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Student teacher, changing pay on summer job

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DrInfested

Junior Member
Posting for my wife: She is 1 semester from getting her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at a fairly high quality university nearby.

During the Summer time off, she found a job opportunity at the college for a teacher for their 2-week literacy camp. She interviewed for the job, and was hired, along with another student teacher. The pay was advertised as $1000 for 2 weeks, which is the same as they've paid all the previous years at the camp. The work includes the time spent at camp (8-10 hours/day) plus hours of work prior to prepare all the material ahead of time.
She was told a day or two before the camp started, that the pay might change, but it wasn't brought up again until after the camp was already underway. Apparently due to an initially low number of students, they were going to pay her only $500 dollars, and now they are saying MAYBE $750...

She didn't sign a contract or an agreement for the work and pay, so I'm wondering if she has any options, but she and I are both very frustrated and upset that this University-run operation, won't pay the agreed amount, especially since the second week has even more students than they've ever had in the program. My wife has worked very hard on this and deserves what she is owed. The Dean of the college of education is part of it and she's worried if she made a fuss, she would have issues finishing her degree.

Any thoughts?

We LIVE in Mississippi, and the school is in Alabama.
 


adjusterjack

Senior Member
She was told a day or two before the camp started, that the pay might change, but it wasn't brought up again until after the camp was already underway. Apparently due to an initially low number of students, they were going to pay her only $500 dollars, and now they are saying MAYBE $750...

She didn't sign a contract or an agreement for the work and pay, so I'm wondering if she has any options, but she and I are both very frustrated and upset that this University-run operation, won't pay the agreed amount, especially since the second week has even more students than they've ever had in the program. My wife has worked very hard on this and deserves what she is owed.

That's all well and good but she was warned days in advance that the pay would change but she took the position anyway. I don't see any recourse there.

The Dean of the college of education is part of it and she's worried if she made a fuss, she would have issues finishing her degree.

Then I guess she shouldn't make a fuss.
 

DrInfested

Junior Member
The problem is that the current number of students is HIGHER than any previous year, which means she's doing more work for less pay than they have ever given prior. She was notified the pay *might* change but not told what the number would be. I just don't understand how they can hold this until the camp is pretty much done.

Also to be clear, she was already working on the camp before she was told the pay might change.
 

xylene

Senior Member
Is her pay changing retroactively? Her pay changing after hours worked? Then it is legal

As to the university issues - she should speak to the university ombudsman, because I agree there is something very unfair about this situation. (The situation being 'if you make waves about your pay you won't graduate' - sound extremely shady.)
 

HRZ

Senior Member
A retroactively pay reduction is improper...but it's rather unclear what the initial agreed pay rate was..the posting is a major clue but it may not be the final word .

I would NOT make a report /fuss thru any other channels....simply too many ways to annoy a dean ...

WHo notified her as to pay rate change ?

WHat is other employee doing /saying about pay changes ?
 

DrInfested

Junior Member
I appreciate the replies and help y'all. I told her from the start this was probably an unfortunate lesson in getting pay/work agreements in writing ASAP.

The exact amount she and the other teacher will be paid is still in the air, the person in charge of the camp is an assistant to the dean, or something like that, either way she is an employee of the university.

The other teacher working the camp is in the same boat as my wife, she doesn't want to cause too much of a fuss, and is willing to send letters to ask about the situation. I'll know more once the higher ups complete their meeting. I just hate that the original stated reason for the reduction in pay was due to a lack of students, but the current number of students is now higher than it's been in the history of the camp.

Lesson learned either way.
 

xylene

Senior Member
I appreciate the replies and help y'all. I told her from the start this was probably an unfortunate lesson in getting pay/work agreements in writing ASAP.

Unless the in 'in writing' is a contract, it is lawful to change pay, so long as it is in advance of the hours worked.

You wife should consider to talk to the university ombudsman, that is the best place to start. It isn't a legal complaint, and you are allowed to seek redress for a situation without it trashing your academic career.
 

HRZ

Senior Member
I don't like letters ...face to face allows more room the read the points and reactions at hand ...and don't hang around to get passed around .

For that matter written job offers/position descriptions are subject to being changed for work starting tomorrow morning . ANd while a 2 week assignment may be important to your wife, it is probably a tiny blip on the things dean needs to address ....

..in your example I might lead into how successful if not over successful the program has been with lots of students and great results**************

PS a good teacher quickly learns to read both students and ones boss .....
 

cbg

I'm a Northern Girl
it is lawful to change pay, so long as it is in advance of the hours worked.

And the bolded part is state specific.
 

DrInfested

Junior Member
The camp is 80% complete at this point, and the final amount to be paid has still not been made clear. Are you saying they could wait until the LAST day of camp and say, "We're gonna pay you $1" and it would be legal?
 

Just Blue

Senior Member
The camp is 80% complete at this point, and the final amount to be paid has still not been made clear. Are you saying they could wait until the LAST day of camp and say, "We're gonna pay you $1" and it would be legal?

Why can't your wife, the legal party, post for herself?
 

PayrollHRGuy

Senior Member
The camp is 80% complete at this point, and the final amount to be paid has still not been made clear. Are you saying they could wait until the LAST day of camp and say, "We're gonna pay you $1" and it would be legal?

Read CBG's post again. That is not the case.
And no they have to pay her at least minimum wage.
 

adjusterjack

Senior Member
Also to be clear, she was already working on the camp before she was told the pay might change.

There's a contradiction there.

You originally wrote:

She was told a day or two before the camp started, that the pay might change,

I suggest you have your wife take over posting so we can get accurate information without contradictions.

GIGO.
 

HRZ

Senior Member
In the alternative, and your post is unclear, IF the wage was stated as $500 a week and it might change ...then the wage is $500 a week or $1000'for the "camp" until such time as a new wage rate is set for work yet to be done ( Yes, I'm skipping if this is exempt or non exempt position )

ITs also possible that in a big school some departments don't always work thru a central HR function for everything and do some smaller things as "stipends " wo attention to all the proper rules ...perhaps just a wild guess..
 

HRZ

Senior Member
I'd focus on graduation on time and getting solid recommendations for a full time teaching position with a school paying decent wages ....they may not be so easy to find ..and recommendations / introductions often help ..unless she is an outstanding coach of a popular sport in that school.
 

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