Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I got into this discuss this weekend with someone who does some HR-related issues at her job. Basically, there are so many privacy laws now that you are afraid to call around when someone doesn`t show up. (Her story had a really horrible ending.)

So ... how do you balance being a very small company and caring about your employees, vs. the laws regarding what you can and can`t do?

[I never thought this issue would come up for me so quickly ... until my nanny didn`t show up today. This girl runs like clockwork, and honestly she`s seen me in my pajamas so obviously she`s part of the family now. I broke a few rules and called her family to look for her, so now her family has joined me in looking for her - and we`re all quite worried.]

I`d love to discuss this, but I`m goofing off right now...

As an aside, being that your nanny has (a) not shown for work and (b) seen you in your pj`s, um, is the job still open?

I don`t think an employer would be breaking any laws at all in calling the employee`s direct number if they are absent from work. If it`s on their employment application, they`ve disclosed it, so I don`t see the privacy issue.

Now, if they are out having an affair with someone and telling their spouse they are at work, that could be a problem.

But ,I would never advocate affairs.

Nikole, please email me an example of you in your pj`s so I can further investigate the legal ramifications of this case. Thank you.

Well, her cell phone was not yielding results, and no one had seen her at her house ... so I called her mother, whose name was on her reference list.

And I`m serious ... I`m wondering if something happened to the poor girl.

I have had employees that I have had to fire for not showing up in the past, but none that just disappeared off the planet before.

Nikole,

I know you`re serious, and let`s hope she`s fine.

But really, isn`t it possible you simply drove the poor woman to drink all weekend and she`s just sobering up and dropped her cellphone in a vat of whiskey? Just saying...

I`m hoping she is ... I`m really hoping.

Ok, so let`s assume she`s ok. Can we get back to this pajama discussion now?

Well, all you have to do is drop your salary to part-time, $10-12 an hour ... and then you can come over when I`m walking around in my t-shirt and boxers too.

Back from vacation, and popped in on this discussion.  Love your answer Nikole!

Oh Crap!! I KNEW there was something I forgot! I was supposed to go to work again.....! Now that I think of it....I think I was supposed to show up every day? I`ll have to ask them, next time I see them.



Enh...but on the serious side, at least you`re asking around. If something bad happened, maybe everyone is assuming the Nanny is doing it. If she`s not, someone should at least be making inquiries. Hopefully nothing bad happened.

The bothersome part is "she works like clockwork." That`s worrisome.

Unfortunately, though, you`re a separate entity and a business. In fact, this type of situation is what got me into the difference between "depending" on someone versus "relying" on someone.

You have to rely on an employee. You can`t ever depend on someone. To depend means that if they fail to do something, your entire business goes down the drain. But to rely on someone means you expect them to honor a contract or promise. If they don`t, and as Isaac, our 12-yearold friend says, "Y`always gotta have a Plan B!"

Seriously, I hope she`s okay, I know you need her.  Let us know.

Yep Craig, so many times we need that  plan B, don`t we?