Can my employer change my pay rate for a day?

Judge Joe Brown

I work on commission in a retail environment. I get paid fairly well for pretty easy work, and generally speaking average over $30/hour.

Whenever I have to attend work meetings, or anything where I'm not actually selling, then I get paid this "average hourly".

However, I've been asked to come in to work today after close, along with about 1/4 of the other employees, to help reconcile inventory and sort of give the place a "fresh start", which happens quarterly.

This is my first time doing this, and when I mentioned to a coworker that as long as I'm getting my average hourly, I'll clean toilets if they ask me to. However, my coworker informed me that we get paid a different wage... $11/hour!

I have never been informed about this, and I'm certain that I've never signed anything that mentions this lower rate.

What should I do? I feel like I'm being ripped off for the day's work. I haven't worked for so little in years, and I have student loans to pay. Feels like I'm getting the old fuck job by the bosses.

Thanks in advance.

Wezoin

Well, I'd say it really depends on what your contract says. If your contract says you get your average hourly no matter what you are doing, then I'd say you're being screwed over, but if your contract says you get $11 /hour + commission then if they put you in a position where you have no chance to make a commission it sucks but it's probably not illegal.

MushroomStick

Its not uncommon for companies to pay different amounts for different tasks. I make about $21/hour to drive a bus, but if I were to take on extra work washing vehicles or fleet inspections, I would only make $13/hour while I was doing that.

Unknown

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Pheezer

It's because his boss could hire untrained grunts from a temp agency for $10 an hour to do the same job. Inventory counting is unskilled labour, and you're getting paid at the unskilled labour rate. Probably just a hair's breadth more, because it avoids certain concerns endemic to temp labourers.

My advice is to suck it up, princess. Be a team player and get it over with. If you approach it with the right attitude it can even be fun.

DeathPrawn

Pheezer wrote: »

It's because his boss could hire untrained grunts from a temp agency for $10 an hour to do the same job. Inventory counting is unskilled labour, and you're getting paid at the unskilled labour rate. Probably just a hair's breadth more, because it avoids certain concerns endemic to temp labourers.

My advice is to suck it up, princess. Be a team player and get it over with. If you approach it with the right attitude it can even be fun.

This. You can debate all you want how much you should be paid, but the reality of the fact is that your boss can easily find someone who is willing to do the grunt work for an $11 hourly rate.

Pheezer

DeathPrawn wrote: »

Pheezer wrote: »

It's because his boss could hire untrained grunts from a temp agency for $10 an hour to do the same job. Inventory counting is unskilled labour, and you're getting paid at the unskilled labour rate. Probably just a hair's breadth more, because it avoids certain concerns endemic to temp labourers.

My advice is to suck it up, princess. Be a team player and get it over with. If you approach it with the right attitude it can even be fun.

This. You can debate all you want how much you should be paid, but the reality of the fact is that your boss can easily find someone who is willing to do the grunt work for an $11 hourly rate.

And will be displeased towards you for forcing him to expend the time/money to do so

DeShadowC

Especially since this is only one day.

Szechuanosaurus

Are you guys bearing in mind that this is after-hours work? Isn't it usually customary to pay your regular staff more not less to overtime?

Unknown

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Judge Joe Brown

I called in and told them I wasn't interested.

They said that I should start looking for a new job.

Just kidding. They said they had already nearly finished during store hours. They were going to give me a call anyways. False alarm.

Luthz

Judge Joe Brown wrote: »

I called in and told them I wasn't interested.

They said that I should start looking for a new job.

Just kidding. They said they had already nearly finished during store hours. They were going to give me a call anyways. False alarm.

Now you just sound like an employee that doesn't want to do his share of the shitty work, in addition to the good paying work.

Szechuanosaurus

Luthz wrote: »

Judge Joe Brown wrote: »

I called in and told them I wasn't interested.

They said that I should start looking for a new job.

Just kidding. They said they had already nearly finished during store hours. They were going to give me a call anyways. False alarm.

Now you just sound like an employee that doesn't want to do his share of the shitty work, in addition to the good paying work.

In other words, management material.