Hours worked reduced to minimum wage

[bigskyman]

What is the name of your state? Wisconsin

I quit my job without giving a two week notice, because I had found another job and they wanted me to start right away. So I told my former employer that I had a new job and this would be my last day. He instantly blew up using vulgar language and told me that he would send my checks for last week and this week in the mail. He also said that they would be paid out at minimum wage. Is this legal? Please help if you have any info!!!

 

[cbg]

Probably not, but it's possible.

What you need to do is look in the employee handbook and in any paperwork that you received from the company at hire or subsequently, and see whether or not there is any reference to your final pay being at minimum wage if you quit without notice. If there is, then you're SOL.

If there isn't, then it *probably* is not legal since in most states they have to tell you IN ADVANCE of your working any hours at a lower rate.


The key here is whether or not you were told in advance that your wage would be reduced in this circumstance. If they provided you with that info, then it's legal. Doesn't matter whether you read it or not; it's your responsibility to know what's in that material.

But if there's no reference to this reduction in anything you were given, then you would most likely have a claim to file with the WI DOL.

 

[boonehead]

most state laws only require that the employer pay min wage, as long as you are paid that wage there is nothing illegal in the eyes of the state labor dept. unless you are a minor with a signed wage agreement or you have a signed agreement stating your wage.

 

[NMJustice]

You should probally contact your local EEOC and see if he has violated any employment law. It will vary from state to state and that is a good place to start. Hope that helps

 

[cbg]

boonehead: although you are correct that most if not all states only require minimum wage, most states also do not allow an employer to make a pay decrease retroactive. So if the employer wanted to decrease an employee's pay to minimum wage, that's okay, BUT he has to tell the employee BEFORE the employee works any hours at the lower rate.

NMJustice: The EEOC is the Federal agency that regulates discrimination in the workplace. It has nothing to do with wage and hour complaints. Those should go to the state DOL.