Q–I have worked for a company as a permanent part-time employee for three years — a schedule that accommodates my children’s school hours. A new boss increased our job duties to include customer service and increased the number of hours we must work. This female boss has no children and no sympathy for us. We think she is trying to push all the part-time workers out. Is there nothing we can do?
A–If you can show this new boss that the part-time employees are a benefit to the company, you may be able to persuade her to change her mind. Suggest that rather than increasing the part-time workers’ hours, which may drive away existing staff and add to turnover costs, she could hire more part-time people to cover the extra hours, which saves on employee burnout. Also she could arrange staggered hours so the customer service duties are always covered during office hours. You may also want to give the suggestions to your human resources department for the record. The company may already have compared the financial considerations of employing full-time rather than part-time workers, but it’s also possible that this woman is changing policies simply to assert her power.
Q–My company is being sold in the next six weeks. I have been asked to accept a reduced salary in hopes I will quit instead of the company having to fire me and pay severance or unemployment. Is there anything I can do?
A–You have no choice but to quietly accept the reduced salary or quit, which would not be smart. But you should also start a job search. You want to be ahead of the game in case the new management plans on eliminating your job. Your present company is concerned with the buyout, so you are not in a position to negotiate at any level — salary, position, severance package. Once the new management takes over, you may be able to show them your value to their company and then renegotiate your salary.
Q–I have had two recent interviews at different organizations. Both went well and I was encouraged by the interviewers that I would be hearing from them within a specified time period. I sent a thank-you letter to each company indicating my interest and availability. In each case, the time in which I was supposed to receive a response came and went. I telephoned each employer to reiterate my interest and ask about a time frame for a decision. Neither got back to me. Finally, I sent a letter to one to ask what happened — still no response. I traveled a fair distance for the interviews, and I find this behavior just incredible. If a potential employee were to behave this way, most employers would be appalled. Is this behavior some new business practice or has common courtesy been abandoned?
A–No, it is not a new practice. In this tight market where employers are crying out for good employees, the opposite is true. Companies have discovered that the way to attract good employees is to treat people — current and potential employees — with courtesy and respect. The fact that these two employers showed none may be a warning sign to you that you will not like their corporate culture.
———-
Write to Lindsey Novak, Jobs, Room 400, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 60611. Include your telephone number. E-mail her at
AtWorkbyLN@aol.com.
