Is your Boss Greedy, Nasty Tyrannical, Crazy or Harassing

[Help_I_Live_In_Idaho]

My boss hired me at a salary.
Then she cut by a dollar per hour and agreed to let me start.
Then after 3 months my mother died and I came back to public ridicule in the office, shunning and another $4.00 per hour pay cut because I left them in a time of need.
If I complain to her about any problem, she gets passive aggressive and bad mouths me to others, loads work on me.
Then she asks to have a discussion.
When I bring up any valid needs that she cannot defend, I get a string of diversions and logical fallacies.
Then I get punished for weeks for being honest.
Now after just over a year they are putting me on contract - another cut in pay.
This month I was punished by having my pay withheld twice.
I finally got a check today - $500 short of what I'm owed.
It is punishment for saying "you can't hold my pay back legally."

Dos this happen to anyone else

[MADem]

1. In Chinese sweatshops, maybe. Do you live in a "right to work" state? NT

[Help_I_Live_In_Idaho]

5. Yes Idaho Is a Right to Work State

And the also didn't withhold my state taxes for a year and I got the bill at tax time.

[MADem]

6. Well, you're probably fucked. Hard to say without being there, but odds are good that's the case.

Unless your boss is a total fool, it's likely that it's being taken to "the limit," and not too far beyond.

[Cleita]

2. Your boss, in cutting your pay for work done, is acting illegally.

Too bad you are in Idaho. I don't know if you have a Labor Board there or something similar but you should file a complaint with them for back pay. If you can, find a lawyer to explain your rights to you. Most lawyers do consultations for free and you might find one willing to take your case on a pro bono basis. I definitely see illegal actions here.

Finally, it seems to me that you and your co-workers badly need a labor union. It wouldn't hurt to talk to union bosses of other unions in your area. They could be useful in supplying you with suggestions and knowledge of labor laws in your state.

[Donnachaidh]

3. you need to contact the state labor board

She needs to know that you'll go to outside agencies that will slap her around if she's doing this. And talk to the local aclu about the matter.

[Help_I_Live_In_Idaho]

7. We contacted the Labor Board

Since They had me sign a contract - I don't have any federal employment rights because they don't apply to contract employees.

To get a job, you have to sign a contract

catch 22

[Cleita]

11. Contract workers like plumbers have to have more than one

job to claim contractor status. It means also that you have to file your taxes quarterly separately from them. It's a cute way to get around labor laws. You need a lawyer to give the Labor Board a big shove to look at your case again.

I know Idaho is rampant with RWingers in government office but even they have to obey the law when push comes to shove.

[BrklynLib at work]

4. I think you should be avidly perusing the help wanted ads. I cannot believe you have put up with

this for a year....
Even going back to school would be better than this. Then perhaps you could find a job in another field.

[Warpy]

8. If you ever got your pay on paper, you have a legal case.

If not, then you need to start looking for another job NOW. They're not easy to come by, but even a salary cut from the pay cut she's already given you will be worth it if you can get away from this loon.

If she has superiors, make absolutely certain they know why you've left. Supply them with a paper trail including dates, times and witnesses.

You need to get away from this person ASAP. You will be fired if you don't.

[Help_I_Live_In_Idaho]

9. Know any pro bono lawyers for an Idaho case?

[Warpy]

10. It depends on the total amount you are owed

If it's significant, then you can probably find a lawyer to work on a contingency basis.

If it's under the limit for small claims court, that's the way to proceed there. You don't need a lawyer, just the paper trail of what you were promised and what you got paid.

Just don't expect to go back to work there after you win the case.

[Cleita]

12. If you have a computer, start googling.

I managed to find a list of lawyers who take pro bono cases in Colorado on line. Just keep googling and following links and eventually you will hit pay dirt.

btw. Make sure any lawyer you get is a liberal because all those conservatives in Idaho band together. I know. I lived and worked in Idaho for five years and I know how badly employers treat the "help" there because of this and because they have been getting away with it for years.

[Help_I_Live_In_Idaho]

13. Right - Employers in this state can do anything and it is supported

They are :+ from hell