I need help as a 16year old you work for a small landscapeing business and you get paid under the table?

Question

which you have been totaly unaware of because of being 16 years old looking for a summer job. Now say the boss is over 4 months late on your par check for the whole summer and there does not seem any hope of getting paid plus the money is over 1,000 what is there to do?

Answer 1

What proof do you have that you worked for him? Did you go to houses were the people were at home? Do you have any witness that can verify that you worked for this man?

First have your parents/guardian to contact the guy and demand that you are paid for the work that you have already done for him. If he still refused to pay you then you will have to go to the next step.

I would have your parents to go with you to the department of employment. Explain to them what the agreement was then you agreed to work for the guy. They will tell what to do next, and guy will be in serious trouble with the law and not you.

Have your parents read the information on the link below.

This should be a lesson for you and your parents. Next time get something in writing as to how you will be paid, when you will be paid, etc. Keep a log of the days, time, hours, and address or name of the place were you did work.

My grandson worked for his uncle and he promised that he would paid him at the end of the month. Months and months went by and still he did not pay him. He did not tell anyone that his uncle did not pay him. Then his uncle had the nerves to ask him to borrow money to get his equipment fixed.

I hate to see people try to take advantage of young people, stay up for what is right and do not let him get away with anything.

Answer 2

You, or your parents at least, should know that getting paid "under the table" was not right. You are only 16, and can make mistakes - which is what happened. That does not give the employer to take advantage of you.

You can file a complaint against the employer if he refuses to pay. Better Business Bureau, state Wage and Labor board, and with any business affiliations that he may be a member of.

I would ask some of his best clients to verify in writing for you that they saw you working with him at their place. This does two things:
1. Gets you credible witnesses that show you worked there
2. Informs his money source that he is cheating you without coming out and stating that directly

If possible - get a parent to help you do this. This adds credibility to your position helps you get serious responses. I would have the parent (if available) approach this guy first, on his job site with co-workers around and possibly in front of a client as well.

In one place that I formerly worked, the employer didn't pay a former worker what she was due. She got a police officer to walk into the office with her (because she felt threatened going by herself) to inquire about her pay. She strategically timed it to show up right when the new employees were gathering for a training session with the owner and manager. She got paid the next day.

Answer 3

Have your parents give you a lesson in taking someone to small claims court.

Here's how it works:

You go to the courthouse, find the small claims window, file your papers, pay the fee (it's like $35 or so). Have someone serve the papers for you (offer them $25 to put it in a mailbox).

When you sue, ask for $1000 + court fee + serving fee.

Your employer is likely going to be willing to settle out of court because, since they're paying you under the table, they are defrauding the government of labor taxes.

(Actually, you are, too, but being a minor makes you look like you're being taken advantage of. So if you go to court, make sure the judge knows that you intend to pay your income tax and your social security tax when you get the judgement. You'll sound like you know what you're doing.)

Answer 4

He has to pay you. Minors are specially protected from situations such as this.

Your legal guardian, and you, need to sue the business and owner in small claims court.

If you have proof of hours worked, like signed time cards, or time wrote on the calendar, or proof of a regular work schedule, you should win no problem.

And the guy might pay you just because you decide to sue, then you can drop the case.

Good luck

Answer 5

If you don't feel that it would endanger your or other's safety, threaten to go to the authorities if you don't get paid.
If you have any proof and you think he has the money sue him.