CYA

Maggie-
My boss is stealing from our company. I am the business manager and I’ve discovered some very incriminating evidence to corroborate my findings. Trouble is...what if they don’t believe me even with the evidence and I am the one who gets canned? I can’t afford to take a lot of chances in this economy. Maybe I should just ignore the facts? Can I get fired for that too?
Thank you-Mary Ellen


Mary Ellen;
This is a serious matter. I am not an HR aficionado but I can tell you right now, you would indeed get in trouble for not telling the truth-or rather not telling all of the truth. Boss or no boss-it's time for you to cover your own fanny. You need to go speak to the head of Human Resources for direction and go from there. You MUST say something, or you indeed will lose your job...and your chance for a reference from this company!

Wishing You the Best-
Maggie

5 Fingered Discounts

Maggie My question is about my brother. He’s 14 and I’ll be 12 next week. We get along for the most part. My parents have been fighting a lot lately and Dad moved out right before school started. Mom won’t let us go stay there but we see him on the weekend. Anyway, since the whole thing with my Mom and Dad has been going on, my brother has been acting like a real jerk. Stealing stuff and everything. Then he just throws it away later or sells it to his friends. He isn’t the same any more, I know he’s mad at Mom for kicking Dad out but I don’t get why he is stealing. He told me last time if I told on him, he would beat the crap out of me and I know he would. I don’t want to get beat up. But I don’t want to get caught with him.

Thanks for writing me, it sounds like you are in a tough spot. The first thing I am going to say to you is Happy Birthday, you only turn 12 once so enjoy it! Secondly, I'm sorry about your folks, my folks got divorced when I was a kid and I know for me it wasn't easy. I think you are right, your brother is probably PO'd...I know I would be and he's just doing mean stuff right now. You need to do what's right, in the end, he'll thank you for it. That means bringing an adult into this situation.
I highly recommend talking to your councelor about your parents and the situation with your brother. He/she will guide you as to the next steps. Good luck and keep your head up, it's bound to get better.
Wishing you the Best-
Maggie

Does He Love Me....

Dear Maggie,
I have a guy friend, but I'm not sure if he likes me?My friends say he likes me because he is quite flirty with me, like putting his arm around me and holding hands, but I don't think he's serious. Since we have the same last name we kinda joke that we're brother and sister, so one day he started poking me (in a joking way) and saying this is for being sister, this is for being my biological sister. So I don't really think he likes me. One time my other guy friend who sits with him at lunch was showing me some pictures, then he (the one I'm not sure of) was like oh good you didn't get the picture of me and this other girl hugging, since I saw a picture of him with his arm around this other girl or something like that. So um... yeah, I think he's just joking with me but my friends think he's serious. Oh, and I know the other girl was his ex or something like that, but he told me he broke up with her before so yeah.


I’m guessing you’re under the age of 20…please email me back if I’m wrong on that one. If that is true, then your friends are probably right, he probably does like you. How do I know? Guys are not really good with saying how they feel at any age but certainly not at that age. So they will find ways to touch and flirt with you that don’t really put them out on a limb to be rejected.
I’m a direct kinda gal and I would be inclined to simply say, “Hey, you know, I usually only let guys hold my hands if they plan to be more than friends” and give him a big smile. I think he might joke back but he’ll make his feelings known soon after if he’s serious.

Wish you the Best-
Maggie

Hi,
I’m a 64 year old newly widowed woman. I’ve decided to try to get out there and date because I am terribly lonely. My husband and I were married for 40 years and I loved him. He’s been gone for four months and I don’t miss him as much as I thought I would but I am very lonely. I have a good pension and money in the bank so I can take care of myself, I’ve taken good care of myself and I’ve had lots of men call me. I just don’t know what is appropriate at this point. My daughter thinks I am being terribly inappropriate and shouldn’t even consider dating for a year. What’s right?



Darling, you must do what is right in your heart. I think you do miss your husband (hence the loneliness) and I think you should be completely honest with why you want a man in your life right now. You should also be careful about whom you speak to about your finances. Widows are often targets for less than scrupulous people. Not that you aren’t hot, I’m just saying be careful.As for your daughter, remember, she just lost her father and is grieving. Another man in your life will be a big adjustment. It would be good to be mindful of her feelings.

Wishing you the Best-
Maggie