$100.00 Was deducted from my check because I was sick and didn't go to the

[madmunchie]

company Christmas party.


We were asked to RSVP for the party, which I did. On the day of the party I was feeling pretty bad, so I thought, "if I go to the party, I probably won't enjoy myself too much, AND I may get sicker and have to call in sick at work (which I didn't want to do) So, I called work and told them I was sick and couldn't make the party.

The next payday, I noticed a deduction for $100.00 - for meals and entertainment. When I asked about it somebody said something like..."They wasted the money because they had to pay everybody for everybody." The people that attended the party, of course, weren't charged anything.

I dragged my ass to work all week feeling horrible and was written up for being 5 minutes late one day. (We are supposed to be there 15 minutes before our starting time, I was there 10 minutes before my starting time, so I was written up for being late) If you get 2 late times in a month, you can forego a bonus for retail sales. I am really pissed about this whole thing, and THERE IS A REASON FOR UNIONS.

[Boo Boo]

1. Pretty sure that's not legal. /nt

[madmunchie]

10. I don't believe it is legal either. Its just that when you are working

and you somewhat value your job, what do you do? Walk up to your boss and say "Hey, that isn't legal?

I am supposed to be sitting down for a review in a couple of days and I will tell the "new" manager, that the Christmas "gift" was supposed to be just that a gift, and if I couldn't take advantage of receiving the "gift", than why should I be charged? I missed out on the "gift" by being sick, so how is it that a gift is given and then a bill follows?

Should I have just gone to the party and then called in sick to work? Would that have been a better decision??? I want to hear that answers.

Then I might just bury myself and say that not only is it just plain wrong to do this, but it is also tacky as well as most likely illegal.

[Mythsaje]

2. Sorry to hear that...

Of course, I think this sort of thing has been in the wings for a while. Employers have been acting as though they own their employees for far too long.

[rodeodance]

3. your company has an issue with Control. and treating you like a kid.

[smtpgirl]

OH

I received a terse email from my boss today that I was late 2-3 times last week and that did not work because we are a "service organization". Well, the rub is that we have a 9:30 meeting every morning and I was late those days 3-5 minutes because of traffic. SHOOT ME

IT IS SO MUCH ABOUT CONTROL!!!

[0007]

4. Give those pricks the pitch!

[MadMaddie]

5. Hey Madmunchie

You are right...there is a reason for unions. That's why so many companies fight unions so they can do what they did to you.

I am sorry that has happened to you.
:hug:

[madmunchie]

15. Hey MadMaddie

Believe or not I have a dog named Munchkin and a dog named Maddie, Hence Madmunchie.

[MadMaddie]

20. Ha..Ha...MadMunchie that is cool

Believe it or not I do have dog named Maddie...she is always mad (hence the name MadMaddie) when she is on the leash...if she is catching her frisbee all is right with the world. She is really sweet when she is not on the leash.

I have another dog named Max..I think he has ADD...sweetest guy you will ever know.

[Horse with no Name]

6. This is illegal

Unless you signed something stating they could deduct money from your paycheck, they can't do it.
No way, no how. I don't care which state you live in.
Something smells fishy here.

[madmunchie]

12. Is Greed fishy?

[Obamarama]

7. They can't legally do that. Get a friggin' lawyer.

Then get a new job, if you can. Also, I don't think they can legally call you late if you were there TEN MINUTES before your shift started. I suppose they don't pay you for the 15 minutes they want you to be early, do they? If so, they can't consider you late.

[cally]

8. How is that legal?

Maybe they should offer employees a choice next year of whether they want $100 or to go to the Christmas Party. I would make a formal complaint and ask for a written reply. You must have written documents of your annual pay or the amount of pay you get per hour. They can't just change that since it's a contractual agreement.

[madmunchie]

13. Good Idea, a formal complaint is something that I hadn't thought of

How would you put it?

[cally]

24. I would focus on not being paid

the contractual amount. I then would ask for a formal response with allowed deductions from pay. Most companies will re-imburse for travel meals and work entertainment. If they overpay you, they then can deduct the amount from you pay. In this instance, you never received either the service nor the extra pay. Further, they did not tell you that when you RSVP that this changed your contractual agreement on pay and your employment policies. That's just my initial thoughts.

[madmunchie]

25. Thanks for putting the words in contractual wording

I can't get past the trigger emtional response.

[dsc]

9. are you paid for those 15 minutes?

If not, I fail to see how they can write you up for not being there during that time.

[madmunchie]

18. Yes, we are paid for those 15 minutes

[dsc]

19. Then I guess they can do that

but they do sound very anal. I would look into the Christmas Party thing though. That sounds like they overstepped their bounds.

[LizW]

11. Someone needs to explain to them

the concept of the employee Christmas party. It's a benefit, a gift if you will. The intent is to show the employees that they are appreciated with a celebration and food and drink.

employees for not attending? That's just obscene.

:grr:

[file83]

14. LESSON LEARNED: Never, Ever, give an RSVP for these stupid parties.

Just tell them you don't intend to go, ever. It's financially risky to do so otherwise, obviously from your experience. What this is, is a manager who is trying to look for a way to cover the bloated/mismanaged budget for the over priced party. IOW, they are covering their ass.

If I were you, I'd start stealing pens. TONS of pens. Paperclips too. Oh, and don't forget the first aid cabinet - lots of goodies in there. There's always the break room (free coffee!). Get your $100 back anyway possible.

[WePurrsevere]

16. I agree that it's probably illegal. Call your state's Labor Dept.

& tell them what happened. I'd also mention that they require you to be there 15 minutes before starting time if you're required to be there and not being paid for that time.

You don't have to tell them which company right off... they'll understand that you may be concerned about losing your job.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. That is ridiculous

Do they also charge the folks who are Jehovas or Muslims or Jewish and don't celebrate Christmas?

[philosophie_en_rose]

21. So they're refusing to pay you for $100 worth of work.

It sounds very suspcious. I would call a lawyer, if I were in your position. They have no right to fine you for not attending a party.

[sendero]

22. Company parties..

... are worse than being at work usually. Oh, I've been to a few that were great fun, but I've been to more that were a crashing bore and a huge waste of everyone's time.

Everyone usually knows when they are going because they "have to" and they also know they will never get those 3 hours of their life back :)

[Katherine Brengle]

23. THEY MAKE YOU PAY FOR A PARTY YOU HAVE TO GO TO???

Are you f*ing kidding?

That's ridiculous...

Tell them to go screw.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

26. I'm With You On One, Not On The Other.

The deduction from your paycheck is horseshit and you are 100% in the right for being outraged at that. I've never heard of such a thing and question the legality (in the absence of signing a committment.)

As far as the 5 minutes late, you said you get paid for it so it appears the 15 minutes prior is your true start time, though the action part of your job comes 15 minutes later. Since that is known policy and you are 'on the clock' at that time, then I do consider you to have been late as per your company policy and don't think they were really in the wrong there.

I think the first issue is far more important though, and I hope they change course and give you your rightfully earned money back.

[madmunchie]

28. I know that being late wasnt' right BUT I really was sick and I

was dragging my ass in to get to work to begin with. The way I felt, I could have stayed home and been in the right. What upset me was the fact that not only did I not get a thanks for the extra effort when you are sick in coming to work BUT the party thing just blew my mind.

I didn't go to the party because I didn't want to become sicker and miss work. All of that goes unntoiced while the 5 minutes IS noticed and the correct decision of foregoing a party to be able to get to work all week was actually punished - probably illegally at that. I would be shocked to find out that what they did was within the law.

[intheozone]

27. If you are in California, it is not legal

for your employer to withhold money from your check in that manner. Call the labor dept and file a complaint. You will win.