Tracey S. Bernstein, Esq

TAKE CREDIT FOR YOUR WORK

The perception of your value as an employee is just as critical, if not more, to keeping your job as your actual value.  You may be the best at what you do but it means nothing if no one knows about it or if you let your manager or other co-workers take credit for your […]

AN IDEA FOR HOLDING ONTO YOUR JOB IN THIS ECONOMY

It seems that holding onto your job is an all or nothing proposition these days.  But, it does not have to be. Many terminated employees would likely have taken a salary cut or reduced role than lose their jobs entirely.  However, most employees do not realize that these types of arrangements are potentially feasible.  To […]

STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO PROTECT YOUR JOB

The “At Will” doctrine leaves most employees with little or no job security.  However, there are a few things to keep in mind that might help keep you empoloyed.  First, the more valuable you make yourself to your employer the more difficult it will be to terminate your services.  Second, do not give your employer […]

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR JOB IS JEOPARDY

Many employees suffer from what I refer to as the “Ostrich Syndrome.”  That is, whenever a problem arises at work their first instinct is to bury their head in the sand and pretend like nothing is wrong.  The hope is that if they keep their head down long enough the problem will blow over. In […]

DON’T WAIT TO START LOOKING FOR A JOB

If you are unhappy at your job or sense that you might be let go do not wait to look for a job. Even if you like your job and feel secure in your position there is no harm in looking for another role. First, going on a few interviews will force you to keep […]

DON’T BE AFRAID TO LOOK FOR A NEW JOB

Employees often know, or had a sense that, their termination was coming.  However, most employees in this position do not start looking for work as soon as they felt their job was in jeopardy.  This is a mistake. Voluntarily seeking a change your job can be quite daunting.  Especially, if you are comfortable where you […]

DON’T GIVE YOUR EMPLOYER AN EXCUSE TO TERMINATE

In the current work environment, employers are always looking for an excuse to cut their most expensive budget item (i.e., payroll).  As a consequence, mundane acts such as showing up late to work, calling in sick and sending an occasional personal email are being used to justify terminations despite the lack of any complaint about […]

THE COMPANY COMPUTER IS NOT YOURS

Employees do not have a privacy right or property interest in their work computer or smartphones. As such, employees must be extremely careful about the information they store, the emails they send and the websites they visit while using their employers’ equipment. To avoid any risk to their job and career, employees should refrain from […]

CAREER SABATOUERS

As executives and employees are constantly vying for a limited number of positions, particularly the higher you sit on the executive pyramid, prudent executives and employees should be wary of those who would seek to undermine them.  In other words be wary of co-workers in your midst who will report on any little indiscretion, disparage […]