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Employment Today™


"EMPLOYEE CREATES OWN HOURS & TELLS BOSS TO "LIVE WITH IT"

Dear Kathryn:

My headache employee has escalated to migraine level with her designing the work hours around her desires. Ann-Marie has been taking off at least one day a week nearly every month for the past eight months. When I told her that's not allowable, she retorted she gets paid for only the hours worked so what difference does it make?! My answer is: I make her hours and I'm not tolerating it.

My issue: I suspect she's doing this just to get fired so she can collect unemployment. I've fought the unemployment board before and they always lean to the employee. It galls me to think this little witch will get unemployment and my rate will escalate. Any way I can get rid of her and not be stuck paying unemployment?

JACK T., Chicopee, MA

Dear Jack:

Boy, have you been tolerant! Regardless of an escalated unemployment rate, myself and hundreds of other employers would have booted this gal months ago.

Henry Zaccardi, Labor Specialist from Shipman & Goodwin says that you should put her feet to the fire and tell her that her if she doesn't report to work as scheduled, you will record her absence as an act of willful misconduct. A single act of documented willful misconduct should disqualify her from collecting unemployment as she directly disobeyed her employer.

While there's no predicting what the unemployment board will ultimately do, this is your best bet at this stage.

Dear Kathryn:

I've decided. Searching for a job on the Internet is a waste of time. There are thousands of web-sites and it's hours before I figure out which career websites I'm even interested in, and I haven't even submitted one resume. Before I permanently revert to the "old-fashioned" method of job-hunting, any advice?

FRANK F., Newington, CT

Dear Frank:

No question, searching the 50,000 plus employment-related sites can be a mind-boggling experience. Before you begin, determine` what features the site may offer that are important to you. For example:

-Are you looking for sites that offer a database which recruiters and companies scan?

-Is it important the site compare jobs posted on the site to your employment objective, notifying you privately when a match is made?

-Are you looking for help on writing your resume, negotiating a salary, or planning your job search?

My next suggestion is to only look for sites that specialize in your industry, field and location you want to work in. If it's job opportunities you're after, focus on just that. You can get peripherals, like resume writing and career counseling from other sites. The two books I like best on Internet job searching is The Guide to Internet Job Searching by Margaret Riley Dikel and WEDDLE's Job Seeker's Guide to Employment Web Site by Peter Weedle.

Last, don't ignore traditional methods. Remember, some of the best job opportunities only come through recruiters and extensive networking with the ultimate position actually being created for you by an impressed employer.

My advice: exercise every avenue of job-hunting!

Dear Kathryn:

I'm being scammed by my former employer and the labor department. I was laid off from a small public relations firm, where I was making 58k for the last two years. Lack of work and the company's financial instability prompted my layoff. I immediately applied for unemployment but was told I had to wait for the benefits to kick in as I had vacation and severance pay coming.

A few days before I would visit the unemployment offices again to reapply, I received a call from my former employer. He told me that they won some new accounts and wanted me back but could only afford to pay me 32k. I told him that I could not accept, as I couldn't live on that salary. When my unemployment hearing date arrived (my ex-employer was now disputing my unemployment comp claim as I had turned down his 32k offer), I called to postpone due to an interview I had scheduled.

Next I get a notice from unemployment compensation stating that due to my "no-show", my claim for benefits was denied. The unemployment board agreed with the local office and ruled that I wasn't eligible for unemployment comp!

How could I have been expected to go from 58k to 32k? I want to appeal the unemployment boards decision. What are my chances of winning?

Richard T., Stonington, CT

Dear Richard:

If I were a betting person, I'd say you'd win. Given I don't visit the casino's or play the ponies, (my luck is lousy), I checked with Atty. Clemow as to his best guess on your chances for a winning appeal to the unemployment board. He agrees that given the tremendous difference in your ex-employer's offer of rehire (a huge cut in pay!), and your obvious efforts at landing a new job, it looks good for your appeal. Plan on bringing detailed notes as to your jobhunting efforts to buttress your case. Good luck.