Dear Karma Cleanser:

I am 49 years old and I have worked for the same company just shy of 20 years. I do not have a college degree but I have advanced up the "company ladder" and now hold a junior-level supervisory role in a company that has about 200 employees. I have raised two kids on this job with no help from a husband and little involvement from even my parents.

If I can stay in this job for five more months, I will be vested. That means more money in my eventual pension.

The reason I am writing you is about my manager. He has been my manager for three years now and I am finding it hard to face another day of working with him. He is petty, he is unprofessional and he comes close to sexually harassing all the women in our office without going "over the line" and giving us enough to sue him over.

I wrote him a letter telling him all the things that I don't like about our working relationship. I let my son read it and he says I should wait and send it after I am vested, for fear of getting fired and losing the pension benefits. I think I need to speak up now instead of later before things get worse. I also think it would improve my own karma to try and stop this man before he harasses any other women in our office.

Your son makes a good point. Compared to 20 years, what's another five months? That said, you should absolutely let the boss (and his boss) know that his behavior is despicable. Surely after two decades with the same firm your colleagues must trust you: Use that political collateral for the powers of good, but protect your own interests first.

Dear Karma Cleanser:

(In response to Katrina Refugee, the person who adopted the destructive cat): Shame on you, Karma Cleanser. You usually are wonderfully pet-positive and pro-animal in your guidance. This time, it seems like you wanted the writer to give his cat up for adoption, once again throwing her out in the cold.

If our kid breaks a vase, would we send him to the adoption agency? No, you'd give him even more love and acceptance and show him the power of positive reinforcement.

Your bad advice is going to cause you some bad pet karma. Don't come crying to us when your dog bites the postman and stops your flow of mail altogether.

Touché, Madame ASPCA. Reviewing our original response, we can see how you might mistake our intentions. We never said for the put-upon pet owner to ditch his new prodigy, but advised that he should have thought through the adoption more before jumping into the quagmire. But every cat lands on its feet, no? Perhaps the Refugee should visit one of those animal whisperers to try to get to the root of Katrina's mean streak.

Been bad? karmacleanser@gmail.com.