Karla L. Miller

Karla L. Miller offers weekly advice on workplace dramas and traumas. You can send her questions at karla.miller@washpost.com.
Latest from Karla L. Miller

Work Advice: How to deal with a customer’s abusive online messages

A user keeps posting rude, insulting comments on our website, but our boss doesn’t seem inclined to do anything about it.

November 28, 2024

Work Advice: I’m uncomfortable with our CEO invoking Jesus in meetings

As a non-Christian, I’m bothered by our CEO’s practice of opening meetings with a Christian prayer. Should I say something?

November 21, 2024

Work Advice: Co-worker uses team chat as his personal platform

My co-worker dominates our office chat site with his oversharing and judgmental comments. How can I cope?

November 14, 2024

Work Advice: How far should I go to accommodate a neurodivergent colleague?

When accommodating neurodivergent colleagues, start by asking them what would help them succeed. The results may surprise you.

October 31, 2024

Work Advice: More on contractors who overstep their role

Readers with federal government contracting experience weigh in on a federal supervisor’s struggle to deal with a difficult contractor.

October 24, 2024

Work Advice: How to deal with a contractor who undermines your authority

A federal contractor keeps contradicting a full-time manager’s instructions and lying to employees. But supervisors won’t do anything about it.

October 17, 2024

Work Advice: Is MAGA-like swag funny, or a PR disaster?

Our conservative CEO thinks clients at a trade show will find our Trump-alluding swag funny. I’m not so sure.

October 10, 2024
A vendor holds two “Make America Great Again” hats.

Work Advice: How honest should a reference be for a laid-off employee?

Objectively ranking co-workers makes sense when they’re all vying for the same prize. But for one candidate seeking your endorsement, a little subjective hype may be in order.

October 3, 2024
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Work Advice: She pushed for a bigger role. Now she pushes people around.

Department head who petitioned for a full-time position doesn’t seem to be fitting in to the company’s cooperative culture. How do you gauge performance based on vibes?

September 26, 2024

Work Advice: How to tell a retirement-age colleague she’s making mistakes

Co-workers stress over having to monitor and “snitch” on an older worker’s increasingly frequent, high-stakes mistakes.

September 19, 2024