Additional Information: I have recently gone back to work after taking maternity leave. Before I went on leave, I created a new work schedule with my manager for when I returned, which included a day working from home every week. One week before I was to return to work, my manager emailed to say our VP did not approve the schedule and I needed to make a new one. Specifically, I could not work the day at home and needed to do all my hours in the office.

It is very common for staff to work from home at my organization, either as planned days home, unplanned (ex. sick days), bad weather days, etc, and this was why my manager and I included a day at home in my new schedule.

Now I am being told I can’t do this day at home each week, while other staff members continue to work from home, to the point where it is marked on their Outlook calendars. The underlying message is that I can’t do this because I have a baby, although no one has said that outright. Do I have any recourse here? I’m just looking for things to be equitable. [Read more...]

Additional Information: Back in August, my position as an Inside Sales rep for a Framingham MA company was eliminated.  I was moved over to the marketing department. I was never given a new title and did not sign any paperwork. I was told that I would not be receiving commissions anymore but that my new salary would compensate for the loss in commissions. I do not have this in writing however. Fast forward to today: I still have not received a new title, although I am supporting all the of senior management. I am paid out of the marketing payroll. My salary is what my base salary was when I was doing inside sales. My workplace is using me I feel. I am doing things that are required of top paid executives, but I am making less than I was. What are my rights and can I collect unemployment if I quit due to these circumstances? (i.e. reduced pay) Thanks. [Read more...]

Additional Information:

I work in the IT department of a school in the Greater Boston area (Wakefield to be exact). As part of my terms of employment, I have to sign a contract yearly. Part of this contract states that I must give a whopping 90 days notice if I plan to terminate my position.

My question is, how realistic is it to expect to abide by this particular rule? Can they do anything to me if I just give normal 2 weeks notice? Even if they can, is it common that they will? I would like to search for a new job but having to give 90 days notice will likely ruin any prospective job. After all, who is going to wait that long?

Basically, I’m trying to get a reasonable analysis on the risks that I take by only giving 2 weeks notice. Vague question probably, and I apologize for that. [Read more...]

ATTORNEY ANSWER:

The short answer to this question is yes, your employer can say whatever he or she likes about you and your work performance to a potential new employer who might call for a reference. As long as the information provided is true – and even, to a large degree, if it isn’t – the law won’t provide you any redress if the boss undermines your prospects for moving on. [Read more...]