'I worked a full two weeks': Boss refuses to provide W2, denies employee his promised salary, employee sabotages company

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Oct 30, 2023 2:00 PM EDT

Never forget that when it comes to your working agreement, you have to get everything in writing. I'm not one to be cynical about everyone that I work for, but I will always at the very least protect myself, and yes, I have learned this the hard way. This is especially true for jobs where the workload is inconsistent, such as a freelance position. If you want to be promised some semblance of stability with the workflow, you have to lay all your cards on the table from the get-go. It's not that every manager out there is going to manipulate you, but they won't necessarily think about your experience unless you step into the role of being your biggest advocate.

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  • 01
    Gesture - "My new employer is trying to play games with my pay." SIGN HERE
    via Kelly Sikkema

  • Here, we have an employee who made the mistake of starting to work for a company before receiving official paperwork. Big mistake! Now, after two full weeks of work, their boss is denying them payment and leaving all communication up to the front desk folks, who keep telling OP that their promised salary was incorrect. Even though it seems like no official documentation of OP's employment was ever submitted, there is some hope left for them if they have been keeping a record of all communication (including any salary discussion).

    Keep scrolling below to hear the original post and other similar stories from Redditors in the comments section. For more stories like this, here is one about an employee who caused a mass quitting at the office.

  • 02
    Font - My new employer is trying to play games with my pay. My new employer is trying to play games with my paycheck.
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 03
    Font - I was hired as a social media manager for a popular cosmetic dentist. My offer was $5000 monthly salary, but I'd be paid biweekly. My first few days I asked when I'd be doing any kind of legal paperwork. He told me I could be w2 or contract. I request w2. 2 weeks roll by and there's no word of when I'll being signing papers. Other red flags pop up and I decide this job isn't worth is as I'm spending $75 a week in gas and almost the same in tolls.
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 04
    Font - They're now requesting I bring the work phone back which has all the content videos on there. I told them I have zero issue going to drop it off but I need my full paycheck as I worked a full 2 weeks. The dentist is handing this off to the front desk and making it their issue. They're claiming we didn't agree on that salary but she can't tell me what it is.
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 05
    Font - I sent back my offer email stating the exact amount. Now she says they're trying to figure out how much to pay me because "I wasn't there every day" but I absolutely was there every single day. They had no way of tracking my hours. I was also coming home and working more. Not to mention it shouldn't matter how many hours specifically as I was hired salary. Although it was over 40 hours a week I put in.
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 06
    Font - They're making this quite difficult. How do I even go about getting my full check? I don't feel comfortable returning the work phone until I get paid. What would you do?
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 07
    Font - Winter_Ad_5961 Go to the labor board. 21 hr. ago 2.0k Reply Share
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 08
    Font - Honest_Palpitation 91. 18 hr. ago And report to the irs. 917 Reply Share
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 09
    Font - Healthy Direction659 - 17 hr. ago . And don't return the work phone unless paid. That is your only leverage. 4 605 Reply Share
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 10
    Font - RAGEEEEE. 16 hr. ago Work phone? Oh, he turned that in a week ago. Not his fault they don't remember. 241 Reply
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 11
    Font - Honest_Palpit ation91 - 16 hr. ago . And no one gave him a receipt. He turned it in though. 132 Reply
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 12
    Font - thedreamer714 - 20 hr. ago Your best bet is the labor board. Keep anything in writing, such as the email with the pay rate. Do you have the job ad, and does it list any details to corroborate your story, such as work hours? Screenshot any work texts.
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 13
    Font - In the future, always get something in writing or a document from the employer stating your rate of pay, work hours, and work location.
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 14
    Font - If they required you to come in the office or work certain hours, this will likely make it a w2 job and they will face penalties without the proper paperwork.
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 15
    Font - I would send the phone back via mail certified and insured requiring signature. I'm no lawyer, but I believe they can legally hold your check if you fail to return property. Sorry this happened to you. Good luck! 1.0k Reply Share
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 16
    Smile - DirtyPen PalDoug 20 hr. ago H Copy your work.. delete it on their report to dol 285 Reply Share
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 17
    Font - BigTex380 20 hr. ago They likely never added you to their payroll system so doing that now makes no sense to them. Offer to send an invoice for the two weeks and let them 1099 you instead. 162 Reply Share
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 18
    Font - mostlygayy OP. 18 hr. ago Unfortunately I can't back up my content. They've shut down the iPhone and I cannot get into it. So they get to keep my work and I cannot delete it. I don't want to keep the phone by any means I just feel like it's my only leverage to get my money. $2300 is a lot of money to just throw down the drain. Plus the several hundred I've already spent between gas and tolls. 156 Reply Share
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 19
    Font - RosieQParker 18 hr. ago Seems like a golden opportunity to drag their Oon social media. 81 Reply Share
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 20
    Font - mostlygayy OP. 18 hr. ago Period. I'm going to wait and hopefully they just pay me what they're supposed to so I can put this behind me. But it's also just an outrageous situation in general. I think it's pretty gon end to fowith a social media person lol on his
    via u/mostlygayy
  • 21
    Font - JerryBoBerry38 - 20 hr. ago $5000* 12 months = $60,000 $60,000/ 2080 hours in a year = $28.85 per hour. Times that by the exact number of hours you worked. Tell them you when you get that amount in pay you will be in to collect it and return the phone. Go to their bank where it is drawn and cash there in person. DO NOT deposit it in your account. CASH at their bank!!! Get it before they can call in a stop payment.
    via u/mostlygayy

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