MAY 25 — It’s that time when most salaried workers are fearing for their jobs. Yet sometimes, even with bills to pay there are situations when it’s just too hard to stay.

Here are a few common conundrums wage earners often face that make them ask: Shouldn’t I just go already?

1. You’re suddenly forced to take unpaid leave

One cost cutting measure often used by companies is to lessen wages paid by forcing employees to go on unpaid leave. No, this is not the same as when you’ve accumulated too much leave and your employer says to use it or lose it.

If your employers are facing severe cash flow issues and are resorting to tactics like that, you can make a complaint to the Labour office. Not only is such an action in bad faith, it’s not legal. Better to shut down completely on some days than force unpaid leave. 

But if you’re still getting paid, just a lot less, should you stick around? Well, the writing is on the wall. An employer who can’t even have the decency to at least negotiate a temporary reduction of pay is probably one you don’t want to stay with. You could consider those days off as an opportunity to job search. And visit the Labour office.

2. You’ve found out your company’s rather shady

Perhaps you thought you were doing a nice simple admin job at a paper firm. Until you find out it’s actually a front for a timber smuggling ring. Do you keep quiet and pretend you don’t know anything?

Well, if you do stay you’ll have to prove your non-involvement. Are you willing to join your employers in jail if they get caught? Or are you going to be devious and demand a cut? I don’t advise the latter unless you’re willing to risk not showing up at work one day... because you’re dead.

3. You’re hoping you’ll get paid your late wages

I’m sorry but once your employer misses even a month, as I’ve mentioned before in a previous column, it’s breach of contract. Pure and simple. The likelihood you’ll get paid your backwages isn’t going to increase by staying. No money, no honey. Just make sure you make a complaint to the relevant authorities.

4. The economy is tough and you have no backup reserves

If you have no nest egg, are terrified you won’t get a job as good or better and have a lot of commitments, why yes, leaving voluntarily can be terrifying. But if it is costing you money to stay loyal, don’t think too hard on it.

If your job is safe but you’re just unhappy, just update the resume and your skills and dedicate a couple of hours a week to the job hunt. Job hunting is work in itself so yes, it can be firsthand time-consuming. But one or two hours a week is doable, even if you spread it out to 15 minutes a day.

In any case, don’t beat yourself up if you feel as though you’ve made bad decisions leading to your current unhappy state. Just remember that we are all struggling, and make sure you spare a little compassion for yourself.

As always, feel free to email me at erna@themalaymailonline.com. I wish you the very best.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.