Q–I am 77 years old and I retired after working 37 years for a father-and-son law firm. I came down with the flu and became listless and fatigued. I had to give my resignation notice by phone since I felt I could no longer make the trek to the city by public transportation. I had five weeks of unused vacation due me, but my boss offered me only three. I was stunned. There were days I came to work feeling lousy, but I made it in. After 37 years, no one gave me a gift, an invitation to lunch or even a card. Had I known all I know now, I would not have allowed this to happen.
A–You are helping many by sharing this regretful work experience. There were probably many tips during those 37 years to show you how stingy and uncaring your boss was, but your strong work ethic probably did not allow you to face it.
This is a good lesson for workers who want to avoid confrontation at all costs and think that being a good and loyal employee means allowing someone to use and abuse you.
Q–Our service institution employs about 50 people. At a staff meeting, our director announced that there are two state laws he disagreed with and hinted strongly that he does not want us to obey those laws. Not obeying them will mean that the public will be denied services mandated by law. I supervise only eight employees, but I have instructed them to refer the people to the director any time the denied services are requested. If the director is not available, I told them to go ahead and provide the mandated services. What do you suggest?
A–Your response to an awkward and illegal situation is to be admired, applauded and emulated. It’s exhilarating to know that there are ethical people like you in the work force.
It takes a person of great moral strength to do what’s right regardless of a possible threat to one’s position. Since 50 staff members heard this director’s instructions to deny mandated services, you could send an anonymous memo documenting his statements and send it to the official over this director.
Q–I was fired for theft, which I did not do, so I just left the company and started working for a temporary agency. When I decided to apply for a permanent position again, my former company told the potential employer that I was terminated for theft. When I called my former company, I was told the information did not come from the human resources department, but the HR person would not say who had done it. She called the potential employer to rectify the situation, but the damage was done. I can’t afford a lawyer. Can you help?
A–You can’t afford not to meet with a lawyer. First, no one who is falsely accused of theft and fired for it should simply walk away from the situation like a wounded puppy. Confrontation is unpleasant, but a reputation follows a person for years, and sometimes for a lifetime. Don’t ever think you can go on with your life when a bad situation remains unresolved.
Second, a company is responsible for the information any employee gives out regarding references; whether it came from the HR department or a past supervisor is irrelevant.
See an attorney to see what your options are regarding a possible lawsuit. Being accused of theft should not be taken lightly.
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Problems on the job? Write to Lindsey Novak, Jobs, Room 400, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611, or via e-mail: AtWorkbyLN@aol.com. No phone calls, please.
