Trying to get money owed to me-former job related.

[TR Custom Parts]

Worked at my former day job for 21 years. Maintenance Director at a nursing home. Quick background - All managers there earned what is called PTO, (paid time off). With all the craziness in that industry with numerous ownership / management changes I always learned to use my time and not to let it accumulate more than 40 hours.

Well, on January 10th of this year all employees were informed that the current management company is out and all time we had on the books is now gone. I was "lucky" and only lost 30 hours. Some of my fellow workers were out more than 150 hours!

The facility along with three other nursing homes went into what is called a "receivership". This is a group that is responsible for running the facility and is appointed by the state of Connecticut. A judge determined that the four nursing homes involved would never turn a profit and all four facilites would be closed.

We were never given anything in writing on how things pre-receivership would be handled. Rumor had it that once the building was officially empty that all hours pre-receivership would be paid out. Having kept in contact with my former workers I see that all people that were laid off or worked there to the end HAVE been paid out. People like me who were lucky enough to find a new job before the official closing and resigned have not received checks.

Called the receivership office yesterday and they said I was sh*t out of luck since I resigned. Well, I was begged to stay on in a part time capacity until the building closed and was also on call for emergencies 24/7. Was working my new full time job and then going to the old one in the afternoon. Had a vague promise that we would all be paid off the time owed to us but whenever I asked for that in writing it never happened. My bad! I ended up being "let go" completely when I did not go there during the hurricane that hit CT back on August 28th. Wasn't leaving my new job where we were hammered with trees down, no power etc especially when there was an assistant and manager from a nearby facility that had already closed available.

Called the Labor Board and they were not much help. Going to file a complaint anyway but once the receivership is officially dissolved (which is imminent) I don't think we do not have a chance of anything happening.

They know that hiring a lawyer to try and get back 30 hours pay won't happen but might be worth it for some of my former co workers. Any thoughts?

 

[HelloBozos]

Contact all the people that lost out, an do a Class Action suit,One Lawyer for all you all? other wise, it's usually $4000 for single a case .

 

[quickt]

I had something similar happen to me in the late 90s. Your SOL. At least that's what happened to us. Vacation is a benefit that rarely gets paid when you leave a company unless its in writing like the company handbook. Thats why most use it up before they quit. I dont work for the MAN anymore but if I did I surely would not hoard vacation and PTO time. Most company's can decide to change the benefit package anytime they want. In this case sounds like they are bankrupt.

 

[PLAINWHITE T]

Wow...reading this thread certainly gives me pause. My employer has a "PTO" vacation benefit and I have over 300 hours banked up. I wasn't aware that they can just decide to take it from you like that! I would review my company handbook on this policy, but I never got one!

 

[quickt]

Wow...reading this thread certainly gives me pause. My employer has a "PTO" vacation benefit and I have over 300 hours banked up. I wasn't aware that they can just decide to take it from you like that! I would review my company handbook on this policy, but I never got one!

If your company hits hard times your benefit package will be the first thing that gets cut. Take a vacation and use up some of that time.

I had 11 sick days or PTO and 4 weeks vacation. I was let go when they closed and received nothing. So much for me thinking I would pad some extra cash for the hunt for a new job.

 

[Just a Six??]

You lost 30 hours but had a good job for 21 years. Not to sound like an azz because I have dealt with you many times & know your a good guy but Suck it up & be happy you had a job for 21 years when many others couldn't even find work. Really, 30 hours??
Just let it go & be Thankful for the new job. It could be Much Worse!!

 

[bison]

You lost 30 hours but had a good job for 21 years. Not to sound like an azz because I have dealt with you many times & know your a good guy but Suck it up & be happy you had a job for 21 years when many others couldn't even find work. Really, 30 hours??
Just let it go & be Thankful for the new job. It could be Much Worse!!

I disagree. Mark was being proactive and not waiting for a lay off. If youre laid off your next potential employer knows it and you have nothing to work them with and they will low ball you since you are unemployed. He should have been paid the 30 hrs with in 48 hrs of his termination date. Them paying at this point probably isnt going to happen.

 

[GNBRETT]

a receivership is a type of corporate bankruptcy. PTO's are common in the private sector. I have 180 days banked (1440 hrs.) and they have to pay me what I bank throughout my career when I retire. those were banked holidays tho and written in our contract to be paid at what rank you are when you retire. thats not a "Perk" tho, its an entitlement supported in writing by contract. if you do not have something written in ur previous contract as to what you are entitled to then id say ur SOL. an attorney is hardly worth 30 hrs.

I would say any PTO benifit was lost when you resigned. if you were given a pink slip you would have a better leg to stand on but even then it would be questionable unless it was a benifit written in ur contract for employment.

part time employees do not receive the same benifits as full time employees so even tho you were technically employed there you were no longer a full time employee and therefore not entitled to the benifits that a full time employee would be entitled to.

we do have in-house comp hours that we are not entitled to when we leave as far as any monitary value goes. its a perk given for a good arrest. we do have Departmental comp time (Converted holiday time, time in lieu of OT, etc...) which we ARE entitled to but that again is supported Contractually and recognized by the state labor board.

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Hey 30 hours is almost $1000 so why not try to pursue it? The issue to me is this time was earned BEFORE the receivership was inacted. Why should some people be entitled to it and others not? When I resigned I WAS paid out what time I earned from the first day of the receivership so that was not a problem. I was pretty much BEGGED to stay on part time and on call after I resigned. They promised everyone who stayed to the end a bonus and there was also a promise of getting back the time we all lost.

30 hours isn't going to kill me if I don't get it but that wasn't the point I was trying to make. Believe me, I always kept my PTO time down to about a week on the books, have seen things happen many times while I was there in the past. Just glad I didn't get screwed as bad as some of the others that worked there. The beyotch they put in charge of my building was truly an evil person, things got pretty nasty there in the end. I am in a better place now, thankfully!

 

[TexasT]

Sorry to hear of your predicament. I guess if you think it is worth your time go after em, but unless I had free time I'd chalk it up and keep moving forward. Ask those who worked all the years for enron and now American airlines. The promised pensions disappeared into thin air and I feel bad for those who it happened to. Unfortunately, the lawyers and politicians aren't the only liars anymore.
Good Luck with what ever you chose to do.

 

[Red C5]

Small claims court. No need for a lawyer and it's inexpensive. Probably your best bet.

Peter

 

[TR Custom Parts]

I want to go on Judge Judy. Hmmm, that doesn't sound right.

 

[Rebel]

I want to go on Judge Judy. Hmmm, that doesn't sound right.

To each his own. Consider the hot loud mouth redhead on ????Peoples Court???? not like I watch that crap.

 

[ZNix]

I know at some companies you can trade in your PTO for cash at the end of the year. My brother does it every year and banks an extra 2k+ during Christmas time.

Zack