Q. I was laid off from a startup software company. They said they couldn’t pay me the two weeks’ pay they owe me, even though they haven’t declared bankruptcy. I suggested that instead I should keep equipment they had bought for me because it’s worth close to what they owe me. I was upset when they accused me of theft and demanded I immediately return “their property.” What do you think?
A. My ethical sense tells me you can’t unilaterally decide what your payment should be, even though the company owes you money. Return the equipment immediately. But talk to an employment lawyer about getting what’s due you.
Q. I’ve been in the medical area for 25 years and want to change fields but still use my medical knowledge and experience in some way. Any suggestions?
A. Go to your local community college’s career guidance center and talk with a counselor. Ask for help in choosing a new profession–sales comes to mind–and in ascertaining your skills and job opportunities. It’ll also help you figure out what courses you’ll need to make the switch.
Q. In response to my resume, company reps call and try to interview me over the phone. I politely ask if we can meet in person. They decline. When I say I don’t feel comfortable discussing my job history over the phone, they hang up on me. I find this pre-screening appalling. What do you think?
A. The people “interviewing” you usually are outside agents for the employer and often aren’t skilled human resource professionals. Their job is to narrow the list of applicants as quickly as possible. And I agree: It’s appalling.
Q. I have found over the last 10 years that individual thought and initiative mean little in a work world that is market-driven. Substance has been replaced by appearance, slogans, flashy advertising and golf. How does someone like me, who is capable of independent and critical thought, fit in?
A. What you’re talking about is integrity and the old adage “This above all, to thine own self be true” applies to you as an employee. As you know, being true to your own, deeply embedded values is worth the price you have to pay for maintaining them–but it’s also wise to choose which battles to fight.
Q. After I gave two weeks’ notice but before I left my job, my new employer withdrew the job offer. My present employer would not let me withdraw my resignation. I think my new employer tried to check references and that’s what fouled things up. (My husband says his company has been known to reduce pay and the amount of work for employees if a potential employer asks for a reference–even before the employees give notice.) How can you stay employed without being harassed for job searching?
A. It’s not easy to protect your present job while seeking another one, but there are certain steps you can take: First of all, make sure you have in hand a written job offer before giving notice. Second, do not give permission to contact your employer for a reference until you have that written offer. Give names of trusted colleagues and former employers as your reference. And finally, keep your job search completely secret. Don’t tell anyone. Even your friends. And don’t conduct your search from your desk where everyone can hear you.
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Carol Kleiman’s column also appears in Sunday and Tuesday’s Business sections. Watch her Career Coach segments on CLTV. Send e-mail to [email protected].