Work with no pay!

Anonymous

November 12,2023 at 2:33PM UTC

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Work with no pay! I have been moonlighting at a kennel for almost two years. The policy and one of the perks has always been your pets can stay for free. I was in a car accident in January of this year which totaled my car and injured me. I subsequently lost my full time job and eventually my home in June due to the end of my lease. I had no other option but to put my fur babies at the kennel while I put my belongings in storage and continued to look for work and a new home. The person who runs the kennel full time had no problems with this and I offered to come up a little extra to help offset my pets being there. The owner approached me after a week or so and asked how long they had been there. I explained my situation. He then told me he was changing the policy and I would have to pay and work it off. He wanted me there in the mornings to do extra work. I was already there a few hours on the weekend, one full 10 hour day during the week, As well as covering when the manager goes out of town etc. He then complained to the manager that I wasn’t there early enough and now wanted me pulling weeds as well. He then refused to pay me for my work. I had to approach him and basically beg for money a few weeks ago because I have zero income coming in. He gave me a small amount and told me no more. He is now complaining about my dogs being there and barking. Claiming no other dogs bark like mine. I was and am very appreciative to have a safe place for my fur babies during this extremely hard time. But I am feeling very taken advantage of. I am working at least 20 hours a week for him, gas, etc with no pay. I feel like I am losing my mind here. Any thoughts or recommendations are greatly appreciated!

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Devine SpeightsNovember 12,2023 at 2:39PM UTC
Go to social services get section 8
Anne ShaffnerNovember 12,2023 at 2:49PM UTC
It is illegal to not pay for work (if it is not a volunteer position). Contact your state Department of unemployment.
ShellieNovember 12,2023 at 2:51PM UTC
Sadly for whatever reason, this person wants you out of their life. They are begging you to walk away. Do it. Put them behind you. You deserve better. Find someone who will watch your dogs until you get back on your feet. Apply for government assistance, find any paying job you can, build yourself back up without the help of this person who doesnt value you. I wish you the best.
ShellieNovember 12,2023 at 2:53PM UTC
If you feel comfortable, maybe state your location so people can point in you in the right direction for help. I’m in the Orlando area, if you happen to be there
AnonymousNovember 12,2023 at 3:14PM UTC
Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately I have no one else who can take them on and have had no luck with any jobs whatsoever. It’s not that I am unqualified. I am degreed even. I have applied for everything from corporate to fast food just to get my foot in the door somewhere. It’s been insane!
AnonymousNovember 14,2023 at 9:05PM UTC
Fast food is in great need of workers at entry level.
AnonymousNovember 12,2023 at 5:30PM UTC
Sorry to say if he is the top of the chain you are stuck. Find another shelter or a community program or check with your local SPCA about a short term foster situation for your dogs while you continue to convalesce. Clearly his empathy for animals barely extends to humans and you cannot change this jerk based on what you shared. Good luck.
AnonymousNovember 14,2023 at 3:25PM UTC
Report it to employment organization in your state. It should be the same as the unemployment claim, but states vary. You will get paid back pay as well as any overtime.
AnonymousNovember 14,2023 at 3:59PM UTC
Have you applied for and received unemployment after the loss of your full time job? Have you applied for health care insurance through your state marketplace? Have you applied for EBT funds for food stamps? You are not earning enough in wages to disqualify you from basic benefits. As for the kennel situation - where are you residing currently? You moved out of your precious home but did not say where you went. How many dogs are we discussing here? 1? 2? 6? I highly suggest you start to refocus on what is best for your health and take charge of your life. If your injury is resolving and you can work go get a full time job again. Do not be stuck in your education and career alignment. Earn money so you can take care of you and your pets in a dignified way. I hope you had insurance to cover your injuries and compensate you for the loss of your vehicle and employment - if the other party was at fault I hope their policy has covered these losses to your income and survival. When we are injured and in pain we often cannot focus on what needs to be done for ourselves. Please do not focus on the kennel manager as the issue here. The issue is that you and your dogs need a stable home environment. The steps you take there will resolve any issue with the kennel manager. I will not call the manager names here - they run some sort of business whether it is non profit or for profit. They are not a charity to humans - they focus on saving dogs or boarding them. They rely on volunteers and paid staff to manage their mission which does not include using their facilities to personally taking care of you. I love dogs and I am sure you love yours deeply. They don’t belong in a kennel - they belong in a home where they can get the space and care they deserve - just like you do. If you villainize this manager you are not focusing on the message - which is get your life in order now
AnonymousNovember 14,2023 at 10:59PM UTC
I appreciate your words. And to be brief. I have applied for what I am eligible for but am still waiting. I have health insurance and am still awaiting my settlement from the accident. I am significantly better and I have been searching for a job for over 8 months now. The issue lies in that the policy was always that if employed your dogs can stay for free. Until I had to use that benefit. Then he changed policy. I understand what you are getting at and I appreciate your perspective. However, I am taking all the steps necessary to get back on track. I am not trying to villianize the owner, it just seems personal at this point.
Again thank you for your time and energy and thoughts on moving forward.
maria roseNovember 16,2023 at 12:56AM UTC
First, sorry for your injuries that put you out of work in January, which then resulted in yo losing your place to live in June which forced you to place your dogs into the kennel where you were volunteering on the weekend and to place your possessions into storage. But you have not mentioned anything about your job search, Or compensation from the insurance company for the care accident and any unemployment benefits or welfare benefits applied for, just what has been occurring at the kennel where your dogs are staying, which leads me to question why didn’t you try to get hired there for pay in at least a part time position . Not excusing the manager’s actions but the kennel at this point has to be paid ( assuming the dogs have been there since June and it’s now November, especially if you are so attached to your dogs. If you are still without a permanent residence and a source of income to cover your expenses, you seriously need to place the dogs in a foster home ( not the kennel)!until you are financially secure enough to earn enough income to pay for rent and their care. If your injuries from the car accident have disabled you from seeking full time employment, you should be able to get welfare benefits but it’s time to face the reality of your situation and move forward with your life. Good luck with everything
Andre JonesSeptember 14,2025 at 10:05PM UTC
Reading that is just gut-wrenching, what an absolutely awful and exploitative situation to be stuck in. It’s that feeling of having zero control while someone else holds all the cards that’s the absolute worst, and sometimes you just need a five-minute escape where you're the one making the calls. That's kinda how I got into this little game I play to decompress; it’s all about split-second decisions and trusting your gut. I found it on games-aviator-india.com and the whole premise is just watching a multiplier go up and deciding when to cash out before it all vanishes. The tension of seeing it climb past 5x, then 10x, and you're just battling with yourself whether to pull out or risk it for another second is such a simple, effective way to block out all the other noise. It's not some complex thing, just a pure shot of adrenaline that puts you back in the driver's seat, even if it's just for a moment. Hope things look up for you!