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: Answering client questions without giving away your job

How do I answer a client's questions without giving them the information they need to do my job?

March 23, 2023

Work Advice: Dealing with a toxic ‘girlboss’ might require moving on

A term coined to celebrate female leadership has fallen out of favor as it turns out that toxicity has no gender.

March 16, 2023

Work Advice: Staffer fired without explanation over behavior with female clients

Employee wonders whether he should tell former colleague that his behavior toward teen girls and women is what got him fired, or just warn his new boss.

March 9, 2023

Work Advice: If you’re laid off, don’t leave your FSA funds behind

If you have a healthcare flexible spending account, you can claim the entire amount of your annual election on the first day of the year -- even though you haven't contributed the full amount.

March 2, 2023

Work Advice: Boss wants everyone’s input on my work, even if they lack expertise

My boss wants to invite the entire team to client meetings to discuss graphic design ideas. Doesn't that violate my boundaries as the designer?

February 23, 2023

Work Advice: My boss is a back-channeling bully

My boss uses back-channel communications to raise concerns about my projects, and it makes me look bad.

February 16, 2023

Work Advice: Training debt can keep employees trapped at jobs

Training repayment agreements are an increasingly common tool to keep workers from leaving their jobs through debt.

February 9, 2023

Work Advice: My employer is reneging on its remote-work promise

My "remote-first" workplace is now imposing a strict return-to-office policy, even though I was hired as remote and need it for my mental health. What can I do?

February 2, 2023

Work Advice: Boss and I clashed, but it’s okay now. Do we still need mediation?

Mediation can help an employee work out how to navigate and harness friction with a manager to produce good outcomes.

January 26, 2023

Work Advice: Lawmakers’ dress code dustup has lessons for everyone

A Missouri House of Representatives dress code proposal that had women up in arms offers a cautionary tale for employers.

January 19, 2023