Harriette Cole: Is it out of line to ask my boss for gas money?

DEAR HARRIETTE I started my current job during the COVID- pandemic and at that time everyone was working from home Related Articles Harriette Cole Is it time to file a complaint about the neighbors or will that make it worse Harriette Cole She thinks her kids are so much better than mine Harriette Cole I requested my boyfriend where he was going with no shirt on Harriette Cole I want to make the largest part of my summer abroad Do I need to warn my boyfriend Harriette Cole I accidentally let slip my friend s happy news and she s furious with me This year my employer has petitioned that we all begin working in the office again full-time I live over an hour away from the office and the commute is excessive The cost of gas continues to rise but my salary has not changed My supervisor is usually accommodating but the company as a whole has suffered a bit in terms of sales revenue this year I want to ask for a raise or at least to be compensated for my gas now that a commute is required but am I being insensitive to the company s current state Need a Raise DEAR NEED A RAISE This may not be the best time to make your pitch but you too are suffering You can inevitably ask Request a private meeting with your supervisor ask if it is feasible for you to have a gas allowance Make sure you go in with facts Calculate how much you ll be spending weekly on gas and ask for a stipend to cover that amount That type of request will likely be more welcome than asking for a raise at this time but if other unit members are also commuting long distances your pitch may not work Another option might be to ask for a hybrid arrangement where you work from home a couple of days each week To help your scenario remind your boss of the avenues in which you advocacy the club and go beyond expectations whenever required DEAR HARRIETTE My daughter s childhood babysitter has stayed in touch with the family over the years though we haven t talked not long ago While she was working with our family and long after she really considered my daughter to be like her own flesh and blood My daughter is getting married next year and I m sure her former babysitter will expect to be invited to the wedding When my daughter was graduating from middle school we made the mistake of not inviting this person to any of the celebrations and she was crushed I don t want to forget her again The caveat is that my daughter and her fiance are planning a destination wedding in another country I don t believe our former babysitter is able to afford such a large trip Should I pay to accommodate her passage so that she can participate Part of the Family DEAR PART OF THE FAMILY By all means you should invite the former babysitter to your daughter s wedding Related Articles Miss Manners Beyond a weak smile is there a way to discourage his witticism at my expense Dear Abby I was trying to focus on the pills and my wife blew up at me Asking Eric I was informed I overreacted about this property damage Harriette Cole Is it time to file a complaint about the neighbors or will that make it worse Miss Manners My boyfriend berated me in the parking lot over how I exited the church If you can afford it offer to pay for her tour and accommodations If your budget allows for only partial coverage let her know what you can take on to offset her expenses If you can t cover anything be honest about it but still invite her Also be sure to include her in any local pre-wedding celebrations such as an engagement party bridal shower etc You may even consider planning a gathering where the babysitter can meet your daughter s fiance People who play the roles of taking care of children are special They treat our children like precious angels and we should do anything we can to honor them Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams You can send questions to askharriette harriettecole com or c o Andrews McMeel Syndication Walnut St Kansas City MO