Employer hasn't paid me?
Asked by Zachary & Jeremiah's Mummy
When I was 5 months pregnant I was talking to a bookkeeper that did some work for my husband . I had given up looking for a job because I was showing with my pregnancy. She said, why don't you work for me and make up the hours necessary for maternal benefits? Also it will look good on your MBA application. She said I can't pay you until you learn more because I lose a lot of time with training people, and I am losing money with you in the beginning. I said, why not, rather than staying at home, as I'd given up hope for a job. I agreed she wouldn't have to pay me until I had more experience. So far I've worked 40 hours part-time. I realized that she is taking 2 vacations and I won't make be able to make up all the hours necessary for mat benefits, so that's out. My husband owes her $700 for bookkeeping and she deducted $100 but wants the rest. She says I work well and have learned a lot. She praises me for being better than the girls who worked for her in the past, who got min. wage. I asked her to deduct my hours worked from the amount we owe her but she won't because she says I still need to learn more and that she thought we agreed on this. Since we realized that mat leave thing won't work out, I am not in her payroll to document my hours worked. She thinks it's great taht I'm "learning " this because it will help me in the future. I feel like she thinks she's doing me a favour. Should I pay her what I owe her? I want to be on good terms and return to work for her a few months after having the baby, also she would provide a great reference for my MBA application and resume. Meanwhile I'm still working a few days a week, and she says I can work as many or as few hours as I want. Any advice?? I'm from Canada, where you get maternal benefits of 55% of your usual wages, for 1 year after having a baby. SHE is the one taking 2 vacations, not me, and because it's a small business owned only by her, I can't work while she is away. She will be away for 2 months. The maternal benefits come from the government, not from the employer.

Best Answer:
Stop working for her IMMEDIENTLY, tell her that you've found a better 'learning experience' opportunity that will pay you. Find some way to give her the $600 and never talk to the woman again, she seems like bad news. Your situation seems like a case on Judge Judy, so just pay it before she takes legal action.

It sounds to me like she is trying to teach you and your husband a "lesson" about working without being paid. Why won't your husband just pay her? If you can afford two vacations seems to me (and probably to her too) that you guys can afford to pay her what is owed. Quit working for her and have your husband find a new bookkeeper.
Answered by Gem

It sounds like you didn't get anything in writing. If you truly feel that you deserve some sort of compensation, and that you are past the "learning" phase, (which that period was not clearly defined by either of you before you started this), then you need to let her know this. But remember, it is not as if you are not getting anything out of this...if she lives up to her word, then she will give you a good referral for your application. Is that enough to keep you working for free? Is that worth the hours you are putting in? And will you be financially compensated once you are done with your pregnancy leave? You can not mix your employment with her with the work she did for your husband. You owe her that money because that business relationship was clearly defined,and it was never agreed that you would work to pay off that bill. But, you also can not expect to feel shorted by this experience as well. You need to speak to her and let her know that you feel you are past the learning phase. It sounds like she is a shrewd business woman, and knows how to exploit people. Even apprentices get compensated for their time. So, I think you are getting the short end of the stick, but you put yourself there by not getting clear boundaries to begin with. Speak up for yourself, but in a diplomatic way so that you do not lose the reference. And remember, the transaction she had with your husband is should be kept separate from your employment with her. GOOD LUCK!
Answered by n g