DEAR HARRIETTE: There’s been some controversy about whether wearing an engagement ring to a job interview lessens your chances of securing the job. As an engaged woman, I read this article intensely and was unsure what to make of it. Could an employer actually label me as high maintenance because of the ring my fiancee gave me? The article I read mentioned that I would be more likely to receive a lower salary because my interviewer would know I will be married soon. I’m totally paranoid over this, and I’m trying to figure out how I could fight this injustice if I were to experience this type of discrimination. Is it really best to take off the ring? – Business and Personal, Syracuse, New York

DEAR BUSINESS AND PERSONAL: This is partly why the title Ms. was fought for as a replacement for Mrs. or Miss – to level the gender playing field. Know that any such bias you mentioned is illegal but extremely difficult to prove, as it may be unconscious. Unless you are ready for part of your hiring experience to include potentially fighting for a new layer of equality, you may consider taking off the ring during the interview. As an experiment, you might wear it for interviews that you don’t really want, just to see what happens.

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DEAR HARRIETTE: I am a shuttle driver in a small town. There is a college here as well, so I drive a mixture of “townies” and students. The students like me and enjoy listening to my jokes and banter, but don’t respect that I can stop only at designated stops. Admittedly, I’ve broken my own rules a few times, and now I feel pressure to stop wherever students ask me to. I’ve tried putting my foot down, but they called me a buzzkill, and I ended up stopping anyway. This makes me a few minutes late to the stops, throwing off all the times for a loop just to stop exactly where students would like me to. How can I keep the students liking me while also doing my job? – My Shuttle, My Rules, Maine

DEAR MY SHUTTLE, MY RULES: You need to take back control, which doubles as actually doing your job. The rules don’t happen to be yours, which is fine. They are the rules of the town that determine where the bus stops are, all with the intention of making it comfortable for everyone to reach their destination on a clear schedule.

Since you have befriended some of your passengers, you can let them know that you must go back to the formal schedule in order to ensure that everyone is honored. Sure, they may balk at first and even call you names. Remember that you are the adult, and you have a job to do. While it is a bonus to have your passengers like you, make your first priority the safety of your passengers, followed by their comfort. If you completely stop favors and, at the same time, emphasize timely and pleasant customer service, you should be able to bring back most of those smiling passengers. Stay kind and professional. You will be a good example for them.

— Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.