What would you have done? Should I have told? Opinions wanted here!!
By ChaJudLeoBit
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
United States
November 10, 2007 10:41pm CST
Last week I answered an ad about someone needed laborors, work 5 days-earn $500. It was a building job for a new Lowe's store opening, they needed people to build the inside of the store. (all the racks and shelves to hold everything. It was an empty building and we transformed it in 5 days!!)
So I started on Wed, scheduled to work through Sun and pick up my check Sun evening. (We worked 7am-6pm with 1 hr lunch). This job was all steel work... heavy, heavy, extremely physically demanding! I could barely walk I was so sore! Bruises all over my legs and arms, scratches from the edges of the steel, and sore fingers from the threads of the millions of bolts I screwed in. Not to mention the smashed fingers, I think I got just about every one!!Anyway... back to the point. There was another group that started on Thursday, to work though Mon to finish up and pack all the leftover steel up etc. They would get their checks Mon evening. So there were 4 of us on my team who started on Wed, then on Thursday, we got two more.
So Sunday evening, they call for all the Wed people to turn in their shirts and get their checks. One of the guys who had started on my team on Thurs was in line! I asked what he was doing and he shhh'ed me and said he was just collecting his check like everyone else. Then he stepped out of line (Probably to get away from me) and stood nearby. He said he was waiting for someone to bring his shirts and stood acting like he was watching out for them.
So basically, he had convinced them that he had started on Wed and was about to get $500 for only working 4 days! AND he was going to come back on Mon to get another $100 (we were asked for volunteers to work Mon also)
I got my check and left, not seeing what happened with him, but I was LIVID!!! As hard as we all worked, and this guy was trying to cheat the system and get paid for nothing!! Work teh same 5 days and make $600?!?!? Yeah, they should have kept better records, but that doesn't make it any more fair for the rest of us who worked our 5 days for the $500!!So I wanted to tell. I wanted to go back the next day to ask the supervisor if that guy had been given a check, and if so, he shouldn't get the extra $100 for working on Mon. Or at least have him ask our team leaders when the guy had started.
What do you think? Should I have left it alone, none of my business? Or should I have said something?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
15 Nov 07
just so frustrating because of how demanding the work was.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
11 Nov 07
What a moral dilema. I would have just let it go. Being an honest person myself, I find that I end up on their level if I make too big a deal. Some where along the way, he will get caught pulling scams like this and will be forced to pay back all the money! You just enjoy what you earnt and bask in the glory that you are an honest man. Good fortune smiles on those who work hard and expect little in return.
2 people like this
@AxranraRose82 (1120)
• United States
15 Nov 07
He made it your business by shushing you- I would have said something! There is no reason that everyone else should have to work so hard and then he gets off easy. It is really stupid of the company to not keep better records!
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
26 Nov 07
I hadn't thought of that point, of how he made it my business by making it known that he was being dishonest and shushing me to ask for my loyalty. OH I WISH I WOULD HAVE TOLD!!!!
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
12 Nov 07
I'm not sure. I would be upset that someone was trying to pull a scam on the employer. Surely they paid attention and kept some sort of record as to when you guys showed up? It's a hard call. It reminded me of the story in the Bible about the day workers. Some had worked all day in the heat for a promised fee. Some were hired one hour before the end of the day. The last ones hired were paid first...and paid what the others were promised. The first ones hired saw this and expected more, and were upset when they just got what they had been promised. They complained, and the employer said,"why are you complaining about my generosity to these others? You have been paid what you were promised." Matthew 20
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
15 Nov 07
Yeah, my brother said this also. But it's not quite the same. I wasn't wanting more, but just expecting honesty out of him. He was promised the same amount that I was for 5 days, but was dishonest trying to get that amount for only 4 days.
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
15 Nov 07
Ohhh, I would have been so pi$$ed and with my temper, sorry, I would have been in that office throwing a fit.
I'm not as forgiving and where I come from, you work for your living just as you did. These idiots digust me.
I KNOW what that kind of work is like, and how hard it is. People like that get away with crap all their lives, ruin it for everyone, and we pay for it one way or the other!
@ChaJudLeoBit (1656)
• United States
26 Nov 07
Tow of my closest friends thought I should have spoken up, and now you are behind me. Too bad I didn't post this right away and get the fire to go tell. Well, I had the fire, but others were telling me to chill and not worry about it. So I didn't persue any further. Thanks for your opinion!!
