Q: I'm pretty new to my company, and pretty low on the totem pole. But one of the things that drives me crazy about my company is that in almost every meeting I attend, the majority of my co-workers are barely paying attention because they're staring at their phones, checking email and texts. I'm not running these meetings, so I don't feel like it's my place to say anything, but I think this is rude. Would I be out of line to say something to my bosses?
- Hannah in South Philly
A: Yes, because you started out saying you're low on the totem pole. You should be seen and not heard. Now, those people are wrong: If I'm in a meeting, I don't allow that - cellphones should be off. But the person on the bottom end of the food chain can't be the one correcting superiors. Your point is right and well taken, but if you're on the bottom of the food chain, you can't tell the boss he's doing something stupid. You won't last very long.
Q: I recently went to my local convenience store to make a purchase. The total came to $4.04, so I took 4 cents from the take-a-penny/leave-a-penny tray. I didn't really think that this was a problem until the store owner looked at me like I'd lit his house on fire. My question: What's the maximum number of pennies that is appropriate to take from the tray?
- Cheap in Chester
A: Man, 4 cents? He got mad over 4 cents? That's funny. In fairness, you should be able to take up to 5. You can't take more than 5. That's just piggish. Five cents is the maximum limit. So you're OK.
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