How to deal with a non-disclosure agreement

Dear WW: Recently I got a recruiting call from a giant software company that I’d kill to work for. But they insist that I sign a nondisclosure agreement before they’ll even meet with me. What are the risks of signing? T0 SIGN OR NOT TO SIGN
Dear Sign:
These days nondisclosure agreements seem to be breeding faster [...]

How to deal with a non-compete

Dear WW: My department was part of a big company-wide layoff. They offered the standard severance package and then suddenly called me in and offered more money if I signed a non- compete agreement. My friends tell me that I should take the money and not worry, that I can still take a job with [...]

Why do I deal with Sarbanes-Oxley?

What’s your strategy for dealing with  Sarbanes-Oxley?
Your Rant: I’ve got a small company, and I’m struggling to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley. What a waste of time and money.
911 Repair:
Your e-mail reminded me of something I recently read. A Lake City, Mich., man called Emergency Services claiming that a neighbor had stabbed him in the chest. [...]

Ahhh! I have to build the privacy policy at work

What is your strategy for creating a privacy policy at work?
Your Rant: We’ve had a lot of questions recently about privacy in our company. I’ve decided to develop a policy, but I’m not sure where to start.
911 Repair:
With privacy polices, it’s usually the case that you spend your time looking at it from one [...]

ADA yeah! Provinding reasonable accomodation at work

What are your strategies for providing reasonable accommodation at work?
Your Rant: I’m hoping to hire a person who is blind but I’m afraid my boss will resist because he’ll think it will require costly changes to the office. I know the ADA requires workplaces to do certain things for handicapped people. Can you explain what’s [...]

Writing a reference for fired employee without a lawsuit

What are your strategies for writing a reference for an employee you fired (without getting sued)?
Your Rant: I just got a call for a reference concerning an employee I fired. My first inclination is to rip the guy apart, but I heard a story about a guy who got sued for libel by an ex-employee [...]

Duty calls and calls and calls. I’m “on-call” all the time.

What’s strategy for dealing with after-hours  or on-call office hours?
Your Rant: My company requires that I carry a beeper and be on-call most evenings. Shouldn’t I be paid for this time? 
911 Repair,
I think prison inmate Timothy Marshall can teach you a thing or two. He recently asked a judge to let him out of [...]

Not one of the boys, coping with harassment

What are your strategies for overcoming harassment at work?
Your Rant: I really like my job, but I can’t stand my boss. He’s always using vulgar language and making me the butt of his jokes during staff meetings.
911 Repair,
Your boss reminds me of the guy who recently tried to steal gas from a mobile home. [...]

Help-I was injured at work-what do I do?

What’s your strategy for dealing with a workplace injury?
Your Rant: I recently hurt my back at work. Some of my friends say I should file a Workers’ Comp claim, but I don’t know much about it and I’ve heard it’s almost impossible to collect anything
911 Repair
Last summer, the “in” place to eat in Paris was [...]

Baby steps, getting time off to have a child (FMLA)

What are your strategies for getting time off to have your baby?
Your Rant: I’m about to have a baby and want to take a few months off work. But my company won’t let me do that. They said I could either use my two weeks of vacation time or I could “quit” and then come [...]