Q. My boss smells like an ashtray and this makes it really hard for me to work. Even though our company has a policy forbidding smoking on the premises, it’s not enforced. People smoke in hallways and doorways and it’s almost unbearable when my boss is near me. I don’t feel as if I can say anything to him about this. What can I do?
A. I’m sorry your company doesn’t enforce its own policy and I also understand that you don’t want to challenge your boss: Smokers are very defensive. You might want to get a fan for your desk and keep it going all day long. And take frequent breaks–non-smoking, of course–during the day to get some fresh air.
Q. I recently put my resume on some Internet job boards and was contacted by an executive search consultant. I specifically told him he couldn’t get in touch with my current employer because I didn’t want anyone to know I was looking for a job. Soon thereafter, my supervisor called me into his office and said he had received an e-mail from a recruiter about a person looking for a job. Though my name wasn’t mentioned, my current job was described exactly–and now everyone knows I’m looking elsewhere. It’s the end of my career at the company, thanks to the recruiter. What can I do?
A. It’s not necessarily the end of your career: All ambitious people keep a hand in the current job market and you can explain you were just trying to keep up to date. But the recruiter has violated your confidence and has done you harm. It’s obvious he was just trying to drum up business–at your expense–and didn’t even bother to check with you first. You need to talk to an employment lawyer about this matter. Call your local affiliate of the American Bar Association for a reference.
Q. I may be changing jobs soon and wonder what recourse I have if my company doesn’t honor my two weeks’ notice. I’ve heard if you’re let go right away you don’t get paid for those two weeks.
A. The company can do what it wants, but most employers do pay for the two weeks after you give notice, even if they ask you to leave immediately.
Q. After two years at home, I want to return to work and I want that “ideal” job–you know, part time, using my skills and still having time during the week to spend with my baby daughter. Is it possible?
A. Since you last worked, things have changed drastically: While there is far more flexibility in hours, there also are very few “ideal” jobs . While it’s good to have ideals, don’t set yourself up for failure. I hope you find what you want but remember we’re in the midst of a job recession.
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Q. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place. The company I worked for eliminated my job as events planner and coordinator to save on costs and will use volunteers to do the job (we’ll see how long that lasts!). The market is tight right now and I’m willing to settle for less responsibility and even less pay but when I go on job interviews I’m told I would quickly get bored and leave. How can I respond or head off this assumption in my initial contact?
A. Employers say that because they don’t want to pay you what you’ve been making and figure you’ll be unhappy about it. You have to reassure them that you are willing to do anything, at any salary, will not get bored, will not leave and really want to work for the company. Once you get in and they see how good you are, you’ll move ahead. But first you have to get in.
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Carol Kleiman’s columns also appear in Sunday and Tuesday’s Business sections. She is the author of the newly published book, “Winning the Job Game: The New Rules for Finding and Keeping the Job You Want” (John Wiley & Sons, $16.95). E-mails can be sent to [email protected].