Hey Big Daddy,
I work in a fairly small office of eight people, six of whom are women. I
point this out because I think that if there were six men in the office, I
might not have the concern I’m about to share with you. Whenever it’s
someone’s birthday, the office goes out to lunch together and we buy a cake.
So far, gifts have been limited to a card only. But this month, it’s the
senior vice-president’s birthday, and a couple of the women in the office
who are real chummy with her want to get her a gift certificate to a spa.
Already, we chip in for the cost of lunch at a nice restaurant and the cake.
I make less than everyone in the office, but we all pay an equal amount.
Looking ahead to the month of December, three of the women in the office
have birthdays, and if the spa package is the new precedent, I’ll be forking
over a lot of dough that could otherwise be spent on gifts for real friends
and family-not co-workers. How do I stop a bad idea before it gets out of
control?

-Frugal in Fair Oaks

Hey Big Daddy,
With Halloween only days away and Christmas and Hanukkah around the corner, I’m in the uncomfortable position, as office manager, of determining whether or not employees will be allowed to hang holiday decorations in their cubicles this year. Last Christmas, our human resources division received a complaint from an employee who does not celebrate Christmas and was offended by a miniature Christmas tree that one of her colleagues put in her cubicle.

Choosing the path of least resistance, HR asked her to remove the tree and all other decorations were subsequently removed. Not surprisingly, it was bad for morale and I felt like the Grinch. The employee who filed the complaint no longer works here, and we’ve yet to decide what to do this year. But employees are already asking if they can have a Christmas party in December and what the rules will be. It seems like harmless fun to me, but it’s not worth a lawsuit. What do you suggest?

-Nervous in North San Juan

Hey Big Daddy,
I’m sure I’m not alone in my griping about the Sacramento singles scene. The
desperate situation drove me to online dating. I know its commonplace now,
but I’m a bit nervous. I’ve just split with my longtime girlfriend, who I
met in high school, and just don’t have a lot of experience being single,
let alone with online dating. Got any pointers for me?
-Natomas Neophyte

Big Daddy gives career advice to a conflicted, yet ambitious, young intern

Hey Big Daddy,
We may have survived another hot summer, but you wouldn’t know it by the way my boss dresses. Now that fall is here, she still continues to wear low-cut shirts and dresses. I never thought of myself as a prude, but it’s a little awkward and it’s starting to make me a little uncomfortable. Is there any way to gently broach this subject with her, or am I just being uptight? When it comes to clothes, how low can you go?
–NeoConservative Gal

Hey Big Daddy,
I am a Legislative director for a freshman Assemblymember. I recently had a
blow-out fight with one of my (formerly) closest friends, after she
committed what I deem to be an unforgivable violation of my trust. To make
matters worse, this friend is a lobbyist, and reliable contributor to my
boss

Hey Big Daddy,I

Hey Big Daddy,
For the past few years, I have been a district representative for a certain
Southern California Republican state senator who will remain nameless.
Several months ago, it was brought to my attention that my chances for
advancement in the office had pretty much been exhausted. I love what I do
but I know that it is now time for me to move on. Do you have any advice
that you can give me on how to grow and advance in my career? Is working in
the district office a dead end job in this business? I am frustrated and
even a bit scared. Am I the only district staffer who has ever felt this
way?
–Frustrated in Southern California

My significant other and I are having a dinner party in two weeks and don

Hey Big Daddy,
Is it me, or has common courtesy and etiquette taken a backseat to Blackberries and the need to check email 24/7? I’m tired of going to drinks with friends or spending an afternoon at the golf course with someone who can’t carry on a live conversation without corresponding with a third party.
–Annoyed in Altadena