Q: I was considering moving to another state (Florida) and looking for work when I got there. I know different states have different employment laws and heard some states are pro-employee, while others are pro-employer. I was told Florida is a "right-to-work" state and never had heard of that. Would you explain what that means for employees?

A: According to board-certified labor and employment law specialist Scott Fisher, of Fowler White Boggs Banker (Florida): "A 'right-to-work' state, which includes Florida, deals with employees who work at unionized companies. Basically, an employee has the right to work for a company that has a union without being forced or required to join the union. The employee would still be subject to the same terms and conditions contained in the collective bargaining agreement but does not have to actually join the union. The effect is that the employee does not have to pay union dues or other fees assessed by the union. Employees in states that are not 'right-to-work' states do not have this same liberty. They could be required to join the union as a condition of employment."

This law may sound pro-employee if you work in a field that is typically unionized. Keep in mind that if you are not in a unionized field, there may be other employment laws that favor the employer rather than the employee. Some states are generally known to favor employees, such as California. If you want to check a state's position before moving there, call the bar association of that state for information. Unless you have saved about a year's worth of your salary to live on, you may want to reconsider moving before securing a new job.

No state's labor and employment laws will affect you if you can't find work.

Quick Job Offer May Be Too Good To Be True

Q: I lived on the East Coast for almost 10 years, still maintain a home there, but have been working in California for two years now. I want to move back to my original home and started my job search to see what is available. To my surprise, I've received two offers. One would be a lateral move in both position and salary, which I declined. The other company offered a higher salary with title improvement, which I accepted. I have since learned some other details about the company and the position that I do not like, and I am hesitant to move. Is this just a case of cold feet, or are my concerns legitimate?

A: If you have only one minor concern, you may just be picky, but it sounds as if you were given much more information after accepting the job, which all should have been presented to you earlier. Make a list of priorities and see which position satisfies the majority of them. Also, don't minimize your hesitations about a company. A person's gut response is often worth more than the factual information. Consider the fact that the information was withheld in the interviewing process and not released until you accepted. A company can rescind a job offer, and you can rescind your acceptance and wait for a better offer.

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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