I started working as for my best friend’s company a few months ago.
It seemed like a great opportunity when he approached me because I had just left my job and needed to get a job just to have some income while looking for another.
Was not offered any benefits
My friend offered me a basic salary of about $2,800 for my role, which was around the market rate for the role that he was offering me.
However, he did not offer me any benefits because he said that he had just started his venture and needs my help to build it up.
He promised me that in three months, I would start to have my employee benefits.
As he seemed sincere and as I saw that he really needed help because he had a manpower shortage, I agreed to help him even though there were no employee benefits offered to me.
Business built up, but my salary started to have delays.
Fast forward to a few months later when his business was starting to be better, I started to notice that my payments were getting delayed.
I would submit to him my pay claim along with the other staff he hired, and it would take weeks before I heard back from my friend.
When I did get paid, it would usually be a while later as he would say that payments from our credit card terminal company were not in yet.
The delay would get so bad that often at times, we had not much to spend because we had to use our savings to clear our bills.
Confronted him about it
I confronted my friend about the situation, but he kept making excuses.
He always brushed me off by saying that he just needed some more time. I knew something was up, but I didn’t want to push the issue too much.
A few months went by, and the situation only got worse. My payments were getting delayed more and more, and by now, I was barely getting paid anything.
I was starting to feel taken advantage of, and I was getting more and more frustrated.
Finally, I decided to confront my friend again. This time, I was more demanding. I told him that if he didn’t start paying me on time, I would quit.
He reluctantly agreed, and I thought that the situation was finally resolved.
Did not keep to his word
But then, my payment was delayed yet again almost immediately. I was furious. I had had enough. I contacted my friend and told him that if he didn’t pay me what I was owed, I would take certain action.
He became angry and blamed me for not understanding his plight that the company was out of money.
He also told me to leave the company because he could not afford to pay me.
That was the last time I ever heard from my friend and I am still waiting for my salary.
Even though I had worked hard for him, he had taken advantage of me and refused to pay me.