General Questions

[LoathinginMA]

I've been at my job for a little over a year, when I first started I was hired as a CSR(customer service rep) and I started @ $12/hr, within 6 months I was bumped up to $14/hr but then was given a lot more of a workload and kept the same title. I am forced to work overtime(I am an HOURLY employee) and not paid time and a half for this overtime. I have been told that health insurance is offered, but every time I ask for that health insurance i'm shrugged away. I am told I have vacation time but every time I put in for it I am told no, I've also been told if I don't hit a certain sales quota my job is in jeopary.

Aside from that, on a daily basis i'm cut down and harassed in front of my fellow co-workers being called names such as "fatty", "chubby", "shit-head", "fuck-face" as well as a laundry list of other derogatories, he makes harassing comments about my girlfriend and my mother on a daily basis when I have asked him to stop repeatedly and my requests go nowhere. What can I do? I am looking for another job, is there anything I can do in the meantime?

 

[seniorjudge]

I am looking for another job

Good luck; they're scarce now in this crappy economy.

 

[cbg]

It is legal for hourly employees to be forced to work overtime.

How many hours per week, total, are you working? MA does not require daily overtime calculations so you would only be due overtime at time and a half if you work over 40 hours per week. If you are working over 40 hours a week and not being paid overtime at the rate of time and a half for the hours over 40, you can contact either the Federal DOL or the MA state AG's office.

No law in any state requires that you be allowed to use your vacation time when you want to. You are luckier than some because at least in MA, they will have to pay any unused time out to you when you leave.

It is legal for them to tell you your job is in jeopardy if you don't hit your sales quota. It is even legal for them to fire you if you don't meet your sales quota.

The "harassment" you describe, as you describe it, is not illegal. I can completely understand why you object and it must be a very unpleasant place to work, but with the exception of a possible overtime violation nothing you have described comes with legal recourse.