Can one get a job abroad without special papers?

Had a little job for a day, got let go, and didn't get paid. Who to call about this?

• A little while ago I found a job on craigslist and it was floor cleaning service job where I had to clean a floor of an entire store in the early mornings. I called for the job cause I was (still am) desperate for a job and they also needed an extra reliable person, all I did was call the number, the guy offered me the job and told me to meet someone who I also talked to over the phone at 6am at a Michael's. Doing the job was $20.00 per service and I had to work for 2 hours a day. So I went to the store: a Michael's at 6 am met the guy I was assigned to meet with and work with to clean the store. He gave me some papers to fill out and I filled most of them and the guy told me I had to fax the papers to the company. We cleaned the store by sweeping and pushing the large buffer for 2 hours and got signed off by a Micheal's manager. I think the guy I worked with thought I didn't do much of a good job handling the buffer and also said I need to pick up the pace and told we'll meet at another store to clean there the next other day. After that later on the day the guy I called through craigslist asked me how the job went I said it was alright and he asked how long I'd want to work there and I said I would like to work there for a few months like I think I said 2 months and we was like ok. The next day the guy called me and said that they found another person who was willing to work for them longer so I was let go. It made me so disappointed and the worst of all I didn't even get paid!!!! I had to wake up so damn early, drive all the way to that store in the early morning, clean it and I didn't get paid not even a cent and I only worked for one single day without any pay >:[ Even though I didn't get the $20.00 for the day I worked and it was just 2 hours I still am pretty damn pissed I didn't all that for nothing. Should I call the company? I am not exactly sure which number to call, the number I called on craigslist? On the application papers there's a three of numbers like a payroll number or should I contact the Wage & Hour board? I think that's the best one to call but I don't know which to call first, the company or the Department of Labor?? Can I even contact the DOL about this? Would the company not give me the money? When I got the call saying they found someone else who wanted to work longer (which I think is a BS excuse) all the guy said is they didn't no longer needed me and that was it nothing about getting paid for the day I worked. I wanted to ask about it but I kinda hesitated and thought he'd say I won't get the money. Should I still gotten paid for that service I did even though it was just one day or just move on from it and had worked and got up so early for nothing. I feel I should really do something about this and get the money I could have used for something important.

• Answer:

  Dear Anon, I'm sorry that this happened to you. It's not fair. Do you still happen to have the paperwork you faxed to Michael's? That could help a lot. I'd start with calling the number of the guy who hired you. Make sure you get his full name and address, if you don't have them already. Be calm and polite, but point out to him that you did work hard for your $20.00 and you would like to get paid. He will actually respect you more for standing up for yourself. If nothing comes from it, call Michaels. Again, be calm and polite, but tell them your story. Write down the date you worked, the name of the guy, etc., so you'll have the information at your fingertips. It WAS their Michael's store you cleaned, after all. Tell them, if you still feel this way, that you'd still like to work for Michaels and you'd be a good employee. Tell them, if you feel you need to, that you were new to buffers but you felt you were getting the hang of it...etc. But a word of advice--never limit yourself by saying you only want to work a place for 2 months. Tell them that you're looking for something long term.