“Better Off with Ohio Minimum Wage,” says Independent Contractor

Columbus, OHAlex says he would be better off getting minimum wage of $7.70 per hour according to Ohio employment law than how some independent contractors are paid. And he would be better protected by Ohio Employment Law.

Before Alex started working as a satellite TV installer for Solutions Contractor Inc., one of Direct TV’s contractors, he attended a training program. And he shelled out about $1,000 on equipment, including a ladder, tools and a smart phone--he signed a 2 year contract with AT&T and had to purchase a data base for an additional $30 per month. Talk about “everything but the kitchen sink”: Alex also had to buy a shovel so he could sink poles for the satellite dishes.

“I was told that I would be paid per installation, which would be anywhere from $30 to a few hundred dollars. For instance, I helped someone else for 12 hours and was paid $30. Eight other new employees and I were told to expect a bonus check within two or three weeks and my first job was scheduled for October 29. By November 9 I asked the owner about my bonus??"everyone else had got theirs.”

According to Alex, the boss told him that the other workers started earlier, but that wasn’t true. Then he said that Alex’s background check didn’t come through. In other words, stall tactics.

“Then he told me no worries, I would be paid on the next billing cycle??"November 23,” says Alex. “OK, I can wait. In the meantime I went onto the company’s website and noticed they had charged me $200; I had no idea why. I emailed the boss. ‘That pays for the tools we provided you,’ he said. I told him that I would return the tools and get them myself. One of my co-workers had paid $28 for his set so I went to hardware store and bought everything for $67. I called Joey, a co-worker and asked if he had the same charge on his account. When Joey realized he was charged $200 as well, he simply quit. Next day my supervisor told me that I was fired because of my phone call to Joey.”

Alex knows Ohio is an “At Will” state, but his complaint isn’t because he was fired for wrongful termination, for being the messenger. He was never paid the $1,000 bonus, nor was he paid for eight satellite dish installations.

“I figure they owe at least $600 per installation,” Alex adds. “If they paid me minimum wage, it would be well over $1,000.” Alex also works part time as a translator??"work he gave up to install the dishes.

(Alex is from Croatia and became a US citizen last month: Welcome to America, the land of opportunists!)

“I have never experienced anything like this,” he says. “Imagine working and not getting paid any money. I found out about Ohio Employee rights and the Ohio Labor Board helped me set up a mediation appointment in small claims court. Just the other day I got a call from the officer, saying she doesn’t think they will show up. The mail sent by Ohio State Employment came back as undelivered, but I found out that the company is registered in Ohio under the address I gave. If they don’t show, I will seek help from an Ohio Employment attorney.”

Alex called LawyersandSettlements yesterday to let us know Solutions Contractor Inc. was a no-show. He has filed a claim with an employment attorney.