Q. The company I work for is going through financial difficulties and has stopped matching our 401(k) investments. But our employee handbook says they will match 50 cents for every dollar. They are revising the handbook to say they have the right to deny a match for the previous year. I’m worried about creating a fuss and getting fired, but how I can get the money due me?
A. Don’t worry about creating a fuss: Your employers sound as if they’re in deep trouble and you may be out of a job soon anyway. It seems to me you have a right to that money, as stated in the handbook, but don’t do or say anything until you talk to an employment lawyer about how to proceed.
Q. We’ve just hired a new assistant in our department, a talented and attractive young woman who seems to be quite naive. She is very friendly and outgoing, and I’m afraid that will backfire on her and have an adverse affect on her career: Immediately, the old office wolf began hitting on her–and she seems to be responding. I happen to know he’s married. Shall I tell her?
A. No. Unless she asks you, stay out of it. And don’t be naive: She may already know he’s married.
Q. I travel for my company and have to use my personal credit card. The company will not provide one. Reimbursement is supposed to be two weeks but often is as long as three months and I have to pay late fees. What can I do?
A. Companies continually institute new ways to save money, and what you describe is one that, unfortunately, is fairly common. I think it’s an outrageous requirement–asking workers to run up bills on their own personal credit cards in the employer’s behalf is an unfair policy.
I don’t think you can do much about it, however–certainly not alone. But you may want to get together a group of colleagues who feel the way you do and ask for a meeting with the financial wizards who instituted the policy.
Q. I’m an older worker, retired for many years, I generally did telephone work, consisting of switchboard and answering services. I’d like to go back to work on a part-time basis. I’m trying to teach myself to work on a computer, but I’m not very good at it yet. Is there a chance for me to re-enter the working world?
A. Age doesn’t matter. You’re a good communicator and that’s a very important requisite these days. However, the area you worked in has been on the decline for quite a while now, and you might want to explore other support-staff opportunities. Start out by working for a temporary employment agency–one that offers free computer training. From there, you should fly!
More Top Picks Garmin Venu 3
Q. What should I say when employers tell me–over the phone, in response to their ads–that the salary they’re offering is too low for me? Should I end it there? What do I say if the salary is not negotiable and is less, but not by much, than my bottom-line requirements?
A. First, I must say I’m impressed that you can get salary ranges out of hiring officers, especially over the phone. You must have great telephone skills! However, closing out an interview so quickly over salary is too hasty an act. Find out more about the job and if you really want it, bargain for the money you want. No matter what they say, there’s usually at least a 10 percent range that’s negotiable.
———-
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].