A middle manager at a large international company is trying to figure out how to handle an early-career employee who isn’t following typical office rules in a small, open-plan workspace. The office allows flexible work-from-home arrangements, but the employee’s behavior—like wearing inappropriate clothing, making loud personal calls, watching Netflix on her phone at her desk, and keeping a shared locker key overnight—has been disruptive. The manager, who isn’t the employee’s direct supervisor, has tried addressing the behavior when it became noticeable, but the changes haven’t lasted. Now, they’re considering whether to talk to the employee’s direct manager or report the issues to HR, mainly because the open layout makes the employee’s actions more distracting to others. The manager is in a different location and doesn’t have daily access to HR, which makes the situation more complicated. The advice received suggests that if there isn’t a clear dress code in the employee handbook, the manager shouldn’t bring up clothing choices. Instead, they should focus on the other issues—such as loud phone calls, watching Netflix at work, and misuse of the shared locker—and discuss them with the employee’s direct manager. This approach is framed as a way to prevent bigger problems down the line. The locker issue can also be reported to HR as a facilities concern, since shared spaces often have specific rules about access and usage. However, the advice warns against approaching the situation as an effort to help the employee. Since the manager isn’t the employee’s direct supervisor, taking on that role unofficially could lead to misunderstandings or pushback. The focus should remain on the impact of the behavior on the workplace environment rather than on the employee’s personal development. The manager is now considering the best way to communicate these concerns clearly and professionally, without overstepping their role or creating unnecessary conflict. They need to ensure that the employee’s behavior is addressed in a way that maintains office standards while respecting the company’s structure and policies.