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Kirstin Ferguson

Kirstin Ferguson

Dr Kirstin Ferguson AM is the author of Blindspotting: How to See What Others Miss and Head & Heart: The Art of Modern Leadership. Kirstin is ranked in the world’s Thinkers50 list and holds a PhD in leadership and culture. www.kirstinferguson.com.

“Lunch at your desk” culture have become increasingly common, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

Office lunchrooms have disappeared. Am I expected to eat at my desk?

While lunch used to be a clear pause in the day, the lines are now blurred, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • Kirstin Ferguson

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Team driver is not something you should feel pressured to continue, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

I’m stuck driving my colleague to and from work every day. How do I stop?

You don’t need to justify your need for quiet time, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • Kirstin Ferguson
A drunken consensus at a reunion is not an objective measure of a life, a career or a person, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

Why can’t I get over my former colleagues calling me ‘forgettable’?

Our brains are wired to prioritise bad things over good, writes Dr Kirstin Ferguson.

  • Kirstin Ferguson
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
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
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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
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