Background: (in U.S)
A local haunted house was hiring and I thought it would be a fun job for extra money. I went to their job orientation and learned the following:
They discussed pay and said it was $ 16 an hour and you were paid 30mins before open and after close (to get into/out of costume / makeup).
BUT you had to show up 2 hours before opening???? And that wasn't paid.
So example let's say it opens at 8pm and goes till 12 am
You have to be there at 6pm until who knows when.
But you're only paid to be there from 7;30 pm to 12:30am.
They said it was because we were “actors” and getting “performance pay”
Next they discussed the next meeting where we would come back to the office and get cast as a character and fill out our tax paperwork / i-9. This seemed like it was unpaid, but it was also mandatory to move forward.
Then they said they had training days 3 days a week. But they were optional. People only usually go to one a week but it's suggested so that you can get to know people… And practice for your performance..
And from the vibe I got they were unpaid.. and they're several hours..
!!How is this legal??? This can't be legal??!!