Q: I graduated last December with a bachelor's degree in general chemistry. For my first full-time job, I was hired as a baker at a well-known vegan bakery and restaurant. When I interviewed, the assistant manager told me they were going through staffing changes since half of the longtime employees had recently left to make career changes. He never told me about any boss other than himself, but when I started, a girl introduced herself as the kitchen manager and "sort of the boss." She abruptly asked me questions about my education and experience. I said I had no formal culinary experience but had a degree in general chemistry, and had cooked and baked for many years at home. She one-upped me saying she had a culinary degree and that she could show me a lot of tricks to baking. I listened and said, "OK, that's cool." She had also just recently graduated.

I quickly discovered she likes to micromanage by stepping in and taking over. She wanted me to observe her "perfect technique." I have a good understanding of cooking and baking, and baking is just a different kind of chemistry. She does this daily, so I walked away from her today when she grabbed the tools out of my hands and took over. The only difference is that she does it faster. We were all hired to work full time eight-hour days, but she made us work faster and sent us home early, which shorts our paychecks.

The assistant manager told me I was a better baker and that my cakes were even better than their standard recipe. He then asked me to make all the cakes for a very important special job. I know the kitchen manager doesn't have a lot of authority, because she doesn't even have a key to the main office. The assistant manager was not at work the day she sent us home early. She also violated sanitation laws, because the laundry hadn't been done, and we had only one dish towel in the whole place, and it was dirty. She forced me to use the towel to wash the walls with water but without soap or disinfectant. I knew she was wrong to do this, but I didn't want to argue with her, so I acquiesced. I can tolerate her now, but I know I will eventually snap and stand up to her. He never mentioned her in my interview, and I can see myself talking to him about her. How do I do this?

A: Ask to meet privately with the assistant manager, since he hired you and told you he was your boss. You will want to furnish him with detailed notes on her behavior and the tasks she's required you to do. It takes courage to refuse performing tasks you know to be wrong, but you must. You cannot use the excuse, "She told me to do it," when he asks why you didn't call to say what was happening.

This time you can blame it on your inexperience, but confidence in knowing what is right will help you make the right decision next time no matter who orders you to do something strange. Also keep in mind this culinary graduate finished her program the same time you received your degree. You will soon learn that when you feel something is wrong, you feel it because it is. Once you inform him of the facts, he can stop her before she engages in other odd behavior. He will likely appreciate your helping him weed out any employees who can damage the business in the long run.

Email your questions to workplace expert Lindsey Novak at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com and follow her on Twitter @I_truly_care. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Website at www.creators.com.