Legal Question in Employment Law in Washington

I work for Chuck E. Cheese's. I am currently 17 years old and was hired back on 10/28/09 when I was 16. I have been yet to recieve any payment of the first 20 hrs I worked there. 9.5 of which are documented in their system were the others were prior to being given a pin to clock in. Recently I recieve a promotion uping my pay rate from $8.55 to $9.55. This pay rate was verbally agreed upon by myslef, the store gm, as well as the district vp. My last two paychecks in which I was supposed to recieve $9.55 I recieved $9.00. Last check I told the store gm who said he would call payroll to fix it. That was two weeks ago and I recieved yet another check with only $9.00 as my rate instead of the agreed upon $9.55. How does this case look?


Asked on 5/21/10, 3:58 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Susan Beecher Susan L. Beecher, Atty at Law

If you are looking at the case while asking the question, "Is this an employer I want to stay with for the long term?", the answer is obviously, "no".

If you are wondering how this would play out as a legal cause of action, you would need to be able to prove that you were promised the higher rate for the hours you are being short paid. You would also need to be able to prove that you worked for the hours you were unpaid. If you can do that, you can collect the back pay you are owed. If you can prove that the employer intentionally short paid you (they will likely claim clerical error), you can collect twice the pay you are owed, and attorney's fees.

My recommendation would be to get another job first, then add up how much you have been shorted, and decide whether to chase them for it. Retaliation for pursuing your legal rights is illegal, but if you push the issue while employed there, your employer may disregard that law, too.

Read more
Answered on 5/25/10, 11:41 am


Related Questions & Answers

More Labor and Employment Law questions and answers in Washington