DEAR MISS MANNERS: I appreciate my new boss. He’s supportive, accessible and sensible. Given that the entire group operates remotely, our meetings take spot on line. But how do you method the boss about his becoming absolutely inappropriately dressed for a small business meeting — even a virtual a single?
This otherwise fantastic guy shows up on screen in his residence workplace, which is filled with action figures, dressed in a pretty loose-fitting, sleeveless basketball shirt. It does not appear excellent and it unquestionably does not appear acceptable for a small business get in touch with. I’m all for casual, specially when operating from residence, but this is subsequent-level. Any concepts on how to broach this topic with him?
GENTLE READER: You could ask his suggestions about how he expects staff to dress for videoconferences, pointing out that you do not want to seem unprofessional or offend clientele.
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DEAR MISS MANNERS: I am hosting a location household reunion. My youngsters, their households and I are all traveling to the region exactly where my sisters and their households reside for the occasion.
As plans came collectively, I sent out invitations saying, “No plus-ones, please.” However my sister blithely let me know that her 16-year-old granddaughter is bringing her new boyfriend, as if it had been the cutest factor.
Nothing at all against the innocent young man, as any added expense will be negligible, but I am fuming. There are 4 teenaged cousins in the household. The thought is to interact with every other, and perhaps even with other generations. The message to me is that she disdains the family’s enterprise as unbearably boring. Is this as clear a breach as it strikes me, or just a contemporary trend that is futile and petty to resist?
GENTLE READER: Bringing the uninvited boyfriend, when extras have been explicitly excluded, is rude, but Miss Manners is unable to make the logical leap to interpreting it as a criticism and rejection of the household.
Would it not be additional entertaining to let slip that you are so pleased to hear that the boyfriend is to be viewed as a household member, even if the announcement has not but been created?
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DEAR MISS MANNERS: In current months, the particular person who has been cleaning our home for additional than 4 years, even though charging a competitive value, has delivered disappointing service. We are two senior adults living in a modest 1,500-square-foot residence. There is restricted “people traffic” coming via the home, and we do keep the home among cleaning appointments.
How and when must we method her and communicate our present disappointment with her solutions?
GENTLE READER: Just as with cleaning itself, this is not a job created less difficult by delay. As to the “how,” Miss Manners trusts you will method the cleaner with the similar expert respect that you would extend to any employee.
(Please send your inquiries to Miss Manners at her web-site, www.missmanners.com to her e-mail, dearmissmanners@gmail.com or via postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)
COPYRIGHT 2023 JUDITH MARTIN
DISTRIBUTED BY ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106 816-581-7500
