Hi, all. Thank you for reading.
I just got home and I need to write this out because it will help me sort through the events that have transpired, plus I hope somebody can help me.
I’m an arborist, which I love. During the winter, it’s slow. I, 25M, have been picking up shifts at a garden center for extra pocket money. This is my father’s friend’s business.
To be concise, the pay is minimum wage, the responsibilities are to move firewood, decorate wreaths/grave blankets, and assist customers with in-store purchases (as most sales are deliveries).
My boss has been telling my father the shifts I’m expected to cover, not myself. This stopped after I addressed it with him a few times.
The main concern is receiving my pay. We are paid for the week prior, meaning if it’s the 3rd Friday of the month, we’re being paid for the first week of work that month. The shifts are from 8-5pm with 30 minute lunches. We clock in and out on an iPad type device.
The dates of my shifts for December:
12/2, 12/3
12/15, 12/16
12/20, 12/21
12/31 (I left early)
Today, 12/31 I’ve received payment for only the dates of 12/2 and 12/3. And I picked that pay up this week. I have addressed it with my boss and the payroll employee.
I’ve been told I’m paid up. My boss said to have the payroll employee handle it. He’s repeatedly said “I don’t get involved with that,” as I’ve attempted to resolve the issues. Mind you, this is my father’s friend.
I have reached out to the payroll employee several times. I have been very civil and mindful of their time as they are busy individuals. I’ve been trying to be compassionate and cooperative. As I’ve written out the dates of my shifts and my payment received, I feel I should drop my heart’s feelings.
I’d like to provide context as well. I make sales as I’m the only English speaking employee at the building. I am mindful to be generous and casual with customers to be a good representative for the company. It works well; I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback and compliments. I do my due diligence to ensure the customer has a good experience so that they’ll come back and so that I can, hopefully, brighten up their day a little bit.
My father, when describing the job to me, informed me that I’d be driving the delivery vehicle for the firewood and earning tips on top of my minimum wage, $15/hr. That was my incentive to accept the job.
My boss has not sent me out on deliveries and has kept me at the garden center running the shop. Today, I overheard him say that he’s paid previous employees that ran the shop $18/hr.
Additionally, he’s insulted my intelligence whenever I’ve called him with a problem that I’ve not been trained to deal with or a problem out of my control.
Example, when I’ve run out of decorations for these wreaths and grave blankets, I’ve called him to let him know we’re out of decorations and I have nothing else to work with. His response is always something along the lines of, “Well, if you have a brain and you don’t need me to wipe your ass, you can figure it out.”
TL;DR
As of right now, I’ve received a total of $240 for this month. At this point in the month, I should’ve been paid up to $750. My employers are claiming I’ve been paid in full. My boss is my father’s friend. I’m pissed off.