Minimum Wage Part 2

[Pekka]

Some of you might remember my thread way earlier about this case. Ok I give you more insights, the friend is actually my mother so.. and she's been making less wayyyyyyy less than she should (that is under minimum wage too, still), and that money she would have earned would be enough to pay for my university tuitions, so I'm very excited about this, as some of you know I want to study in the US, but I don't have enough sponsors. If this case would be closed succesfull, I could make it!

So.. she is making less than minimum wage, way less, and I think it's illegal? Is there anything she can do, maybe she could get the money they haven't paid her?
She made contract, but was bs.ed (working under minimum wage is illegal so..?) because she has a house and car, but she found out that they would have been included ANYWAY and her friend told her that she should still get the money, she works in the same place so she knows too.. so if there are any of you good people who know laws there, is there any ways to get that money, because this is so important to me, I can't even explain it in english. And even if not thinking about universities.. it's still lots of cash. She has green cards etc, so those are not problems.

Please leave patrionating comments like read the little print too out, this is important.

[Main_Brain]

It sounds so. Problem is this seems to be Lawyer Stuff, and Justice can only be afforded by Few.
( In the Sense that Cases take a long Time)
DId you get lawyers Advice?

[Stefu]

Miiiniiimuuum waaaage! *whipcrack*

Krhm.

Sounds like something fishy going on, certainly. Do we have lawyers here in Poly? Do we have Finnish lawyers, more to the point?

[Pekka]

No, not yet. My mom is kind of.. she doesn't want to bother anyone and is just too nice, even when she's getting ripped off. But I'm thinking myself (too much), and all I see is 'welcome to the United States of America. We hope you enjoy your stay at our higher educational system' 'Thaaaank you!'.

Maybe she could ask for free legal advice, or at least not too expensive to know if she has a case or not?
She has told her employer that she knows she should get more, and employer even admitted it! But nothing has happened since.
So I don't know American laws about these things, all I can do is compare the situation what it would be like in here. It would be illegal contract, and that is not binding anyway, so it don't matter if you signed it. It's misleading and they know it and still did it, so I wonder if she can get the money. We're not after rewards or anything like that, just the money that would be hers if it matched even minimum wage, that's it. It's big money so I wonder how it works in there, and if she can even do that, but I think she has some options.
That's why I ask here, maybe some of you guys know some laws conserning these kind of things. Case is pretty clear and simple. If she is entitled to have that money from her employer (employer is not poor), then I will definitely make her contact lawyer and go from there. This would also mean my tuition fees, so very important to me and about my future. I'm going there in few weeks, so I'd like to know what you think. I'm going to make her to really put a pressure on them, but she is bad at that, too nice, so if she's not going to do it, I'm going to contact lawyer anyway and get some legal advice. I'm sorry my post is confusing . Hope you guys understand and can appreciate the importance of this to me.

[Pekka]

Stefu, I know it's very illegal to employ people less than minimum wage here. They get penalty box for that. It doesn't matter if the worker signs it or not. Penalty goes for the employer. I'm not sure however if worker gets compensated here.. but in this case the employer is not some small business man, but rather bigger 'business' .

Now that I think of it, this only happens when some greedy employers hires foreigners to do work, like construction work etc.. then they go back to their countries, they don't even live here. So if the case was about worker being actually living in our country, having all the permits etc and being bs.d.. I think worked could sue the employer and get the money, filling the gap to at least minimum wage. Because the employer has to pay for cheating like that. Or then there is no justice .

[Pekka]

Also she has a green card, all working permits and other permits, papers, IDs, the works. Plus the employer is respected one, or at least one would think so, so they just can't ignore that and not compensate? She's not illegal alien who came to flip burgers.

[Stefu]

Yes, and that's what we need lawyers for - to find out if you can benefit!

[Pekka]

Stefu, Well I'm not thinkign about benefits. She has worked hard for long time, and she has earned that money for sure. I think getting that minimum wage is decent thing to ask, don't you think? If there is a chance to get that, then I think we need a lawyer. Not to get any big cash checks, just what belongs to her and what she has worked for. We're not looking for bonus. Also she pays tax money to the USA, so I think she is entitled to it, but it's just my personal opinion.

[Timexwatch]

Well, I'd consult with a lawyer to doublecheck the law, then once I know I'm in the right, I'd approach the employer and ask them to pay up the back wages. If they refused, I'd go to the cops, call the local media to put the spotlight on them and sue them in civil court. I'm sure in the land of ice and suomithredi.

Also, I'd alert the tax authorities because if this guy is shafting your mother, he probably shafts other people. This means he also owes additional taxes. I'm sure that the Finnish revenue service is as tough as the IRS...

[Pekka]

Finnish IRS are bunch of savages let me tell you that! Teosto is nothing compared to them, they will hunt you down and kill you.

Yeah, this is why I asked here, maybe some of you would have known the law with this part.. that is she entitled for compensation.. and is there any way..
But positive news are the people are already behind her, she is a priest after all. That is also bad, because employer is kind of tricky. But I'm telling you that they're wrong doers right now and hypocrite, so I'm going to take her with me by force and do all the talking if that's what it takes... give them fighting words and all that.
She isn't a citizen though, so I don't know if she gets treated well, and she's too nice to hold her position against wrong doers. But! I think local media WOULD be interested in a story like that.. church stealing money and all

I'm gonna kick their asses, it's time to get violent soon, I don't care if they call themselves holy men or not, they're unholy dressed in holy mens clothes, I have 0 respect for them. Damn.. I need to do some calming down

[Pekka]

problem is also that she's afraid that they'll think of her as a troublemaker and a greedy person. But I see justice needs to be done here. This is UNAMERICAN and if this goes unnoticed, the terrorists will win. This is about sending Pekka to University

Sorry if I sound anxious and all, but this is life and death matter to me. It's either success or nothing. I need to make it success, and we need to make these thugs pay what she has earned, it's the least they can do and we are satisfied with that, I think that's only fair. It would be fair to give her a good raise, but I doubt that will happen. Maybe they will wait for a moment to fire her after that, and if that hapens.. Johny Cochran time!
I mean she had to think how she's going to pay for taxes! She was invited there after all, my blood pressure is rising, I'm going to go hit some bag for a while

yep.. it's either this happening, me getting into the place I belong, or it's me getting my butt to french foreign legion, and those of you who know me a bit, knows I'm not kidding at all

[Zkribbler]

Laws differ from state to state. IIRC, in California, the employer has to pay for the employee's attorney if the employee is successful in a failure to pay wages claim. As others have said, check with a lawyer.

Also, most states have a department of labor, or a labor commissioners or something like that. Usually, they'll look into cases like this for free. Check the front of your phone book under state government.

[Pekka]

Zkribbler, thanks. I will do that. No one seems to know if in case like this, if it's clear and all, compensation is in order or not.. well, I'll guess they will know better, just that it's still few weeks until I go, so I could have prepared my case better if I knew anything before that.

[Ben Kenobi]

Pekka:

Did you say your mom worked for the church? I would think she could talk to some of the other elders about her complaint.

[Pekka]

what elders? she works in the church. I don't think there are other elders, she's the only one in there. Though, she knows lots of others who had her position in that place, and now she has gotten information that they all got screwed the same way. But they just left and didn't raise their voice, but submitted like dogs. So this thing is long over due, I wonder where that extra money goes?
How they report their tax things etc..