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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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Hire Lawyer To Fight Company That Breaches Employment ContractQ: I had an employment agreement that stated I would receive a severance package if the company should no longer require my services and release me for no cause. I was released, and the company refused to honor the agreement between us. I hired an attorney to deal with the breach of contract, but there is more to it than that. I also discovered that the company provided severance packages to favored employees who did not even have employment agreements and that it did not offer severance packages to several other employees. Isn't that discrimination? A: Companies are not required to offer employment agreements to employees. They offer employment agreements as a way to attract successful, high-level employees and as a way to protect various aspects of their businesses, such as client lists, business plans, products and anything else deemed confidentially created and developed for the businesses. Employees favor employment contracts because the agreements dictate the conditions under which companies may terminate their employment and describe the benefits they will receive upon separation. Employment agreements usually protect both the company and the employee, though some contracts are stacked in favor of the employer. Such stacked contracts generally do not hold up in court when lawsuits occur. An agreement offering better benefits to one employee than to another may be attributed to an employee's superior negotiation skills. Assuming separation packages are not offered according to the employees' race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability, there is no discrimination. When you hire a lawyer to handle any legal matter, you must inform that lawyer of all the facts surrounding the situation. Your Job Should Satisfy You, Not Your Co-Workers Q: I think that when an employer offers an employee a raise after that person gives notice, it's like admitting the company has been shorting the employee all along. All that company is doing by offering more money is saying, "We knew you were worth more but are only willing to offer it now because you are threatening to leave." More importantly, if the employee accepts more money and stays after announcing he or she is leaving, don't you think co-workers will lower their opinions of the person? A: Your overall job satisfaction is your concern, not your co-workers'. Your goal should be to get paid the most you can for doing something you love. If you love your job but think you are not paid enough, a job search will help you discover your market worth. If no offers come in, your salary is probably what you are worth, and a lower salary doing something you love is better than no salary. If you don't like your work, you might be happier accepting less money for a job you will love. Your co-workers have no right to judge you for your job choices and salary decisions. There is a reason for keeping such information confidential; it helps people avoid jealousy, gossip and mean-spirited competition. 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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