Off the wall subject. I worked for a local fly shop for one day (reason for not staying was the drive and that I was hired to be a guide but, in truth he wanted me to keep books and guide trips straight).
Anyway, I put in a 6 hour shift, cleaned the store (swept and dusted) sold a couple of items, minded the store though slow from the weather, and learned how to use the computer programs and book guide trips.
Ended up telling the owner the next day in person (I made the 45 mile drive through the fog) that this wasn’t what I was looking for and this wouldn’t work. I was ready to finish the day if he wanted, but he said he would be fine so I left.
No to the point, he never paid me or made mention of it. Am I wrong in thinking he owes me?
Good question – You stated you thought you were being hired to be a guide, so, does that mean that you are a guide for this fly shop or did that go down the drain with not wanting the position? If you have cut all ties with this fly shop, I would say that the owner/manager owes you for the time spent since you did do the job. Maybe for only one day, but, the fact remains that you did the job. If not paid for your services, then at least some sort of fly shop discount on goods purchased or needed. I know I would feel obligated to repay you in some sort of way for services rendered.
Just the way I would do business and just my opinion.
Without knowing if there was some sort of legal contractual agreement in place, he would certainly if nothing else, morally and ethically owe you for your time spent helping to benefit his business.
Thanks, the price per hour in the store was to be $8.00 an hour. I am willing to write me off and not deal with the taxes issue If he would give me the guide price on this rod (that will remain un mentioned) that he carries. He can keep the $48. for that discount price. I feel that this could be a win, win situation. He keeps his money plus gets more of mine to order 1 more guide rod. Is this crazy thinking?
Send him a bill if you want the money. First, though, figure out if he spent a lot of time interviewing you and training you for your one day of work. If you base your bill on the value you delivered to the shop it should be fair to both parties.
FG,
You serious? From what I read of your post you would’ve made a fine employee, fitting all you did into a 6 hr. day! You showed much gusto and character.
Even if you were just so-so, YES he owes you! No doubt about it!
Even though the job wasn’t what you expected (maybe it was miscommunication or misunderstanding), but you did work for him part of a day. I’m guessing that there was some pay arrangements before you started to work. Did he mention hourly wage or did he say you would be paid per guide trip plus for working at the store? If you two agreed on hourly wage, yes, he does owe you for those 6 hours but not for the commuting. If he’s honorable, he’d pay you for the hours the first day. However, this is not worth taking to small claims if he doesn’t want to pay. It’s more trouble than it’s worth. Chalk it up to “Lesson Learned”.
In the future, maybe the owner should be clearer what the job description is. Both sides need to voice expectations when interviewing.
Diane, you are right, I would no way take this to small claims. I still live here LOL.
He told me before I started about the $8.00 and hour, and he said a price for each guide trip on top of that to suppliment the low pay. I don’t want to burn any bridges with him, just curious if I would be out of line to make this offer to him about the rod.
I think that I will be on the Falcon’s Ledge team instead of his.
<<Thanks, the price per hour in the store was to be $8.00 an hour. I am willing to write me off and not deal with the taxes issue If he would give me the guide price on this rod (that will remain un mentioned) that he carries. He can keep the $48. for that discount price. I feel that this could be a win, win situation. He keeps his money plus gets more of mine to order 1 more guide rod. Is this crazy thinking?>>
Yes, you brought up a point. It’s not that you would be paid $48. Uncle Sam, no matter what the price, wants a piece of the action. What are the IRS, state, SS, etc., deductions? Sounds like it’s a small shop and wouldn’t carry employee insurance.
You can bring up a point of making a deal for working for part of the day for that discount. It wouldn’t hurt.
Ummm … what am I missing here? You were hired at a specific hourly rate, you went to work, completed a shift by WORKING, and then had the decency to report in person to explain why you wouldn’t be continuing (I mean, you didn’t call him, or just not show up), and you want to know if you should be PAID?!? You upheld your end of the bargin. This is one reason women don’t get the respect they deserve! Unless he has some kind of suggestion to you, like “how 'bout if we work some kind of a discount, instead of hastling the tax codes …” , instead of totally ignoring it all, damn straight I’d be asking! That’s inexcusable!! He owes you something!
Yes you should be paid, but a question. Was it just your opinion that he “just wanted you for shop work and paperwork” or did he actually tell you that. It doesn’t sound like he said that or you wouldn’t have taken the job. If you quit because you didn’t get a guide trip the first day perhaps you jumped the gun. Please, no offense, just curious if/when he said you would never get a trip,.Maybe he has regular full time guides and you would have broken in when it got busy…Bob
mantis
You got it right. I am not bitter with the arrangement. He does have 8 full time guides and I am sure he would have slipped me one here and there. Feeling that I have a lot to offer to these waters he guides, I also realize that these guys have been with him (paid their dues). That was fine also. The thing that got me wondering, is when showing me how to pick guides for certain days (who’s working who isn’t) he pointed out two that were iffy. He said if all others were guiding to call them but not to expect them to be there. What About me? No mention or anything. I am not saying that he wouldn’t have been fair, I can’t know that wouldn’t be. He is a great guy.
I realized reading his guide book and the fact that there were 6 qualified and 2 maybe’s that I wasn’t going to be getting any real soon.
I am a sales person, and he didn’t have that much merchandise, it’s more about the guide.
I just didn’t feel I would be that happy, so I told him. All good. I just don’t work for free when told that there is a payment. Not to say I don’t donate my time, I do. But that wasn’t the agreement.
I am no lawyer, so I can’t really say for sure, however, I believe that you are legally entitled to the hours you actually worked. At least that’s the gist I get from watching some of those TV small claims court cases. It should not matter that you quit or why. It should not matter that he spent time to interview you, he would have had to do that for anyone he hired I look at the interview process as contractor’s who provide free estimates, they may provide 20 free estimates per job that they get, its an expense to the business and can be written off, I think.
As far as asking if you can get the employee rate on the rod as opposed to getting paid money. That depends on how well you know him. Does he seem to be an open person willing to listen and reserve judgement until you are done or is he someone who is the opposite or somewhere in between? (Rhetorical question) How long ago was it that you worked for him? I mean if it has been a couple of months and he hasn’t paid, then you may want to make a friendly call and point out that you were not paid for your hours (hopefully there was some record of that, did you punch in?) and perhaps it was an honest oversight. At that point, I would make the suggestion and perhaps you would not get the exact same discount as the other employees, but he may still allow a good deal. If it was just this past week or last week, then you may want to call him to find out if you need to pick up your check or will he mail it to you. At that point you may be able to work a deal. Either way, I would emphasize that you really did not intend to work one day to get the discount, that you really wanted to do some guiding and when you found out that he did not have enough customers to guide for that you felt that, being the low person on the totem pole, you would be the one not guiding when there was not enough customers to guide. Etc. I’m only giving you ex. of what I would say, you can word it your own way or not bother with my suggestions at all (hey, there’s not one method that works for everyone, I won’t be offended ).
If he is to pay you less than $600.00 for the year I don’t think it’s a tax or paperwork issue. He only has to send W2s to people that make more than that. I would probably ask for payment in merchandise at 25% off retail. That’s a win-win. What’s the big deal with the fly rod? You should be able to get one direct unless it’s discontinued or something. I wouldn’t think that getting the guide price on something was much of a gift. If you’re a guide you can get that price without him, so he really wouldn’t be doing anything at all.
I would just stop by and ask if my paycheck was ready yet. If you go to work ANYWHERE and quit after the first day whether they are happy about it or not you’re still going to get a check for the day you worked. You may not want to pursue it for whatever reasons, but legally you’re entitled to a days wages.
F.G. On my farm here in Michigan, I hire part time and seasonal help. I make it clear the first hour is for orientation and filling out paper work. Even as Benjo says, if they work under the $600.00 I still need to know who to contact in an emergancy and make sure they are American Citizens. I show them were the time sheet is and how to use it, bathrooms, drinking water, etc. This is all on their time and they know it up front. I have had help that didn’t make it beyond the 2nd hour. They got their wages and were sent on their way. It is sad but a hand shake and a verbal agreement regarding workers just don’t seem to work anymore. Write a short friendly letter stating your opinion and expectations. Include a stamped self addressed envelope and wait by the mail box. Good luck, Jonezee
[This message has been edited by Jonezee (edited 29 March 2006).]
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