Employer buyout cuts pension

He has no pension from previous jobs. We have both paid into Social Security but know that’s not enough to live on in retirement.

We’ve also contributed to 401(k)s, but, again, the income is not guaranteed. My question is: Should he change jobs in search of a more lucrative pension? He is presently making a very good salary. Should we try to bankroll our own retirement even more? How would we go about doing this? Annuities? – C.F., Memphis, Tenn.

Dear C.F.: You pretty much answered your own question when you said he is presently making a good salary. At 52, he really doesn’t have enough time to make an adequate contribution to a pension plan. You mentioned you have 401(k)s and you say the income is not guaranteed. That is not altogether true. Upon retirement, you can change this to a self-directed individual retirement account, where if guaranteed income is your goal, that could be accomplished, albeit at some sacrifice of return.

You are going to have to fund your own retirement, which means saving more money and, no, I would not suggest annuities.

You didn’t mention if you were employed. If not, and you are employable, you most surely should consider contributing to the family.

Employer’s treatment isn’t kosher

Dear Bruce: Until recently, I was the office manger for a small wholesale bakery in New York state. They produce a line of organic and kosher products along with conventional ones, the same items in the different formats.

For quite a while, the owner of the company has been “fudging” the records, buying cheaper non-organic items and listing them as organic or buying nonkosher ingredients and listing them as kosher.

It was my job to see that all records were correct and that the records were done properly.

Then he would go to the computer, override the numbers and basically lie. This has been going on despite my constant complaints.

My son has severe food allergies, and I have to trust packaging. What if another factory mislabeled its food? My son could go into shock. I may not be a saint myself, but people pay three to four times extra for these organic products, and they are getting ripped off. People need to eat kosher for religious beliefs, and they are being lied to. When I complained, the owner said he was tired of me being a “Goody Two-shoes” and the falsifying of the records would continue as long as he wanted it to. He fired me. Until then, I had great performance reviews, with never a hint that anything was wrong.

My question: Should I seek out a lawyer for unfair termination? Also, am I covered under New York’s governmental whistle-blower law? I was just trying to be fair and do what is right, and I got fired for it. Please help me out. – Reader, via e-mail

Dear Reader: Your employer’s deeds are improper and illegal. While the kosher labeling is largely religious – although there are some folks who would rely on it for its purity – the other ingredients, as you well point out, could have serious health consequences for people with allergies.

While proving what you have alleged may be a bit difficult, by all means you would be well-served to talk to a labor attorney. What this guy is doing is improper. Whether it would be considered whistle-blowing, unless you went to the authorities, is yet another matter. That would be a matter for your attorney to advise. While everyone applauds what a whistle-blower does, relatively few employers are willing to hire them. Good luck!

Patent information becomes public

Dear Bruce: I have several ideas for new products. I’ve contacted two companies that advertise on television, but it seems they’re trying to get ideas to steal. It’s tough to get a patent without giving away your idea.

Many media outlets claim to be looking out for the public, but no one investigates these companies that promise to get your product patented and on the market. – D.M., via e-mail

Dear D.M.: I have talked about these companies for many years. Very rarely do they accomplish anything other than extracting money from you.

They are, at the very least, enthusiastic about what they can do, but their track records do not support that enthusiasm. I do not believe, however, they’re trying to steal ideas.

As to getting a patent, it’s not a big deal. You will have to trust the attorney, though, and when the patent is applied for, the information is essentially public. You can’t get a patent in secret.

Bruce Williams is a national radio talk show host and syndicated columnist. He can be reached at bruce@brucewilliams.com.