Before You Start

A few plain words before you open the book.

This book is for education and information. It isn't legal or financial advice, and I'm not a lawyer. What I can give you is what I saw from the other side of the table, and a method for using it.

Most of the legal facts in this book are US federal rules. They may not apply where you live or work, and the law changes. If you've been fired, handed severance papers, or believe you're facing discrimination, retaliation or harassment, talk to an employment lawyer or your local labor authority before you act or sign anything. Deadlines can be short, so don't wait.

Nothing in this book promises you a job, a raise, a promotion or protection from a layoff. I can't promise that, and nobody honest can. What happens depends on your work, your employer and your circumstances. The method makes your work easier to see, and the decisions still belong to other people.

By reading this book and using its protocols, you accept responsibility for how you use them and for your own decisions at work. The author and publisher are not liable for outcomes resulting from the use of this material. You must be 18 or older to use the ebook.