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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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Smoke-Free Environment Campaign Takes Power, Proof and SupportQ: I'm a dealer in a Las Vegas casino. Just because we work in a casino doesn't mean we should be forced to breathe in the secondhand smoke from gamblers. They need to know how miserable they make life for us while we're working. We can't walk away from our tables. We are held captive, breathing in their cigarette smoke. Gamblers could be on a game for an hour or more, so we have no choice but to breathe in their smoke. If we said anything, we would be fired and other dealers easily would take our place. I know dealers who smoke themselves, and they don't even like working a game that has smokers. The tobacco industry furthers the myth that if casinos turned into no-smoking environments, they would go broke. It's a myth because the poker rooms have turned into no-smoking rooms, and their business is going like gangbusters. Only 13 to 17 percent of gamblers smoke. The airlines and restaurants in certain locations have gone "no smoking." How do we get the casinos to consider it? A: The decision is a bottom-line determination by the casinos, regardless of the proof that secondhand smoke can cause lung cancer, as well as other heart and lung health problems. First, discreetly develop a network of dealers and other casino workers who would prefer a smoke-free work environment. Then make contact with the various charitable organizations — the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society and local charities — that can work together to organize a smoke-free environment campaign. You can't fight the battle alone, but with the help plus survey statistics on your side, you may be successful in creating a work environment from which even the gamblers benefit. Legal Recourse Isn't Always in Employee's Best Interest Q: I worked at an advertising agency for several years.
A: The advertising agency must be small and unsophisticated, because no knowledgeable human resources representative would issue a letter stating why an employee was laid off. A company has the right to fire you or reduce your salary if it wishes, but putting a lie in writing is not wise. Because the company stated that your position no longer was needed and it replaced you soon after your departure, you may have cause for an action, depending on your state's laws. Check with your state's labor department, and meet with an investigator, if possible. Be aware, though, that if the owners and directors of the ad agency are well-known in the industry and in your area, your actions may put you on a blacklist for employment with other agencies. Legal recourse may be possible, but it isn't always the best choice to make. Put your energy in a more positive direction and strive for a more lucrative job. 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 SYNDICATE INC.
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