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Admirable Effort to Support Neighborhood Business
Q: I am a small business owner who depends on and am grateful for every customer I have. A small cupcake shop opened down the street, and I like to support local businesses, so on my way to get coffee, I thought I would stop in and buy a couple of …Read more.
Defending Oneself Is Always Worth the Effort
Q: A former supervisor falsely accused me of things in order to fire me, so I resigned before she had the chance. She had no proof of any of the accusations, and she did not report anything to the authorities. That was five years ago, and I have had …Read more.
Dressing Appropriately Shows More Than Style
Q: I started a new job after being unemployed for some time. While I was unemployed, I gained weight and can no longer fit in my work clothes. I can't afford to buy new things right now. I need to catch up on my bills. I did buy new jeans and a pair …Read more.
Partner Moves Funds Into Own Account, Leaving Other Partner With Bills
Q: I am going through the biggest fight in my life right now. My husband moved our personal and business money into offshore accounts in his own name before I realized he was having an affair and I filed for divorce. He is colluding with a banker …Read more.
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Privacy Issues Not Taken SeriouslyQ: I work at a small public school in a rural area. The principal is married to one of the teachers. Parents call the principal at home in the evening to register complaints about teachers. When the principal's wife answers the phone, she doesn't get her husband; she takes the entire message, which involves taking the name of the teacher, as well as the problem. How do we tell the principal that this violates our privacy issues because his wife is just one of us teachers? A: Your complaint is reasonable enough for you to speak directly to the principal in his office. First, it is odd that parents call the principal at home in the evening rather than at the school during school hours. Even though you live in a rural community, your principal should keep certain office hours at the school, unless he serves a dual role in another town job where he must stay for most of the day. Second, find out whether he invited this complaint process in a letter to parents, because you might want to include this in your comments to him. Rather than confront him about this situation's violating your privacy (you obviously gain more with diplomacy because you don't have a lot of employment choices), explain that you and the other teachers feel awkward that his wife, who is also a teacher, knows everything about situations that only he, as principal, should know. Ask him whether he would consider having the parents write confidential letters to him and deliver them to the school so that none of the teachers would have access to that information. The truth, though, is that if he chooses to tell his wife everything, the only thing that will change is that he will tell her not to say a word to anybody.
Company Buyout Brings Stricter Rules That Don't Seem Fair Q: A larger company bought our company. All of the employees throughout the North American facilities have been told they are keeping their jobs, seniority and current pay. Each employee had to prove citizenship, pass a drug test and undergo a criminal background check. As a result, three employees with felony convictions for nonviolent crimes committed 10 or more years ago will lose their jobs. All three have had perfect records since those convictions. They are all highly skilled and longtime employees. Firing them seems morally repugnant and against what our country stands for. A: One of the benefits of working for a large company is that there are many options offered to the employees. One of the drawbacks to working for a large company is that employees have to follow its rules without exception. If these three employees can connect with one another, they might consider choosing a highly experienced lawyer to represent them to management to save their employment status, especially because the three passed the current drug test. 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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