Suspended after reporting harassment
I work in a facility that has many different departments operating independently of each other simultaneously. I manage a group of about 40 individuals. Right before Christmas, some of those individuals mentioned that our director said/did things that made them uncomfortable. Director is 2 levels of management above me, 3 above my team. On December 30, I reported this to HR (I work mostly at night, and HR works bankers hours and was closed through the holiday). On January 5, I was called in on my day off to give them more details/names, which i provided. On January 7, I was suspended for the duration of their investigation, because I took to long to report it. The individual being investigated is still actively working.
What are my next steps?
Jobadvisor
This situation is incredibly frustrating and, on the surface, appears highly irregular. It is deeply concerning that you—the whistleblower—have been sidelined while the subject of the complaint remains active.
In many jurisdictions, suspending a reporter for a "delay" in reporting—especially when that delay was caused by a holiday office closure—can be seen as a form of retaliation.
Here are the immediate steps you should consider taking to protect your career and your legal standing.
1. Document Everything Immediately
Since you are currently suspended, you may lose access to your work email or internal systems. While the details are fresh:
Create a Timeline: Write down every date and time (the initial reports from your team, the date HR closed for Christmas, your report on Dec 30, the Jan 5 meeting, and your suspension on Jan 7).
Save Evidence: If you have copies of the report you filed or the suspension notice, keep them in a safe place outside of your workplace.
Log the "Delay" Justification: Document exactly who told you that the suspension was due to a "delay" and what their reasoning was. Note that HR was closed during the period they are claiming you waited.
2. Review Your Employee Handbook
Look for the company’s specific policies on Reporting Harassment and Retaliation.
Does the policy mandate an "immediate" report?
Does it define "immediate" in a way that accounts for holiday closures?
Most importantly, check the Non-Retaliation Policy. Suspending a manager for fulfilling their duty to report harassment is a classic red flag for retaliation.
3. Communicate in Writing
If you haven’t already, send a formal email (from your personal account if necessary) to the HR representative who handled your suspension.
Clarify the timeline: Remind them that you reported the incident on the first available business day following the holiday closure.
Express concern: State clearly that you feel you are being penalized for coming forward and following protocol.
Ask for the status: Request a written copy of the suspension terms and the specific policy you allegedly violated.
4. Consult an Employment Attorney
This is perhaps the most critical step. Many employment lawyers offer a free initial consultation.
Retaliation Claims: In many regions, the law protects employees who report harassment in good faith. Being suspended while the accused remains on duty is often interpreted as a "pretext" to silence the reporter.
Hostile Work Environment: If your team sees you being punished for protecting them, it creates a chilling effect that an attorney can use to build a case.
5. Check Local Labor Laws
Depending on where you live, you may be able to file a complaint with a government agency (such as the EEOC in the United States or a provincial Labor Board in Canada). These agencies specifically look for "adverse actions" taken against employees after they engage in a "protected activity" (like reporting harassment).
Summary Table: Reporting vs. Reality
| The Accusation | The Context |
| "You took too long." | HR was closed for the holidays; you reported on the first business day. |
| "Suspension is for investigation." | Usually, the accused is suspended to protect the victims, not the manager who reported it. |
| "Following protocol." | Reporting harassment is a mandatory duty for managers; punishing it is often illegal retaliation. |
My employer, smaller workforce then normal for the size of the business, 80k sqf warehouse, 2 warehouse employees 2 drivers, 5 office employees. 9 total employees, 5 of which are family members.
The issue is, they have a rule where once you're 5 mins
late, you are docked 30 mins late.
Work starts at 9:00am, i arrive at 9:06am, it's marked down as i worked 7.5 hours. It seems the only upside to this is once you're 5 mins late you might as well just wait the extra 25 mins. Is this legal? Let alone legal in NJ?
Jobadvisor
To answer your question directly: No, this is generally not legal in New Jersey.
While employers are allowed to use "rounding" for timekeeping, the law is very specific about how it must be applied. Your employer’s policy—docking 30 minutes for being 5 minutes late—violates both federal (FLSA) and New Jersey state labor laws in a few key ways.
1. The "All Hours Worked" Rule
Under the New Jersey Wage Payment Law, you must be paid for all time actually worked.
If you arrive at 9:06 AM and immediately start working, but they don't start paying you until 9:30 AM, they have effectively stolen 24 minutes of your labor.
In New Jersey, recent enforcement shifts (and technology improvements) have moved toward requiring employers to pay for actual time worked to the minute.
2. Rounding Must Be Fair (The 7-Minute Rule)
Federal law allows rounding to the nearest 15-minute increment, but it must work both ways.
The Rule: If you are 1–7 minutes late, they can round down to the hour (9:00). If you are 8–14 minutes late, they round up to 9:15.
The Violation: Your employer is only rounding in their favor. Docking 30 minutes for a 5-minute delay is an arbitrary penalty, not a neutral rounding practice.
3. Disciplinary Action vs. Wage Theft
An employer can punish you for being late. They can write you up, suspend you, or even fire you. However, they cannot use your wages as a fine.
Legal Note: An employer cannot "fine" an employee by withholding pay for time the employee was actually present and working.
What are your next steps?
Keep Your Own Logs: Start a private "shadow" timesheet. Record exactly when you walk in and when you start working versus what appears on your pay stub.
The "30-Minute Rule" Trap: As you noted, if they aren't going to pay you until 9:30, you shouldn't be working until 9:30. However, be careful—if you sit in your car until 9:30, they can fire you for "insubordination" or "job abandonment" even if their pay policy is illegal.
Internal Inquiry: If you feel safe doing so, ask HR or your boss (in writing): "I noticed I was docked 30 minutes for being 6 minutes late on Tuesday. Since I was working during those 24 minutes, can you clarify why that time was unpaid?"
File a Wage Claim: You can file an anonymous complaint with the
New Jersey Department of Labor (NJDOL) . New Jersey has some of the strongest anti-retaliation laws in the country; if they fire you for complaining about unpaid wages, they could owe you triple damages.
What are some jobs/careers that pay well and are afternoon shift?
Hi everyone,
I have a really hard time waking up early for 9 to 5 work and I think it is starting to affect my health. I have booked a doctor’s appointment to discuss this. I am a CPA working as a senior accountant. I asked my employer for a later schedule like 10 to 6 but they said no. Over the past 5 years in office jobs I have been chronically late except for a part-time dishwasher job in my early 20s that started at 5:30 PM. I always enjoyed that job and was never late.
I want to find work that fits my body clock. Accounting office jobs all start too early so the only way to use my current skills is to start my own business, which I am considering, or work remotely in a time zone west of me. That would likely mean Asia and I do not speak the languages. Another option is accounting professor which I am considering as well.
If I cannot use accounting skills I would need a different career path. My constraints are that my wife is pregnant with a baby expected May 2026, I need to maintain income of about $85K and can drop to $70 to 75K at most, and I do not have time to go back to school right now. I am willing to wait until after maternity leave to make a change but I want to start researching paths now.
I am looking for advice from anyone who has had similar experiences or knows of careers that start later in the day and pay reasonably well.
Thanks in advance.
Jobadvisor
It is clear you are dealing with Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder (DSPD) or a similar circadian rhythm issue. For someone with your "body clock," a 9-to-5 isn't just an inconvenience; it’s a constant battle against your biology.
Since you are a CPA with a baby on the way, you need a high-income floor ($75k+) without the risk of starting a brand-new business immediately. Here are the most viable paths that fit an afternoon/evening schedule while leveraging your existing senior accounting skills.
1. Remote "West Coast" or "Pacific" Roles
This is the most direct way to keep your $85k+ salary. If you live on the East Coast or in the Midwest, a remote job based in California, Washington, or British Columbia naturally shifts your start time.
The Schedule: A 9:00 AM PST start is 12:00 PM EST.
The Strategy: Search specifically for "Remote Senior Accountant" or "Accounting Manager" roles at tech startups or mid-sized firms headquartered in San Francisco, Seattle, or Vancouver. These companies are generally more accustomed to asynchronous communication and flexible hours.
2. 2nd Shift Roles in Specialized Industries
While most corporate accounting is 9-to-5, 24/7 industries require financial oversight at all hours.
Healthcare/Hospital Systems: Large hospital networks have massive billing, compliance, and internal audit needs. They often have "Swing Shift" or "Second Shift" accounting supervisors to handle the volume of data flowing from 24/7 operations.
Manufacturing & Logistics: Plants that run three shifts often need a "Shift Controller" or "Cost Accountant" on-site during the second shift (typically 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM) to manage production reporting, inventory control, and labor variance analysis.
Target Salary: These roles often pay a shift differential (an extra 10–15%), which could easily keep you at your $85k target.
3. Adjunct or Clinical Accounting Professor
You mentioned this as an option. With a CPA and senior-level experience, you are highly qualified to teach at community colleges or as an "Instructional Practitioner" at four-year universities.
The Schedule: Most working adults take accounting classes in the evenings (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM) or on weekends.
The Reality: Full-time "teaching-only" roles (Clinical Professor) can pay $70k–$90k. However, these are competitive.
Next Step: Look for "Lecturer" or "Instructor" roles. You do not need a PhD for these, though a Master’s degree is often required.
4. Specialized Tax or Audit Representation
Tax season is the "early bird's" nightmare, but Tax Resolution and Audit Defense are different.
The Work: Representing clients before the IRS or state agencies.
The Schedule: Because you are dealing with individuals and small business owners, they often prefer meetings in the late afternoon or evening.
The Path: Look for firms like Intuit (TurboTax Live) or specialized tax law/CPA firms that offer "Extended Hours" to clients. Senior "Tax Experts" can earn $35–$55/hour with total compensation hitting your $80k goal if you work full-time hours.
Summary of Career Options
| Career Path | Estimated Pay | Shift Time | Skill Overlap |
| West Coast Remote | $90k - $120k | 12pm - 8pm EST | 100% (Senior Acct) |
| Manufacturing Controller | $85k - $105k | 3pm - 11pm | High (Cost/Audit) |
| Clinical Professor | $70k - $95k | Varies (Late) | High (Expertise) |
| Tax Resolution/Defense | $75k - $90k | 1pm - 9pm | High (Tax/CPA) |
Immediate Advice for the "In-Between"
Since you have a baby arriving in May, stability is key.
The Doctor’s Note: If your doctor diagnoses a circadian rhythm disorder, you may be eligible for Reasonable Accommodations under the ADA (in the US). This could legally compel your current employer to allow a 10:30 AM or 11:00 AM start time if it doesn't cause "undue hardship."
The "West Coast" Hunt: Start setting LinkedIn alerts for "Remote" + "Pacific Time Zone" today. This is the path of least resistance.
I always thought I wanted a boring desk job. But I've had enough.
Hello! I am 43 year-old woman in Texas and am feeling stuck and depressed with my working life.
I would love ideas on what I could pursue that will help me feel like a useful human being. I just want to go home feeling like I solved problems, got shit done, helped somebody and/or made a difference. I'm not looking to make a ton of money. I have a pretty no-frills lifestyle (and no kids), although I would love to be able to travel more.
I have a degree in drawing & painting, but realized that I can't/don't want to be an artist as a living. I fell out of love with traditional "Art" and haven't done it in a long time.
jobs I've had:
teacher (elementary and high school) - hated the super high stress level, not a kid person, really. I'm absolutely done with teaching kids.
cake decorator - liked the experience but can't be around the food, as I'm a formerly obese person
high school substitute teacher coordinator - was stressful, but in a good way as it involved problem-solving (we were often short on subs and I had to move teachers around to fill in gaps), the pay was horrible though
various front desk/admin jobs - this is where I currently am - I'm happy with the pay/benefits but am bored to tears 90% of the time. It's affecting my mental health. Also, it's pretty dead-end since it's a tiny company. This matters because I haven't gotten a COL raise or any other kind of raise in the 3 years I've been with this company. And honestly, I don't feel right asking for once since I do very little!
I have sold my miniature food jewelry on Etsy but am just not into the marketing side of things and honestly, the time I put into my creations is not worth what I'd have to charge for it to be profitable. I ended up closing my Etsy shop and giving away the rest of my small inventory.
The most fulfilled I have felt at a job was during a short stint as a teacher's assistant for a classroom with refugee kids - I had a small group of non-English-speaking kids to whom I basically taught the alphabet and the foundations for reading, as well as some basic English vocabulary. I marveled at how quickly they learned.
hobbies:
arts and crafts, miniatures, huge dog lover, vintage/50's stuff
Not good with:
being a people person/networking - I'm definitely on the introvert side
selling things/myself (in the business sense, obvs)
math/technology
bodily fluids
good with:
being organized and detail-oriented (I don't mind data entry, filing, spreadsheets, etc.)
artsy/crafty stuff (I have an "eye for design")
jobs I'm considering:
Teaching ESL to adults. I've reached out to organizations about becoming a volunteer tutor to see if it's something I enjoy (and then getting certification to do it as an actual job).
Going back to painting, specifically pet portraits, since I love dogs. The business aspect of this overwhelms me though and it would take A WHILE for this to be a pay-the-bills kind of thing.
Becoming a hairstylist (but there's the not-a-people-person thing and at my age, I don't know if my body can take being on my feet all day, every day).
An admin job that is more stimulating, maybe in a medical or higher education setting within a large system where I could move up the ranks. Alternatively, something like medical billing/coding or a technician of some kind in a hospital. These options seem quite boring, but would provide health insurance, most likely. The 3 previous options would likely not, which is scary.
I would appreciate any advice or ideas!
Jobadvisor
It sounds like you are a "quiet problem-solver"—someone who finds deep satisfaction in the tangible, structured work of helping others but is drained by high-volume social performance (like K-12 teaching) or complete stagnation (like your current job).
At 43, with a "no-frills" lifestyle and a love for details, you have a distinct advantage: you can prioritize job satisfaction and meaningful impact over climbing a traditional corporate ladder. Here are four paths that bridge your background in art/admin with your desire to feel "useful."
1. Adult ESL Instructor (Non-Profit or Community College)
You mentioned the "refugee kids" experience was your most fulfilling. Teaching adults is a night-and-day difference from K-12. Adult learners are there by choice, are highly motivated, and there is zero "classroom management" or behavioral stress.
The "Why": You get to see immediate, life-changing progress (helping someone pass a citizenship test or get a job).
Next Steps: Since you are in Texas, look for Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs. You often only need a Bachelor’s degree and a TESOL/CELTA certification (which can be done in a few months).
The Pay: Community colleges or non-profits usually pay $20–$30/hour. It may start as part-time, but many larger systems offer full-time roles with benefits.
2. Registrar or "Collections Assistant" (Museums/Archives)
Your art degree, eye for detail, and love for organization make you a perfect candidate for the "behind-the-scenes" of the art world.
The "Why": A Registrar doesn't paint; they solve puzzles. They coordinate the shipping of priceless artifacts, track insurance, and physically organize collections. It is quiet, detail-oriented work where you "get shit done" without having to be a "people person."
Next Steps: Look for "Museum Technician," "Registrar," or "Archive Assistant" roles at universities or local history museums in Texas.
The Pay: Typically $45k–$60k in larger Texas systems (like UT or the Museum of Fine Arts) with excellent state benefits.
3. Medical Coding & Billing
You mentioned this as a "boring" option, but for a detail-oriented introvert, it can be incredibly satisfying. You are essentially a translator—taking complex medical stories and turning them into precise codes.
The "Why": It is a constant stream of problems to solve (denied claims, incorrect codes). It helps the healthcare system function and ensures patients aren't overcharged.
The Work: It’s "spreadsheet work" but with a purpose. It is also one of the few fields where Remote Work is standard, which would allow you the freedom to travel while working from a laptop.
Next Steps: You need a certification (CPC or CCS). It takes about 6–9 months of study.
4. Veterinary Client Care Coordinator (Specialty/ER)
Since you love dogs and are good at admin/coordinating, look at Specialty Veterinary Clinics (Oncology, Cardiology, or Neurology for pets).
The "Why": General practice vet clinics are chaotic. Specialty clinics are more controlled. You’d be the one coordinating complex schedules for pets in need, helping owners navigate a stressful time, and ensuring the "puzzle" of the day’s surgeries fits together.
The Twist: It avoids the "bodily fluids" of being a tech but keeps you in an environment where you are helping animals and their people every day.
Comparison of Paths
| Path | Introvert Friendly? | "Useful" Factor | Benefits/Stability |
| Adult ESL | Yes (Small groups) | Extremely High | Moderate |
| Museum Registrar | Very High | High (Cultural) | High (State/Gov) |
| Medical Coding | Highest | Moderate | High (Remote potential) |
| Vet Specialty Admin | Moderate | High (Animal lovers) | Moderate |
A Small Suggestion for the Pet Portraits
Don't try to build a "business" yet. If you want to paint again, do it for the mental health boost first. Use your "eye for design" to create one or two portraits of your own dogs. If you decide to sell them later, use a platform like "Paint My Pet" sites that handle the marketing for you, so you can just focus on the craft.