Q: I was in law enforcement for 13 years but had to leave my job because I was in the process of buying a nightclub (I had put money down but did not legally own it yet), when three murders occurred there. The owner of the club was charged with three violations, and I was charged for violating police department rules. I was given a choice to resign or fight it, but my union and its attorney abandoned me, and I had to hire my own lawyer. He suggested I resign rather than fight it because it would be tough to win over the officials who would be on the panel making the decision. I dropped the purchase of the club within a week, purchased another type of business, and resigned and agreed to have the file sealed. I want to return to law enforcement, but when I am interviewed, I am questioned about why I left. They also question my commitment to the field. How do I overcome this?

A: You obviously lost the money you put down on the purchase by walking away from the sale within a week. It sounds as if the mere consideration of a "questionable" type of nightclub purchase violated your police department's internal rules, which you should have checked into before placing money on the deal. Your actions show a lack of business acumen rather than a lack of commitment. Presumably, you wanted the club so you could make more money than you were making on the police force. You can't undo what happened, but you can continue to ask to meet with the police commissioner to explain your position. Admit to your former department that you are guilty of naiveté, and say that you have learned from the situation and want to return to law enforcement. You probably won't get back into the department, but perhaps the commissioner can make it easier for you to apply to another location.

Hourly Worker Couldn't Get Full-Time Hours After Injury

Q: I injured my back (not work-related) and was on and off work for the next five months recovering. I was told I could have my job again when I was ready, but that did not happen. When I could return to work full time, my boss gave me only part-time hours. By the second month, I was given only 40 hours for the month, not a week. He told me they weren't busy enough and he didn't want to take hours away from the other four employees. I was second in line with regard to seniority. Was this wrong of him?

A: Laws pertaining to hourly employees are different from laws pertaining to salaried employees. Without employment contracts, your boss may have the authority to assign the number of hours given weekly to each employee. If you had taken the issue to his boss, you may have gotten more hours but alienated your boss, which could have made your employment intolerable. He likely felt committed to the employees who increased their hours to cover the workload during your absence, and he may not have considered the length of time you have been employed. Back injuries often recur, and that may have concerned your boss in assigning hours among the five of you. Ask whether he plans on increasing your hours or whether you should look for another job. If you must pursue a job elsewhere, you will be able to do so with a good referral letter. An employee may win temporarily by pushing an issue, but in the long run, a good reference is worth more.

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. 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.

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