My boss hasn't paid me, so my bills bounced - is there something I can do about this?

Question

I work in an office in southeast Texas (40 miles outside Beaumont) and pay day is every Friday. My boss is occasionally late with pay checks but I really needed them on time this month because of my bills. This month, he went over the line.

Now, he owes me two pay checks. But worse, when he didn't pay me a few weeks ago, it bounced my electric and phone bill in the bank several times and is costing me an extra $160 plus for bank fees, and all of this is 100% due to my boss not paying me. My boss says he isn't going to help with the bank fees due to his neglect.

I am wondering if this is illegal for my boss to do? I never bounced in the bank before till now and it is because of my boss not paying me. Shouldn't he be responsible for this and the money he STILL owes me?

Who do I contact about this? Surely employees have some rights somewhere? Any information would be great. Thanks so much.

Answer 1

California has a state labor board that would clean his clock and give you the bucks .

Texas , I have heard , is a company state .
Hear they can treat you like kleenex and toss ya there .

Hope it was just rumors .

Texas , payment of wages , chptr 61

http://tlo2.tlc.state.tx.us/statutes/la.toc.htm

good luck

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Answer 2

First thing that I would do is check if your employer offers direct deposit. This way your paycheck goes right to your bank account electronically, rather than you waiting to get a check from your boss. (believe me, i've had that happen before, and 99.9% of the time, the money's there when others don't have a check).

Second, notify your bank about the situation. Considering that you've never bounced before, and probably have been with that bank for some time, they'll probably waive some of the fees, if you're lucky. Also notify your creditors and see if there's something that you can work out as a temporary fix to repay the bill.

Third, notify the state department of labor. File a formal complaint with them in writing. If that doesn't light a fire under your boss... you may need to take him to court.

Good luck.

Answer 3

In some states, it is illegal to not pay employees. You need to call the Texas Dept of Labor and ask what your rights are. You should be careful of "paying bills" without your check being good as this is your responsibility to cover, not the check writer or the bank. You can't float money on the hopes that the check will clear!! Yes, you should be able to expect funds for work performed but each state is different. Get in touch with your Dept of Labor and find out what rights you have. Try to explain to your utilities and other companies; talk to the bank and see how they can help you get this resolved with their records, too.

Answer 4

Contact the Texas Department of Labor! Explain to them the situation. Yes it is illegal if there was an agreement to the original payday. if that doesnt work call the attorney general's office. In order to protect your job i would give your boss one more chance to pay you for what you are owed because the reality would be that youd probably get fired reporting your employer to the Labor Board. Hard decision... Good Luck

Answer 5

Contact both the Texas Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Labor. He is definitely responsible for the money he owes you, and they will make sure you get it.

Once he gets the complaint, it's possible that his attorney will advise him to settle with you on the overdraft fees as well

Answer 6

You need an attorney now. I worked at a hotel and damaged one of their vehicles and my manager told me they would be deducting money from my check. I went and got a lawyer who put in a call to my former manager and in 5 minutes a resolution....."You can pick up your check tomorrow." I paid her $50 of her $200 per hour time and I was on my way.

Today I use a service that gives me unlimited access to Attorneys. That $50 I paid her pays for 2 months access to 40 attorneys for my whole family and all of my legal issues.....my how times are a changing.

You may want to look into it for yourself if you can't afford $200 per hour.

Answer 7

Yes its illegal, contact the department of labor, make a complaint he will have to pay or get fined. Of course the S will hit the fan. You may also ask the Department of Labor or Unemployment if not getting paid is an acceptable reason to leave your job and still collect unemployment.

Answer 8

If you wished you could take the employer to small claims court and sue for both the back wages and for the overdraft fees. You might stand a better chance of getting the overdraft fees if you went that route.