So, what happened, did you continue to cower in the corner, or did you step up like a man and find out the situation? DD
Well, as illogical as it may be, I also feel like family members will deep down resent me "losing" this job if I don't have something lined up. It's complicated. I would rather have this one than none just because of that. They understand it's crap, but somehow I just feel like I will get some blame. So I'm just going to deal with it until I can find something else. But that could change, I thought he was going to ask me to work the weekend and I probably would of lost it (or at least say something then)
There is no way he would fire you for coming into his office, sitting down shutting the door and saying "what's up?". Tell him you are committed to the cause, but need to know what is going on with payroll to help you organize your own personal bills and life etc. Just deal with the issue, don't let it fester....you will NEVER regret it. DD
I know what is going on, or at least what he will say is going on. They are waiting for clients to pay them, they unexpectedly had to spend money on the new building etc. This is what they have already told us. They don't have it and are waiting for it. I just didn't think it would be this long. See I think the owner of the new building is friends in his good ol boy client network and he didn't want to upset him by refusing to pay for some things instead of being reimbursed. Unless he is making all of that up. They are all liars. Talking to them is pointless.
If this is true, and your little company is on the up and up, how is it that they can't get credit in order to make payroll? Sheez, freaking AmEx is adversting all the time about their small business lines of credit. My advice? Dig deeper, and be prepared to run. The fact that he's hiring people when he can't afford to pay his current staff is very bad news.
I put money aside early on as Pre-paid expenses, and was able to pay my guys through the end of the year, I did not pay myself, but more importantly I kept EVERYONE that was reporting to me completely updated on the situation. Some guys came to me and said they had other offers, but wanted to stay, and every time, I told them to "TAKE" the other offer, as I could not guarantee we were going to make it. I believe in working as a team and treating people like adults and letting them make their own choices. The last thing I wanted was for any of my guys to be buying a car or a house and thinking their job was secure, when I knew better. You have to treat people like adults, IMHO. Which is why most of my guys are coming back to my new company even though they are already at new locations......being part of something where your voice matters is priceless. DD
Meowgi, Why do you think they are not paying you, and when do you think they will catch up? Has your boss at least told you that? DD
What does 'through the end of the year' mean? Were you able to pay them for a couple of months or longer -- how long did they have to go without pay?
The company cut off funding to the studios in October, always promising to make up the pay. I had put enough money away to get us to the end of the year, all the while telling everyone that I could not guarantee the company was going to get new funding - and that we had enough money until the end of December. At the beginning of the new year, the company said they got in $55 million in investment, or were very close, I told my guys that until the money hit the bank that I would not count on it, and in fact it never hit the bank. So, in January, I allowed the guys to take home their office equipment, and we held a lottery for some of the better things like flat panel monitors etc. And, during the last 6 weeks, we had quit working on Gizmondo stuff, and were all working on our resumes and trying to get a new company up and running. So, no work was actually expected of anyone while no pay was forthcoming, and the employees were well aware of everything going on. Finally, we had to close the doors down in February and I held a garage sale for the left over PCs and equipment to help pay down bills that the Texas office owed (including more than 20k to me personally). It was a pretty tearful closing, and the doors never got locked up, even the landlord thanked me for vacating the building so quickly which would allow him to lease it elsewhere. Normally people take months to get us out, but as soon as it was PERFECTLY clear that there was no $55 million in investment, I shut it down and paid everyone as best as I could. The worse thing is that the company secretary and CTO embezzled more than $200,000 in the last week and took off to Spain - a non extradition country. So many people worked hard for these clowns.....it was just maddening...the Wired article got some of it right, but missed a TON more. DD
Check this out. I asked the office manager about paychecks this morning and was told we would get paid for the first today and the 15th later this week. So during lunch I told coworkers what I was told. Then I was called into her office to be told that the company has a "no paycheck talk" policy which was emailed to me a few months ago (which isn't even true, I looked). "I wasn't in trouble", but if the owner found out I would probably be fired. So basically none of us are allowed to talk to each other about the paycheck situation. WTF? I told them that was crazy and unrealistic. They said they understood but it's the owners deal blah blah blah. They say that but actually they are in with the owner. I swear I work in Bizarro world.
Listen man....I worked for Gizmondo...way worse than that.....the no talk thing is not enforcable, you need to find your rights out NOW........do not sit idly by and take it..... But, did you get paid today? And if so, how far are they behind? I would be happy to call on the employees behalf and pretend to be from the Texas workforce commission....actually what is the name of the company? I could have a little fun.... DD
I was told I would be paid for the first today, and for the 15th later this week. So that's what I told some people and was then told about "the no talking policy", which was a nice way to say shut up about paychecks. I don't know why me telling people that was a problem unless they still are not totally sure about them and were kind of putting me off. It's so freakin weird. You calling does sound like fun but think they would know I was behind it especially after the meeting. I just wonder if there is a no talking policy about the no talking policy...
I'd be like, we can't talk about paychecks? There's nothing to talk about since WE AREN'T GETTING ANY! Oh, you're going to fire me if I talk about NOT GETTING PAID? You'd be doing me a favor since I'M WORKING FOR FREE NOW! I can sit on my ass at home and not get paid! You are a better man than I, MR. MEOWGI, because I'd be the biggest ******* on earth (I know, quite a stretch). Did you check out any of that unemployment stuff? Just so you know, you will not get any back unemployment so I'd sign up asap. At least you know you will get that money and you can spend your time at home looking for a job that will actually pay you. I know you said something about your family looking at you strange but who cares. They aren't going to pay your bills if you continue to not get paid. Ya gotta look out for numero uno (and numero unos family).
The Ethicist Salary Exposure By RANDY COHEN Published: October 15, 2006 My boss accidentally left a document on my desk listing the salaries of all the company’s employees. I read only the header, not the contents, then returned it. I felt I did the right thing, but now I’m not so sure. Reading it would have harmed no one, and the information would have helped me negotiate a long overdue raise. But would it have been ethical? J.H., San Francisco More than ethical — admirable. In your place, I would have read the document, made sure my own salary was listed and circulated it (anonymously — I’m reform-minded, not self-destructive) to everyone in the company. The one who benefits most when such information is suppressed is your boss, not you or your colleagues. It can help an employee to know that the person at the next desk makes twice as much money for performing the same task. If salaries are reasonable, employees will understand and accept them. If they are not, secrecy helps only to sustain that injustice. Transparency is necessary for good governance — why not for good management? It is a wise policy that requires publicly owned companies to disclose certain financial information, including compensation packages offered to many senior executives. In money matters as in many others, knowledge is preferable to ignorance. Thieves are the ones who operate under cover of darkness. Broadcasting salaries may be sensible and benign, but don’t expect your boss, or your colleagues, or the company’s lawyers, to see it that way. Money is the last bastion of prudery. People who post videos online of themselves having sex blush demurely as they draw the veil over their 1040’s. Some are embarrassed because they make more than you might think, others ashamed because they make less. But while this fiscal priggishness is understandable, you have no moral duty to play along (legal constraints notwithstanding). And don’t be so sure that you are underpaid and due for a raise. If you tear away that veil, you may not like what you see. Send your queries to ethicist@nytimes.com or The Ethicist, The New York Times Magazine, 229 West 43rd Street, New York, N.Y. 10036, and include a daytime phone number. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/15/magazine/15wwln_ethicist.html
MEOWGI- First they cannot legally fire you for anything you have done. If they have a 'no talking policy' it better be in writing and documented that you were previously communicated. Second, you can file a grievance with TWC without any repercussions from this company. If they terminate you for filing with TWC you will win. You could bring a wrongful termination lawsuit. Third, By state law they are required to pay you as they have posted their pay days (it is state law to post the pay periods for employees) If they don't have the money to meet their payroll your only recourse is to contact TWC. If you take the hard line with this company you can win but you may have to go to court. The at will employment law DOES NOT mean they can fire you for no reason. They cannot fire you unless they have legal cause or you can slap the wrongful termination lawsuit on them. They can lay you off though so understand the difference. If they lay you off you will most likely be able to collect unemployment. Call TWC and discuss this situation. I deal with them almost daily. They can give you clear options on their helpline.
When I go into business for my self 1st and foremost .. make sure i can Afford Employees before hiring any I feel you should at least have 6 months worth of Salary set aside or something Rocket River
