Employee Robbed, Forgotten
Q: I am a part-time front desk clerk at a hotel. Last month a man with a semiautomatic pistol robbed me while I was on duty alone. I did my best to keep both the holdup man and myself calm. Not knowing if you’re going to live or die is a horrendous experience. My manager, who was off at the time, was very supportive, but I never got a letter from upper management offering me counseling, days off, a thank you for taking the time to describe the man to the police, or even an apology.
The hotel had been robbed before and refuses to install a security system or hire guards. I plan on quitting, but I don’t want to drop the issue because I don’t want anyone else to have to experience what I did. What can I do?
A: Upper management probably won’t do a thing until you contact a lawyer, which is exactly what you should do. Security is a sensitive issue for a hotel because it is liable for what happens to its employees and guests regardless of the level of security it is providing. Hiring a lawyer will show you mean business, and putting pressure on the hotel to do something about it will be the best way to protect future employees who work there.
Foreign companies offer different benefits and work cultures
Q: My brother works for a Japanese-owned company. He told me he doesn’t get paid sick time, and if they miss a day they must bring a doctor’s note when they return - and even then it’s still up to the manager whether it will be an accepted excuse. I thought all companies offered paid sick days.
A: Company benefits are not mandated by law. Foreign-owned companies may offer benefits similar to what they offer in their own countries, but more their benefits are competitive with domestically owned companies so they can attract the best workers possible. In this employee-tight market, where good employees are hard to find, many companies are studying what others offer in order to stay competitive.
Japanese companies, even those situated in the United States, have a different work ethic and culture. Your brother will have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what he values most in an employer.
Leaving a company may be only road to advancement
Q: I am a clerical worker at a large financial firm, but I will soon receive an MBA degree. I was hoping to use this degree to move up in the company, but I think I have two disadvantages. First, I’m 40 and I’m sure that younger candidates will have an edge. Second, I had applied for two other jobs in the company, which I didn’t get. I have a sneaking suspicion that my boss didn’t recommend me, even though he said he would. Should I confront anyone about either of my suspicions? If my company won’t promote me, I’d rather leave than stay in my current job.
A: Don’t confront your boss about your suspicions. You may be bringing up negative thoughts that hadn’t occurred to him. Go ahead and apply for new positions in your company, but you may have a better chance for advancement by leaving. Obtaining a master’s degree may not be enough to convince others you’re capable of more responsibility. If your boss has pigeonholed you as clerical help, he may have difficulty changing that mental image. Or he may not want to lose you because good employees are hard to find.
Your attitude about age may be a greater deterrent than your age itself. At 40, you can offer maturity and an experience level far beyond Generation Xers. Believing in yourself is the key.