My ex-boss is witholding a paycheck of mine. How do I get it without involving lawyers?
480225
i would contact your state's labor board and find out what your options are.  they may be able to help you without contacting a lawyer.  if you are unable to get help through them, i would contact your local "legal aid".  this is a group of lawyers who will usually give you legal advise, or even actually work for free or minimal cost.
821796
Call the US Department of Labor in your State and also the State Dept of Labor:  that is illegal\n\nSend a certified letter to your former employer demanding info and paperwork on the COBRA program\n\nThen perhaps get a lawyer - if you have no money contact the Legal Aid Society in your State
751642
If an employer fires you,they have to pay any wages owed to you plus any other compensation (vacation pay,etc.) on the spot.\n AS a manager,you are responsible for those under you and the money.\n Your boss has to prove you took the money,but you might be able to get your job back-talk to the state or Federal Dept. of Labor.\n You could possibly sue for Wrongfull Termination if your boss can't prove you took the money.
1027036
Before you contact a lawyer you should consider doing the ground work.  Have you contacted someone in the Human Resources dept. (if your company has one) or have you made anyone at work aware of the situation?  If you haven't already, start keeping notes concerning when, where and everything about any instance that you consider boss abuse.  You weren't specific as to whether it was physical, verbal or just in general abuse but no matter which one, keep anything that can "prove" your case - pictures, notes, emails, audio recordings.....\n\nThis doesn't exactly answer the question you asked but I thought it might be of some use.
818662
Definitely bring it up with your boss!!  If you handle this in a professional manner, your boss may be very impressed that you are being proactive and it will reflect well on you.  If you just wait for the money to magically appear on your paycheck, then you are not being realistic.  Money appears in your paycheck because your boss requested it, not by itself.\n\nMy recommendation is to request an appointment with your boss, preferably when you can speak privately.  Prepare a list of your duties that you had for the first 2 months in your job, and another list of the additional duties you have fulfilled for the last month since the secretary was fired.  Ask what the company has planned for the position since it's been vacant, and if they do not plan to hire anyone new, let your boss know that you are working harder than before and ask for a raise.  If they are planning to hire a new person for the position, ask for the raise to cover the period when you've been doing the extra work (the last month plus however long it takes them to fill the position).  \n\nRemember that you have nothing to lose by talking with your boss and asking for the raise.  It is completely normal to compensate an employee for taking on more responsibility, and if you're doing a good job, the boss will want to keep you and might even see this as a way to save money (pay you a higher salary instead of paying two people to do the job).  Good luck!
168297
First of all, ask your boss.\nThen, I may seek help from the labour union.
475971
There is more to this story than you are telling us. Does your friend have his green card? I can't think of any legal way that he could have his wages cut by 50% unless he also received a cut to his scheduled hours of work, of which you make no mention. He should be able to make a complaint somewhere, either to a shop steward (if it's union wages) or to a labor board, civil or human rights commission. \n\nAside from that, I suggest that he get hold of one of those mini tape recorders that fit in your pocket, than find an opportunity to discuss what happened with this woman when she thinks they are alone together and she can speak freely. He could ask her why she did that and get her replies on tape. We are not talking courtrooms here so it doesn't matter whether its "legal evidence" or not. All he needs is something he can play back to his boss.\n\nGood luck to your friend and tell him to keep his ears open for another job. His days there are numbered no matter how this scenario plays out. The boss won't like being played for a fool, or having anyone know about it within the office. He'll very likely get rid of both of them in time.
1020148
That really sucks that she put you in that position and threatened to withhold a raise you've earned.\n\nNot only is it a threat, it's a threat that's involved with you falsifying legal documents.  Definitely speak to her manager or who ever is higher on the chain of command where you work, and if that's not possible contact a lawyer immmediately, as to what steps you should take.  \n\nYou may lose your job, but the alternative is to possibly incriminate yourself in a legal matter just to get a raise at a place that is no longer safe to work at.\n\nI would say she's opened a door that she cannot close, and she's set a dangerous precedent that you cannot meet for your sanity or safety.\nABOVE ALL, DO NOT FALSIFY A LEGAL DOCUMENT TO COVER YOUR BOSS IF YOU ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE MATTER.
116604
You need to start with the department of labor.  They will investigate this for you for free and make an attempt to get your money for you.  Then you can also contact the United States Department of Labor if you are unable to resolve this on a state level.  Contact the US Secretary of labor Elain Chao  http://www.dol.gov/
38070
That is a good letter but I would also speak with the bank. They might waive the fees if you sound sad enough. Speak with your payroll department at your job in person as well.
877095
I've assisted three different people (friends or relatives) with this same issue. The only difference is that they were resolved within one to two months of an employer refusing to pay them.\n\nThis is what I told them to do.\n1) Contact The Department of Labor and ask them for assistance (rules and laws) regarding how it is enforced in your state.\n*In Minnesota an employer not paying wages earned by an employer has severe penalties. This includes full payment within a given time period of reciept of notice. It also includes back wages for the duration of time they failed to pay you. So if you were in Minnesota the company would owe you X number of dollars for the entire time period from June until now. If you worked 40 hours per week, that would be 23 weeks worth of pay if they failed to pay you had you stopped working on June 1, 2006.\nThis can be negotiated and normally is, but legally you are entitled THAT amount of money due to their fault in not paying you in a timely fashion. By law (again, depending on which State) the employer owes you within a given time frame on you leaving. One week, two weeks... Whatever it is. So it could gain you earnings anywhere from 23 weeks, to a lesser number.\n\n2) Write a letter to the former employer stating what the law is and demand payment. Don't be mean, just clean, pure and simple. Per the law where you live,  calculate what you are owed and state it. Then show them the calculated total sum which includes penalties and late fees. (If it's $10.00/hour - based on a 40-hour work week, including the past 21 weeks [to be nice and earn favor with a Judge, subtract the first two weeks of them dragging their feet] and state they COULD owe you a minimum of $8,400.00 plus what they previously owed you). State that upon taking them to Court a Judge would decide in your favor for non payment of wages earned and they would also be responsible to pay for attorney's fees and Court fees. Remember, this is how it is in Minnesota so make darn sure you put in plain type the exact amounts owed to you per the law.\n\n4) After stating all the info above in the letter, my last paragraph included the following (minus the company name and dates):\n\nUnder Minnesota Statute 181.13, you are required to pay unpaid wages within 24 hours of receiving this letter.  Further delays will subject me to file a claim against (insert company name) per Minnesota Statute 181.14 Subdivision 2.  Penalties and fees will accrue upon receipt of this letter.  Failure to comply will constitute sending this letter to the organizations listed below on (state the day, date and year. Give them two days mail time.)\n\n4) At the bottom of your letter include the following info: (example)\n\nCc:\n(State) Department of Labor and Industry\nxxx  Road North\nCity, MN xxxxx\n\n(name of county) County Government Center\n(name of person you contacted), Court Administrator (Conciliation Court)\nxx Second Street NW\nCity, MN xxxxx\n\n(City name here) Chamber of Commerce\nPO Box xxx\nCity, MN zip code\n\nState the address for each place you are carbon copying! Make sure to include your name and address. No phone number.\n\nGood luck!
442833
From the information you've given, I strongly recommend documenting everything that happens or is discussed between you and your employer.  It sounds as if this person is in financial trouble and you may have a problem with getting the money you're owed.  \nIf your employer is 4 weeks behind the normal, scheduled pay dates you should first attempt to solve the problem by telling the employer you need your money immediately. I also recommend looking for an alternate method of providing income for your family.  \nIf the employer will not terminate employment, and you have not signed a casual labor contract, you need to speak with a labor relations officer.  This can be done at your local employment insurance office.  It sounds as if you work for a small organization and unfortunately your employer is not interested in taking care of his employees.  \n\nGood luck and remember to follow the proper channels so that you have moral superiority and the law on your side.
648295
Unless you signed some sort of contractual agreement, then he has legal holding to force you to pay that, plus there is no law he can use against you either.\n\nThe worst he can do (and I am assuming there is no fraud involved) is that he can fire you, but you may want to contact your local dept. of labor to see what your recourses are in case he does fire you.\n\nBut, don't pay whatever he's trying to force you to pay!
979298
Why don't you ask your local payroll office.  There should be a number on your pay slip.
651661
request it from the company, if they won't provide it your lawyer can subpoena it for you.
1145115
Contact a lawer he hows you.  If you earned that vaction time last year and you gave your two weeks notice then they should pay you your vacation time.  Its yours not theres.
183383
pay him what you agreed on in the begining .\nthen refuse the rest .\nif there was no writen estimate to how much his labor was going to cost you , then he has no proof of the work he done , the same as you have no proof of what he didnt do .\nhe will have to take you to court if he wants to fight for the extra cash , and in order to win he must prove where the 5,000 bucks came in ..\nthere agin without written document ,with your signature to aprove , its his word aginst yours .