Got a Minute?

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Women being expected to put their careers on hold for their partners is more common than it should be.

My boss told me to ‘put my career on hold’ for my husband. How do I get what I really want?

Ahead of International Women’s Day, Kirstin Ferguson answers readers questions about wage theft, ageing and discrimination as a woman in the workplace.

  • Kirstin Ferguson

Latest

It’s not just about the car space, writes Kirstin Ferguson.

One of our colleagues gets a car park, but nobody else does. Can we riot?

This isn’t really about parking, it’s about fairness, and it’s the sort of allowance that can breed resentment and undermine leadership, writes Kirstin Ferguson.

  • Kirstin Ferguson
Unfortunately, age discrimination in the workplace is a very real issue.

I’m 58 and looking for a new job. How do I avoid age discrimination?

Online applications are asking questions that would have once been easy to avoid, says Dr Kirstin Ferguson. And yes, it can make things difficult.

  • Kirstin Ferguson
There can be benefits to playing along outside work hours.

Can my boss force me to socialise outside work hours? Or is there an easy way out?

A little face time at social events can go a long way, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • Kirstin Ferguson
Parents boxed in at work.

I’ve been boxed in at work since becoming a father. What do I do?

The situation – sadly – isn’t unusual. Just ask any woman who has tried to work, have children and maintain a career.

  • Kirstin Ferguson
Dr Kirstin Ferguson’s ‘Got a Minute’ column is back for 2026.

My 17-year-old is trying to find a part-time job. Are ‘trial’ shifts legal?

Young workers are particularly vulnerable to this kind of exploitation because they’re keen, inexperienced and unlikely to push back.

  • Kirstin Ferguson
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Can you reject a hug if it’s a Secret Santa present?

My Secret Santa gift is a dud. Can I ask for a better one?

Plenty of workplaces have rules for Secret Santa presents, but what happens if you’re unhappy with what you’ve been given? Can you request a new one, or should you just suck it up?

  • Kirstin Ferguson
When you’re a casual, mandatory shutdowns are not restful, they’re a financial blow.

I want to work through shutdown, but the boss says no. Is this fair?

While a growing number of businesses closing over Christmas, it doesn’t suit all employees. For those in casual employment, the lack of pay could not happen at a worse time.

  • Kirstin Ferguson
When the office Christmas party is a minefield of bad behaviours, is it better to give it a miss?

The work Christmas party is a hot mess. Do I have to go?

It’s that time of year when staff let their hair down, and things can get a bit loose. But when management does not enforce a standard of behaviour, is the work Christmas party something to be avoided?

  • Kirstin Ferguson
Is it appropriate for the boss to burst into tears when it is the staff who are losing their jobs?

Staff are losing their jobs but it’s the CEO who needs comforting. What gives?

While modern leadership guides extol the virtues of vulnerability and authenticity, there’s still a time and a place for tears, says Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • Kirstin Ferguson