Passionately Fighting For You
When companies are in financial trouble, the Sirens sing loudly, Enron is the most recent dramatic example. In the old days, if your company was struggling, you generally knew about it and could factor that in your planning. Today, with New Age Accounting, your previously seemingly huge and secure employer can close the door tomorrow and file for bankruptcy. Pensions…
Sirens also like start-up companies. Because the owners of start-up companies often don’t have the ability to compensate their employees fairly, they give promises instead. In new businesses, owners frequently tell almost every employee, that they are “key” and that they will be able to share in future profits when the company is successful. These promises are made to ensure…
Non-competition agreements can be part of an employment relationship when an employer wishes to protect certain business interests, like trade secrets. Also known as a non-compete agreement or a covenant not to compete a non-competition agreement can be a term of an employment contract, or it can exist as a stand-alone contract. While the details of these agreements vary widely, Colorado…
Recruiters naturally tend to be Sirens. Companies are eager to get the best help they can. In this process, there is a natural tendency to downplay corporate problems and to over-state the benefits of employment. Where companies are not particularly ethical puffing or effusive opinions can turn into misrepresentation. If you are recruited based on a misrepresentation, you may have…
Suggestions for Using Documents to Increase Your Rights Get A Written Employment Agreement if At All PossibleThere is no substitution for rights guaranteed by a written contract. If a promise is really important to you and your employer really wants to hire you, they should be willing to make the promise part of an enforceable employment agreement. Avoid or Renegotiate…
Written complaints of discrimination or corporate misconduct can have great power. If you are going to complain to your employer about something illegal such as sex or race discrimination, safety violations or other illegal conduct, you should make your COMPLAINT IN WRITING because the writing gives evidence that helps protect you from any subsequent retaliation by your employer. You may…
The Sirens are almost always at work when the management of your company is in transition. When companies are in the process of being sold and the management and control of companies is being negotiated, false promises to employees are common. Companies in the negotiation process tend to be very nervous about employees abandoning ship because, generally, the company’s value…
Sirens prey on employees who are in line to receive exceptionally large commission income. If your company or manager is greedy, they may try to take your commission away from you if they can get away with it. This is likely to occur where: There is an exceptionally large, record-breaking sale that was not anticipated by management; Where management discriminates…