DEAR ABBY: I have a co-worker who is always picking at everyone's food. At lunch or at break time, people hurry to eat before "Sam" comes into the lunchroom because he goes around helping himself to everyone's food. He doesn't even ask permission first.
People have told Sam it's all they have, but it doesn't faze him. He just finds a way to joke about it. These employees don't want to speak up because Sam is their supervisor.
Sam also creates a problem for the people in the front office. He goes to the front office every day and takes the candy they set out for customers and fellow employees to enjoy. He fills his pockets full and returns to "visit" several times a day until the candy is gone. This has gone on every single day for the past three years. Human Resources refuses to get involved.
How can I stop this? Sam is my co-worker and friend, and I'm the type of person who cannot hurt his feelings. How should I handle this? -- HUNGRY IN MADISON HEIGHTS, MICH.
DEAR HUNGRY: Sam's behavior is extremely inappropriate, and if he's been pigging out on everyone's candy for three years, I'm surprised his doctor hasn't told him he has to cut back on the sugar and fat.
He will continue this behavior until enough people — and that includes you — gather the courage to tell him "NO!" firmly and consistently enough that the message gets through.
As to the employees in the front office, their candy should be kept out of sight in their desk drawers and taken out and offered only to those customers and employees with whom they want to share it.
DEAR ABBY: I am currently a senior in high school and having the time of my life. But with only a couple of months until graduation, I can't get past the fact that this will soon be over, and we'll all go our separate ways.
Everyone's talking about where they're going to college, and how exciting it's going to be when they get there. Everyone except me, that is. I didn't get into the schools I really wanted to go to. I'm just happy being in high school. It's all I ever think about, and I get incredibly depressed thinking, "Oh, this will be our last Easter together," or, "It sucks that this is our last high school prom."
I don't want it to end, and I know the closer graduation comes the more I'm going to get freaked out about it. I try my best to make the most of every day and enjoy it while it lasts, but I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't sad about it. Am I the only one going through this? -- ERIC IN MINNEAPOLIS
DEAR ERIC: Of course you're not. There are big changes coming in the lives of every member of your senior class, and not everyone welcomes change without some degree of anxiety or even sadness. Please don't let these feelings ruin your present.
Although you may not be attending "your college of choice," you will be meeting new people, learning new things — and who's to say that you can't transfer to another school in your junior year if you apply yourself and do well?
I am sure that if you discuss this with a trusted teacher or school counselor you will be assured that your feelings are typical of many seniors — and excitement and challenges await you in the months and years to come. That's something to look forward to, not something to be afraid of. Trust me.
People have told Sam it's all they have, but it doesn't faze him. He just finds a way to joke about it. These employees don't want to speak up because Sam is their supervisor.
Sam also creates a problem for the people in the front office. He goes to the front office every day and takes the candy they set out for customers and fellow employees to enjoy. He fills his pockets full and returns to "visit" several times a day until the candy is gone. This has gone on every single day for the past three years. Human Resources refuses to get involved.
How can I stop this? Sam is my co-worker and friend, and I'm the type of person who cannot hurt his feelings. How should I handle this? -- HUNGRY IN MADISON HEIGHTS, MICH.
DEAR HUNGRY: Sam's behavior is extremely inappropriate, and if he's been pigging out on everyone's candy for three years, I'm surprised his doctor hasn't told him he has to cut back on the sugar and fat.
He will continue this behavior until enough people — and that includes you — gather the courage to tell him "NO!" firmly and consistently enough that the message gets through.
As to the employees in the front office, their candy should be kept out of sight in their desk drawers and taken out and offered only to those customers and employees with whom they want to share it.
DEAR ABBY: I am currently a senior in high school and having the time of my life. But with only a couple of months until graduation, I can't get past the fact that this will soon be over, and we'll all go our separate ways.
Everyone's talking about where they're going to college, and how exciting it's going to be when they get there. Everyone except me, that is. I didn't get into the schools I really wanted to go to. I'm just happy being in high school. It's all I ever think about, and I get incredibly depressed thinking, "Oh, this will be our last Easter together," or, "It sucks that this is our last high school prom."
I don't want it to end, and I know the closer graduation comes the more I'm going to get freaked out about it. I try my best to make the most of every day and enjoy it while it lasts, but I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't sad about it. Am I the only one going through this? -- ERIC IN MINNEAPOLIS
DEAR ERIC: Of course you're not. There are big changes coming in the lives of every member of your senior class, and not everyone welcomes change without some degree of anxiety or even sadness. Please don't let these feelings ruin your present.
Although you may not be attending "your college of choice," you will be meeting new people, learning new things — and who's to say that you can't transfer to another school in your junior year if you apply yourself and do well?
I am sure that if you discuss this with a trusted teacher or school counselor you will be assured that your feelings are typical of many seniors — and excitement and challenges await you in the months and years to come. That's something to look forward to, not something to be afraid of. Trust me.