I work for a company that once upon a time had a leader with a vision and with a set of business priorities employees fully supported. The company has changed over the past several years under a new management that has brought in very expensive outsiders who overspend and play while valuable employees leave or are let go and raises for most are kept to a minimum. I think it’s become a mini version of TYCO. The attitude is "if you don’t like it, there’s the door". Employees are paranoid about speaking out and the climate has become dog-eat-dog. I have looked but the only jobs I can find are in other industries and/or for a much lower salary. I love what I do but worry it’s too risky to stay. Should I stay or go? (more…)

I am a 24 year old woman with a master’s degree in English literature. I’m currently managing a bookstore and contemplating going for my Ph.D. and teaching. My father owns a publishing and marketing company with about $15 million in revenues. My younger brother is 19 and a freshman in college. He says he has no idea what he wants to major in, except maybe partying. Our father is in his late 50’s and had a heart attack last year. Two weeks ago he asked me to come into the business and eventually run it. He feels confident I could do it with the help of management training and a mentoring program over the next 3 or 4 years. I know a great deal about the business having worked in it throughout my adolescence. I’m engaged to be married in six months to someone who is in the publishing industry. I haven’t mentioned it to him yet since I think he might see it as a good opportunity for us but I’m not sure that’s what I want to do. I feel selfish and scared. How should I be thinking about this? (more…)

I am a program director for a provider of school services. We have no HR department so I find it very challenging to provide in-house "counseling" for our employees and still maintain professional boundaries - you know, those times when someone is in crisis but may not need to get into therapy, just needs immediate support and a way to work through something. (more…)