Ask Amy: Clarify vacation time with caution

DEAR AMY:In fall 2008, I started a new job working part time. I received a letter of agreement stating that I would receive two weeks of vacation annually. Now my boss says she made a mistake and meant to write "one week" in the agreement. She says that in 2010 I should only receive one week off. While I understand that she cannot do this legally, as we have a contract, my concern is diplomacy. How can I best communicate with my boss - without creating a wedge between us - that our original agreement needs to stand? I love my job, have a good relationship with my boss and don't want to rock the boat during these economically challenging times.Seeking DiplomacyDEAR SEEKING: Unfortunately, in professional as well as personal dynamics, when a person makes a mistake that adversely affects someone else's life, the person who made it will sometimes proceed to penalize the innocent victim further to prove that the mistake was somehow justified.

Realistically, there may be no way for you to win redress from your boss.

You could be delicate and diplomatic, but your boss could still find a way to retaliate because no matter what you say, she will feel cornered.

If you choose to discuss this, you should start by asking a question: "Could you clarify for me what's going on with my vacation time?" If she repeats that she made a mistake and doesn't offer to rectify it, tell her that you shouldn't be penalized for it and ask if there is another solution.

Your boss' error could be a bigger problem for her than you realize. Her own boss - if she has one - won't be thrilled at this pesky contractual problem.

Either she will find a way to make this right - or she'll make the problem go away by trying to make you go away.

You should proactively look for another job - just in case.