Carrie Mason-Draffen

Carrie Mason-Draffen 2/14/12 Help Wanted: How to hunt down unpaid salary

How can I claim this money? About a year ago I discovered three payroll checks ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 2/7/12 Help Wanted: Delaying, not paying wages illegal

I work for a private company. We went without pay for about 10 weeks, and ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 1/31/12 Help Wanted: Jobless benefits, pay credits

DEAR CARRIE: After her standard maternity leave was up, a friend of mine asked her ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 1/24/12 False info in employee files can mean trouble

I work for a major airline that has just imposed a new work rule. If ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 1/16/12 If job ad says 'junior,' it's a pay hint

I saw ads for two “legal junior” secretaries on a job board recently, one requiring ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 1/10/12 Help Wanted: Getting pay for accrued vacation

Is it legal for the company essentially to put up roadblocks to employees using vacation ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 12/19/11 Help Wanted: Retiree may qualify for aid

Extenuating circumstances may allow for unemployment benefits. ... Read more »

Business 12/19/11 Executive Suite: Ernest Gonzalez

Many entrepreneurs dream of building a business successful enough to sell to a larger company. ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 12/13/11 Help Wanted: Social Security benefits explained

From time to time the Help Wanted column focuses on a single topic. Today's subject ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 12/6/11 Help Wanted: How can I find a work-at-home-job?

How do I find out about work-at-home jobs that I might be able to qualify ... Read more »

Business 12/5/11 Enforcing labor laws across Long Island

Irv Miljoner, head of the U.S. Department of Labor Long Island office, enforces federal labor ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 11/22/11 Help Wanted: No-pay 'layoff' may be legal

The legality depends on the employee's duties, not just whether the the employee is salaried. ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 11/15/11 Help Wanted: Pensions and jobless benefits

A county bus worker is being terminated. If he takes retirement at 55, can he ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 11/8/11 Help Wanted: Using sick pay on family leave

I need surgery and I thought I had the sick days to accommodate it and ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 11/1/11 Help Wanted: Spousal benefit strategy is allowable

Today Help Wanted  focuses on a single topic. The subject is Social Security benefits. ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 10/25/11 Time-sheet rigging is a real no-no

Is this legal? This operation pays workers for just seven hours a day even when ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 10/18/11 Help Wanted: Filing for job-related stress benefits

I have a high-stress job managing large-business accounts for my employer, and lately it has ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 10/11/11 Help Wanted: How to prove a workers' comp claim

A physician must determine if an illness is job-related. ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 10/4/11 Help Wanted: Privacy in the workplace

DEAR CARRIE: I work for a catering hall that requires us to wear name tags ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 9/27/11 Help Wanted: Curbing smoking at work

I feel my rights are being violated. I'm tired of others telling me what I ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 9/20/11 Help wanted: Should I testify for ex-employer?

I lost my administrative job that required me to issue disciplinary actions. An employee has ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 9/13/11 Help Wanted: Noncompete pact has limits

How long can one noncompete contract stay in effect, especially when the employee leaves and ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 8/30/11 Help Wanted: Can boss take my tips?

DEAR CARRIE: I work as a waiter in a restaurant. Before I left for work ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 8/23/11 Help wanted: New duties with no extra pay?

DEAR CARRIE: I work for a heating company that has about 30 full-time technicians who ... Read more »

Carrie Mason-Draffen 8/16/11 Help wanted: Forced into family health coverage

The company, without my approval, recently deducted money from my paycheck for a family plan, ... Read more »