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Laid off, accused me of stealing, didn't pay me ALL of what she owed me HELP!!!

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rblack72

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? MARYLAND

I worked for a small company for over 6 years. For the past 15 months or so business has declined quite a bit. The owner would lay off employees as needed. I was her last employee I had a conversation with her and told her I would stick it out with her until the end as long as she would give me a week or two notice if I need to start looking for a job. She promised me at least a 3-week notice. A little over a month went by and on a Thursday she told me she was closing the business and she could only pay me up until that Friday, which was the next day. She told me don’t worry about working on Friday she would pay me if I didn’t work and consider it severance pay. I could go to unemployment and file, she told me to put my last day as that Thursday so I could start the process, then get my belongings. I gave her key back returned to the office on Friday to get my items and left. When I got home later that evening there was a message saying she wanted to talk to me. I didn’t call her back because I was angry and hurt. And didn’t want to help her. A few days went by and she left another message saying the reason why she called is because she needed a password I called back and told her where the password was. I found out from another person who worked for her and still performs side jobs that she is still open and is moving her business to another location. She is renting another office space. Then a few days later she left another message accusing me of stealing software from her office and threatening me and telling me she is not going to release my final paycheck until she gets her software back. I immediately called her and told her that I only took my items and the software I took belonged to me I received it when I went to computer learning center. She never apologized just said Oh I didn’t know that. Then I discovered that the last check posted to my account was about $160.00 short. I was a salary employee and had 2 days leave left and she shorted me the one-day severance pay she told me she was going to pay me. I feel violated and want to know what my rights are.
I worked there 6 years 10 months and never stole from her and did my job well.

Thank you for your time.What is the name of your state?
 


JETX

Senior Member
the last check posted to my account was about $160.00 short.
Is this 'short' for actual hours worked... or for the Friday not worked. If for the unworked Friday, she has no legal obligation to pay you for hours you didn't actually work. Also, no requirement for severance pay.

However, if the 'short' is for actual hours worked, then she has to pay you for them. Send her a very nice PROFESSIONAL letter detailing why she owes you the pay and setting a date expected for payment (5 business days from receipt?). Send it certified RRR. If she fails to pay, file a complaint with your state labor agency and/or file a small claims suit.

I was a salary employee and had 2 days leave left
There is no obligation to pay 'leave' days unless you can PROVE that they were in fact already accrued and that the company WRITTEN policy is to pay them.

and she shorted me the one-day severance pay she told me she was going to pay me.
See above.

Sounds like you need to get over this and go find another job.
 

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