| The following is an excerpt from my new book, | | | | workplace and in school, has created a generation of |
| "MORPHING INTO THE REAL WORLD - A | | | | "clock watchers," people more interested in counting |
| Handbook for Entering the Work Force" which is a | | | | the number of hours they spend at work as opposed |
| survival guide for young people as they transition into | | | | to the work they are to produce. Not long ago, I was |
| adult life. The book offers considerable advice | | | | visiting a client in Ohio where a young programmer |
| regarding how to manage our personal and | | | | bragged to me he had worked 14 hours that day. I |
| professional lives. As a part of this, I found it necessary | | | | asked him what he had produced during that time. |
| to discuss the legal ramifications of employment. | | | | After much hemming and hawing he admitted he |
| Do's and Don'ts in the Workpace (Part I) | | | | hadn't actually produced much of anything. I |
| Life is full of rules and regulations. The only reason we | | | | admonished him that he should be more concerned |
| write rules is to protect us from those who would | | | | about the volume of work he was producing as |
| break them. In past essays, I've discussed several | | | | opposed to the amount of time he spent producing it, |
| unwritten rules for acclimating into the corporate | | | | particularly since he was an exempt worker. |
| culture. Now we will focus on the formal written rules | | | | In every work day you will see people slowly getting |
| you will be dealing with in your professional life, along | | | | started for the day and ramping down towards the |
| with commentary on how to deal with them. | | | | end. Being a baseball fan, I would often use the |
| RULE #1 - GET EVERYTHING IN WRITING. Like it or | | | | analogy that the work day was like a professional |
| not, we now live in a litigious society where lawsuits | | | | baseball game, particularly for exempt workers. First, |
| are issued at the drop of a hat. When you first join a | | | | the players do not show up at game time, they are |
| new company you will likely be inundated with | | | | usually at the ballpark earlier to warm up and take |
| documentation requiring your signature. Be sure to | | | | batting practice. And second, they give it their all |
| review the terms and conditions carefully before | | | | throughout the game until the last out is made. In other |
| signing anything and make sure you retain a copy of all | | | | words, if you are a slow starter for the day, try to get |
| documentation for your personal files at home. If you | | | | to work a little earlier so you are awake by the start |
| have any questions, ask for clarification. Some of it will | | | | of the business day, and; give it your all until the close |
| only apply to your term of employment, others may | | | | of the business day. After all, isn't this what you are |
| follow you for quite some time thereafter (sometimes | | | | being paid for? |
| in perpetuity). Some of the documentation will pertain | | | | Personal Time, Sick Days, Vacations and Holidays |
| to government regulations, such as for income taxes | | | | During the work day you will be entitled to take some |
| and social security, some will relate to benefit | | | | breaks to refresh yourself. Such breaks are invaluable |
| programs, such as your health care providers, and | | | | for clearing your head and refocusing on your job. Of |
| some relates specifically to your employer. Most will | | | | course there will be those "time wasters" who will |
| use standard legal language. Regardless, read | | | | abuse this privilege and take more breaks than normal. |
| everything carefully and, when in doubt, seek suitable | | | | This type of person is putting his personal interests |
| legal advice. | | | | ahead of everyone else's. In other words, he is not a |
| Employment | | | | team player. Be leary of such people as management |
| As a new employee, you must be cognizant of your | | | | will inevitably weed them out. |
| employment status which is defined for government | | | | You should not have any problems taking a break if |
| reporting purposes. There are two types of | | | | you have developed a reputation for delivering on |
| employment status: | | | | assignments and have developed a trust with your |
| EXEMPT - This represents professional workers who | | | | boss. |
| are paid a salary as opposed to an hourly wage | | | | In terms of sick days, you will be entitled to take a |
| (typically compensated on a monthly basis). The term | | | | certain number, but understand this: they are for illness, |
| "exempt" means the worker is exempt from certain | | | | not for vacations or hangovers. Nothing raises |
| wage and hour laws. For example, exempt workers | | | | suspicions with management more than excessive use |
| may work many hours and are not paid overtime. | | | | of sick days. Some companies even mandate that if |
| NON-EXEMPT - The opposite of exempt. This is | | | | you are sick, you give some form of evidence to that |
| normally administrative workers or laborers who are | | | | effect, e.g., a doctor's note. |
| paid an hourly wage and subject to certain wage and | | | | You will also be entitled to take a certain number of |
| hour laws. For example, they are limited in terms of the | | | | vacation days during the year. Check with company |
| number of hours they may work (such as 40), are | | | | policy to see if they must be taken as contiguous days |
| paid a special rate for overtime (extra hours), and may | | | | or randomly, such as on a Friday now and then. |
| be entitled to specific breaks during the work day. | | | | Perhaps the hardest part in terms of taking a vacation |
| Punctuality | | | | is scheduling them. It is not uncommon to have to |
| Regardless of your employment status, there will be | | | | request your vacation many months in advance. |
| defined working hours you will have to observe. The | | | | Because of the need to keep your department |
| only difference is that non-exempt workers must | | | | operational, a manager does not want to strip the staff |
| watch the number of hours they work more closely | | | | down to a point where it cannot adequately service its |
| than exempt workers which is inconsequential. | | | | customers. Consequently, vacation schedules must be |
| Non-exempt employees can be docked for pay if | | | | arranged in advance. Further, vacation schedules may |
| they are late to work or leave early. | | | | be based on seniority. This means you, as the Newbie, |
| Most employees will follow a fixed schedule of | | | | are often the last one to schedule a vacation. |
| working hours, such as 9:00am to 5:00pm. However, | | | | In terms of holidays, you will be entitled to standard |
| some companies make use of "Flex Time" for exempt | | | | days, e.g., New Year's Day, Memorial Day, |
| employees. This is a time management program that | | | | Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, |
| allows employees to keep more flexible hours than a | | | | Christmas. However, your company may also observe |
| fixed schedule. They may come in early one day (and | | | | other days, such as Armed Forces Day, Veterans |
| leave early), and late another (and leave later). This | | | | Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, |
| allows employees to make personal appointments | | | | Chanukah, etc. Consult management for all of the |
| either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. | | | | holidays you are entitled to. |
| Regardless, they are still expected to work a certain | | | | Next week in Part II I'll describe such things as |
| number of hours during the day and week. | | | | Moonlighting, Discussing Salaries, Job Titles, and |
| The amount of time allowed for lunch varies from | | | | Employment Contracts. |
| company to company; most allow 30-45 minutes for | | | | If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, |
| lunch. | | | | please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail. |
| This emphasis on starting/stopping times, both in the | | | | |