'I walked out. I don't do work for free': Summer camp counselor discovers they changed her offer letter and tried not to pay her for intensive orientation

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Ben Weiss • Writer and Editor
Jun 18, 2024 8:00 AM EDT

Who knew that summer camps also qualify as toxic workplace environments? Sure, on the surface, kids are running around, playing flag football, and picking on one another in ways that will likely scar them for the rest of their lives. However, underneath the surface, counselors may also be dealing with some unnecessary nonsense, particularly as it relates to pay.

This counselor was under the impression that she would be getting paid every two weeks, as that was expressly written in her contract. However, after a labor-intensive two-week orientation, she learned that she would not be getting compensated for those first two weeks. In fact, she would only start getting paid in another two weeks after the campers arrive. This was, understandably, not what she signed up for.

Keep scrolling below to see what happened when she gave the camp directors a piece of her mind. For more stories like this, check out this post about an entitled coworker's confrontation.

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  • 01
    Cheezburger Image 10360564224
    via Tegan Mierle
  • 02
    Job changed offer letter terms without notice. I thought I found a job rewarding enough. A summer camp job, stipend pay $900 every two weeks.
    via u/haute_honey
  • 03
    Not a lot of money but better than nothing. Fine while I tried to find something career-wise (I am fresh out of college).
    via u/haute_honey
  • 04
    Lots of hard labor, but room and board provided plus three meals a day. I live 30 minutes from the camp, so I would be the only commuter on board. During the first day we worked HARD. I loved it! But they barely went over orientation
    via u/haute_honey
  • 05
    stuff before putting us to work. The next day I realized that I didn't ask about pay day, so I found the camp director and asked when checks would mail out.
    via u/haute_honey
  • 06
    The offer letter said "$900 stipend every two weeks". Camp director told me that my pay wouldn't begin until the campers arrived, two weeks out. So then, I would be getting a paycheck two weeks LATER. One month from today. Without pay for the first two weeks. I was shocked. I asked what I was doing the first two weeks
    via u/haute_honey
  • 07
    working for free and he told me the room and board accommodations WAS my pay. Inquiring further I figured out that everyone else on the team was apart of a work exchange type program. Most of them weren't even getting paid with money, just room and board.
    via u/haute_honey
  • 08
    I walked out. I don't do work for free, I have a home so I don't need board, and I can make my own dinners. I feel lied to. Is that legal?
    via u/haute_honey
  • 09
    bacan 15 hr. ago Sounds like a scummy small time business. Can't imagine it is legal to write an offer letter in a way that makes you think you are getting paid for two weeks of work when you aren't. Think you made the right decision!
    via u/haute_honey
  • 10
    haute_honey OP .15 hr. ago I think so too! Crazy thing is that it's actually apart of a National (USA) program I was flabbergasted
    via u/haute_honey
  • 11
    Bebe718 6 hr. ago I would be like I'll be back in 2 weeks. Did they anything when you left? This is a good lesson to make sure offer letter has pay & start date in writing
    via u/haute_honey
  • 12
    Original-Steak-2354 3 hr. ago This is deception. Report them and stop working for them.
    via u/haute_honey
  • 13
    haute_honey OP . 2 hr. ago Yeah like I said I walked out. How/where do I ago about reporting them? (If you know)
    via u/haute_honey

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