Expert: Robin Sexton - 6/9/2008

Question
An employee of ours lives in Texas and works in La she is a single mon and works 4 miles across the boader. They told her that she can no longer work here because of the new law about working across the state line since she is on paroll. She is a single mother and has worked here for 2 years. As her employee she is a very excellent worker and her paroll is for not stopping to render aide. I donot understand why she has to quit and be unemployed when us taxs payers will half to support her for a new law. please email with any comments or who we can talk to to get this changed.

Answer
Beth,

I applaud your efforts to help your employee, thank you.  This sounds like bureaucracy run amok.  Good luck.  Here are the steps that I would suggest in order.

1) contact the parole officer and discuss the matter with them
2) contact the parole officers supervisor.
3) write a detailed and clear letter to the judge who set the sentence.
4) hate to say it but if all else fails, contact the local media maybe they will show an interest in the case.

Do not do any of these with out first discussing it with your employee.  This sounds like one of those "feel good" legislative acts that does not take into considerations how the law will be enforced and how will it affect a great many people, however it does garner votes

Good Luck

Robin