JC General Painters Unfair Labor Practices Winter Park Florida

I went to work for this company on the notion that I would be helping to grow the company from a small time painting business to a industry standard setting company. Little did I know the intent of the owner when I signed on. I started working there the first week in October after agreeing on a salary. I filled out all of the necessary paperwork for the IRS and my first paycheck was handwritten and given to me after the first week. I had to ask for my paycheck. I should have known then that when you have to ask to be paid from your employer things are a little fishy.

The second week I began working on marketing the business, I spent close to two hundred dollars of my own money on computer equipment, estimating tools and prospective client brochures to help the company acquire more work. Things seem to be going well until......Mid week the owner decides he has to go to out of the country to the Carribean to sell some painting equipment to get money.....That was on a Thursday. Pay day is Friday.

Well, I knew he was going out of town and he said he was going to leave my check in the top drawer. Guess what... no check. I called his cell phone but he left it at home. He returns a week later promising to pay me which he does, but it is not until the following Tuesday! By then I am on my third week with the company and I continued working and meeting with prospective clients and doing estimates. I go into work on Friday and he tells me he cannot afford to pay me anymore. And that he has to let me go. He asks for his phone and key to the office back and tells me he will pay me the following week when he gets money from a general contractor.

Meanwhile, I am unemployed with a mortgage due and hungry mouths to feed. I try to be empathetic to the owner of his supposed situation. Of course, I should not have because he rolls around in a $64,000 Escalade but cannot afford to pay his worker's???? I let this go for about a week still calling him to remind him about once every four days about his promise but he doesn't take action he just says the money hasn't come yet. Two more weeks roll by and I have sent the company emails and made phone calls and finally, he calls me and tells me he wants to "close the book on this situation". He offers me $400 cash to square up.

What?? My wages were more like $1400 gross. I figured this guy is going to out of business soon so perhaps I should get what I can. I did not settle on the amount nor receive any money he mad offers he still did not intend to honor. The final straw was that when I last called him he sluffed me off with a big "hmmmf!" and hung up. It is obvious that they have no intention of paying me for that week. I was used for my connections within the industry to help advance his company. It will all catch up with them I am sure.

Last I heard they were having worker's compensation issues and insurance issues could not find any work. Be careful and check all references before working with a shady employer. Chances are your gut feelings in the beginning are correct.

Worker's Rights Advocate
Orlando, Florida
U.S.A.