my job really sucks, cleaning exhaust hoods at restaurants. the hours are any time, day or night. sometimes even night jobs, followed by an early morning job. on top of the bad hours, it is hard work. we have to get out powerwashers, cover a bunch of stuff with plastic sheeting, vacuum up water, get on roofs of different types of places. all of this for $8 an hour! is it legal for him to pay that little? he also tries to skip us out on drive time, which some places are 50+ miles away. some holidays he doesnt pay us, i remember working on labor day, with no holiday pay! and i'm wondering if he's required to pay us graveyard-shift hours after 12am, like any other normal place. my father works at the post office, graveyard-shift and he automatically gets 1 1/2 times pay. is my boss doing any illegal practices? should i report him?
2007-12-01 23:47:57 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment ➔ Law & Legal
thanks guys for all your answers. i wouldn't be able to pass a drug test, i smoke weed! but i have no criminal background at all
2007-12-02 08:41:27 · update #1
I know that he is allowed to pay you $8 if it is above your state's minimum wage. As for travel time, if he specified in a written job offer or contract that you will be paid for travel time then you must get it but if he didn't then he doesn't have to pay travel time. Also, extra pay for working the graveyard shift is not federally regulated and is up to the employer when offering jobs to possible employees. Lastly, unless it is previously agreed upon by your employer they don't have to pay you extra for the holiday. So the pay, no travel time. no extra pay for night shift and no holiday pay is all legal as long as he didn't offer any of them in a written contract.
2007-12-01 23:57:18 · answer #1 · answered by Harley 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm assuming you are in the US.
The job sounds not so great, but $8 an hour is above minimum wage in any state, so nothing illegal there. And there is no law entitling you to extra pay for holidays, so if you were paid your regular rate but just not given extra for the holiday, that's legal. There is also no law requiring extra pay for any shift - some companies give it, and the post office has excellent benefits, but you aren't working for the post office, and there is no legal requirement that you be paid extra for holidays.
If during your work day you are required to travel between restaurants, you should be paid for that time, but he doesn't have to pay you for your travel time from home to the first place you go for work that day, or for time from the last place back to your home.
Look for a different job if you are that unhappy with the one you have.
2007-12-02 02:06:37 · answer #2 · answered by Judy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's legal because it is a zero skills job that they could show anyone to do in a couple of hours.
Holiday pay is NOT required by law in any state...and he is NOT required to pay you extra by any law for working at night.
In fact, he doesn't even have to pay you $8 an hour...he can pay you minimum wage if he wants to!
He is required to pay you for drive time, if that is part of your day.
If you want a real job, then go find a real job.
Your father works a FEDERAL job with FEDERAL benefits.
You don't...that's the difference.
PS: Can you not pass a drug test or a criminal background check? I am highly suspecting that one or the other may be your case.
Update: You have to give up smoking pot to get the better jobs. Better jobs always drug test now.
2007-12-02 01:10:09 · answer #3 · answered by Expert8675309 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just quit! You could do so many other things and make way more money than that!! You could: Wait tables in a restaurant, work at best buy or in the mall somewhere, work as a pizza delivery driver, work for a lawn maintenance company....Please just tell him to take his job and shove it! If you are a hard worker and really want to make money, you'll get another job in no time at all! I am in a career now, but when I was younger I did walk out on a few crappy jobs and I have never ever regretted it for one second...(think of that song, "to the left" I think it's by Beyonce)...I used to be behind the grill at mcdonalds that was so gross! Also, I was a hostess at this fancy restaurant and the maitre d' kept yelling at me because he didn't think I sat people at the right tables...one busy Saturday night I just told him to take care of it on his own, handed him all the menus, and walked out! That was great and I never regretted it for one second. You're not going to change this guy....tell him to find some other sucker! ("I'm a fool to do your dirty work" is another song that comes to mind)
2007-12-01 23:59:37 · answer #4 · answered by stlblw4d 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Although it seems unfair, your boss is doing everything legally. Your father is a government employee, and works under a contract through his union. I'd suggest that you look for another job, or take a Civil Service test.
2007-12-01 23:52:00 · answer #5 · answered by Beau R 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ull have to refer to the labour laws of the country that u live in....
there will be min prescribed wages for perticular industries...
i dont think u r under paid......any ways as i dont know where u are from cant suggest u on this....
its better for u to look at another job.....this is what i can best suggest at this perticular point in time...
2007-12-01 23:59:54 · answer #6 · answered by Rapa 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋