Ah! Well, I’m sure you’re right. But much of that is a matter of worker education. As I said, I worked for a payroll company. We wouldn’t allow our clients to pull that shit for one second, because we were the employers of record. But if the employee never reports it?*
People need to understand that their state has a labor board they can call. Can’t speak for other states, but these employers are scared shitless of that board. And just imagine if an employer racks up loads and loads of reports. Investigation is on!
Say you force me to work unpaid overtime and I go complain to the Florida Labor Board. Guess what? The state agency automatically sides with me. The burden of proof is on the employer to document my worked hours. (Don’t sign your fucking time card if it’s wrong!) Can’t do that Mr. Scammer? Fuck you, pay the man anything he’s claiming. They will and they do and I’ve seen it. My state does not fuck around with wage theft, and I doubt many other states do either.
Hell, you don’t even have to push hard, unless your boss is a moron. Just say “labor board” and they will fucking cave. And if they don’t know better, and their superiors don’t know better, and want to fire you or fight? Oh my brother, it’s on! But anyone reading this, documentation is KING. You don’t get to walk into a courtroom, or even file a grievance, if you can’t show the paperwork.
But how many people know that?! I was in my late 40’s, well past working shit jobs that would steal from me, until I learned that. And only because I worked in that field by dumb luck.
And don’t start me on unions. What? We have to have some sort of formal organization? What if 50% of the employees at a given McDonalds says, “We want $X or we strike Monday.” Fuck are they gonna do? The employees just turned the money off and they can’t hire new people fast enough. I’ve seen shit places that run HR hiring non-stop because they’re shit to work for. Plus, you just made the local news.
Speaking of restaurants, I’ve worked several. Never known one that wouldn’t take an ass beating from a call to the local health department. So if you’re getting fucked around, make the call. Grow a pair and fight back, even if it means personal sacrifice. Fuck me, Luigi just went to prison for life to make a statement. Can’t make a couple of phone calls to fight back?!
Again, not on your case OP, but worker rights are a thing I’m constantly looking at.
tl;dr: We have rights we don’t know how to use!
* And how many people know they’re actually employees of another company? It’s a totally normal thing to have another business handle your payroll, but that business is doing far more than multiplying hours worked X wages and cutting a check. Payroll is wildly complex.
That’s why Walmart hires seniors, mentally handicapped people, and disadvantaged people, because they’re less likely to fight for their rights, if they even know what their rights are.
Ah! Well, I’m sure you’re right. But much of that is a matter of worker education. As I said, I worked for a payroll company. We wouldn’t allow our clients to pull that shit for one second, because we were the employers of record. But if the employee never reports it?*
People need to understand that their state has a labor board they can call. Can’t speak for other states, but these employers are scared shitless of that board. And just imagine if an employer racks up loads and loads of reports. Investigation is on!
Say you force me to work unpaid overtime and I go complain to the Florida Labor Board. Guess what? The state agency automatically sides with me. The burden of proof is on the employer to document my worked hours. (Don’t sign your fucking time card if it’s wrong!) Can’t do that Mr. Scammer? Fuck you, pay the man anything he’s claiming. They will and they do and I’ve seen it. My state does not fuck around with wage theft, and I doubt many other states do either.
Hell, you don’t even have to push hard, unless your boss is a moron. Just say “labor board” and they will fucking cave. And if they don’t know better, and their superiors don’t know better, and want to fire you or fight? Oh my brother, it’s on! But anyone reading this, documentation is KING. You don’t get to walk into a courtroom, or even file a grievance, if you can’t show the paperwork.
But how many people know that?! I was in my late 40’s, well past working shit jobs that would steal from me, until I learned that. And only because I worked in that field by dumb luck.
And don’t start me on unions. What? We have to have some sort of formal organization? What if 50% of the employees at a given McDonalds says, “We want $X or we strike Monday.” Fuck are they gonna do? The employees just turned the money off and they can’t hire new people fast enough. I’ve seen shit places that run HR hiring non-stop because they’re shit to work for. Plus, you just made the local news.
Speaking of restaurants, I’ve worked several. Never known one that wouldn’t take an ass beating from a call to the local health department. So if you’re getting fucked around, make the call. Grow a pair and fight back, even if it means personal sacrifice. Fuck me, Luigi just went to prison for life to make a statement. Can’t make a couple of phone calls to fight back?!
Again, not on your case OP, but worker rights are a thing I’m constantly looking at.
tl;dr: We have rights we don’t know how to use!
* And how many people know they’re actually employees of another company? It’s a totally normal thing to have another business handle your payroll, but that business is doing far more than multiplying hours worked X wages and cutting a check. Payroll is wildly complex.
That’s why Walmart hires seniors, mentally handicapped people, and disadvantaged people, because they’re less likely to fight for their rights, if they even know what their rights are.