Consumer
Leave a job? Pay rate could drop to minimum wage
NAPLES, Fla.- A Naples employee is hired at a plumbing company for $15 dollars an hour, but when he gets his pay checks he says his pay dropped down to minimum wage!
He wants to know is this legal and can he get the money, he says he is owed?
"I was only paid my agreed upon rate during my first week," said Albert Marshall.
Albert Marshall shows me his paychecks from Performance Plumbing of Southwest Florida. He says he had a verbal agreement to work for $15 dollars an hour. His first pay check with the company reflects that hourly wage.
"Clearly showed I earned exactly what I was suppose to make based on our agreement."
He worked for the plumbing company for 3 weeks, but personalities clashed and he left the company.
"I wanted something else out of the job and apparently they wanted something else also."
When he got his final two pay checks, he couldn't believe his hourly wage had changed from $15 dollars an hour to just minimum wage to just over $7.50.
"Actually, I thought it was a mistake."
But it wasn't a mistake. The company tells me they can't discuss employee termination with me, but says they aren't violating any laws by changing his rate.
I went to Naples attorney Sean King for his take.
"They did not violate federal law because they paid him minimum wage, but yes to state law. You had a breech of contract. This was our employment relationship," said Sean King.
Another attorney told us when Albert did the work, he did it thinking he would be paid $15 dollars an hour.
"So what are his options now?" I asked.
"Unfortunately, we are talking about a small amount of money so it's cost prohibited to go to an attorney, but you could go to small claims court," said King.
.png)
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.