Wage differences seem unfair

Q. I work for a company that has a fourth shift, which pays employees $6 an hour more Saturday and Sunday. But when we have mandatory overtime, we have to work Saturday and receive time and a half.

Why aren’t we entitled to the extra $6 an hour when we have to work Saturday? The fourth shift works overtime and gets time and a half also, so why are they entitled to more money to work Saturday, but we are not?

A. There may be more information that you haven’t submitted, but on the basis of what you’re saying, it seems to me that the company is paying you time and a half in situations where the law requires time and a half.

If it chooses to give different wages to different shifts (even though it may seem discriminatory), I don’t see any reason why it can’t be more generous to one group than another, but that is another matter for the law to take a look at. From what you told me, they’re paying you according to the law, which is what is required.

Q. I have been watching videos on Facebook encouraging people to invest a few hundred dollars in marijuana penny stocks. It is very intriguing, while at the same time seems shady. I read your column, and you said you wouldn’t recommend penny stocks. If I wanted to invest in marijuana stocks, how would I go about it?

A. I don’t know what videos you’ve been watching, but it sounds to me like they’re promoting penny stocks, and whether the penny stocks are marijuana or something else, they are best to be avoided. If you wish to invest in a marijuana stock, simply call your broker and tell him how much you want to invest and have him recommend medical stocks. There are many to choose from. It’s simple to do, but in my opinion, there are more intelligent ways to invest your money.

Q. Can you explain what the cash value of a life insurance policy means?

A. If you have term insurance, there is likely little or no cash value at any time, but it’s the cheapest insurance to purchase. Cash value or whole life insurance does, after a relatively modest period of time, start to develop a cash value.

Every year, a certain amount of cash value is added to the policy. In other words, there is a certain amount of cash value that is yours to draw upon in the event that you wish to. The value develops very slowly at the beginning, but as the policy has more money paid into it, the amount of cash value increases substantially.

Cash value insurance can be a better choice because of this activity. If you elect to buy whole life insurance, the cash value then becomes a significant factor.

Q. My mother has been very ill for the past year. She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I am considering putting her in hospice for the remainder of her time because she can be looked after while I work. Does hospice require payment for my mother to stay until she passes?

A. In almost every case, you can work out a partial or complete care plan for your mother with hospice folks in your area. Some hospice organizations require payment and some of them don’t. You’ll have to do some investigating, but I am sure you’ll be able to make the appropriate arrangements.

Send questions to bruce@brucewilliams.com. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

2017 United Feature Syndicate