how do I tell our HR director she’s breaking the law? by Alison Green on September 16, 2019 A reader writes: Our HR director sent a message to everyone today saying that due to many people failing to take their required lunch breaks every day, they are instituting a policy by which your time will be deducted automatically if you do not take a lunch. This is illegal in our state, but I […] Read the full article →
my employee keeps groaning in pain — and won’t get medical treatment by Alison Green on August 26, 2019 A reader writes: One of my employees, “X,” has been having pains that I won’t specify for the sake of anonymity. Many months ago, X went to their doctor, who then referred them to a specialist. It turns out that the condition is degenerative but can be managed quite successfully through physical therapy and occasional […] Read the full article →
how to tell your employer that you’re bringing in a lawyer by Alison Green on August 15, 2019 If you’ve tried to resolve a labor law violation with your employer without success and are at the point where you’ve hired a lawyer who’s going to contact your employer to help advocate for you, you might wonder how to tell your employer that. Do you say nothing and let them be blindsided when the […] Read the full article →
my company won’t let me DJ on the weekends — and refuses to say why by Alison Green on August 13, 2019 A reader writes: My employer enforces a moonlighting policy whereby employees are required to obtain permission from an HR manager before they can work a second job. The policy does not specify what is permissible and what is not, only that the employer may deny concurrent employment if they deem it to be incompatible with […] Read the full article →
can you fire someone solely for being racist? by Alison Green on July 24, 2019 In an interesting juxtaposition with a letter from earlier today, a reader writes: I know you have answered a few variations over this, but I am hoping for a more clear answer in reference to my situation. Recently, my company hired someone that was extremely racist. He worked with me on his first day, where […] Read the full article →
my boss makes me wear her clothes, eat her food, and say I’m grateful for my job by Alison Green on June 25, 2019 A reader writes: I was hired about six months ago at a small business. I’m in my mid-20s and this my first professional job after completing grad school. It’s just me, the owner/director, and a part-time assistant. Because we’re such a small office, I spend a lot of time one-on-one with my boss. Sometimes she’s […] Read the full article →
what to do if you’re being paid less than a male coworker by Alison Green on March 26, 2019 If you’re a woman who suspects you’re being paid less than male coworkers for the same work, you don’t need to just stew quietly. You can raise the issue with your employer and insist that your company follow the law – which says that paying men and women differently for the same work performance is […] Read the full article →
the overtime pay law may finally change by Alison Green on March 11, 2019 Back in 2016, the federal government announced it was making major changes to who is eligible for overtime pay. Currently, if you earn less than $23,660, you must receive overtime pay (time and a half) for any hours over 40 that you work in a week. In 2016, the Department of Labor announced it was raising […] Read the full article →
some men in my office refuse to be alone with women by Alison Green on February 19, 2019 A reader writes: I work for a mid-sized private company that, while not a religious organization, does have “Christian values” as one of its organizational tenets, and has many Christian employees (of which I consider myself one, but more on the liberal progressive side). Generally, they treat employees well, have flexible workplace policies, and overall […] Read the full article →
my office is requiring us to disclose all medications we take by Alison Green on January 14, 2019 A reader writes: I work for a small office (around 20 people) with a director who has a tendency towards micromanagement and distrust of employees — think paranoia that people are constantly trying to get out of doing “enough” work. The director recently announced a new policy requiring employees to disclose prescription and over-the-counter drugs […] Read the full article →