Thoughts?

21 Comments

1. AnonymousOctober 18,2022 at 12:41PM UTC

   Overtime is still protected with salary depending on what the salary is. Check into the laws. It is also supposed to still be the exception and not the rule for salaried employees. Salary means the work gets done regardless of the number of hours, not a required amount above 40. 50 hours is over full-time so definitely check with your laws and the DOL. She may have to reimburse you for your time.

   It is also against the law to discriminate for age. Another thing to check into if she is treating you unfairly.

2. NepetaOctober 18,2022 at 1:58PM UTC

   Overtime payment is not determined soley by whether you are paid hourly or are salaried. The determination is whether the job is classified as "exempt" (no overtime pay required) or "non-exempt" (OT pay required, regardless of whether the job is paid via hourly wages or annual salary).

   https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/15319-exempt-vs-nonexempt-employees.html

   In my last job, I was a salaried IT manager, but the company (who was very litigation-averse) classified all such jobs as non-exempt: i.e., I had to be paid OT for any hours over 40/week. In fact, I had to get permission* in advance* to work OT, and if my boss found out I had worked outside the usual 8am-5pm hours (e.g., sending email late in the evening to wrap up an issue), then I got a stern warning and a scolding that such behavior would jeopardize my non-exempt status and pose a problem for the (large, multi-national) company if they were ever audited.

3. AnonymousOctober 18,2022 at 1:05PM UTC

   As previous comment, paying people overtime is not optional, It is the law, regardless if it is salary or hourly.

4. AnonymousOctober 18,2022 at 2:22PM UTC

   I believe this depends on what state you live in. I know that is how it is where I live, but other states do not require this.

5. AnonymousOctober 18,2022 at 8:54PM UTC

   I live and work in South Carolina.

6. AnonymousOctober 18,2022 at 1:23PM UTC

   I worked at a shoe store that suffered from theft.
   Thieves would bring a trash bag and run through the aisles to grab 15-20 pairs of shoes off the shelf The manager witnessed the theft and installed the camera after I asked about the possibility of a knife or a gun. They installed it for my safety so the culprit could be caught.

7. AnonymousOctober 18,2022 at 5:15PM UTC

   Hi, thanks for your reply. Please see my reply to Kerry above. We do not presently have any shoplifting issues in our store. Thankfully!

8. AnonymousOctober 20,2022 at 1:32AM UTC

   Crime is up in major cities all over America. She may be reacting to a trend.

9. AnonymousOctober 18,2022 at 2:31PM UTC

   I have worked under security cameras in multiple jobs, from retail to non-profit work, and have always felt a sense of security from them. Did the boss indicate why it was installed (shoplifting, cash out of balance at the end of the day, or any other reason)? As for the hours and pay, do you know if you and the other manager paid the same? Your post seems to assume so, but you may already be compensated for the extra hours. It's worth a conversation with your boss if it's causing you this much distress to clear the air.

10. KerryOctober 18,2022 at 3:09PM UTC

    It may be the part time person who has the sticky fingers. Or maybe the owner is doing it for simply security. Her insurance may require it for risk management.

11. AnonymousOctober 18,2022 at 5:10PM UTC

    It's a small family business and both the part-timer and I have been with her since the beginning, a year ago. We are both in our 60s and as honest as it comes. We are both insulted since the camera is directly over the cash register. It's a woman's clothing boutique with no shoplifting issues. This has nothing to do with risk management, unfortunately. We just feel like we are being spied on.

12. AnonymousOctober 19,2022 at 12:31PM UTC

    It's possible it could be an insurance requirement even tho there haven't been any problems. The owner may trust you both implicitly - her insurance carrier doesn't know you, and may be simply requiring she put in safeguards that they expect from any similar business. I wouldn't take it personally.

13. AnonymousOctober 27,2022 at 2:41AM UTC

    Her insurance carrier doesn't care. Today she called me out on a sale for $9.99, $10.59 with sales tax. The computer acted up and I caught it. And made 3 copies of the transactions proving that it was NOT user error here! She was watching it on camera and immediately started texting me not to let the customer leave the store without paying for her napkins. My boss is paranoid!!! When I checked my phone, she had texted me 3 times. We are not selling high-ticket items here.

14. Joanna PoeOctober 18,2022 at 9:12PM UTC

    Definitely check on the overtime rules in your state. I think I saw further down that it's SC? It looks like you may not be in an exempt position if you only manage one employee: https://www.minimum-wage.org/south-carolina/overtime

    Many employers think that they are covered and don't have to pay overtime simply because they pay you a salary instead of an hourly wage, but they are often very poorly informed and may be in violation.

15. Zeecil KimmelOctober 19,2022 at 1:04PM UTC

    It is never a bad idea to put together a resume and send out the proper messages to the universe you are ready for more. Worst comes to worst you can find out you are truly lucky to work at your present job and you can stay with a new happier attitude. Usually though once you start looking around you find out there is a big world out there and you might be surprised at how much more you will be valued elsewhere.

16. AnonymousOctober 20,2022 at 12:36AM UTC

    Hi, thank you for your response. The other store has always had cameras. This has always been an issue because she zooms in and listens to conversations. She is constantly alienating employees. Our stores are small boutiques. Most of our sales are credit cards and our cash drawer is never off. I do plan on talking to her because I really feel uncomfortable working so hard for a person who has decided in the last 5 days that she doesn't trust me.

17. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 3:33AM UTC

    Hi! I have a job interview tomorrow afternoon! Wish me luck!

18. Zeecil KimmelOctober 25,2022 at 6:06PM UTC

    Best of luck and keep us informed. We are all rooting for you.

19. AnonymousOctober 25,2022 at 12:37PM UTC

    I don't see how there's going to be a positive ending to any of this. you already sense that the other employee is favorite. You are being asked to work 25% more hours for the same pay as the other employee.And while I understand the importance of security cameras, to know that a boss is listening in on conversations is just plain weird.I want to restate my 1st sentence here. This is not going to go well so you just have to decide if you want to keep working for this woman or not

20. Bradford McCormickOctober 26,2022 at 3:02AM UTC

    It does not help you to say my heart goe out to you. You have clearly desribed your situation. in your off hours you need a hobby: looking for a job wher you are respected appropriately. But as far as they are concerned you are entirely pleased with your fine management and have no issues with them at all because if you did they would hold it agains you, right?

21. AnonymousNovember 6,2022 at 2:48PM UTC

    I am happy to report that I got the position I interviewed for! I will be managing another boutique that seems to be run in a more professional manner. I will also have a better salary, bonuses and a better discount!

    My current boss was FURIOUS when I gave her my 2-week notice. That only reinforced my reason to leave, after listening to her tirade and excuses for not staffing the store properly.

    Thank you to everyone that responded to my post and for your support!

    Nancy