Workplace hostility.

JoeCool10

JoeCool10

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Ok, I need some serious help here...
For 3 years I worked for a couple who are "friends" of the family. They own their own construction company. Because they know us personally, my boss (the VP) was always inquiring about my family, etc., so I'd tell her. Then she started to verbally harass and abuse me. This tuesday, I was forced to quit and sign a letter of resignation under a hostile work environment. Now she is refusing to give me my final paycheck. What can I do or who can I call to fix this problem? I live in the state of Florida, in case anyone has any information...
 
Alien Allen said:
http://www.eeoc.gov/employees/charge.cfm

start here or find a local office

they are really being stupid

Not sure what you signed but if I am reading that right you may have given up your being able to get unemployment if they are saying you were fired by that cause
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Not necessarily so. Being fired or quitting, one can still file for unemployment benefits. If it really was a hostile working environment, and that's why she quit, unemployment will get to the bottom of it once she files her claim. I suggest filing a claim immediately with the unemployment office. Legally, the employer cannot refuse to pay you your final wages. If the employer doesn't pay, then that builds an even better case of the hostile working environment.
 
Alien Allen said:
http://www.eeoc.gov/employees/charge.cfm

start here or find a local office

they are really being stupid

Not sure what you signed but if I am reading that right you may have given up your being able to get unemployment if they are saying you were fired by that cause
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It wasn't discrimination, it was harassment. Thank you, though. And yes I did give up rights to unemployment, but NOT my final check.
 
JoeCool10 said:
Ok, I need some serious help here...
For 3 years I worked for a couple who are "friends" of the family. They own their own construction company. Because they know us personally, my boss (the VP) was always inquiring about my family, etc., so I'd tell her. Then she started to verbally harass and abuse me. This tuesday, I was forced to quit and sign a letter of resignation under a hostile work environment. Now she is refusing to give me my final paycheck. What can I do or who can I call to fix this problem? I live in the state of Florida, in case anyone has any information...
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i don't know what the state of florida calls the agency, but there is one that addresses employment issues. you won't need to get a lawyer until you strike out there. when you do, that's the kind of case the legal aid people will take.

if it's available in your dialing area, dial 2-1-1 should be the state help line and 3-1-1 will be the local.
 
brieze said:
Hmm, I'd try the BBB (Better Business Bureau) first. You might need a lawyer anyway, but the BBB might be able to help with info. And at the very least, you can lower their ratings if it was fraud.
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That was actually one of the first places I checked. For some reason though, the business isn't coming up? Not sure why. I know for a fact they pay taxes and what not. Doesn't that mean they should be listed in the BBB?

skyblue said:
if we were in florida me,peter.dk,zorak and boomer could ask the question.......'want someone hurting?'
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Oh god, I wish :24: You know, when she got in my face the day I quit I was so ready to knock her effin' jaw off. I'm nearly twice her size, the woman is in her 60s, only 100 lbs and 4'9". Not to mention I used to box as a kid with my brothers. One swift right hook and she would've been out cold. But, karma will turn right around and bite her in the rear. The only thing I'm mainly worried about is my final check... :(
 
JoeCool10 said:
That was actually one of the first places I checked. For some reason though, the business isn't coming up? Not sure why. I know for a fact they pay taxes and what not. Doesn't that mean they should be listed in the BBB?
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The BBB is a private enterprise so the answer is no. That said, the BBB is no place to settle a wage dispute. You need to take that up with your state employment regulators because they are the ones to enforce the labor laws. Have you looked at their site to see what the process is? I've filed one complaint in Canada, Manitoba to be exact, and the process took it's time but in the end I got every penny I was owed.


JoeCool10 said:
The only thing I'm mainly worried about is my final check... :(
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I don't know what your regs are but in most provinces the law states if a person quits without giving proper notice the employer does not have to release the final check.

Now I have to ask this... why on earth would you have felt like you had to sign a document you didn't agree with? Was she holding a gun to your head?
 
Guyzerr said:
The BBB is a private enterprise so the answer is no. That said, the BBB is no place to settle a wage dispute. You need to take that up with your state employment regulators because they are the ones to enforce the labor laws. Have you looked at their site to see what the process is? I've filed one complaint in Canada, Manitoba to be exact, and the process took it's time but in the end I got every penny I was owed.




I don't know what your regs are but in most provinces the law states if a person quits without giving proper notice the employer does not have to release the final check.

Now I have to ask this... why on earth would you have felt like you had to sign a document you didn't agree with? Was she holding a gun to your head?
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I have spoken to the Dept. of Labor and they said if I felt the need to do so I could file for constructive discharge. Basically, when the employer starts working under normal working conditions and then those conditions are compromised by the employer to force the employee to quit, you can receive unemployment. And in the state of Florida, the employer is only allowed to hold your check until the date that it is usually given out (payday). Any amount of time longer than that, is when you take it up with another division of the Dept. of Labor. Which I will now have to contact Monday seeing as the offices close early on Saturdays.

To be honest, I was so fed up with her bitching at me about everything that it was one of those "in the moment" things. But, hindsight is 20/20.
 
JoeCool10 said:
I have spoken to the Dept. of Labor and they said if I felt the need to do so I could file for constructive discharge. Basically, when the employer starts working under normal working conditions and then those conditions are compromised by the employer to force the employee to quit, you can receive unemployment. And in the state of Florida, the employer is only allowed to hold your check until the date that it is usually given out (payday). Any amount of time longer than that, is when you take it up with another division of the Dept. of Labor. Which I will now have to contact Monday seeing as the offices close early on Saturdays.
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At least you know and now have a starting point. The thing is will she pay you as she's supposed to or will you have to do battle with her? I'm sure you need the dough like everyone else but if it comes to it don't hesitate to file a complaint against her. Dept's of Labour take that matter very serious.

JoeCool10 said:
To be honest, I was so fed up with her bitching at me about everything that it was one of those "in the moment" things. But, hindsight is 20/20.
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I understand you quitting as I've been in that position m ore than once but even at that never, ever sign anything you don't agree with regardless of how fed up you are. If need be you get a witness to stand by your side while you tell the person the reason you are quitting is due to harassment. End of story.
 
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Guyzerr said:
At least you know and now have a starting point. The thing is will she pay you as she's supposed to or will you have to do battle with her? I'm sure you need the dough like everyone else but if it comes to it don't hesitate to file a complaint against her. Dept's of Labour take that matter very serious.



I understand you quitting as I've been in that position m ore than once but even at that never, ever sign anything you don't agree with regardless of how fed up you are. If need be you get a witness to stand by your side while you tell the person the reason you are quitting is due to harassment. End of story.
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I agree with you 110%. Like I said though, hindsight is 20/20 lol.
 
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