A slap in the face from the boss

[OceanAnnie]

I agree that you should wait until you can talk about it without getting upset or angry. Then, how about simply asking your boss "How did you calculate what I was paid?" Then at least, you can see where he/she is coming from.
Then you have to ask yourself how much you want to rock the boat. That will tell you if you want to persue this issue or just rack it up to experience.

I would let it go. Then, should he ask you to work another weekend, like the last, that would be the time to mention compensation. You like your job, it usually pays well, so you don't want to jeopardize it. Maybe your boss believes $100/day is fair compensation (rather than a slap in the face).

How much do you want to keep the job?

The way things are right now if I had a normally well paying job I wanted to keep I wouldn't be rocking the boat. I'm sure they could hire someone else pretty easy right now. So I would take a deep breath and see if this is worth making a fuss over. And would you be better off letting this go in the long run.

Those are all good points to consider. If you like your job and the pay, it might be best to chalk it up to a bad experience and just make sure on your end it doesn't happen again.

From the additional information you posted, it seems like your pay is very closely aligned with the days receipts. The event didn't go so well, so maybe your boss planned to pay you better but couldn't because of that. It sounds like a possibility.

It's not good for you, but maybe it was beyond his control. He might have learned something too. He should have probably said the event has the potential for considerable pay. I don't know. Just some random thoughts.

 

[snowbunny]

I'm sure they could hire someone else pretty easy right now.

No doubt that's what the boss was thinking when he/she decided it would be okay to take advantage of the OP. The OP is good at her job.

OP: I agree with the poster who said to approach the boss when you are less upset and say,
1) I am wondering, since at your request I gave up my anniversary weekend to help out at this event and you said I would be "well compensated," how did you calculate my compensation? and
2) you said my pay would depend on how we do. I was really busy. So how did we do?

You probably won't get the boss to cough up more money but you will have let him/her know that you are aware you were taken advantage of and it won't happen that way again. Good luck to you.

 

[TupperMom7]

If you were asked to work and you agreed, then you have no one but yourself to blame for not finding out ahead of time what the pay would be for the weekend. You said you do home parties and work on commission. Were you able to book any parties during this weekend? That will lead to more money won't it?

 

[wdwfan16]

OP, what do you think you should have been paid?

 

[poohfriend]

Sounds to me like you tried to get your boss to tell you how much you would be making. Now you know you'll have to have a specific amount per hour or commission on your buys to work a special event. Lesson Learned.

I suspect that the overhead of the evnt cut way into hoped profits.

Although $300 is nothing to sneeze at, if you were told you wouldn't make less than $500, I would call or email your boss and indicate you are dissapointed with the amount. If you email, you might use words like:

Boss,

I am dissapointed at the pay you indicated I am to receive for the weekend of work at _____ buy. I worked a total of _____ hours, and the company did not have to pay for a hotel room or additional expenses. I thought we had a good weekend-- I was constantly busy. When you asked me to work and I requested the amount I would pay, you indicated the least I would be paid was $500. And while I had hoped to make more, I was willing to work for $500 with the hope that new business might come from the weekend. However your latest email indicates I am to be paid 40% less than I thought we'd agreed.

I enjoy working with _____ and want to continue this relationship.




or

It was my understanding that the least I would be paid for last weekends work was $500. The amount you indicated in your email is 40% less. I thought the event was successful, did I miss something?

 

[ceecee]

I would think you should be paid more than your hourly wage for a weekend. However, if you are paid by commission and you don't have an hourly wage, you should have asked PRIOR to the event what the pay scale was. You also were told that it would "help your business" did you get sales leads out of this? If so and you are paid by commission I would expect the hourly wage to be significately lower due to your increase in sales.

 

[hinodis]

Just to clear things up, I "agreed" to work because I really had no choice. I missed alot this weekend. Not just my anniversary. My SIL's BIL passed away and I missed the funeral. My DD18 had an opportunity to come for one day (has not been home since xmas) before he left on a tour down to New Orleans, I did not get a chance to see him. I told my boss about the death in the family and was told that the ads were run so I had to be there. I just felt really bad about it. I most likely will not say anything, as it is a good job. I was just very hurt by the whole thing. My time there was not worth the money.

 

[CherylA]

Just to clear things up, I "agreed" to work because I really had no choice. I missed alot this weekend. Not just my anniversary. My SIL's BIL passed away and I missed the funeral. My DD18 had an opportunity to come for one day (has not been home since xmas) before he left on a tour down to New Orleans, I did not get a chance to see him. I told my boss about the death in the family and was told that the ads were run so I had to be there. I just felt really bad about it. I most likely will not say anything, as it is a good job. I was just very hurt by the whole thing. My time there was not worth the money.

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to mention that you had expected more. That doesn't mean you're going to get fired or anything. You should be able to tell your boss that you were paid less than you expected. Even if nothing comes of it it just shows your boss that you're not a doormat. I personally am a doormat so I wouldn't say anything and then I'd kick myself