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Benefits

Here are the questions filed under this category. To read Ken's advice on any item, click on the link "Read Ken's Answer."


Our company has a weird attendance policy that gives incentives to people who do not miss work. The problem is that people are coming to work sick and getting everyone else sick. We have mentioned this to management, but all they seem to care about is the low number of absentees. How can we get this policy changed?
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I went through a long discussion about pay and benefits with my manager, and I thought we reached an agreement. Just as I was at the door and about to leave, he suddenly remembered one little detail that cut my vacation by a week. I did not want to sit down again and start haggling, but now I'm thinking that he did this on purpose. Could that be?
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We have an excellent technical employee who wants to take a month off without pay so that he can teach a course. We are dismayed that he would be out this long, but if we don't let him do this, we are afraid that he will leave. Is there any way to change his mind?
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I've been with this company for almost a year, and now that summer is approaching I want to take my vacation. When I joined, I did not think that much about the amount of vacation time, but now I'm very annoyed that it's only one week. It seems too short. What do you think?
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Several of us with two weeks of vacation time are annoyed that a new person in our department is starting out with three weeks of vacation. We all have to work here for five years before we get the extra week of vacation. What can we do?
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Our company does not have any official educational reimbursement benefits, but I just found out that some new hires at my level have gotten "side deals" where the company pays for their classes. I did not know about this when I joined. I asked my manager and he said the company does not pay for employee education except in special situations. What can I do?
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Our company does not pay competitive salaries, and the benefits are below average for this area. To make up for this, we get inflated titles. People in top management think this is motivational, but just about everyone else thinks it's a joke. What's the point of this approach?
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One of my fellow employees comes to work when she is sick. Although she claims that she just has allergies, it is not long before I catch her so-called allergies and end up missing work. I don't want to catch her colds any more. What's the best way to deal with her?
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I have an employee who is performing well, but she complains constantly about our benefits. As a company, our pay is above average, and our benefits are average for this industry, and that’s all we can afford. This employee keeps saying that benefits were better at four of her previous jobs. How do I get her complaining to stop?
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My manager told me that if I expect to be promoted, I should take some supervisory classes. My complaint is that the company is not willing to pay for these classes, and I think it is kind of hypocritical to place this expectation on me. What do you think of this policy?
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