This weekend, I took a job I found on Facebook to help out at a Sundance event. I was promised to be paid under the table, and to be compensated quickly and efficiently. Since I am a broke college student, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to make an extra couple of bucks for gas and food.
I was wrong.
The company who hired us yelled at us constantly, demeaned us, and demanded we worked 15+ hour shifts or we would not be paid. Alongside having to pay over $50 for parking and driving an hour to Park City, I was averaging 3 hours of sleep a night, then working 15+ hour shifts on my feet with no breaks.
The juxtaposition between famous actors, directors, and social workers speaking at panels about injustice in the world, while we were yelled at, left without breaks and food for 15+ hours was daunting and heart breaking.
All of the individuals I worked with on the first day, left by the second day because they could not handle the abuse from higher ups. Constant screaming, telling us to do one task, then yelling at us to stop and start another. It was exhausting. I was promised lunch and dinner, and they just bought a couple of shitty takeout pizzas. Keep in mind, I had told them I was lactose intolerant. But they only bought pizzas.
By the third day, it was just me by myself. Picking up the slack for everyone. Checking guests in, taking coats, changing trashes, cleaning the dance floor. All while being yelled at to finish a task that I had to stop doing so I could work on another. I stayed because I was promised to be compensated heavily. By the last day, they made me stay until 2am, promising to double my pay for the day and to pay me the next day.
One day passes, then another. I get an email saying to be patient for one more day. On that day, they tell me to wait two more days for pay “clearance”. Today, the day I am supposed to be paid under the table, I receive an email demanding that I fill out a W-9 and NDA or I will not be paid. Meaning I will have taxes taken out of my pay, and that I will have to file this at the end of the year.
I don’t know what to do. I spent all my money getting to this job, leaving me with nothing. I am sure they broke labor laws, but I don’t have the time or money to fight this. I just want to be paid. It is so frustrating knowing they made millions, and can’t even pay my my $1,000 they dangled over my head all weekend. Stings even harder having to watch famous individuals speak on stage about injustice and mistreatment in the world while ignoring what is going on right under their nose.
If anyone has any advice, it would be much appreciated.
Edit: I forgot to mention I was harassed by multiple men and women looking for sexual acts, while I was working. Making my very uncomfortable.