Q–I was fired from my job at an adult entertainment store on charges of sexually harassing my co-worker’s wife. I told the new store manager that “hello” was all I had ever said to her when she would drop off her husband at the store, but he continued to harass me about how I needed to admit to it. He then talked about it in front of customers, so I raised my voice to defend myself against his accusations. He reported me to the regional manager who said he could fire me. I had received an excellent evaluation by the previous manager, so I wonder what my options are.
A–You need to inform the regional manager about what really happened. Use your past evaluation from the previous manager to show what type of employee you are, and get in touch with the past manager, if possible. I understand your wanting to clear these accusations, but you might also re-evaluate wanting to work for such a company.
Q–I work for a company whose actions defy logic. A co-worker, who has always been disruptive, assaulted me in front of two other employees. I spoke to the manager and one of the company’s owners and had heard through another supervisor that the manager was going to fire him. Three weeks later, it seems he had changed his mind. Does this make sense?
A–No, it doesn’t. The company is legally responsible for its employees’ behavior, so it’s odd that no one took action. If any type of physical confrontation takes place again, you should file a police report and a formal written report to the owner. Also, depending on what damage is done, if any, you may want to consult an attorney.
Q–I am in my first job since graduating from college. I interviewed with the supervisor and was told I would report to her. When I started, though, she had me report to her co-worker/friend instead. This does not seem right. How do I resolve this predicament?
A–If you’re upset because the supervisor is shirking her responsibilities and handing you off to her co-worker/friend, don’t be. This is your first job after college, so you are not in a position to be a complainer or a prima donna. You shouldn’t care about who teaches you the job or who supervises you, as long as the person is competent and fair. Just be concerned with learning as much as you can in the position so you can advance in the future. If you focus on whether others are meeting their responsibilities, you will overlook the most important problem: your own performance.
Q–I’m 50 years old and have worked as a network administrator in the computer industry. I was laid off along with 35 percent of the company, and I am now competing with young computer geeks who know technology, but have no people experience. I try to keep up with the technology, but how do I use my age as a plus?
A–Your experience in management and in computers counts, but you must exude energy and confidence when you interview. If a company wants to skimp on salary, it will go for the younger applicant, so don’t worry about being refused by a club you never wanted to join. Also, networking is a must and, by age 50, you should have a great number of contacts to call.
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Problems on the job? Write to Lindsey Novak, At Work, Financial Department, 4th Floor, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611, or, via e-mail: AtWorkbyLN@aol.com. No phone calls, please.
Lindsey Novak appears on `Among Friends’ on WCFC-TV (Ch. 38) at 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. Thursday.
