Dear Prudie,
Six months ago I landed a good job at a small but lucrative firm. There
is one problem. My boss, who’s the highest ranking person there, decided
to stick me in his office. I am 2 feet away from him at all times.
There are other small offices in our suite, but my boss is notoriously
cheap and the word is that he doesn't want to pay to rent extra space.
Sitting in his office is unbearable. People are in and out all day to
discuss things, and otherwise he is on the phone. It is totally
distracting. If I print something while he's talking to someone, or drop
something and make a noise, he will stop what he's doing and give me a
look. If I’m searching on the Web for something related to work, he’ll
peer over and ask me what I'm doing. If I put something in our shared
trash can, he will inspect it. When I get up to use the bathroom, he
asks where I'm going. He’s a nice enough guy, but it is just too much to
have my boss breathing down my neck all day. I don’t want to quit, but
I’m at the breaking point. Should I approach him about having my own
space, or is this too pushy and demanding for someone new? Or should I
suck it up and be grateful to have a job?