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Q. My newspaper is eliminating staff through attrition. In doing so, my daily beat was eliminated and I was moved into writing and sometimes editing dysfunctional weekly sections of the newspaper. The spot I have now used to be two jobs, but now it's just me. The editor expects me to do her work in my spare time, when I'd rather spend that time writing real news stories.

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I'm paid by the hour, and I've been asked to come in on holidays and then fill out my time card as if I wasn't there and then take a "holiday" some other time, but my editor said "I don't know when you will be able to do that." And I'm one of the few people in the zoned sections who turns work in on time.

I don't even like editing, but for the time being I am stuck in the geographic place I am in. How can I tell my boss that if my future at the paper means working for her, I won't be there long?

Thanks,

Doing the Job of Three

A. I once worked at a restaurant where the owner asked me if I would like to be paid in cash. I would pay no taxes, so I would take more home. I knew he would not be paying taxes, either.

Joe Grimm

I declined.

So, he fired me.

By asking you to falsify your time sheet, your editor has crossed the last line.

Look for a new job. Since you can't move right now, look for work doing journalism in a medium you might not have considered before. Perhaps it is there in your town, or perhaps it is a medium outside of your town that could use a correspondent there.

You should plan to leave, anyway. The sooner the better.

The recruiter asks back: What about you? Have ethics ever forced you to consider leaving a job?

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Coming Thursday: The boss raves about this reporter's work -- but has cut a promised wage increase in half. The reporter wonders whether it is time to move on.

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