My employer wont pay me. Now what can I do?

[pinhead]

I had to sue a contractor who stiffed me on a summer job during university. I didn't have a written contract either. Small claims process is pretty easy.

Contact the homeowners and any other workers at the site and tell them that you will be starting small claims proceedings and intend to call them as witnesses. They will be served with documents and be required to appear.

It is a hassle for them to go through this process so ask them to call the contractor to put some pressure on to pay you before you have to proceed.

If you do have to go to court prepare well and you should win.

[no_bs]

To bad i have been delayed Russell, I'd come give you a hand in some "Legal" pressure. If your still have this issue unresloved by the time i make it up there, we'll talk. Pressence speaks loudly.

[vs.stephen]

Well, what this employer is done is obviously totally illegal so I would put in a complaint to the Employment Standards Branch. I would also suggest looking into, and joining, a group called the Employee Action & Rights Network (www.earnbc.ca) which exists to educate people on their rights and help people deal with bad bosses like this one!

[Megalodon]

Verbal contracts hold water in small claims court.

It would be your word against his however I bet the judge would tend to side with you. Why would you do 27 hours of work for somebody, and why would he let you do it, if there was never an agreement?

[whatcaneyedo]

I'm trying the Employment Standards system at the moment http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/self-help/start.htm

The other things I've done I did anonymously so I wont repeat them here.

As others have already mentioned Small Claims Court probably wouldn't be worth it because of their fees for such a small amount.