Employee Feels Burdened by Details the Boss Ignores

Q. I work for a company that is very disorganized. Much of this is caused by my boss, who does not like to handle the little details. This causes a lot of stress for me because I always feel obligated to make sure everything gets done. Do you have any suggestions about how I can reduce the stress, or how to get my boss to pay more attention to details?

--W.K., Anaheim

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A. Since you don’t mention your position in the company, it is difficult to know if you are the one responsible for the little details your boss is neglecting.

If you are not responsible for them, you need to let your boss know that you are doing things that are not within the scope of your job. This may or may not help in getting your boss to pay attention to these details.

On the other hand, if handling the details your boss misses is part of your job requirements, you need to develop some strategies to help you deal with the stress that results. Perhaps you are overloaded with too many responsibilities. If this is the case, you need to discuss this with your boss.

You might also consider enrolling in a stress management course or workshop. Perhaps your company sponsors one. If not, you can usually find low-cost stress management programs at your local community college or adult education program.

--Ron Riggio, director

Kravis Leadership Institute

Claremont McKenna College

Legal Guidelines for Donations

Q. Are there any California codes, federal laws or legal decisions prohibiting employers from soliciting employees to contribute to organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin or religion? Is it legal for an employer to reward employees for contributing to discriminatory charities? Is it legal to penalize employees for not contributing?

--S.L., Inglewood

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A. It is a violation of California law to pressure or require employees to patronize the employer or any of the employer’s “causes.”

It is legal for an employer to reward employees for contributing to charities, even those that discriminate, as long as the employer doesn’t punish those who don’t contribute.

However, such biases could come back to haunt employers. If an employer fires an employee, even for a justifiable reason, the employee might file a lawsuit if he or she believes the termination was based also on the employee’s refusal to donate to discriminatory charities.

Both employers and employees should realize that just because a particular action may be legal, it’s not necessarily wise.

--Don D. Sessions, employee rights attorney

Mission Viejo

Liability at Employee Parking Lot

Q. My car was stolen from the secure employee parking lot at the company I work for part time. After a month, the car was recovered by police, and the damages amounted to $3,040. Is the company responsible for it?

--R.P., Los Angeles

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A. Unless you are required to drive to work and park your car in the company lot, or unless you need to have your car at work in order to perform your duties for your employer, your company is probably not responsible for the damages to your car.

In most circumstances, employee parking lots are made available as a convenience to employees and employers are not liable for any damages that occur to employee vehicles parked in them.

--Michael A. Hood, employment law attorney

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker

Training Can Add to Workday

Q. I have found that on many jobs, I am sent home at the end of the day with training materials or manuals. I feel this is an infringement on my personal time. Is it legal?

--L.M., Culver City

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A. If your employer is requiring you to study training materials on your own time--and the materials are directly related to your current job, you should be paid for the time you spend reading and studying these materials.

If you believe that you have not been paid all wages to which you are entitled, I recommend that you raise the issue with your employer and attempt to resolve the problem informally.

If you are unable or unwilling to do so, the office of the California labor commissioner, whose address and telephone number are in the phone book, will accept a claim for unpaid wages made by any employee who believes he or she has been undercompensated for services performed. The office will be able to help you determine whether you have a legitimate claim.

--Diane J. Crumpacker, employment law attorney

Fried, Bird & Crumpacker

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If you have a question about an on-the-job situation, please mail it to Shop Talk, Los Angeles Times, P.O. Box 2008, Costa Mesa, CA 92626; dictate it to (714) 966-7873; or e-mail it to shoptalk@latimes.com. Include your initials and hometown. The Shop Talk column is designed to answer questions of general interest. It should not be construed as legal advice.