Extreamly overworked +60 hours a week on salary (Las Vegas, Reno: lenders, hotels)

[Ladyreno]

I have some questions regarding labor laws.

I'm a manager for a 57 room motel and I live on site on salary. I currently work 8am to 9pm 5 days a week and on the 6th day I work a 24hour shift so I can have one day off. Believe me, my salary DOES NOT reflect the hours I work.
When I was hired I WAS NOT informed of the hours I would be working. Or I would not have accepted the position, as I was already employed. But was looking for another property since my building was in the process of being sold. And the new owners were offering a lower salary than what I was already receiving.
And if I need to make a errand fast and be gone for not more than an hour it is like pulling teeth to get a way, even to run to the store or to the bank.
With the current unemployment rate here in Reno needless to say it has been difficult trying to find other employment. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[Ladyreno]

No advise from anyone?

[las vegas drunk]

This is all I can say. You are working 89 hours a week. At minimum wage of $7.55 you would need to be paid at least $672, and that is without overtime. In other words if you are not getting paid at least $672 a week it is time to quit. The reason being is because you would be working for under minimum wage.

[Clarks]

6.72x4= $2688 per month, which is not much of a living, even taking into account free rent, If you lived off site and paid, say, $1,000 a month rent, you would need 3,688 per month, which again, is not much of an income.

If your income is around those figures, you need to create a 5 year plan that will get you to a reasonable income with reasonable hours, that likely will require some college.

[VerdeOjos5]

Clarks... how can you say $2688 is not much of a living?? Did I read that wrong? I agree that it's not GREAT, but it's definitely doable! not everyone can have lavish lifestyles.

to the OP - Why don't you ask for a raise if you feel like you are being taken advantage of? How long have you been there? That is a little extreme for any employer to expect anyone to work like that, even in this economy. but on the other hand, be grateful you have a job, and a place to live, Im assuming you don't have to pay utilities either... Try to stick it out for as long as you can but I do feel for you... I myself work extra hours, two jobs, and dont see any light at the end of the tunnel sometimes... but it's better than being homeless on the streets right?

[Ladyreno]

Yup tried that, been here over 2 years lucky to get 1 raise. Been hunting for some else for a while, but of course with the economy the way it is there are 50+ applicants for every job offer. But still stalking the help wanted sites as well. I never quit until I have something else lined up. I'm more looking for legal advise, as with the way the law is written salary is 40 hour work week everything else is paid over time. I've worked properties before where it was a 40 hour work week and was available for emergencies. But this is way above and beyond that.

[Clarks]

Clarks... how can you say $2688 is not much of a living

$2688 is a reasonable house payment.

Consider, a reasonable wage allows you to buy a home, a new car, feed yourself, take a few vacations and put money aside to retire on and put the kids through college. $2688 is not going to do that

2688 is about 32,000 a year. A four year degree in engineering will start at $50,000 to $70,000 a year, that is, start.

[las vegas drunk]

Originally Posted by Clarks

$2688 is a reasonable house payment.

No it is not, it is highly excessive. I have never heard of anyone with that high of a house payment. My friend recently bought a newer 2 story 4br 3ba house for $96,000. His payment is $700 a month, which IS a reasonable house payment. When I used to have a house in Phoenix I also had a $700 a month payment.

[dynimagelv]

Originally Posted by Ladyreno

Yup tried that, been here over 2 years lucky to get 1 raise. Been hunting for some else for a while, but of course with the economy the way it is there are 50+ applicants for every job offer. But still stalking the help wanted sites as well. I never quit until I have something else lined up. I'm more looking for legal advise, as with the way the law is written salary is 40 hour work week everything else is paid over time. I've worked properties before where it was a 40 hour work week and was available for emergencies. But this is way above and beyond that.

You are ina category called "Salary Exempt" which means you are exempt from the overtime laws... I have workd for several hotels in Las Vegas and Atlantic City....their feeling was we pay you for 40 hours, if you can do the job in 10 thats fine....it it takes more the 40 you arent doing it right....

UNFORTUNATLY most motel and small property owners dont see it that way....this guy is a jerk but he's probably legal....

[Clarks]

No it is not, it is highly excessive. I have never heard of anyone with that high of a house payment. My friend recently bought a newer 2 story 4br 3ba house for $96,000. His payment is $700 a month, which IS a reasonable house payment. When I used to have a house in Phoenix I also had a $700 a month payment.

You will notice that the payment you quote is fairly close to 1% of the price of the home. That is a reasonable approximation of the ratio. That is, a 96,000 home will have a monthly of around 960, a 260,000 home will have a payment around 2600.

260,000 does not get much of a house in the Reno area. Of course you can get a cheaper house. You can drive a 76 Buick Riviera with a shredded vinyl roof also.

Lets take that starting wage for the engineer of 50,000. That is $4166 per month, most lenders don't want your house payment to be more than 30% of your monthly, which is just over a thousand a month. So even with a reasonable starting salary for a 23 year old, he can't buy much of a house, but he will get there, as his pay will go up.

This isn't lavish living, it is normal living.