False Advertisements to rntice potentila new employees

[TBDee]

My husband responded to an advertisement for 'School Bus Driver'. They claimed $500 sign-on bonus plus paid training. He paid for his Class B CDL out of pocket. Started running his routes. Likes his job even. Come time for his very first paycheck (which he recalls the company sending in his timesheet), he gets told that his training will NOT be paid for and the sign on bonus will not happen. He is not the only employee that was hired under this advertisement which was printed in our local newspaper. I feel this is illegal, but I am not a law expert. Is this legal? What can be done to have the company honor their ad? Besides the obvious stating thus to the company.

 

[army judge]

You might take a copy of the advertisement to the assistant superintendent of the district who oversees the transportation department. See what he or she advises.

 

[ElleMD]

In the course of applying, interviewing, being selected, the job offer made, accepting the offer and prior to the first paycheck, what was he told about the paid training and bonus when he asked about them?

Now that it is some period of time later, what reason his being given for no bonus and training? I can think of a million reasons but all that matters is the one he is actually given.

 

[TBDee]

When he applied he asked about the newspaper ad and it was confirmed by the person doing the hiring. Training lasted about a week, during which he would go to do the CDL written tests after training was done for the day. Before he did the road test and got his CDL he rode with the busses learning routes and they had him fill out a time sheet. All the while they were telling him he would get paid. They did however inform him that training pay was at minimum wage and actual driving pay was at a higher rate. So all time sheets have to be accurate on which type of pay, for how many hours, doing what. The entire time, from training to driving he was told the sign on bonus would be paid after 90 days on the job. Today he was supposed to get his first check along with the other drivers and he was told training was not going to be paid after all and that the sign on bonus was not approved. They added that the bonus had been denied to the previous driver also.

 

[disagreeable]

This is one of those times when life deals you lemons, you need to decide if you can make lemonade. A class B CDL w/passenger endorsement and 6 months to a years experience, in TX can get him a very high paying oil field job driving bobtails. It could get him a job with a school district that has a union and retirement. It could get him a job with special busing of handicapped. It can open up a world of employment, if he does not make a big stink and quit or get fired. All he must do is realize that he is starting at the bottom.

 

[ElleMD]

Bonuses of any kind are extremely rare in public school settings. Taxpayers like paying as little as possible. He must be paid for hours worked. It can be at minimum wage, but it must be paid. Time spent earning a CDL need not be paid unless he was already an employee at that point and they considered it working hours (rare).

While an ad isn't likely to constitute a contract for the bonus, if he was consistently promised one unconditionally, he might have another sort of claim. Is there a union? Start there.