My daughter's boss won't pay her (employment, owner, employer, paycheck)

[beckycat]

My daughter is 17 and worked for a sandwich shop. Her boss won't give her last paycheck to her unless:
1) She pays him $25 cash for quitting without notice.
2) An apology letter
3) Resignation letter
She quit b/c she felt he was taking advantage of her b/c he wouldn't even pay her minimum wage and made her work by herself. She brought a cop there as the labor department said. He still won't pay her. The cop said it was illegal to leave her by herself being she is only 17. My husband I both spoke to him also. The cop said to contact the news, which we are in the process of doing. I know it's only $120, but that's alot to her and she has bills to pay. What else could we do?

[ogplife]

Originally Posted by beckycat

My daughter is 17 and worked for a sandwich shop. Her boss won't give her last paycheck to her unless:
1) She pays him $25 cash for quitting without notice.
2) An apology letter
3) Resignation letter
She quit b/c she felt he was taking advantage of her b/c he wouldn't even pay her minimum wage and made her work by herself. She brought a cop there as the labor department said. He still won't pay her. The cop said it was illegal to leave her by herself being she is only 17. My husband I both spoke to him also. The cop said to contact the news, which we are in the process of doing. I know it's only $120, but that's alot to her and she has bills to pay. What else could we do?

Sounds like you are on the right track. There is nothing worse for a business than negative exposure.

[jillz]

Originally Posted by beckycat

My daughter is 17 and worked for a sandwich shop. Her boss won't give her last paycheck to her unless:
1) She pays him $25 cash for quitting without notice.
2) An apology letter
3) Resignation letter
She quit b/c she felt he was taking advantage of her b/c he wouldn't even pay her minimum wage and made her work by herself. She brought a cop there as the labor department said. He still won't pay her. The cop said it was illegal to leave her by herself being she is only 17. My husband I both spoke to him also. The cop said to contact the news, which we are in the process of doing. I know it's only $120, but that's alot to her and she has bills to pay. What else could we do?

I don't know the laws in your state, but I used to be a boss. When I fired someone, I needed their paycheck in hand. When they quit (notice or not), I had 3 days to get them their paycheck after last day worked. I would be VERY surprised that any state would require $25 for quitting without notice would require ANYONE to give written or verbal notice at all. While it is nice to give notice and would help insure a good rec, it isn't required. I had a job when I was 19 that was bad. I had enough one day and never went back except to pick up my last paycheck (on the regular payday). Usually a news channel will have a reporter that handles things like bad business practices. Maybe you could contact them and see if they will help her. The only other option would be to retain an attorney. Maybe not worth it financially to you or your daughter but it could help educate this particular business owner about hiring practices and fair business laws in relation to staff. Who knows, maybe an attorney can help get your daughter back pay for not being paid at least minimum wage.

[Huckleberry3911948]

employment at will stuff. just when did we decide america did not need labor representation (the U word, Unions)

[missyM]

Originally Posted by Huckleberry3911948

employment at will stuff. just when did we decide america did not need labor representation (the U word, Unions)

She doesn't need a union, she needs for that business to simply follow what is most likely a state law.
And, I don't need to pay $10 for a sandwich. Unions, and other entitlement mentalities are what got us into the whole outsourcing mess in the first place.

[sapphire]

Originally Posted by beckycat

My daughter is 17 and worked for a sandwich shop. Her boss won't give her last paycheck to her unless:
1) She pays him $25 cash for quitting without notice.
2) An apology letter
3) Resignation letter
She quit b/c she felt he was taking advantage of her b/c he wouldn't even pay her minimum wage and made her work by herself. She brought a cop there as the labor department said. He still won't pay her. The cop said it was illegal to leave her by herself being she is only 17. My husband I both spoke to him also. The cop said to contact the news, which we are in the process of doing. I know it's only $120, but that's alot to her and she has bills to pay. What else could we do?

Call the labor board in your state. This does not sound the least bit legal. NONE OF IT.

[sterlinggirl]

Why not pay her to stand in front of that business politely handing potential customers a leaflet explaining their business practices, with directions to the nearest competing business?

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by sapphire

Call the labor board in your state. This does not sound the least bit legal. NONE OF IT.

Ditto.

I'd call more than the local news, too. Call major news channels and consumer news advocate you can think of. Then sue him. (I don't say that lightly either, as I'm not a litigious person.) If it's a chain store from a major franchise, call the main headquarters, even if it's a privately owned chain of a national store, like Subway.

You don't want this employer taking advantage of another teen.

[gardener34]

Letters? This guy is nuts. Is he used to doing business in another country where they have no labor laws?... sounds like he is trying to intimidate your teen. YOu - NOT your teen - should tell him you are considering contacting the newspaper/TV/their franchise and if necessary a lawyer.

I bet he will fork it over. He is just trying to intimidate your teen cause he thinks he can get away with it. (maybe he has gotten away with it before).

And now your teen knows, to avoid this mess again, it is considered professional courtesy to give a certain "notice" period and she should do that from now on with any job she has.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by gardener34

And now your teen knows, to avoid this mess again, it is considered professional courtesy to give a certain "notice" period and she should do that from now on with any job she has.

it is courteous, but not required.

this guy sounds like a joke. I would have told him where to stick the paycheck, but then again I have a few years on your daughter.

good luck!