I worked for a cannabis shop that apparently was not licensed. It was promptly shut down without any notice, and my employer owes me for two weeks of pay. What can I do? Can I collect unemployment?
Good luck! Your chances of collecting back pay from an illegal proprietor is about as likely as New Yorkers refraining from firing up outdoors, ruining what little fresh air there is in the city. And whether or not you can collect unemployment depends on many factors.
Given it was an unlicensed business, the only way to know for sure is to try filing and see what they say, giving your circumstances, how you were paid, for how long, etc.
In the meantime, while I am sorry for you, I am not sorry for the rest of us — one less outlet to dispense the scourge on our city.
Note to tokers: Your olfactory assault on us while taking a stroll down the street or in the park is equal to the dog walkers who think their retractable leashes are meant for everyone to hopscotch over. Stop it.
I work remotely with the blessing of my employer. With the warm weather, I’ve been enjoying working from the park using my Wi-Fi hot spot. My employer thinks this is unprofessional and sends a bad message to everyone else working from home. Does my employer have the right to tell me which remote location is acceptable to them if I am getting my work done?
Yes. You can’t work from another state or country without your employer’s permission, because it may create legal and tax liability for the employer if they are not set up for that.
And while I assume the park from which you work is located in the same city, if your employer thinks it sends a bad message to have you appear on Zoom in a park setting, where there certainly can be distractions, they similarly have a right to prohibit that.
Perhaps work out a compromise — spend part of the day outdoors, perhaps when you don’t have to make calls. You could pretend that you have a big backyard and you really are at home — although that’s lying, and you could find yourself with more time in the park than you bargained for.
Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Hear Greg Wed. at 9:35 a.m. on iHeartRadio 710 WOR with Len Berman and Michael Riedel. Email: [email protected]. Follow: GoToGreg.com and on Twitter: @GregGiangrande