Dear J.T. & Dale: Two days ago, I was at a team meeting discussing a new client. The meeting ran long and I had an appointment after work, so I announced that I had to leave. I got a funny look from my boss and co-workers. The next day, everyone acted annoyed with me. My boss wouldn’t even look at me. I asked a co-worker what was up. (I’ve only been at the job two months.) She told me it’s an unwritten rule that you stay for the duration of a new-client meeting. I had never heard that from my boss, and I got kind of mad at first. But now I’m worried. Should I apologize to her? At the same time, shouldn’t the policy have been made clear? — David Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: My daughter is a server at a local bar and grill. She was put on a one-week suspension more than a month ago, and they still have not put her back on the schedule. She has called, gone in to the establishment and even contacted corporate. No one will give her a straight answer. Why don’t they just fire her? She can’t even claim unemployment while she looks for another job. — Hanna Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: My current position is micromanaged, and I work from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. In a meeting today, our boss stated we should have no time off, and should work more and harder. Is that legal? With a stressful and negative environment, is it really wrong to quit and hunt for a job, explaining to prospective employers why you resigned? — Georgia Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: Several weeks ago, I was let go from my job. My manager had become distant and reduced my workload to next to nothing. During one meeting, my manager offered examples of the wrong way to do things and used the name “John” (my name, and the only John in the department) in the examples. Coincidence or slander? — John Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I’m an RN who was recently terminated. The reason given was “communication” and that my “attitude has been bad for weeks.” I was sent home twice in the week I was terminated. I was instructed by HR to approach my boss to initiate a conversation. The talk was interrupted by a phone call, so I stepped out of the office. I waited, but eventually left. (It was the end of the day.) The next day, my boss waved my vacation request in my face and said, “You can have your vacation,” and then stated that my employment was being severed. I believe that I’m just a scapegoat because my boss had been given poor performance reviews. Any thoughts on what I could do would be appreciated. — Carol Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I worked for a company where the CEO was friends with most of the newer management. They’d meet at bars for cocktails and to socialize. The people not “in the loop” didn’t stand much of a chance. I was put in a new department and given a manager who ignored us. When I went in to see her after six months, she went nuts, screaming she was stressed. The next day I was terminated, and it was not up for discussion. Even though the economy is down, I have been actively looking for a job and feel confident I will succeed. My suggestion to upper-management people: Leave your friends and cocktails out of the mix. — Kristi Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: After 12 years of taking care of my own work, the bosses decided that I needed a leader. In all those years, I never had any problems — now I am yelled at and written up on a daily basis. Can you give me some words of wisdom? — Amanda Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: In 2007, I went to work for a small company. Things were going along fine till the owner said he was going to let me go. I asked why, and all he’d say was, “Just a lot of little things.” I later learned he hired a friend of his to replace me. When I applied for unemployment, I found out he indicated I was discharged for insubordination. I challenged it and won. But now I think he must be telling prospective employers that I was fired for insubordination because, despite having eight years in data management, I can’t get interviews. — Larry Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I can’t let go of what my former employer did to me. I was let go unfairly, and I’m so angry that I can’t move forward. I feel like the only way I’m going to feel better is if I get my old job back and get an apology from them — but that’s not going to happen. — Kathleen Read the rest of this entry »

Dear J.T. & Dale: I just got passed over for promotion. I was the most qualified, but the job went to a Hispanic woman. (Upper management has been pushing “diversity.”) The handwriting on the wall is saying go elsewhere, right? — Janine Read the rest of this entry »