forcing tipped employees to work for free. I.e...no wages. tips only.

[Homebased]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virgin Islands
Because our company cannot afford to pay us wages AND keep the company afloat during off season, they are going to make us become independent contractors for them for about 2months. Besides us not getting paid wages(they are months behind in payment already), what are some of the other things that come with being an independent contractor? If we are not Employees for 2 months, does that mean that if one of us injures ourself, then we are not covered for Workmns comp? Bear in mind that there are NO other jobs on our island and we are going in to our slow season. BTW, our jobs would be snatched in an instant. What rights do we have? Also understand that the company is running it's business on our owed tip money and our tip money cannot be tracked or protected by local labor laws.. We all want and need to work, we just feel like we should understand what an independent contractor really means and how we can protect ourselves.

 

[pattytx]

That's just out and out illegal. Work comp? Probably not. Eligible for UI? Probably not. Employer subject to wage and hour laws, no. Social Security wage credits? No. Protection against discrimination, no.

What good does working do you if you don't get paid? At some point, the employees are going to have to call it on this employer and report him (if I remember your other post correctly).