On Friday and Monday we publish the problems that will feature in a forthcoming Dear Jeremy advice column in the Guardian Money supplement, so readers can offer their own advice and suggestions. We then print the best of your comments alongside Jeremy's own insights. Here is the latest dilemma – what are your thoughts?
I work in an academic department in higher education. The business manager who heads up the department works from home two to three days a week, sometimes less, sometimes more. She is usually available by mobile phone, Skype or email, but diverts her landline to mine, so I deal with her inquiries as and when they come through.
The manager is a very nice person and is pretty flexible, but the rest of the academic team (all on lower pay grades) very rarely get to work from home themselves, causing some resentment.
I have never worked for a manager who works from home so much, and it is taking quite a bit of time to get used to. In a way I resent being asked to cover for her, as I am not paid as much as her – even if I am capable of making sure the department runs OK. I have been in the department for just under a year, and understand from others that when this manager did the job I do she also worked from home a couple of days a week and the others were expected to deal with any inquiries in her absence.
Perhaps the problem is with me, and that the only way to get over it is to move jobs. I really don't know how to approach this in a way that isn't going to show me in a bad light, or should I bite the bullet and ask if I too can work from home?
• For Jeremy's and readers' advice on a work issue, send a brief email to dear.jeremy@guardian.co.uk. Please note that he is unable to answer questions of a legal nature or reply personally.
