Am Back After a Brief Encounter with a Very Bad Boss
By anne25penn
@anne25penn (3305)
Philippines
February 2, 2010 7:05am CST
I've been inactive here on Mylot since December of last year. The reason for this was because I got a job in one of the call centers here in the Philippines. I didn't apply, but somehow they got a hold of my resume online and called me up for an interview which I passed. I took the job even if it meant leaving my mom alone in the house and spending sleepless nights at work again. I was out of work for almost seven months and earning something regularly seemed very appealing to me at that time.
I thought that the company would be okay because it is one of those well-known names or companies. But I was wrong. Because up to now, I still have not received any salary yet.
It has now become a dilemma for me because I don't know which is worse, to go back to work and continue working (for free) and wait for HR and payroll to pay me, or stand my ground and not go back and demand they pay me, which will be a painful process if I will report them to the Department of Labor for violating the labor code.
So now, I am back mylotting. I just want to post this and ease some of my stress by sharing my experience. And I also want to say Hi to all my friends here 
.
.4 people like this
13 responses
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
2 Feb 10
welcome back anne. that was a very bad experience. if you can go back and request for you salary, if could be better. but if you really think that they are just fooling you, why would you be afraid to report them to the Department? it's good to be here on mylot but if mylot is the only way for you to earn, i don't think we can survive life.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
Hi neil, long time no...read? 
I'm not scared of reporting them, I just don't want to go through all the hassle if it can be avoided. The experience still leaves a bad taste to my mouth and it seems that I have no face here in my family because of this incident. Bad enough that I had to leave my mom who is sick with cancer alone so that I could work nights, but what's worse is that it seems that I was working for free. Ahhh, too much stress. Thank you for your response.
I'm not scared of reporting them, I just don't want to go through all the hassle if it can be avoided. The experience still leaves a bad taste to my mouth and it seems that I have no face here in my family because of this incident. Bad enough that I had to leave my mom who is sick with cancer alone so that I could work nights, but what's worse is that it seems that I was working for free. Ahhh, too much stress. Thank you for your response.@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
2 Feb 10
yeah, long time no read. 
does it really mean you are working for free or they just delay your salary? if you will stop working there, aren't you afraid to be sued for breach of contract? i just thought about this earlier after posting my first response.
does it really mean you are working for free or they just delay your salary? if you will stop working there, aren't you afraid to be sued for breach of contract? i just thought about this earlier after posting my first response. @anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
I wasn't the first one who breached the contract because the contract clearly states that salaries are paid every 15th and 30th and no exclusions or inclusions. That's why I am so distressed over this whole incident because my batchmates and I were all expecting to get paid, only to find out the ugly truth on how this company operates.
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
That is really bad. I think its just time to ask for the pay they promise to pay you. I think leaving them at that would mean that they could do that to others as well. I think when you take the pay you leave them to point your side. But in the meantime that you are not receiving pay stay for while. I guess you start asking for lawyers who can better guide you on what to do. I think this is illegal if they fail to pay you for no valid reason at all.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
It is illegal because the Philippine labor code states that no employee should have their salary delayed by more than 16 days and it has been more than a month now. I have not gone back, because as I mentioned I don't know which is more insulting, that I wasn't paid or I wasn't paid and I am still working for them. Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (38166)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
I guess you start consulting lawyers would make your case going on already. I think leaving them would mean abandonment of job and they could use that in your defense. I think as early as now start making an effort to complain them to Dept of labor or NLRC to start your case going on and your meployer would not get enough time to find fault against you.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
I'll do that tomorrow. I am still hoping that they settle this without having to go through Labor. Thank you again for your response.
1 person likes this
@Kashmeresmycat (6369)
• United States
2 Feb 10
Have you talked to any of the other employee's there to see what they say about getting paid? And seeing you never applied here, did you check out the company good to see if they were legitimate without any complaints against them?
I also have been out of work for many months, but you really need to be careful about who is contacting you for work. There are many places that pretend to offer real work, when they are really just predators and are out scamming people left and right.
If they do not pay you, please report them so they do not do this to other people, and see if you can talk to some other employees from the company about this.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
To add insult to injury, I was the only one who wasn't paid in my batch of new employees. The HR cannot give me a reason as to why I was not paid. I did not think of checking the company because of it's name. Thank you for your response.
@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
Hello Anne,
Welcome back! I knew some one who went missing all of the sudden. I hope you don't mind Pm me the name of that company so that i would be aware of it. I had the same experience years ago after my failed interview at one of the call centers too. one of our batch found another company and we though it was good. i didn't talk to the m during the interview because i was so ashamed. until they told me they didn't accept the contract because it was too unclear.
You should have asked people that you know (just in case) who used to work in that company so that you wouldn't have this kind of problem. sometimes, other call centers brag about how good they are but it's always been the tip of the ice berg. your situation is one of the reasons i couldn't apply for a job in that industry.
So, what's you plan. how long you haven't been paid? that ain't fair at all.
Be careful always...@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
Actually, before I signed the contract I asked if I could think it over first. I already had a bad feeling back then, which I shook off thinking that it was just too much lechon over the holidays. But in the end, my gut feeling about the whole thing was true and now I'm beating myself for being the fool that I am. Thank you for your response .
.@LetranKnight25 (33121)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
we are still in the crisis and it's not the same as it was back 2006 to 2007. what were your doubts, hey about that "pm me about the name". i am planning to try applying next month.but now am thinking twice again after what you are going through
. i am planning to try applying next month.but now am thinking twice again after what you are going through
@omgxitsxshiloh (42)
• United States
2 Feb 10
ugh that infuriates me. i can't believe people think they can get away with that kind of treatment. i wouldn't work for free; i would cut my losses, demand the pay, and look for some other sort of way of income.
i'm sorry that happened to you, hun.
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
4 Feb 10
Thank you for your response. I am demanding for my pay and have not gone back. It has been a very bad experience for me, considering that it is a big and well-known company. I never realized that this is how they treat their employees.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
2 Feb 10
Well, I had a freelance writing gig a few years back that in the beginning, paid me. But after awhile, they stopped paying, even though I asked. And it looked like other people had the same problem. So I stopped doing work for her. She never did pay.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
2 Feb 10
Hi Anne,
That is horrible. You have to report them. You have to. As long as you are willing to work for free they will continue to have you work for no pay. Are you even sure that they are a legitimate company? I ask because the whole thing from how you got hired and all sounds pretty sketchy.
@jlamela (4897)
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
That's terrible!that company is disgusting and should be punished with their inhuman behavior, you deserved to be paid of course. And what's their reason for not giving your salary?they must be insane!
Try reporting them in radio or television so that they will learn their lesson. Just don't lose hope.
@agv0419 (3022)
• Philippines
3 Feb 10
It is very bad,you are working there for months without salary. I think you need to report them in Department of Labor and you don't need to be fool by this company. You have a right to complain them. Foreign companies exploiting you in your own country which is not right. Why not find a good company which is more credible.
@Ladyslipper (1327)
• Philippines
2 Feb 10
That is not right!
I believe you have a Supervisor and also a Manager. It is their responsibility to ensure that all staffs under them are getting paid correctly and on time. It should not only be you who should make a follow- up on this one. Your Supervisor should assist you and still if everything else fails you better Escalate it to the higher Management. You ca nactually sue them and they will have to pay higher than that in case you pursue the case. Im sure that if you will sue the company they are going to give you something for a settlement and that would be a very large amount. That is why it is better for them to fix it internally rather than you filing a case against their company. If you have not Escalated the issue yet to your Supervisor then you should do so. If your Supervisor does not want to assist you then I think it is just right to ask help from your Manager. I just hope they are both approachable and willing to help.
