My boss caught me taking a nap in my office and gave me a warning, saying that if I ever do that again he will fire me. I think that is an overreaction, since power naps are proven to help keep people alert and focused. Can he fire me for that?
Just curious how you got caught taking a nap in your office — do you snore? That gives literal meaning to “sleeping on the job.” Personally, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with grabbing a quick power nap occasionally if you need one — provided that you do so in the privacy of your office on your own time, like lunch (and that you don’t drool or snore). But to answer your question — if you are an employee “at will,” then your boss can fire you for any reason — or no reason at all, provided it isn’t for a legally protected reason like race, religion, age, etc. And for Pete’s sake, if you are going to grab a nap and have the luxury of an enclosed office, at least lock the door.
I’m graduating college in May and don’t yet have a job lined up. I want to take the summer off to travel, but my parents are pushing me to look for a job right away. They say given the job market and how long it may take to find a job, it will look bad to prospective employers if I’m out of work for a long time. What do you think?
If you can afford to take the summer off to travel, then go pack your bags and get out of town. Think about it — you may not have the opportunity to take three months off to travel the world until retirement 40-plus years from now! The job market is dynamic, and there isn’t one right moment to strike. And contrary to what your parents think, college grads taking time off to do some adventure is common. It’s actually viewed favorably by many employers, provided you are actually spending the time productively: gaining great experience and perspective, performing community service, etc. — and not just lying around the house or bumming on the beach. So don’t worry about timing the job market – and don’t worry about starting the search later. You will look back on this time and not regret the decision.