I was hired on Friday, September 2 to be trained as a Wine Consultant Assistant. When asked by the Boss, how much I wanted salary wise, per hour, I said, "the going rate. "He kept asking me how much per hour I wanted." I said fairness. I didn't know. He "acted" as though he didn't know, but later on, I found out he was "great with numbers and money.""One of the employees told me he was a "cheap boss later on."
So I said something like 36k a year. He came back with $28k a year. Then we came about to the figure of $30k a year, 90 day probation period, benefits, transportation etc. Hours worked and to be paid were from 8:30am-5:30pm. I told him and the Wine Manager I would only take a half hour lunch, and leave at 5pm. So the extra half hour would come in as hours worked at end of day. Nothing was mentioned about how much per hour I was given, even though I kept asking. Nothing about taking breaks as I think by law, I was supposed to get. I wonder if they have to compensate me for that too? The Wine Manager said upon that subject of breaks, "we just do it. "So there was basically no training or guidance from the Wine Manager about who to check in with regarding lunch, breaks, and other job tasks relating to job coaching.
There still was no paperwork to be signed, because the boss didn't have time or make time for it. Lastly he made it perfectly clear that, specifically "everything we do here, stays here. "Red flags stood up.
So I came in on the train system Tuesday, September 6. The train cost $16/hour roundtrip, which I was told would be compensated for transportation. I was always early to work every day by an hour to thirty minutes. As the week progressed, I still was early. It was very important to me to be punctual. It showed I cared about the job. I dressed nicely as well and worked hard for the Wine Manager.
On Friday, September 10, I was handed a timesheet to fill out by the Wine Manager. I was told that I had come in on the second week of the pay period.in other words, you get paid every two weeks. I was the second week. So I was to be paid on Next Wednesday September 14 for the second week of pay period that I worked.By the way, I was creditted 8 hours pay for holiday. He didn't tell me what number to put in the box each day or if I was doing it correctly. Which I wasn't because I should have written nine and not eight. But he watched me and "knew" I had made a mistake. I thought they would be fair. I also was told no wine bottles were ever returned to them. That wasn't true because while I was there for my little time on the job, there was at least three returned. Some of the sending shipping costs and such were done suspiciously. The Wine Manager had produced a cassette everyday and took it home with him each day. It was full of the business "stuff".
There was no state guidelines or anything hung in the office for the rules up for discrimination, etc. So the Wine Manager worked with me. He was the teacher and I was the student. I had learned alot and applied what I learned. I had a little confidence issue and was upfront with them on what I didn't know from day one. The stuff they were supposed to teach me. I always asked questions since there was very little guidance or training as promised.
Anyways the Boss had a tasting in Vegas he did with Tom. I came in the two days they were absent, and was taught by another office manager to do different tasks. Everything seemed to go well. The boss came into the office on Wednesday September 14 afternoon. Apparently he was in a bad mood. It might not have been a good trip. So I had asked him how much per hour I was going to get, since it was first paycheck. He got very upset. Seems now I broke trust with him. So he gave me a check for 56 hours at $14.43/hour. Then he wrote in pen on the check, FINAL Pymt. Something hoaky was going on. The checks had already come out. I don't know what was going on. He didn't like that I had asked him per hour, how much I was to earn. I think he liked it that I didn't know so he could take advantage of me. I am not sure now, if he gave me the correct pay for hours worked with the vacation time etc. I don't know how he came up with $14.43/hour. It was all so secretive. He then said to me not to come in any more. I should work til Friday. I got up and walked around to get my stuff. I was very upset. He was all over me. I had to call home for a ride home and he slammed the phone down and told me to leave. I went to get my things and he questioned everything I took. He watched me leave. I left my calendar book and other things, which he said he would mail. I never got those too.
It was about 3:30 by the end of this fiasco, Wednesday September 14. I don't know why the boss even bothered the Wine Manager to make me feel bad by making up stuff that I didn't know how to do. He was told by the Boss that I couldn't do the job. He made some statements that were incorrect regarding what I did know and not. He was basically a puppet Wine manager. He was well compensated for his "work" and told me I wasn't right for the job. I worked 7 and a 3/4 days including the one paid holiday. The Wine Manager was not a good teacher or mentor. He had only worked with me 4 and a half days. To make a judgement like that was ludicrous. He had no personable skills. He did everything his way. He most of the time, avoided me. So he taught me very little. I learned mostly on my own and by listening to his few words to teach me job related tasks.
Bottom line, I want to be paid for promised hours worked, including the missed breaks, and the $16 a day for train transportation. Someone out there must know how I can get someone to force them to get my money. I want nothing to do with their company. I want my dues and then I can deal straight with people who do business on the up and up.
I can always sleep at night knowing I didn't cheat anyone. That I do business correctly, honestly, and not by secretive dealings and other things this company did and the Wine Manager did. I don't know how people like that sleep at night. One day, someone will catch them.in the meantime, I need to get the money I worked so hard for. Times are tough. I had already written them twice asking for my correct monies and calendar book. No response I am sure there is someone out there who can officially write a letter that would make them pay me my money. I want to distance myself far away from these type of people and business. Thanks for your time.
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