Legal Question in Employment Law in North Carolina
Travel pay
The supplemental staffing agency I've been working for has always paid me for travel expenses. I have the amount and breakdown of it in writing on company letterhead which is signed by the exc. director. The company stopped paying it without notice. It was the reason I was willing to drive so far (120 miles one way) to take the assignment. They continued to allow me to make this trip for three weeks without knowledge of their intent not to pay the agreed travel pay. Can they do this and make me absorb the cost? Can I take them to small claims court? It doesn't seem right. Thanks for any help you can offer me. Also, this affects several others in their employ.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Travel pay
In South Carolina, an employer cannot reduce your pay without 7 days written notice. Failure to provide notice may subject the employer to treble damages, i.e. 3 times the amount the employer failed to pay.
Working for a temp agency may complicate this issue. Usually your wages are subject to change every time you take a new assignment. It will depend, in part, on the information you were provided by the temp agency before taking this most recent assignment.