You never write about people like me who cobble together a living performing different jobs like dog walking and tending bar while looking for a full-time job. Most of these involve cash income, and I barely make enough to make ends meet. Do I have to report the money from all these part-time jobs? I am also collecting unemployment.
Can we first talk about how annoying dog walkers in New York City are? I love animals and dogs, but the sidewalks of New York are hazardous enough with people traveling at different paces, looking at their phones, pushing strollers, stopping short without notice or meandering aimlessly and not staying in their lane. Then you come along with your dogs and leashes causing tripping hazards. As for your question, I admire the hard work and great work ethic — but the law says you have to report all income, whether it be a deposit to your bank or cash handed to you by your neighbor. If you are working part time and not looking for a job full time, that could impact the amount of unemployment that you are entitled to receive in any given week, too. Hey, I don’t make the laws. Don’t shoot the messenger.

I am an entry-level employee in an overtime-eligible position. I want to stay later so that I can learn more, but my employer won’t let me because if I work late, they have to pay me. Can I waive my right to receive overtime?
First of all, every company and manager reading this wants your résumé because that kind of work ethic is rare. While I admire it greatly, the employer is correct: The labor laws in New York prevent that. You can’t create an agreement with an employer to count eight hours a day as work time and then not be paid for extra hours, and an employer can’t announce that overtime will not be paid for unless authorized in advance, which would cancel all overtime pay to workers for hours that they actually work. So if you insist on staying late, they are letting you work and have to pay you. That said, if you ask them not to escort you out or pay you, and they want to take the risk that you won’t later come to them for back pay, it’s a chance they may take.

Gregory Giangrande has over 25 years of experience as a chief human resources executive. Email your career questions to gotogreg@nypost.com. Follow Greg on Twitter: @greggiangrande. His “Go to Greg” podcast series is available on iTunes.