Dear Annie: I have a co-worker, “Jenna,” who I also considered a close friend — until recently. We’ve worked together for five years, and we used to grab lunch, text outside of work, even double date with our spouses. A few months ago, she got promoted to a management role in our department. I was happy for her — truly. But since then, things have changed.

She’s become distant, formal and oddly critical of my work. She nitpicks things she never used to care about and only communicates through email now, even when we’re just a few desks apart. I tried bringing it up casually, but she brushed it off, saying she’s “just adjusting to the new role.”

What hurts is that she acts like I’m just another employee now — not someone who supported her for years. I understand she has new responsibilities, but did our friendship have to vanish overnight? I don’t want to put her in a tough spot, but I also don’t want to keep pretending this is normal or comfortable.

Should I say something, or is this just what happens when friends become bosses? — Forgotten by a Boss-Friend

Dear Forgotten: This is, unfortunately, a common problem. It can be difficult to redraw boundaries when someone moves to a position of authority.

Jenna may be struggling to assert her new role and is overcorrecting by distancing herself from people she was once close to. That’s not an excuse, but it might explain her behavior. Being a boss and a friend isn’t addressed in the employee handbook.

It’s OK to ask for a private conversation — outside of email — to say you miss the friendship and would like to clear the air. If she still feels closed off, then you have your answer. Let her lead if she wants to find her way back.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com.