Dear Annie: My company has a back-to-office four days a week mandate this year. While it’s nice to have the in-person camaraderie, co-workers who are conspicuously ill are coming in and spreading their contagion. My company provides a generous two weeks of “occasional absence,” which may be used for sick days, doctors appointments and such.

Dear Recovering: It’s likely your friend doesn’t realize how her exclusions and actions, or in actions, rather, have built up to be so impactful. Either way, intentional or not, your feelings are valid. It’s hurtful when it feels like the balance that friendship requires is uneven, especially when you are in a time of need.

Dear Annie: I value your advice and would like your opinion. I recently had hip replacement surgery. I now have mobility issues and cannot perform many tasks that I could in the past. I cannot walk now without a walker.I had a friend who I thought was a close friend. We live about half a block from each other.

I had a friend who I thought was a close friend. We live about half a block from each other. In the past, when she had surgery and was recovering from cancer treatments, I took her to the hospital, prepared meals and supported her.