Post: #1

So my employer is refusing to pay me for couple hours that I worked because he says I was not busy. I'm employed in that place for over a year and situation have a place first time. Every single time I put effort into my work and no other place that I worked or I am working would complain that my work was subpar or I was lazy.

I'm working for cash therefore government is not involved and I can't complain to them but the place that I'm working is a huge chain like Mcdonalds.

My question is what can I do in this situation and what are my options?


Ps. It's only minor part time job so I can go find another one very fast since I have full time job in other place. Also worth to note that every other employee there is paid by cash. I don't care about that money is just a matter of principle.

Thank you for your time
Malekhit

Post: #2

This calls for some good old fashioned street justice

Ask him nicely. Explain that you get paid by the hour and that's his problem that it was slow. If he's not a gentleman about it then fuck him and take out what he owes you some other way. Steal some tools. Break something. Take a hammer to his car windows.

Post: #3

(12-27-2013 06:11 PM)Malekhit Wrote:  So my employer is refusing to pay me for couple hours that I worked because he says I was not busy. I'm employed in that place for over a year and situation have a place first time. Every single time I put effort into my work and no other place that I worked or I am working would complain that my work was subpar or I was lazy.

I'm working for cash therefore government is not involved and I can't complain to them but the place that I'm working is a huge chain like Mcdonalds.

My question is what can I do in this situation and what are my options?


Ps. It's only minor part time job so I can go find another one very fast since I have full time job in other place. Also worth to note that every other employee there is paid by cash. I don't care about that money is just a matter of principle.

Thank you for your time
Malekhit

Perhaps quit then six months later, call in an anonymous tip to the CRA?

Post: #4

Most provinces, ontario in particular have something called a 'labour relations board' which is much more powerful than their american counterparts. They are rabid and will go after employers who don't pay employees and will also demolish employers who are paying cash only.

Its Canada and the employee is always considered the victim. I had to deal with them 10+ years ago on the employer side.

Just threaten to call the labor relations board and you should get paid by the employer.

Post: #5

He's probably screwing others over too.

First, start searching for a new job.

Then tell the current guy that if he doesn't pay you, you will go to the labor relations board and one way or another it will cost him. If you do nothing now, he will get bolder with the amount that he withholds from you, I surmise.

Post: #6

Canada is more socialist than U.S., and in the U.S. any dept. of labor would go apeshit, especially here in California.

Doesn't matter you're being paid cash. If anything you can claim you didn't know any better and thought you were a fulltime employee. They'll get beat down for shorting you money AND paying you under the table. They'll be more than happy to collect back taxes from your employer and award you full pay.

In these instances, play dumb. Tell your local labor board that you were under the impression that you were a legit employee and you think your employer might be taking advantage of you by paying cash.

1) Not verifying elligible employee.
2) Not paying income tax. (your employer might try to claim you're an independent contractor and responsible for reporting your own income. Simply deny this and say your employer claimed they'd withhold the proper amount, they'll take your side)
3) Illegally withholding wages.

If you're in a position to do so, you can blackmail your employer and simply tell them to pay up. Just don't get your kneecaps shot out.

Post: #7

Live better, work union.

Post: #8

(12-27-2013 07:31 PM)scotian Wrote:  Live better, work union.

or as a true contractor. Plain old employment is the worst of both worlds.

Post: #9

(12-27-2013 07:46 PM)wiscanada Wrote:  

(12-27-2013 07:31 PM)scotian Wrote:  Live better, work union.

or as a true contractor. Plain old employment is the worst of both worlds.

I plan on going the contractor route in a couple of years to see how it goes, gotta upgrade my skill set first though. There's a lot more money to be made that way but a lot of other issues that I don't have to worry about now: taxes, finding work, insurance, late payments, etc.

Honestly I don't see why guys do cash work as you're exposing yourself to a lot of problems, as the OP is finding out. I can understand if you're doing it temporarily or as a side hustle while you're on EI, but I wouldn't so it as a main source of employment.

Post: #10

thank you very much for help, I will talk to my employer tomorrow and I will see if he will pay or not.

Post: #11

Break his car windows and problem solved.

Post: #12

(12-27-2013 07:51 PM)scotian Wrote:  

(12-27-2013 07:46 PM)wiscanada Wrote:  

(12-27-2013 07:31 PM)scotian Wrote:  Live better, work union.

or as a true contractor. Plain old employment is the worst of both worlds.

I plan on going the contractor route in a couple of years to see how it goes, gotta upgrade my skill set first though. There's a lot more money to be made that way but a lot of other issues that I don't have to worry about now: taxes, finding work, insurance, late payments, etc.

Honestly I don't see why guys do cash work as you're exposing yourself to a lot of problems, as the OP is finding out. I can understand if you're doing it temporarily or as a side hustle while you're on EI, but I wouldn't so it as a main source of employment.

yeah, contractor is more gain but with more headaches and risk and probably fewer trips out of country. My brother did the contractor thing for two years and then went back to a union job, he said the headaches weren't worth the money. I really like it though.