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New Graduate Wants To Take Chances at All the Wrong Times
Q: I will be finishing my bachelor's degree this spring. I have lived all of my life in the city where I am attending school, and I would like to get a job in another city that I have wanted to move to. I only know a couple of people there, so I …Read more.
Preparing Oneself in a Tight Market for the Future
Q: I keep reading that this is the time to go back to school because of our tight economic situation. An article stated that even if a person doesn't know what to do, it's a good time to go to school. What do you think of that advice?
A: I disagree …Read more.
Overly Nervous Employee Scares the Employee Under Him
Q: I work for a brokerage house that seems to be doing well. I am not yet a broker. I work under someone who is a broker but not in management. He is afraid of everything we do when the compliance officer comes into the room. We are supposed to scan …Read more.
Noncompete Agreement Cannot Take Away Person's Ability To Make a Living
Q: I worked as a medical biller for six years. Without warning, I was let go and told my accounts would be taken over by a team leader. When I started the job, I signed an agreement stating that I would not go to work for any of the company's …Read more.
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Given 2-Month Severance Without Reason for LayoffQ: My friend was laid off but not given any reason for it. The company gave her a two-month severance, but she has no idea what happened. She never had been written up or talked to about anything that was a problem. She has no clue as to what to do at this point. A: "At-will employment" states, which most states are, generally do not require employers to give reasons for terminating a person's employment. Your friend could ask the human resources department whether she did anything to cause the separation, because she liked her job. Knowing why she was let go will help her when interviewing. If the HR person does not feel threatened by your friend's manner and attitude, he might explain that the company is reorganizing job duties and positions or simply cutting back slowly. Your friend also should ask what the company's policy is on giving references and reference letters. Though many companies no longer give such letters, asking the question will open the conversation with HR, which may make your friend feel better. Companies often give the former employee's employment dates and job title, and sometimes they give salary information. Negative information is usually subjective and can cause legal repercussions, so smart HR representatives and managers know to stay away from making such statements. Administrative Assistants Wait on Boss To Gain Favor Q: We are in a small office, and our boss has the administrative assistants wait on him. They prepare and bring him his breakfast and lunch every day, and after work, they retire to the conference room for drinks. A: The most important factors of working in a small office are that one's work quality is high and that everyone likes you, but not in that order. Most employees don't realize how important likability is, but personality clashes cause more firings than do mistakes made on the job. Yes, bringing the boss his meals may put the administrative assistants in good favor. Let's hope the boss is wise enough to know that work quality, not waitressing, is what drives the company forward and what justifies salary increases. Your CEO may feel that drinking alcohol in the office after hours is not a good thing, but not horrible, either. What he is forgetting is that harmful or dangerous situations can arise when people drink too much and that the company would be liable if anything bad were to happen. As for your involvement, stay out of it and don't complain to anyone at work. Stop worrying about what others may get by being favored. Be pleasant, and do the job you love. If you don't get the raise you think you deserve, then you can appeal to your boss's intelligent side. Please send your questions to: Lindsey Novak, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. E-mail her at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com, or visit her Web site at www.LindseyNovak.com. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM
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