I work at one of my bosses side businesses once a week. I get paid cash for it off the books. There used to be one other person maybe two years ago, when I was getting paid $12/hr. When they left she increased my pay to $15/hr which wasn't such a bad deal because it is easy work. Now it is just me, but frankly I understand why. It's not enough work to warrant more than one person usually.
My problem is I'm not 100% sure that my pay is $15/hr, only about 85% sure. It was never written anywhere, just verbally which is why I'm reaching out for help. I've been working here for about 2.5 years.
I wasn't a confident person when I was hired so I let myself be taken advantage of. I'm in my twenties. I'm supposed to work 9:30am-2pm, 4.5 hours. She gives me $60.00, which if I'm correct in that my hourly rate is $15, is not enough money. Not to mention I tend to stay later and am not compensated for that.
What I started doing is just not coming in that 1/2 an hour since no clients usually show up until 9:56am. Instead, I get here around 9:50am. There was never a problem until one day my car had issues and I was late past opening. Then she reamed me out saying I pay you for 9:30-2, I expect you to be here and threatend to put me on the books for some reason @15/hr. I guess that was supposed to scare me? Instead, it sort of confirmed that I am supposed to be getting 15/hr. About an hour later she backpedaled by being super nice to me. I think its important to mention my schedule lists 10-2, not 9:30-2, but thats when she wants me here.
I am owed, conservatively, around $650. I work the side business once a week, maybe two on rare occasions. Thats if I subtract the time I come in “later than I'm supposed to”. If I don't count it, it would be around $800. That isn't including the 10-20 minutes I stay after cleaning up.
I want to somehow get my hourly rate in writing. I would just say something about the missing pay, however, right now, there is nothing preventing her from firing me and not giving me a dime. I'm not sure what question to ask that would sound innocent enough. I'm hoping you all have some ideas.
Its a dog daycare to give you an idea and while the boss isn't great, I do like the coworkers at my main job, under the same boss. I plan to look at options once I get a certification that will make me more valuable to other employers so I have some leverage.