At Work by Lindsey Novak

Q: I had a good job, but I took a new field sales position at a different company to make more money than I made. The owner has not come through with any of his promises. Whenever I complain to him, his response is the same: "The money just isn't there." That response is not acceptable. He promised I would make at least $70,000 from $700,000 in existing accounts in the territory I was assigned. I have come to find out the sales are $200,000 only. I have also repeatedly complained to another sales rep here who won't listen, shows no sympathy and tells me, "If you don't like it, leave." I can't go back to my old job. What are my options?

A: You were blinded by the thought of more money, so much that you forgot to consider all the pros and cons that result from evaluating the current and the future job. You may think you only care about money, but you now see that other things do matter, such as the reputation of the owner and the company, the corporate environment, proof of exiting accounts, information supporting the potential for new accounts, company turnover, other staff — both sales and administrative, as well as benefits and company policies. Changing jobs is serious business, and it is not just about money.

Complaining to your new colleague isn't the answer. She isn't your manager, and it isn't her job to warn you about anyone or anything in the company. For all you know, she may be as disgusted with her financial situation as you are about yours, but she is wiser than you by not talking about it to colleagues. She also may have wanted part of the territory you were given, so it's not clear why you think she would side with you or show you sympathy.

An experienced sales rep would request an employment contract and hire a private attorney to review it before signing it.

Since the owner is openly telling you he doesn't have the money to pay you the money you want, you may have misunderstood the terms he set forth, which is another reason to never finalize employment without a written agreement. Professionally managed companies typically extend offer letters, even to non-sales employees. Your colleague may not want to listen to your complaints, but her advice sounds just right: If you don't like it, leave.

CONFRONTING PREJUDICE

Q: An African-American woman wrote you about being criticized by management despite her stellar performance, which outshined all other location managers. Should she not try to change the culture? This young woman needs to know that what the company did was wrong.

A: The boss intentionally criticized this woman in front of others, even though management knew she had saved a failing location and had just re-assigned her to save a larger location. She couldn't justify their rudeness, so she felt it was due to race. Sometimes it's obvious; sometimes it's a gut feeling. Standing up to prejudice takes strength, courage and security. Without emotional support, prejudice takes its toll on the victim, which is what the perpetrator wants.

Positive experiences build confidence and strength; negative experiences build wisdom and courage. Young adults need both before they set out to change the world.

Email all your questions to workplace expert Lindsey Novak at LindseyNovak@yahoo.com. She answers all emails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2013 CREATORS.COM