'That's so messed up': Employer changes holiday pay and refuses to pay employees for the holidays they already worked

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Brad Dickson • Managing Editor
Jan 10, 2024 9:00 AM EST

"I have altered the deal… pray I don't alter it further…" is a great quote when it's being spoken by one of the greatest movie villains of the 20th century, but is not something you want to hear coming from your boss—especially when the thing they're changing directly affects your upcoming pay. 

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  • For one, in most places, changing the terms of an employee's compensation after the hours have already been worked is highly illegal. For another, it's just an exceptionally terrible thing to do, particularly when you're being a scrooge about your worker's holiday pay.

    And, yet, that's what the new owners of this company reportedly decided to do. Changing the company's holiday pay agreement after the holidays had already passed but before the employees received their paychecks. This worker shared the text exchange they had with their manager and gave some context to the situation in the post that followed, asking readers for their advice as to what they should do regarding the situation.

  • 01

    The messages between the employee and their boss

    Posted by u/Zestyclose-Worth-460 Employers pulled agreed upon holiday pay from all employees the day before payday. Seeking advice Today 8:35 AM Did front desk not get paid for the holidays we worked? No they did not approve holiday pay Oh wow that's terrible, I worked 3 holidays and we were all Told we were getting holiday Pay
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  • 02
    You get what you got paid just not holiday pay Ask Assistant manager she'll explain That's so messed up. No point in asking about it, it doesn't change the fact that we lost our holiday pay. I remember seeing my hours and approving them on Paycom and seeing the extra 8 hours on each holiday when I approved it. I just don't like that i approved those hours and signed off on them only for them to be pulled From me last minute
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  • 03
    But I know it was a decision with the higher up management and not your decision Today 245 PM Yes they were there. I approved them for y'all. However, said she explained to everyone how it worked. And that everyone has a new hire hate of 12/03. I tried to add them and then they removed them Delivered
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  • 04

    The employee explained the situation further in their post

    As the title reads, our payroll denied everyone's holiday pay a day or two before paychecks went out. I have text messages showing proof of the verbal agreement of holiday pay, as well as my time sheets on Paycom showing the additional holiday pay hours and showing that I signed off on them and general manager approved them. I have attached the texts below, me and about 10 other employees have all lost 8 hours from our paycheck, as well as New Year's Eve on our upcoming paycheck.
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  • 05
    For context, I work at a hotel and our hotel was bought out by a new company about 2 months ago. This new company listed us as new hires, but since then I have not been shown an employee contract or signed any paperwork other than filling out my personal details for their information. I am thinking of filing a complaint with the board of labor regarding this, or possibly refusing to work any more shifts until I get my agreed upon money. I think this could qualify under the texas payday law? Unem
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  • 06
    the new company took over this has not been the only fucking they've so generously given out. Being as were new hires, our insurance was cut and the company instilled a "no call in" policy requiring a doctors note for any missed days or else the employee is written up. Advice is appreciated as I am just pissed at this and want to be more educated on what my recourse is. Attached is the verbal "proof" of the holiday pay agreement.
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  • 07

    Readers responded in the comments

    Yverthel That they classified existing employees as new hires because ownership changed is more than reason enough for every single one of you to walk off the job the same day. Seriously. As a collective unit, go to your bosses and say "fix this or we all walk. at once." 4.2k Rousebouse They've already proven they don't care. No warning, just all leave mid shift. Reply Share 1.0k Reply Share 370 ... Yverthel That's valid too. I like giving them the chance to fix their shit because being unemploy
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  • 08
    c0mpg33k sounds like wage theft. I'd file a complaint and lawyer up. I'd be shocked if you couldn't find a lawyer on a contingency depending on how many employees are affected Reply Share 2.0k levajack Shouldn't even need a lawyer. The state labor board will take care of it if you report the wage theft 655 Reply Share
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  • 09
    xtrasmols They absolutely cannot retroactively change the wage they agreed to pay you. File complaints with the department of labor. Reply Share 281 davdev. They can put this change in effect for future holdings. you are correct they can't do it retroactively. ↑ 29 Reply Share
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  • 10
    SecretScavenger36 They can't agree to holiday pay then take it back after you work those hours. That's wage theft. Reply Share 68 Emo_tep Can we just call it theft? 44 Reply Share
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  • 11
    LikeABundleOfHay To help people comment can you let us know what country you're in? Reply Share 57 Zestyclose-Worth-460 OP USA, Texas 62 Reply Share haleygirl96 Literally. Of course this is Texas.... So grateful I moved to Cali last year.... Reply Share 44
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  • 12
    swonstar I was so pissed at a new job once. I got hired right before Thanksgiving. Was told I get Holiday pay as long as I don't take off the day after the Holiday. Cool! Come to find out, there's a 90 day probation in which you aren't eligible. Fuckers! 23 Reply Share Zestyclose-Worth-460 OP I wonder if that's what she meant by the hire date being 12/08. Some kind of probation period? But even still hours were promised that we didn't receive, amounting to probably thousands of dollars for all t
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  • 13
    wanderlustexe lawyer 236 Reply Share Zestyclose-Worth-460 OP Lawyers take monies :( hopefully I can draw unemployment and just quit this god awful place while I look for a new job, and report them as well 77 ↓ 227 Reply Share ... perfect_fifths Not always. Employment lawyers take contingency cases and often make the employer pay for the lawyer fees. Consults are free. You should honestly do it. Reply Share
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