Problems with work

[krista28]

Okay so I am working for a company that isn't doing too well. They have made some poor decisions in the past and the owner has been lazy and let the company fall into debt. My boss emails me on the weekends and expects me to work for free.. and then threatens to cut my hours. I explained to her that I have rent and have been working for the company and have hung in there through tough times for years... but they seem to have no respect for me, and instead of cutting the personal expenses they are putting through the company they are cutting payroll.

 

I do their accounting all of their book keeping as well as work in one of their offices. I am so frustrated beyond belief. This woman just takes and takes, and the VP operations wont take a pay cut, only us staff have to. I dont under stand why this is happening to me. Its not fair and there isnt much in the way of job opportunites in my area ( I am making $18.50 per hour at my job) although my job does require a lot of expertise as I am looking through medical records and doing complicated tasks. Has anyone been in a similar situation? I am so frustrated...

[jen1447]

Okay so I am working for a company that isn't doing too well. They have made some poor decisions in the past and the owner has been lazy and let the company fall into debt. My boss emails me on the weekends and expects me to work for free.. and then threatens to cut my hours. I explained to her that I have rent and have been working for the company and have hung in there through tough times for years... but they seem to have no respect for me, and instead of cutting the personal expenses they are putting through the company they are cutting payroll.

 

I do their accounting all of their book keeping as well as work in one of their offices. I am so frustrated beyond belief. This woman just takes and takes, and the VP operations wont take a pay cut, only us staff have to. I dont under stand why this is happening to me. Its not fair and there isnt much in the way of job opportunites in my area ( I am making $18.50 per hour at my job) although my job does require a lot of expertise as I am looking through medical records and doing complicated tasks. Has anyone been in a similar situation? I am so frustrated...

 

You're an hourly employee so you should be getting paid for every hour you work, including on weekends. Is your boss trying to say that you have to 'volunteer' this weekend work?

[krista28]

Yep she takes and takes and takes

[pink_sugar]

My advice? Do not take any of this "volunteer work". You have a right to say you have other obligations on your off days. If you do decide to go in and do work for them, document every bit of it in case payday comes and they don't pay you. Then you can take this up with the labor board. Before it gets to that though, I would definitely brush off your resume and start looking elsewhere.

[jen1447]

Yep she takes and takes and takes

 

Ok well ....you know you don't have to do that right?

[krista28]

I know its top bad.

[Maggie4]

Well, you know there's a reason the company is not doing well - poor management. How they treat you is just another example. You need to look for greener pastures.

[katiegrl]

My advice? Do not take any of this "volunteer work". You have a right to say you have other obligations on your off days. If you do decide to go in and do work for them, document every bit of it in case payday comes and they don't pay you.

 

 

*** Then you can take this up with the labor board.***

 

Before it gets to that though, I would definitely brush off your resume and start looking elsewhere.

 

Agree with this. They are breaking all sorts of labor laws here, the most egregious one being NOT paying you for all your hours worked.

 

Do you punch in and out each day? How do they keep track of your hours?

 

By LAW, they are required to keep track and PAY YOU for those hours.

 

Brush up your resume and find something else. In the meantime, call the Labor Board and file a claim. It is super easy. They will investigate and take care of it, and you WILL get paid your back pay, **with interest**, because that is also the law!

 

This company is going down and not just because they are in debt.

 

They will be fined up the ying yang for what they're doing, THAT is why these labor laws are in place, to protect employees from scammers like this company.

 

Good luck!

[krista28]

Thanks kategurl I fear that you are right they are losing staff like you wouldn't believe. Two people quit this month. ...this month already. Who really knows whats to come...

[katiegrl]

Thanks kategurl I fear that you are right they are losing staff like you wouldn't believe. Two people quit this month. ...this month already.

 

 

**Who really knows whats to come..***.

 

How about a class-action lawsuit?

 

Won't cost you guys a dime ....lawyers take their fee from the settlement/payout.

 

This is a SLAM DUNK! Just your typical wage/hour class-action lawsuit. Very common.

 

The company will probably settle super fast so as to avoid incurring substantial attorneys fees...

 

Or just file claim with labor board and encourage others to do the same...

 

Do it before they file for bankruptcy!

 

Good luck hun and keep us posted!

 

Feel free to PM me if you have questions!

Edited September 20, 2015 by katiegrl

[krista28]

Thanks kategurl. The companys dats are numbered I think anyways...but.... what do you do. Hoping everything turns out.

[empresario]

Expectations are usually the basis for most misunderstanding within any relationship, professional or not.

 

It sounds like there are varying expectations. She expects you to be an owner or salary employee. You are not. You expect to get paid what you're worth.

 

The question is...are you part of the 'what' or 'why' in your company. Because in my world (and it sounds like your company is still pre-rev), the 'whats' are replaceable and sadly, I will probably work them harder and listen to them less. The 'whys' I understand are irreplaceable and would do nearly anything to keep them happy.

 

I mean shoot, I just spend a week restructuring all of my tech operations/processes because my product lead was unhappy with his relationship with the project manager and was having lunch with a CEO of another company in town. That's what being a 'why' does for you.

 

So, I have to ask, are you a why? If so, demand the respect you need. If you aren't, move on or accept what they're willing to give you. Because management, regardless of if you're a good manager or bad one, is about delegating your time, energy, and resources to the things that really matter in your own mind.

[katiegrl]

Expectations are usually the basis for most misunderstanding within any relationship, professional or not.

 

It sounds like there are varying expectations. She expects you to be an owner or salary employee. You are not. You expect to get paid what you're worth.

 

The question is...are you part of the 'what' or 'why' in your company. Because in my world (and it sounds like your company is still pre-rev), the 'whats' are replaceable and sadly, I will probably work them harder and listen to them less. The 'whys' I understand are irreplaceable and would do nearly anything to keep them happy.

 

I mean shoot, I just spend a week restructuring all of my tech operations/processes because my product lead was unhappy with his relationship with the project manager and was having lunch with a CEO of another company in town. That's what being a 'why' does for you.

 

So, I have to ask, are you a why? If so, demand the respect you need. If you aren't, move on or accept what they're willing to give you. Because management, regardless of if you're a good manager or bad one, is about delegating your time, energy, and resources to the things that really matter in your own mind.

 

She is an HOURLY employee ($18.50) per hour, by LAW she is entitled to be paid for those hours, no matter what the company is going through...

 

This is not about demanding *respect*. This is about demanding what she is entitled to, under the LAW.

 

Which is being paid for all hours worked.

 

This is a FACT.

Edited September 21, 2015 by katiegrl

[Diezel]

I was once in that position.

 

I looked for a new job, ASAP.

[empresario]

She is an HOURLY employee ($18.50) per hour, by LAW she is entitled to be paid for those hours, no matter what the company is going through...

 

This is not about demanding *respect*. This is about demanding what she is entitled to, under the LAW.

 

Which is being paid for all hours worked.

 

This is a FACT.

 

Ok. Because the worked/employee relationship is always that straight forward, right? You work. You get paid. But somewhere in there, if you want more, you have to figure out a relationship of mutual respect. The law would not disagree thst she has the right to quit her job.

[Got it]

Ok. Because the worked/employee relationship is always that straight forward, right? You work. You get paid. But somewhere in there, if you want more, you have to figure out a relationship of mutual respect. The law would not disagree thst she has the right to quit her job.

 

No of course not. But the law is also clear in it's employment laws as well and those for exempt/non-exempt employees.

 

OP - contact the Department of Labor and file a claim. I disagree on the class action as they are not that easy to obtain but not a hill to die on. I would start with your claim and go from there.

 

And get your resume up to date and start contacting recruiters for another position. Don't go down with this sinking ship.

[katiegrl]

Ok. Because the worked/employee relationship is always that straight forward, right? You work. You get paid. But somewhere in there, if you want more, you have to figure out a relationship of mutual respect. The law would not disagree thst she has the right to quit her job.

 

What?

 

 

Of course she has the right to quit her job, which is precisely what she "should" do, which I advised.

 

 

And if they don't pay her for ALL her hours worked, plus her accrued vacation time, on her LAST day of work, then she goes to the Labor Board and files a claim.

 

 

Because, again, the LAW requires employers to pay hourly employees (which the OP is) for ALL hours worked, and that check for all hours worked should be forthcoming on her last day of employment.

 

 

This is NOT up for "negotiation" and has NOTHING to do with demanding respect.

 

 

IT IS THE LAW.

 

 

If there is any demanding to be had, it's her demanding to be PAID, otherwise she files a claim with the labor board.

 

 

Dude.... I have been working in labor/employment law for nearly ten years....there is no disputing this.

Edited September 22, 2015 by katiegrl

[empresario]

What?

 

 

Of course she has the right to quit her job, which is precisely what she "should" do, which I advised.

 

 

And if they don't pay her for ALL her hours worked, plus her accrued vacation time, on her LAST day of work, then she goes to the Labor Board and files a claim.

 

 

Because, again, the LAW requires employers to pay hourly employees (which the OP is) for ALL hours worked, and that check for all hours worked should be forthcoming on her last day of employment.

 

 

This is NOT up for "negotiation" and has NOTHING to do with demanding respect.

 

 

IT IS THE LAW.

 

 

If there is any demanding to be had, it's her demanding to be PAID, otherwise she files a claim with the labor board.

 

 

Dude.... I have been working in labor/employment law for nearly ten years....there is no disputing this.

 

I'm not disputing it either. Not sure why you're getting uppity.

 

I'm simply commenting that sometimes avoiding the 'torch and pitchfork' method can work better if you're planning on hanging around. Also, I don't know how much work goes into reporting and/or suing an employer...but my guess is the juice may not be worth the squeeze if your primary concern is finding another job on which to live.

[katiegrl]

I'm not disputing it either. Not sure why you're getting uppity.

 

I'm simply commenting that sometimes avoiding the 'torch and pitchfork' method can work better if you're planning on hanging around. Also, I don't know how much work goes into reporting and/or suing an employer...but my guess is the juice may not be worth the squeeze if your primary concern is finding another job on which to live.

 

 

What do you mean "work better"? Will it get her paid? Doubt it...they don't have the money....but that is NOT her problem.

 

 

Plus, their request that she "volunteer" her time is ludicrous. They simply want to use her for all she's worth and get away with not paying her.

 

 

I see this A LOT.

 

 

That is why I am so "uppity." Pisses me off what some of these companies try to get away with.

 

 

It does not take long to file a claim with the labor board. You call them up and they will take your claim over the phone.

 

 

That's pretty much it, they do the rest.

 

 

Then there is a hearing for which the filing party shows up.

 

 

Usually, when the company knows it's in the wrong, they won't even show up at the hearing, and she wins by default.

 

 

Of course, even IF they were to show up, it's such a slam dunk case, she still wins.

 

 

Which results in her getting paid... which is what is important here.

 

 

She shouldn't be required to work for free...that is crazy.

[Bubberfly]

Ok, OP.

 

Contact the Department of Labor in your state so they can investigate any business issues.

 

In the meantime, search for work but do not quit (unless you are offered new employment). Keep track of ALL conversations/correspondence/pay from your employer as well as any you may get from the DOL.

 

IF you quit and end up filing for unemployment you will need to prove you had good cause. That is where your records as well as all complaints to the Department of Labor can ensure you receive your benefits.

 

Good luck.