I used to work at a cafe and quit after 3 months. It wasn’t worth it. Even if I was scheduled 40hr a week I was cut halfway, or even an hour, into my shifts. My average salary was less than 1000 a month. I make way more doing apps like instacart, etc.
Recently when I had a nail in my tire and couldn’t do delivery, Cafe happened to reach out asking me to work for them again. I said I’ll give them two weeks, because of old times sake and they could have time to find a replacement.
I waited for a paycheck to enter my bank account for weeks. I came in the middle of a pay period of two weeks, so I expected to have two checks. I understand when I start a job, it takes a while to get that first paycheck before they become consistent. I waited a month after the first pay period I work to tell them, yo i didnt get paid. Boss says payroll messed up and to come pick up a check… ok..
For all my two weeks of work I am owed $500. Cashier hands me a check saying $250 “for two weeks of work”. This is not correct. I follow up with my boss to make sure I am getting the second half, and she says, in two weeks, “like always”.
Two weeks later, no deposit. I reach out, “hey do I have to pick up a check or will i recieve direct deposit?”
No response for two days. I go into the cafe to handle this in person.
I talk to the manager. I said, I need to get paid. He said they are working on it, and that boss will get back to me. Good to know they are “working on it” when I heard nothing for two days.
Boss texts me an hour later saying, I have you on record working *date through *date, and from *date through *date. (The two pay periods I worked)
I replied, “yes” because she is correct. These are facts we both know. I did work those days. I didnt get paid for the second period though. I don’t know if she’s gonna pay me. It’s been three days now.
The line between a mistake and felony: it is not illegal for your payroll system to falter, as long as boss fixes mistake. It IS illegal to not pay, obviously, in bad faith and I think she’s at the point of not paying me. It’s hard to say as she is not taking steps to fix the mistake as far as I know and seldom returns my texts.
In addition: this cafe is home to several rats. It’s horrible. They remained open during this time. When I worked there, I constantly was cleaning rat shit. The manager barely follows health code. I’ve seen horrible things regarding health code.
I have so much dirt on them, and if I don’t get paid soon, I’m gonna air it all out. Report to department of labor, and a report to the health department.