed working with him? 3. MORE

retirement planning, and how I need to line up someone now to bring me food when I become a shut-in (that one could happen in the next three to five years). And now a break to talk about a sponsor…. The older I get, the more time I find myself thinking about topics like wrinkles (hello, laugh lines that seemingly appeared on my face overnight!), Also, life insurance. Yes, life insurance, because someday we are all going to kick the bucket, in many cases leaving behind financial dependents. Some signs that you should be considering it are: You’re married. do you need life insurance? MORE

The quick backstory is that my predecessor, Gaius, was demoted into my position after a terrible run in the director position, did a nightmarish job for 20 years, and finally retired two years ago. A reader writes: How involved should a former employee be in current work? He emails me regularly with advice and on two occasions has sent very nasty emails to me. have been nothing but polite and patient with him, although I’m feeling very on edge and frustrated. It will work for a few weeks, but Gaius always returns with more advice. ” It is taking up a lot of space. Am I wrong? MORE

only have one income stream, my full-time job at a human rights NGO that is fairly demanding, well paid for the sector, and at the department director level. I’m able to meet all my financial obligations and save more than is recommended in my retirement accounts, but I feel this pressure to develop a small business or consult or write or baby-sit or something. A reader writes: I’m not sure if this is because I’m a millennial or if this is just how the work world is trending, but I feel inundated with messages that I should have a side hustle or diverse income streams. MORE

What is going on? I’m at the point of selling my home and retiring in Maui. A reader writes: Here’s a new one that is baffling me. I’m seriously looking for work, and generally get called to interview every few resumes I submit. treat every interview seriously, and prepare, bring work samples, dress professionally, arrive 5 minutes early, make good eye contact, firm handshake, ask great questions (they respond with “What a good question” before answering). I’ve had practice. believe the problem is age discrimination, but that’s another subject. MORE

This museum is so small that it only has one full-time seasonal employee, overseen by a board of 10+ people — all of whom also volunteer at our museum, and most of whom are retired, church-going people who don’t like conflict. A reader writes: My boyfriend has the same exact position I used to hold in a job I had five years ago at a small museum. Because it would be confusing for the employee to have 10 bosses, it was decided that the treasurer, Pat, would be the employee’s supervisor. Before I had the job, I was an intern/volunteer at the site for three years. It’s not yours. MORE

Asking for severance for staying on when a company is closing. I’m an employee of a very small company that will be closing within the next 6-12 months due to my boss’s retirement. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Overweight employee keeps breaking office chairs. We have an obese employee who has broken several office chairs. We purchased two new ones just for her with a higher weight ability. She again broke the base of one of them. Can we address the money being spent on her chairs, as well as others that she is breaking? Do I need this information? MORE

My previous boss actually retired rather than continue working with Sam, and my new boss is very hands-off, so I doubt she’d be much help. A reader writes: I’m wondering how to handle a situation as a relatively new manager. currently have just one direct report, Charles. About a year ago, we got a new president at our mid-size nonprofit. The new president, Sam, was apparently hired for his expertise in the field and definitely not in managing an organization. Yeah, this is a very fine line to walk. So where does that leave you? Avoid the sighs and the eye rolls. Talk to her. MORE

everything you need to know about holiday gift-giving at work I’m being pressured to contribute to coworkers’ retirement gifts — and it’s increasingly obnoxious was originally published by Alison Green on Ask a Manager. A reader writes: Recently, two of my colleagues both gave their month-long notices; they are moving on to new positions in the community after five and six years here, respectively. After the news was announced, our boss threw a small party during lunch hours that we all attended. Thank you.” The amount is up to you. Thank you.” MORE

But last year, that manager retired and recommended the daughter of a friend of his to replace him. A reader writes: I work in a small regional branch of a national company. Since I’ve have been there, our manager has run a very … I don’t know, everything just worked and everyone got along. She had just graduated with an MBA from a very prestigious university. There was no discussion of whether she was qualified; we thought that his decision must be great, and upper management concurred. Suddenly there were Beanie Babies and other stuff everywhere. It just did. MORE

My boss retired but still won’t leave us alone. What do you do when your old boss finally retires and then still won’t leave you alone?! My old boss loved his agency and line of work so much that he worked beyond 40-hour weeks and was reluctant to retire in the first place. Then the arthritis in his hand got the best of him and he retired. Enjoy your retirement, and don’t worry about stuff here.”. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. We rejoiced. Is there a polite way to say please just butt out already!? Absolutely. Please help! MORE

It’s summer, and the organization president is on vacation a lot; meanwhile, my direct supervisor has reduced her hours in advance of retirement, and now only comes in one or two days a week. A reader writes: After three years of hard work for and dedication to a small nonprofit (less than 50 employees), I was recently put on probation for low productivity and inability to meet deadlines. My postpartum depression support group is helping, but I still have moments every day when I feel paralyzed by anxiety and sadness. But it doesn’t sounds like that’s the case here. Good luck! MORE

explained differences I saw in terms of health care and retirement that were slightly less than my current job. Exceptions to this are things like health care coverage or retirement contributions, which are more universally used.). It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Do I really have to wear a white or baby blue shirt to interviews? I’m an recent graduate searching for a job and this question has arisen for me more than once, although I’m not sure if it’s a valid one or if I’m just being over sensitive to suggested job-seeking norms. What can I do about this? MORE

Can I meet with a representative regarding my retirement savings plan to help me elect my benefits and help me choose a plan that’s right for me during the work hours? Although to complicate matters, you can do this with the retirement plan rep, but not with the trainer at the gym where your company provides free membership.). It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. I’m overwhelmed with meeting requests from salespeople and nonprofits. just started a new job and am a little overwhelmed with the amount of meetings that external people are requesting of me. MORE

” They are both retired teachers, and still insist that their field (high school education) is “the best thing that could happen to anyone.” A reader writes: I’m a 20something woman in tech. Since day one, I had to fight for a place in this field, convincing interviewers that I could do more than customer support, that I deserve the same opportunities my male counterparts have. To this day, I have only had three jobs (tech support, trainee, and junior developer), and I worked really hard to get each of them. The problem started when I lost my last job. Enter my parents. MORE

One of my coworkers and I each took over for people who retired after being here for many years. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. The company I interviewed with stole my ideas. What do you think of a company that interviews you, asks you to list specific ways to improve things, but doesn’t hire you — yet implements your suggestions anyway? interviewed with a publication several months ago and suggested posting its covers on Instagram. Now they’re doing it. Also, they’re posting tweets in the publication, something else I suggested. Some companies do. MORE

Then the executive director retired, with his last day being a Saturday, and an interim executive director was scheduled to start the following Thursday. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Manager says if I get a raise, fewer of my coworkers will get raises. have  a salary that’s presumably on the higher end of non-management in the department I’m in. also have about a decade or more development experience than those I work with, so my spot in the range seems justified. ” He mentioned her as annoying twice. Everything else in the interview went great. MORE

Another example … a message from Erin: “Jane wants me to tell you John wants XX flavor cake for his retirement party and XX gift.” ” But stuff like “Jane wants me to tell you John wants lemon cake for his retirement party and a rice sculpture of Richard Nixon as a gift” doesn’t sound like it requires much back and forth, and rather is just about getting a message delivered. A reader writes: I have a coworker, Jane, who outranks me but who I do not report to. She just wants to know if I’ll be covered during the same year/time frame as everyone else. MORE

The one with more hours is retiring and we are hiring for her replacement. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My company has an exclusive sports team that’s causing bad feelings. work for a company that sponsors various sports teams throughout the year – all coed and open to anyone who wants to play. Once a year, there is an industry-wide tournament with some very competitive teams and a bit of prestige on the line. Do you have any suggestions on how this should be handled going forward? Are these sorts of details usually written into offer letters? Most U.S. Thanks!” MORE

Can we push a retiring employee out early? retirements, resignations). We just found out (by accident — she told her supervisor during a general conversation that came up about retiring between the two) that one of our long-time employees is planning on retiring during the summer, which is one our busiest times. She brought it up to her manager, so her manager should go back to her and say, “Jane, were you serious about retiring this summer? It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Why not just ask her about it? This is no different. 2. MORE

The number 2 person in my office announced her retirement recently, and ever since then, I’ve received a lot of pressure from my peers to apply for the job. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. My employee stops to listen to every conversation around her. I am the team leader of our medical office and have 4 employees who report to me. have one employee who listens to every conversation that I have with our medical providers and answers questions addressed to me. She freezes at her computer if someone is on the phone and she wants to hear the conversation. MORE

A reader writes: Our department was asked by our director to have an informal-type “interview” with two of the finalists in line to fill our manager position (the current manager is retiring).  We are a small department of eight people, and we are tasked with “being unemotional” and to have “facts” as to why we prefer one over the other. Yet, we were told to not assume that this will make a difference in who is hired. You can read my answer to this question over at Inc. interviewing MORE

But you can’t use the value of benefits, retirement contributions, payroll taxes, or anything else to calculate it — it’s got to be salary. 5. It’s five answers to five questions. Here we go…. 1. Are you obligated to support your friends’ businesses? My friend, who is an Arbonne consultant recently posted this on her Facebook page and I was wondering your thoughts (and the readers’ thoughts) on it: If your friend sells Avon, try it! If your friend sells Scentsy, try it! If your friend sells Tupperware, try it! If your friend sells Jamberry, try it! What are your thoughts? MORE

You may also like: update: when a married client brings his mistress to dinner my boss retired but still won’t leave us alone, do people still put phone numbers on resumes, and more do job-seekers really need an elevator pitch? Remember the letter-writer last week who was terrified by an intense business course she was about to take ? (#2 at the link) I told her it was going to be much better than she was fearing and said I was going to send her a cupcake if I was wrong. CUPCAKE DENIED. Here’s the update. wasn’t at all sure to expect but I really enjoyed my time there. updates MORE