http://creators.com/ Creators Syndicate is an international syndication company that represents cartoonists and columnists of the highest caliber. en Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:16:03 -0700 adef2e68c1fb0435469ae914caba6581 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/prim-image-at-work-and-sexual-image-outside-collide.html Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I am a married 31-year-old secretary at a school. My female boss, the school's principal, has treated me differently ever since she saw my husband and me at the movies. Here is what happened: Outside of work, my husband asks me to go braless, which I do for him. I was wearing a fairly low-cut dress, and I am fairly well-endowed. My breasts bounce slightly, but they do not sag or flop. I thin ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Apr 17, 2008<br/><br/>]]> f9a84985918d861a6faf75e9f49a6d43 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/getting-back-in-the-game-after-having-kids.html Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I have some college experience in the accounting field, and I worked in accounting for seven years. I then took 12 years off to be a stay-at-home mom because I wanted to be with my children while they were young. I am ready to look for a job now, but I feel I will be overlooked because of the gap in employment. How do I explain the 12-year gap? During those years, I handled the bookkeeping f ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Apr 24, 2008<br/><br/>]]> ae6c234f34f7d9aadbd1d01fc2e31baf http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/when-one-workplace-mess-leads-to-another-bail-out.html Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: My boss and I were close friends until we had a falling out, which spilled over into work. We ended the friendship, and I looked for and found another job in the same department, but not directly under my former friend. She told me that during the transition, I would work for her on a limited basis until she was able to find my replacement. I did my best to meet her needs, but the new job wa ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu May 01, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 048ca4dc279d85c3339f4676eecbd250 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/recipe-for-success-prepare-before-opening-catering-business.html Thu, 08 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: My boyfriend wants to open his own small catering company. He has a positive and charismatic personality, so I know he will do well on the customer relations side. The problem is that he doesn't have a business or accounting background and doesn't quite know how to go about setting it up. He has a tight group of friends, who are willing to lend him money without any formal papers, so he does ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu May 08, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 1c4bf5bef78042d5fe6fa07cf5210bf8 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/negative-emotions-lead-to-unprofessional-behavior.html Thu, 15 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I have a horrid boss, who owns a medical company. She will not accept blame, even when she absolutely makes errors. She blames me instead and brags how she has been in the business for 20 years. I am new to the business, so she will stand right behind my chair and correct every error I make. I sit there cringing and want to tell her off so badly that I shake inside. She also insults everyone ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu May 15, 2008<br/><br/>]]> cb8b33b5773987f9d563b8b2962a2185 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/noncompete-agreements-understand-the-document-so-you-feel-secure-about-signing-it.html Thu, 22 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I am a marketing and executive assistant with a site development company. I agreed to sign a noncompete agreement on my hire and was asked to sign it again when I was let go. It required me not to share any of the company's marketing strategies and company procedures. I was let go because of the economic conditions. The company also got rid of four other administrative positions and 42 field ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu May 22, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 0290b88ddab0c9b18b39df4a4a3527f9 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/lack-of-confidence-holds-employee-in-same-job-for-10-years.html Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I've been in the same job for 10 years now. My family demands that I get a better-paying job, but I am scared of quitting and facing the interviewing process. What can I do?</p> <p>A: Your family wants to see you advance in your job, and after 10 years of doing the same work, it is worth a try. Before you force yourself to start a job search, consult a career coach at a community college. Ma ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu May 29, 2008<br/><br/>]]> f5237560b82c5f0e8de14c590cfe0d0e http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/hired-lawyer-no-longer-can-be-trusted.html Thu, 05 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I retained a bankruptcy/foreclosure attorney to represent me. She quoted me her rates and said they were set by the state. I later talked to her assistant regarding the remaining balance of my fee, and her assistant quoted me a lower rate than what the attorney had told me. I didn't tell her the two rate quotes were different, but now I am not sure that I can trust the attorney. She has atta ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jun 05, 2008<br/><br/>]]> c8e8962c19e5b5b5c82cff6c3dfd5d13 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/future-employee-wants-total-privacy-about-a-drug-she-takes.html Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I was asked to take a drug test before being hired, but I take a prescription drug that I don't want my employer to know about. What if I don't tell the testing company about it, but I end up testing positive?</p> <p>A: Drug testing is conducted by an approved drug-testing company that is hired by the company to which you are applying. The testing company will ask you what, if any, prescript ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jun 12, 2008<br/><br/>]]> a770c49710eba68f01b9ac97596a1816 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/career-changer-ignores-warning-signs-and-takes-first-job-offer.html Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I am a seasoned information technology management professional who went back to school to change my career to interior design. When I interviewed with one small design firm, I knew the office had serious problems. The designer I met with had stacks and stacks of papers all over the office, including the reception area. When I met with the owner, he talked about his 20 years as a fabulous des ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jun 19, 2008<br/><br/>]]> f260f11b917a35c5fa8f8294d24ed6ef http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/manager-deciding-whether-to-keep-negative-employee.html Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: As a manager, I oversee four satellite offices. My employees have flexible schedules and little supervision. One woman is very difficult. She made it clear in an e-mail to me that if she does not receive more hours, she will look for another job. Because of her e-mail, I posted an online ad looking for a replacement. She saw the ad and e-mailed my boss. She complained that I went behind her ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jun 26, 2008<br/><br/>]]> c4d30353a858cf6c47b055dd81836887 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/employers-and-employees-must-wake-up-to-the-facts-about-firings.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I have heard of instances in which people received e-mails telling them their jobs were being terminated. That is so insensitive it is beyond my imagination. I also hear about companies holding back money that is due. I understand when companies downsize when things get tight, but I also have heard people say they were laid off because they were older and highly paid, and the downsizing was ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jul 03, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 42dd51a54f002dea81aca3da4853192a http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/dealing-with-dishonest-and-unprofessional-boss-inspires-job-search.html Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I have been employed for four years as a superintendent secretary for a very small school district. When I was hired, there was no superintendent. The current secretary was retiring but was upset when I was hired instead of the person she wanted, so she trained me for a day and a half and left. Eventually, a part-time (only four hours a week) superintendent was hired. The principal was also ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jul 10, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 3b4e78b416cf367b173cfb9bc3a8e759 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/employee-hears-of-being-let-go-through-office-employee-not-bosses.html Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: My daughter has been a property manager of a large business park for more than 16 years. She heard from someone in the main office that the owners (to whom she directly reports and who have said nothing to her) have sold the property and she will be let go when the sale closes in a couple of months. Should she talk to the owners about this and ask for a severance package? If so, what sort of ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jul 17, 2008<br/><br/>]]> c2f51bd41594808a3819cbe407d3441c http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/disregard-for-loyalty-will-tarnish-reputation.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I've worked for my current employer for the past eight years as the controller. The company is under extreme financial strain and may not be able to overcome it. I would like to look for a new job, but people in the industry are close, and I do not want to let prospective employers know what is happening at my company. What should I say is my reason for leaving, and how do I keep my search c ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jul 24, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 2a347f770e895719b4a87270f3bc6fbe http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/too-quick-to-hire-means-trouble-for-all.html Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I'm an advertising sales rep. I dropped off my r&eacute;sum&eacute; to a company and filled out an application. The next day, I got a call to interview the day after that. The next day, I was hired. That all happened from Tuesday to Thursday, and I was asked to start that Friday. The company did not check my references or ask me about a home-based business that I ran for 40 years. I started ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Jul 31, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 7b4032f2b7b45bf7422485bd3fd86044 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/employee-goes-over-boss-s-head-for-9-minutes-of-pay.html Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I'm an hourly employee at a large health care provider. In checking my online time clock, I noticed that my manager had shortened the time I had checked out by nine minutes. While I realize it was a mere nine minutes, I also feel that I am here to work; I am not here as a hobby or for personal enjoyment. I had to stay because of an unexpected increase in work that had to be completed before ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Aug 07, 2008<br/><br/>]]> 5d5af2b7f7faab2523eafde47e663eb1 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/18-year-old-criminal-record-can-t-be-sealed.html Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I was married to a drug dealer and didn't know it, but the police thought otherwise. I was taken in and charged with 14 misdemeanors and one felony just so they could question me about my husband. The only charge that I was guilty of was the felony for possession of cocaine. All of that was 18 years ago, and I have been &quot;clean&quot; and sober since 1990.</p> <p>I have since worked at fo ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Aug 14, 2008<br/><br/>]]> d7d35c1b5664cd50231f710c13478da8 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/employees-want-to-keep-accidental-increase-in-paychecks.html Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: I work for a small, local company that was bought by a large, out-of-state company. Two months after the takeover, everyone received raises without any explanation. We assumed it was a cost-of-living adjustment because we hadn't had one in two or three years. A few weeks later, we were told that it was an accounting error and that we had to return it. Some thought it was illegal for the comp ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Aug 21, 2008<br/><br/>]]> b4f4efcfc2f253ff4aa86a3914bee8f4 http://creators.com/lifestylefeatures/at-work-lindsey-novak/vacation-rules-vary-state-to-state.html Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700 <p>Q: Our small company has our vacation policy in writing, but it seems general to me. One woman took a vacation and, despite the policy, was told she was not entitled to receive vacation pay. How do we know whether our employer is being fair or manipulating the policy to suit its own needs?</p> <p>A: According to A. Bruce Clarke, attorney and CEO of Capital Associated Industries (an organization ...<br> <br/>Updated: Thu Aug 28, 2008<br/><br/>]]>