Fired From Job So What’s My Next Steps

May 11, 2017

Dear Cathy:

I am a black male and I was fired from my job. I was fired from my job at a tire company in my city. I was texted by my manager and told this through a text and told to bring in my uniforms.

I did as asked and brought in my uniforms and 20 minutes after I left the job site, I was called private by a police officer and asked if I stated that I was going to shoot up the building. 

I’m a felon and the reason I was told I was fired is because I left without telling management when I’ve been told before that as long as we let someone know, i.e. the head technician or another employee, when we were leaving or going on break, it would be okay. I did so and this is the conclusion. I’m really pissed off this happened to me. What can I do? Fired, Georgia

Dear Fired:

First of all sorry about your dilemma. At this time you want to sit back and take a deep breath simply because when black men are fired from jobs, even when they are not felons, one of the tactics used in most workplaces is to have them arrested by telling the police that they are violent, even when they are not. 

Therefore, you need to really watch your next move. First of all, go to your local Department of Labor (www.DOL.gov) as soon as possible and file for unemployment benefits. If approved this will take at least 30 days so it’s important not to wait around to do this. Make sure you state your reason for being fired as "Wrongful Termination" and let them know you plan on filing a lawsuit and claim with EEOC.gov. This statement need to be on your paperwork at the unemployment office. 

Many states will pay you around $300 dollars for 20 to 26 weeks. However, the laws has changed in many places today and I am not up to date on the latest changes. It seems like they had it in for you and probably want to hire one of their relatives or friends to take your place so they had to get rid of you. Was it right - no? Was it legal - no. 

I don’t know any other circumstances about your job or how long you were there, but jobs especially in your state is definitely not on the side of employees. I think Georgia is a “Right To Work” state, which means employers have a right to fire you at will or any time, but that doesn’t mean you should not fight back. That’s up to you. 

You can contact the www.EEOC.gov office and lodge a complaint, which you should, while you seek out other employment, or get a lawyer or find a law student at a law library to help you with filing a complaint. However, since you left the job under those types of circumstances, I am sure you don’t want to go back to that job, but you could ask to go to another location, if they have one.

Go on google.com and put in the name of the company and then put in the words – racism, discrimination, black employees, and if you can prove that this company, purposely discriminates against black people, then this will help any type of potential lawsuit you might have down the line. If you can find other black employees that they have fired, at least 3 or 4, then you can file a class action lawsuit.

Most jobs are suppose to give you verbal or written warnings before termination, but again Georgia is a "Right To Work" state. They can actually fire you because they don’t like the way you look and this happens all the time. Is it legal – no, but they do it all the time.

It’s unfortunate but getting fired by text might even be legal in many workplaces today unless it violates existing company policy or a pre-existing employment contract.

Since you have been fired, now is the time to seriously look at your financial situation. You might need to move in with a friend or relative, until you gain gain other employment or start a business.

On the other hand getting fired can be a blessing in disguise, it's a chance for you to draw your benefits while you seek out potential business opportunities. Use your own skills, talents and passions to start a business. Starting a business is not rocket science and today many people are starting businesses around growing foods so check out these opportunities, but whatever you do it needs to be your passion.

I have two business books available as e-books and paperbacks at www.AngelsPress.com, "The New CEO: 185 Easy-To-Set Up Businesses for Youth and Adults" and "How To Take Control of Your Own Life: A Self-Help Guide to Starting Your Own Business (Series 2)."

If you would like to stay in the workplace in the future then you need to learn your rights in the workplace by reading my 3 workplace books “The Workplace Survival Guide: How To Fight Discrimination, Whistleblowing and the Workers’ Compensation System” and “Discrimination 101: The Complete Guide To Recognizing and Surviving Discrimination in the Workplace (Volume 1) and (Volume 2)." These 3 books are available as e-books only at www.AngelsPress.com.

Why Do Couples Struggle With Their Finances?

May 8, 2017

Dear Cathy:

Help me understand why this doesn't work. If two independent people get together and combine their income. Shouldn't they be able to take care of their bills and have plenty left over to spend? If so, then why do I see or hear about so many couples struggling. If that's the case. I can keep doing good by myself. And should I ask a potential mate for her credit report? Doing good, Texas

Dear Doing Good:

There are so many reasons couples struggles with their finances. I will give you 3 scenarios to answer your question.

Scenario 1: Someone is probably holding back funds (women) or they both want to control the money...They have to agree to disagree. That's how it works. Some women are afraid men will keep them from buying stuff that will make them feel pretty. This is how many women feel good about themselves today because they have stuff, however, feeling good about yourself starts with the foods you eat, especially eating good, clean, organic brain foods. It's not rocket science but many couples need to get on the same page.

Scenario 2: Many women are still old fashioned and still think that men should pay most of the bills. But today many women make more than men, so they will have to agree to disagree and get those bills paid. It’s a new world and many couples have to adapt to change, which will be hard for many because of their old-fashioned values. 

Scenario 3: Couples should sit down and look at everything if they plan on getting married, especially their finances, which includes credit reports. I look at my credit report every 2 weeks to see if I see good or bad changes. You can bring your credit score from a 500 to 750 in just 90 days. I know I did it and now I teach others in my workshops and consultations how to do it. 

So don’t let the fact that one of you have bad credit be a deterrent not to wed. The person that is better in math, just need to teach the other person how to handle finances, but this is easier said than done, especially if women are better at finances. Men don’t like it when women try to teach them anything.

Husband Blames Wife for Spending Too Much Online

April 19, 2019

Dear Cathy:

Many times I buy jewelry and a few clothes on websites like Groupon, where there is a large discount. However, my husband still thinks I spend too much online. How can I convince him this is how people shop today? Online Shopper, California

Dear Online Shopper:

Everyone purchases most of their belongings online today especially jewelry and other accessories, clothes, shoes, supplements and even food, however, you should make sure your husband view how much you are actually spending online.

No one really want to go out shopping if they can just buy the same exact things online and even at a cheaper prices. Show him the discounts that you are saving at websites like Groupons with the weekly and holiday discounts.

Also compare prices and take him to stores and show him how much these items cost in stores. Once he realizes you are actually saving money by shopping online, it will probably convince him this would be a good idea. However, try not to get carried away shopping online.

Need a Break So Should I Go on Vacation?

April 28, 2017

Dear Cathy:

Have you ever heard the phrase, I work hard for my money. Well my car repair for my air conditioner will be $2000, which will take a couple of months to save. I don’t want to buy another car because it’s runs really good and this is the only time I have had trouble with it.

However, I am debating whether to cancel an upcoming vacation that I have paid for on the beach or just use the funds for my car. I have been riding in my car for 2 years without an air conditioner so is this something that can wait, while I can go head and enjoy myself at the beach by renting a car? What do you think? Need A Break, Virginia

Dear Need a Break:

The fact that you have already been riding around in your car without an air conditioner for 2 years means you should be able to tough it out for a couple of more months.

Yes I would rent a car and still go on a vacation, especially since it is already planned and paid for. Sometimes in life we have to make hard choices, but at the same time you want to also treat yourself because again life is hard enough.

If you have any more trouble with your car, especially if you have a bill that high in the future, it might be time to get rid of the car, but if you feel comfortable for now just repairing the car and not getting a car note go ahead and enjoy your vacation.

However, if you feel you need to buy a car in the future just go to carmax.com and get a $200 car note for a car that is one or 2 years old. Again, sometimes you have to treat yourself so enjoy your vacation.

I Enjoy Writing and Is Ready to Volunteer

April 26, 2017

Dear Cathy:

I am an African American high school student. I like to write and have won several writing awards in my school. I am ready to start volunteering my services in the community. Do you have any suggestions? Writer, North Carolina

Dear Writer:
If you are a natural born writer and like to write, then there are tons of opportunities out there for you. First of all check with all the local newspapers, especially black mom and pop newspapers, in your city to see if you can volunteer to work with them.

Not just to write but to actively go on assignments with investigative reporters and others that you can learn from. This will be a chance for you to see all the ends and outs of how local newspapers work, in case this is an avenue you might want to pursue later on in life. You can also volunteer to deliver papers and help market the newspapers to other businesses and homes.

There are many other opportunities for students and others who like to write and volunteer. Volunteering at senior centers gives you a unique opportunity also. Many of the seniors you’d encounter today have been through the Great Depression, know what the world was like before texting and have experienced far more than we could ever imagine.

Sit down and talk to them. They’ll love it and you’ll leave with more knowledge than any history class could ever teach. You can also work with local writers, authors and publishers, and even use these seniors' stories to help them write books about their lives. The opportunities for writers today is endless, especially since they have taken cursive out of most schools and many students today aren't good at writing.

How Can I Put Myself Around Potential Mates?

April 25, 2017

Dear Cathy:

I am an African American female in early 30s. I live in a rural area in Arizona. I have a good job so I don't want to transfer to another area. In my area black men don’t date black women. They date only women of other races. What should I do to try to start a relationship with a black man? Relationship, Arizona

Dear Relationship:

Like everything else a good relationship won’t come easy, which means you have to work for it. You might need to broaden your horizons. So if the men in your area isn’t interested in dating black women, then make yourself available in other areas.

Start carpools or use megabuses to travel with others to other areas and cities to put yourself around other available men, especially cities and states bordering your city and state.

You can also travel and attend meetup.com groups, conferences and other events in other areas. If you’re traveling, try to interact more with locals or try traveling solo and give yourself a chance to delve into the local culture.

I doubt if there is a single day without some type of festival going on. Make your plans around well-known festivals or yearly events. Whether it’s food, music, history, art or something else entirely, find area festivals and go to them. The idea is to simply expose yourself to something new.

Also join online dating sites and apps and make yourself available to others. Dating today is different but if you truly want to find Mr. Right, he is out there but he is not just going to knock on your door.

You can also ask family and friends to fix you up on potential blind dates. Stepping out of your comfort zone is part of what it means to be well-rounded. Let your friends help you. Ask if you can try out some of their interests with them. You get to do it with your friends while experiencing something new.

Grab your friends and plan a restaurant tour. Skip all your usual haunts and try something new at least once a week. If possible, take a week’s vacation and plan to eat somewhere new every day. The new flavors will make you appreciate a wide variety of cuisines from all over the world and will help you meet others.

Also take a museum road trip and visit museums or historic landmarks. Odds are, you have quite a few of both within just a few hours of your home. Meanwhile live your life and do the things that you truly care about and love to do and have fun making yourself available.

Do I Need A Facebook Account or Website for My Gun Club Business?

April 22, 2017

Dear Cathy:

I am an African American male. I have a facebook.com personal page and a facebook page for my business, which is a gun club, but most people tell me I also need a website so what do you think? Website, Virginia

Dear Website:

If you have only a facebook.com page for your business, then expect to only attract clients and customers who visits facebook.com. However, with a website, you would have the option of attracting many other customers.

Many people don’t like facebook.com so they are not willing to go there to find your business, so you need to decide what type of clients you need to attract.

There are potentially millions of potential customers and clients out there, so you need to figure out your target market or target audience. First of all decide who your clients will be. Are they black, white, young, old, on the internet or in your community.

If you are trying to attract older African Americans or Baby Boomers, then chances are many won’t be on facebook.com or online, so it will be important to have your own website.

You should be fine giving online events and webinars, if you are attracting a younger crowd because most Millennials and Generation X’s are online and probably on facebook.com. However, if you ever plan on giving community seminars, workshops and training sessions, then you definitely need a website.

The bottomline is with a gun club, you probably need both a facebook.com page or group and a website because many families in these days and time, will probably be interested in your business, but again you need to look at your target market or target audience that you will be serving with your gun club and see where they are located -- online or in the community.