Leave – Page 2 – Ask the Workplace Doctors

How to Handle A Breach Of Contract

January 23, 2012January 23, 2012 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about overtime pay:

I work for a local authority as a support worker and in my contract of employment it states I shall be paid time and a half for working certain hours (weekends and unsociable hours after 8pm). I have not been paid anything except my basic rate. When I queried this I was informed that because I (and every single employee) did extra hours I forfeited my entitlement to the enhancements (this is NOT written in my (or anyone else’s contract). Also the service manager sent out an email to all managers requesting names of employees that had not signed the casual register (overtime). I would really appreciate your expert opinion on this matter.

How To Ask for a Raise?

November 17, 2011February 6, 2017 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about asking for a raise: I’m young (24) but feel very confident in my abilities and would like to approach the topic of a raise with my employers. (I also want to note that they are VERY difficult employers who are very tight with their money

I have been working for a company in sales administration and customer service for the past year. I’m young (24) but feel very confident in my abilities and would like to approach the topic of a raise with my employers. (I also want to note that they are VERY difficult employers who are very tight with their money even though they have a very successful business. A raise will be difficult to ask for as they are not easily approached.) My superior is leaving in 3 weeks and I will be automatically assuming many of her responsibilities. Although my employers have not discussed a title change or increase in responsibilities, I am currently working with my superior to learn additional tasks which will be my sole responsibility when she leaves.My employers have not approached me since my coworker gave her notice. I’m in an assistant position and now that she is leaving

My Boss Takes Days Off But Doesn’t Record Them

August 20, 2011August 20, 2011 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about cheating:

I work in a smaller company in the HR department. Two of us are in HR and we report to the CEO. My boss is the Director of HR. We have a system of requesting vacations days off through some software, however my boss continues to take vacation days without listing them. His “out of office” notice says he is on vacation and can’t respond to phone or emails, yet he is not populating his days off in the company software.

I am responsible for maintaining this database of vacation hours. So far he has taken a total of two weeks (10 days) of vacation without listing it. Yes, he does list other vacation days. I don’t know what to do since the only person I could possibly bring it up with is the CEO. The CEO and he are on very good terms with each other. If it is brought to his attention he will know only one person could have brought it up…me. I would rather speak to him directly, but then, of course, I don’t want to “challenge him”. I am thinking of calling our EAP to see if they have any ideas also.

Do I Have Any Recourse?

July 12, 2011July 12, 2011 Bill Gorden

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about reduction in hours:

I’ve been working at my current place of employment for more than two years. For over a year and a half I was working full-time (40 hours). At the beginning of this year, the owner/CFO told me that he would be reducing my hours down to 30 per week in June but that he would be completely flexible with my schedule (including working only 4 instead of 5 days to help with auto costs).

About a month before my hours were cut I spoke with the CFO again about my schedule and he again said he was fine with a M-Th workweek. About a week later he said he needed to cut my hours back to just 20 per week, but was fine with me working 3 days a week. After only a week of the new schedule, he got mad at me for an unrelated reason resulting from his own error, and proceeded to tell me that he needs me in the office 5 days a week between 8-12p.

Worried About Reactions To A Scheduling Error

June 13, 2011June 13, 2011 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about scheduling:

I work long hours (7 am to 10pm) so my schedule is set to “alternative days” in which I work one day and a second (senior) colleague works the other day. Every now and then I switch my days around with this colleague so I get a weekend off to go on a trip/visit etc. I did so a few months ago but my colleague did not remember and booked a hospital appointment. Now, I have to call head office for cover just a week before the time it is needed.

Hourly to Salaried Pay Status?

April 9, 2011April 9, 2011 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about hourly to salary:

When I was promoted from a collection specialist to a supervisor, they changed my pay from Hourly to Salary. If I decided to step back down to my original collection specialist position, will they change my pay back to hourly as well?

Signed, Wondering

Dear Wondering:

The decision about your pay status is up to your company or business, but in most companies the pay status is linked to the position not the person. So, if you become a collection specialist again you will go back to hourly pay. Check with HR about that–or ask your manager. Best wishes in your work decision!

Pressured To Work While Injured

September 24, 2010September 24, 2010 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about injury and medical leave:

My mother is on medical leave due to a broken wrist. She works in a nursing home putting charts and information into the computer and submitting to state.She is the only one who knows how to do her job, and her employers have been pressuring her to come to work even though she has doctor orders not to. The last time she was off work for health issues they convinced her to work most of the time anyway. Both times she isn’t even supposed to be driving. Are there any laws that prohibit employers from behaving this way? I’m looking for a way to put a stop to this.

Support Staff But Does Professional Work

May 25, 2010May 25, 2010 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about doing professional work but with support staff pay:

I have worked here for over 25 years. I am smart and I do a job that others in different departments do at this company and they are considered “professional” staff while I am considered “support” staff. However, my boss (whom I thought was going to bat for me) keeps getting told that others in other departments who do the same work I do (impossible to do exactly what I do) are not considered professional staff.

Told To Lower My Performance

May 10, 2010May 10, 2010 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about taking business from coworkers: My business has tripled, while the other colleagues are losing business to a trickle.

I work with a half dozen women in the same position as me. Our business comes from sales associates in our industry who choose us to complete their transactions for their clients via an hour long meeting in which we present legal docs for explanation,signature, etc. When someone is out for sick days, vacation, etc., that person’s clients are assigned to another colleague.

Is Retroactive Pay Required For Delayed Promotion?

April 15, 2010April 15, 2010 Tina Lewis Rowe

Question to Ask the Workplace Doctors about retroactive pay:

If you are finally getting promoted to a change of title and rate increase for a job you have been doing, does the law require employers to give retroactive pay back to when you began doing the work?

Signed, Finally Getting Paid

Dear Finally Getting Paid:

We don’t have access to the laws of each state regarding specific labor matters, so you may wish to contact the Department of Labor in your state. If the matter is particularly severe and involves a lot of money, you might want to consult an attorney who specializes in labor issues.