Q: We are a struggling mom and pop store. About a year ago, a customer asked about working for us and offered to volunteer because she was supportive of our mission. We told her that we couldn't have her work for us without paying her, so she applied for the job and asked that she be paid minimum wage. We agreed and hired her.
We also asked her to turn in time sheets, as we require. We mentioned it several times and asked her to get them to us ASAP. We never received them. My husband then sent her a registered letter telling her that we need the time sheets. Some days later, she came in and said she had received the letter. My husband replied, "So you'll be turning in the time sheets soon, then?" She smiled and said, "Yes, at my earliest convenience." That was two months ago. I know where she lives, and she clearly does not require the income from the job. I think she is trying to tell us that she isn't going to turn in the time sheets so we can't pay her. What are our liabilities if we stop pursuing her for time sheets?
A: Her actions are obvious, without knowing where she lives. She does not want your money. She shares your goals, wants to help you and your husband achieve those goals, and wants a fulfilling way to spend her time. You may not have prayed for a business angel, but you certainly got one. Relax and appreciate it.
Many businesses have interns working for them. Internships often are required of students in degree programs focused on certain industries and intended to give students real experience in their fields. Many of those internships are unpaid.
If you are worried she may fall and hurt herself at work, ask your lawyer whether your insurance would cover such an accident for employees and customers equally. Your concern over paying her shows you are a caring, responsible business owner, but your pursuit of time sheets seems a bit over-the-top.
Young Manager Outsmarts Experienced Thief
Q: I was hired as a restaurant manager when I was 19. The place had gone through several managers who could not make a profit. I inherited an adult assistant, who never took vacations. When I asked her why, she said it was because she loved her job so much.
I noticed the daily sales from the lunch crowd were at least $100 less than they should have been. I couldn't believe that though we were doing more business, we were always at least $100 short. I just didn't trust the assistant, so I made up a story that the company requires employees to take vacations so they won't burn out on the job. She believed me and took her vacation. As I expected, during her vacation, the sales matched the amount of business. I had the office check the register tapes and found numbers missing every day she had worked. She was pocketing that money daily. Of course, I fired her when she returned. But even though we had proof, the owner would not allow me to accuse her of stealing. I wanted to share this because at 19, I identified and caught a dishonest employee who had many more years of work experience than I.
A: Intelligence knows no age boundaries, and common sense is certainly not common. That older assistant fooled several managers before you, so it's likely that even though you were only 19, you were more intelligent than they were. College can help prepare people for specialized careers, but no formal course can teach what is known as "common sense" and "critical thinking" skills. You used critical thinking skills to solve the problem. Many people feel inadequate not having college degrees, but it is not the degree or one's age that enables an intelligent person to succeed.
What kind of workplace problems have made you think of quitting? Email Lindsey Novak at
LindseyNovak@yahoo.com with all your workplace questions. She answers all emails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at
www.creators.com.
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