California
I live in California and worked for a major hotel chain as a front desk clerk/driver. I asked for 4 days off (2 days off plus my regular 2 days off), 30 days in advance to go to my sons graduation from boot camp for the Navy being held in Chicago. A few days later I found out we couldn't afford to fly to Chicago, so we were going to drive. I put in a revised request for 6 days off. I didn't receive an answer from my manager and about 10 days later he said something like he didn't believe that I was going. So I gave him a copy of my itinerary to show the dates I was going and to get the paperwork for the hotel stays. I still didn't get an answer from him. About a week before I was going, he called me from his office and said he had approved the previous request off, but couldn't approve the revised dates. He said because the last day, a Monday, we would be too busy and nobody could have that day off. I said fine, I'll be back by Monday. As far as I knew, I had the other days off. He didn't tell me no after I told him I would be back by Monday.
On Fridays he posts the schedule for the following week. The Friday before I was to leave, he didn't post the schedule and left out the back door without telling anyone. My co-worker called him and was told it was on his desk in his office and to go get it. When I saw it, I was on the schedule the whole time I asked for off. I called him on his cell, and he didn't answer me. We use two way radios, so I called him on it and he didn't answer me on that one either. He always answers the radio. I had Saturday off, so when I got to work on Sunday I called him at his house (2 days before I was to leave). He finally answered. He said he never approved my time off and we were going to be too busy on the following Monday, so I couldn't go. I told him again that I would be back by Monday. He denied what he had said on the phone earlier that week. He then said another employee (who he is sleeping with) didn't like that I was taking the time off, so I couldn't go. I asked him what business is it of anyone else what I do, and he just said not to worry about it. I then told him I was going to go, and that he knew it was very important to me. He said do what you have to. I went, and when I got back I wasn't on the schedule anymore. I picked up my regular check on the Monday I got back. They said the manager wasn't there, so I asked them where my final paycheck was and they said they didn't have it. I didn't get it till Wednesday.
I've been there 2 1/2 years and have not been given lunch breaks or rest breaks. I was forced to sign a waiver for the lunch breaks within 6 months of starting the job. I work 8 hour days, full time. Also, I was suppose to have 5 days vacation the first year, 10 days vacation the second, and they changed it to 5 days vacation for the 3rd year (they took away 5 days). I've only had 10 days paid vacation, and on my final paycheck they only paid me 3 hours of vacation. I figure they owe me at least 7 days of vacation.
The employee my manager is sleeping with calls in at least once a month and takes time off all the time. Her daughter also works there and also calls in about twice a month and asks for 3 day weekends and other time off all the time. I've only called in 3 times in 2 1/2 years. Also, I was hired as a front desk clerk full time, then 8 months after I started, they hired the daughter as part time which turned into full time shortly there after. About 6 months after that, my manager told me I would have to drive the van a few days a week so I wouldn’t have my hours cut. Both the mom and the daughter don’t have to drive the van, and I have more seniority than the daughter. He wasn’t going to cut the daughters hours.
When I was hired I was promised a raise after the 6 month probation, but I have never received a raise. The daughter was hired after me and has had at least one raise since she started.
I applied for unemployment, but I don't think I'm going to be approved. I had a phone interview with edd this last Thursday, and I haven’t been issued a check yet. I should have received my first check today. Is there anything I can do? I can't afford a lawyer (My husband earns too much to be considered low income), does the labor board assign a free lawyer? Would I have a case?
I live in California and worked for a major hotel chain as a front desk clerk/driver. I asked for 4 days off (2 days off plus my regular 2 days off), 30 days in advance to go to my sons graduation from boot camp for the Navy being held in Chicago. A few days later I found out we couldn't afford to fly to Chicago, so we were going to drive. I put in a revised request for 6 days off. I didn't receive an answer from my manager and about 10 days later he said something like he didn't believe that I was going. So I gave him a copy of my itinerary to show the dates I was going and to get the paperwork for the hotel stays. I still didn't get an answer from him. About a week before I was going, he called me from his office and said he had approved the previous request off, but couldn't approve the revised dates. He said because the last day, a Monday, we would be too busy and nobody could have that day off. I said fine, I'll be back by Monday. As far as I knew, I had the other days off. He didn't tell me no after I told him I would be back by Monday.
On Fridays he posts the schedule for the following week. The Friday before I was to leave, he didn't post the schedule and left out the back door without telling anyone. My co-worker called him and was told it was on his desk in his office and to go get it. When I saw it, I was on the schedule the whole time I asked for off. I called him on his cell, and he didn't answer me. We use two way radios, so I called him on it and he didn't answer me on that one either. He always answers the radio. I had Saturday off, so when I got to work on Sunday I called him at his house (2 days before I was to leave). He finally answered. He said he never approved my time off and we were going to be too busy on the following Monday, so I couldn't go. I told him again that I would be back by Monday. He denied what he had said on the phone earlier that week. He then said another employee (who he is sleeping with) didn't like that I was taking the time off, so I couldn't go. I asked him what business is it of anyone else what I do, and he just said not to worry about it. I then told him I was going to go, and that he knew it was very important to me. He said do what you have to. I went, and when I got back I wasn't on the schedule anymore. I picked up my regular check on the Monday I got back. They said the manager wasn't there, so I asked them where my final paycheck was and they said they didn't have it. I didn't get it till Wednesday.
I've been there 2 1/2 years and have not been given lunch breaks or rest breaks. I was forced to sign a waiver for the lunch breaks within 6 months of starting the job. I work 8 hour days, full time. Also, I was suppose to have 5 days vacation the first year, 10 days vacation the second, and they changed it to 5 days vacation for the 3rd year (they took away 5 days). I've only had 10 days paid vacation, and on my final paycheck they only paid me 3 hours of vacation. I figure they owe me at least 7 days of vacation.
The employee my manager is sleeping with calls in at least once a month and takes time off all the time. Her daughter also works there and also calls in about twice a month and asks for 3 day weekends and other time off all the time. I've only called in 3 times in 2 1/2 years. Also, I was hired as a front desk clerk full time, then 8 months after I started, they hired the daughter as part time which turned into full time shortly there after. About 6 months after that, my manager told me I would have to drive the van a few days a week so I wouldn’t have my hours cut. Both the mom and the daughter don’t have to drive the van, and I have more seniority than the daughter. He wasn’t going to cut the daughters hours.
When I was hired I was promised a raise after the 6 month probation, but I have never received a raise. The daughter was hired after me and has had at least one raise since she started.
I applied for unemployment, but I don't think I'm going to be approved. I had a phone interview with edd this last Thursday, and I haven’t been issued a check yet. I should have received my first check today. Is there anything I can do? I can't afford a lawyer (My husband earns too much to be considered low income), does the labor board assign a free lawyer? Would I have a case?
