What do you think if your mom makes you work for free?

Reading through what others have written and your responses (and having checked that you live in the US), it seems to me that you are well within your rights to demand payment for your work - at least the minimum wage, which I believe varies from state to state but is around $8 an hour, I think. Of course, in return, you should, of course, offer to pay board and lodging to keep it fair and square. Find out what sort of rates you would expect to pay in a hostel or look at the rental rates in your area and work something out between you. It may, of course, be that when you take food and lodging into account, there is not a great deal owing but that is something you will have to arrange between you - and I don't anticipate it being an easy thing to do! The important thing to do is to get your facts and figures straight and to know exactly what you (and your mom) are entitled to. Be strong but not aggressive - remember that your mom has rights too and, by the sound of it, has not had an easy life herself. Nevertheless, she still owes it to you to be fair about your wages and your keep. Taking her to court is really the last resort though you should take all the advice you can get - it is worth speaking to someone from your local Citizen's Advice Center.

your mom does has a point you know... since you are staying with her, and your child too... the expenses are all on her. but it is really unfair of her, she should've have given you some amount for the work you're doing. why dont you talk it out with her, tell her everything, be honest about how you feel with the situation, change may happen. but if it doesnt happen and you're still not getting paid, then in my opinion it would be better for you to move out. but think about it, where will you and your child go?, food, rent, utility bills, you'll be having all these problems to think about too, and what if you cant find a job?

Why don't you quit, move out, and get another job?

Hello Lxandra79, Sad to hear about this. Well you have totally different society than ours. How can a mother behave her child like a slave. This is not fair and I got really amazed hearing this this. In our case, we live together in a joint family. And every family member has love and care for each other. As a guy lived up in these circumstances, I can't suggest you to take action against her going to the court or something like that. I don't how you are living. If you are living in the house together as a family you can't demand for the salary with your mother. It's not fair. But if you are living there like a slave and only to work is also not fair. If you don't have house, then you may live in the same house. But why don't you go to work in other places for your money and simultaneous do some housework. I don't know this sound logical to you or not. But this is what that happens here... The best thing you should do is find a nice job... Keep mylotting...Good luck...

Just so I understand this, are you just keeping house, cleaning and cooking meals? OR does your mother have a business and you are working for her and she is not paying you?

Was it an idear to make an agreement with her that you start paying for rent and food, and that she start paying you for your work? :) Rent, house hold and so on is not cheap :) But maybe you'd be lucky that you would have a little left when you have paid the rent? :)

this is a difficult situation... it really depends on the agreement... if she agrees to pay you from the first and you sign a paperwork and contract for it, then your mum legally must abide by it and pay you accordingly... why you are waiting for so long (over 2 years) to complain about this matter??? why you didn't bring up this matter sooner with her and stop working for her as soon as you know that she is not paying you??? anyway, good luck... i hope things will be sorted out for you soon... take care and have a nice day...

It is kind of a trade. She supports you and your son and you help her with her work. If you and your son live free of rent, utility bills, food, etc under her roof, it seems to me that if she paid you plus let you live bill free then you would be taking advantage of her. I do understand that it stinks to be working a job that you don't even like without getting a bit of spending money, but how is she supposed to support both of you if you take a wage from her? I would seriously suggest that you get a regular job somewhere so that you will both have your own money, even if it's only part time. I don't think I would suggest getting all upset about it and trying to just get up and leave if your finances won't support you doing that. Look at it from her point of view. If you lived alone, worked, and paid your bills and food and had a friend and her son move in with you that you paid bills and food for, would you feel good about her working with you and you paying her to work plus covering all of her bills and food?

I don't really know what to say. She gave birth to you and you are under her roof so she has a right to not pay you, but at the same time if you filled out paperwork etc, tax information for her then she should legally pay you, I believe. I think that you need to talk to your mom and tell her how you feel, especially if you have filed paperwork with her / tax information. She could get in trouble (I Believe) if you have filed paperwork as she's not reporting paying you and your not reporting taxes so you could get in trouble... ummm sorry if this sounds really confusing. I'd also mention, and only if your willing to, that you'd pay rent to stay with her if she'd only pay you.

I am sorry for you. Say no to slavery and move immediately out from the house along with your kid so that atleast you will have the freedom to look over your child according to your wish and you can fulfill your wishes. I think this would be the better way. This case is somewhat peculiar as it deals with you and your mom's relation. So, my advice is don't go to court or cops. Because you feel that you are being treated as slave by your mom its better to put a fullstop to the wrong action taking please. Take a house which is simple enough for you and your kid and start working somewhere else with the talent and effort you have. Initially you may not have money, so take help from your BF and other well-wishers. I hope surely they will help you and you can make your child feel better and also grow in a healthy environment. ALL THE BEST

I think she should pay you, and then you should give some back to her as your contribution. It should be an amount that would cover rent, utilities, food, etc. The thing is, you're an adult and while it's expected of your mother to help you out when you hit a bad patch, you're supposed to do everything you can to be independent again. If she's sustaining you and your son, it would be very hard to demand anything. Obviously, we can't see the complete picture here, but from what you described, it sounds like the solution is to get your independence back. Hope everything works out for you. Btw, there's nothing wrong with secondhand clothes.

I think its kinda a touchy topic. Some moms would agree with your mom and some would agree with you. Yes she did give birth to you and you do live free or have lived free but in my opinion thats what motherhood is, no one pays you to keep your children when they are younger so why when they are older should they pay you?!?! But on the other hand you are working for her so she should be paying you because you are an employee. Its not fair to you to be working just to stay there and eat, if thats they case tell her to start paying you and you can go elsewhere and pay rent. Or both of you come up with an amount that you can pay her to stay there that seems resonable because while your mother is responsible to provide for you she is not really responsible to pay for your child, you are. Let her pay you and then you pay her for living there. Good luck!!

Wow, this sounds like where I might be (minus the kids) in a few years if I don't break away from my mother. My mother owns a commercial cleaning business and she bought it four years ago. When she bought it though, it was not in the contract that I would have to help her free of charge just so that she woulnd't have to pay other people to work for her. Problem is, now I'm stuck with it, and if I leave then I'm putting her in a hole so I understand your problem. I just turned 18 a week ago and now I want to go to a trade school and go to American Idol this year but if I do anything, she always reminds me that I have to help her and that she raised me and sacrificed alot of things just for me, so in other words, I need to sacrifice the prime years that I have to make something of myself, just for her. What I plan to do is just sit down and talk with her. You should do the same with your mom. Just tell her that if she does not start paying you then you will discontinue any work with her and move out with your boyfriend. Remind her that what she is doing is illegal and threaten her with a little number of what the minimum sentence is for what she is doing. Explain to her that you have a life AND a kid that you have to support and provide a good lifestyle and childhood for. Tell her that there is no way that you can become independent and you DO NOT plan to be in her house forever so either she pays you at least half or a quarter of the money she owes you so that you can start saving up and get out on you own, or you will leave immediately with your boyfriend the first chance you get and ya'll relationship could be lost forever. Oh I guarantee you she will be upset, but think about all the time you have been upset and you are just staying in one place not making any progress with you or your son's life just staying there and accepting those conditions. You HAVE to give her an ultimatum. I planned this out with my mother as well so I hope all goes well with you AND myself. I wish the best of luck for both of us lol. God Bless you and your son.:)

I think that she needs to be paying you something. Surely a room and board deduction is in order, but she must understand that people have other needs. I would say that if it continues, you would be better off moving out and working elsewhere. It will be tough, but at least you will have some money for your child. It is not fair to him to go without things.

Your boyfriend is correct. You should try to get out from under her roof and find another job! You could try talking to her and tell her that you will be doing that unless she starts paying you, but it sounds like your mother has a chip on her shoulder. Good luck!

I think business is business and your mother should pay you. and you have a son to take care of and you need personal things yourself. and it is illegal for her not to pay you. the hard part is she is your mom, and if she feels because you are living under her roof for free she don't owe you anything she is wrong, maybe she should charge you rent, but she really needs to pay you.

I don't know about it being illegal but it is definitely morally wrong. You need to quit working for mom and get a job that will pay you a decent wage. Then you can pay mom room and board and still have money left in your pocket. Next you need to look into signing up for an apartment for you & your son that bases the rent on your income. I do get that you are living with your mom and if she is not charging you rent or food...she should pay less but still....you should get paid. How many hours a week do you work for her and what do you do?

If you have a son that you have to care for then you should definitely be getting paid. I have a friend whose family takes advantage of her saying that they house and feed her and I to a point think that they have the right but she is also only 19 and does not have a child plus her family allows her boyfriend to stay as well. With a child to care for and especially if she claims to pay you on her taxes - you SHOULD DEFINITELY be getting paid.

My culture is different from yours and in our country it is unthinkable to send a mother to jail. Maybe we are just more understanding, even subservient, but we know that if it is really that bad, our option is to leave the situation.... or endure until there is a better option. The topic description is misleading because based on your story I can't say you are working for free, per se.

Did you sign a contract with your mother when you started working for her? From what you say she is paying you with free housing and free food. If you didn't sign a work agreement she does not owe you. If you don't like the arrangement get a real job move out and pay for your housing and food. You could arrange for her to pay you so that you can pay her for your rent and buy your own food.