What Would Bing Do?

Dear Stanley,

What are your thoughts on employment contracts? I’ve been with my company happily for several years on a salary. Now I am being asked to sign a contract and to switch to commission. It seems generous enough, although a bit less secure than the salary and bonus structure that I’m used to. But mostly, I’m wondering why the company suddenly wants everyone on commission and if there are ramifications to the employment contract (i.e., is it easier to let me go?). Help!

Signed,

Suddenly Insecure

(more…)

Dear Stanley,

I am almost 50 years old and have been told by headhunters that I am already too old. I have been a controller for 25 years and in the same position for the last 8 years. My boss recently told me that I am at the top of my game and does not think I should get a raise anymore. I don’t know where to look for a new job. The newspapers have nothing and the headhunters don’t want me. Help!

Signed,

Young at Heart

(more…)

Dear Stanley,

I had my review a few weeks ago and got a $2-per-hour raise. Today my boss came to my job site and told me he had “heard through the grapevine” that I was talking/bragging about my raise (which I did NOT do). He then took my raise away and won’t even tell me who accused me of this lie. (Although I believe it’s the husband of the woman who does payroll at my company, who would of course know how much my raise was.) Is this legal? Even if I did share that info, can you have your raise taken away on those grounds and possibly be fired for it?

Signed,

Abused

(more…)

Dear Stanley,

My boss recently asked me to manage three new grants at our small nonprofit. That means I saw the budgets, which say I should be making $13 per hour. In fact I’m making a little over $10 an hour, with no benefits, and I have a masters degree. (I’m in a state that has the worst unemployment rate in the nation, so everyone has this attitude that we just have to deal.)When I asked my boss about it, she said that line items often get moved around. I’ve worked at nonprofits before, and we always had to get line-item moves carefully approved by the funder. We didn’t just move them all around higgledy piggledy. I don’t think my boss is a bad person, but do you think HER boss might be screwing with the books here? And if so, should I jump ship?

REALLY Non-Profit

(more…)

Dear Stanley,

I’m one of the unfortunate folks who lost their mortgage underwriter job when my company closed. Any ideas on a possible transition to a new career and how to address it with prospective employers?

Moving On

(more…)

Dear Stanley,

I am currently in the second-round interview process for a new position at my company. I know that I am a strong candidate and in so many words the “offer” has already been made. My dilemma is that the hiring director already retrieved my current salary. When I receive the offer, what are my options for negotiating the best deal?

Ambitious but Nervous

(more…)

Dear Stanley,

I’m on the road this week, which used to be a good thing, but now I have a problem. My itinerary includes Phoenix, Los Angeles, Seattle and then back home to Chicago. In the old days, my trip would have been rationally planned. I would have stayed a night in each town, had dinner with business associates, or relaxed in my room. The room would not have been fancy, but it would have been comfortable. Now, with things being what they are, this trip is a nightmare. I take off at dawn and get to Phoenix in time for a late breakfast with clients. I fly to LA right away, in time for an early dinner, and then am on a flight to Seattle that night, where I stay in the smallest room in a stinky hotel, can’t have room service, can’t go over $25 for dinner, have breakfast with my client, and then fly right back to Chicago, where I’m expected in the office for the rest of the afternoon if I can make it! This really blows. Is there anything I can do to bring back the reasonable old days?

Exhausted

(more…)

Dear Stanley,

I work for a major financial company. There was a delay in processing paychecks, and while employees who were set up for direct deposit got paid, those of us that receive paper checks were delayed payment by five days. One employee needed his money right away and asked his supervisor what he should do. The supervisor suggested that he ask me for a loan until the paycheck arrived. I like my co-worker, but I felt that I was put in an awkward position being asked to lend him money. Should I confront my supervisor or just tell my co-worker I can’t lend him the money? It’s hard to say no when someone is in a desperate situation.

Tapped Out

(more…)

Dear Stanley,

I am a recent college grad with a BA in Marketing and a minor in Business Administration. I spent the last four and a half years going to college, and now it seems as though I will be spending the same amount of time looking for a career. Everyone wants experience, but no one is willing to give it to me. Not to be arrogant, but I genuinely believe that I am worth more than $28k per year. Have any suggestions?

Young Turk

(more…)