Summer camp staff walks out after their offer letter terms were altered without notice

`Sometimes, no matter how much we love our job, unfavorable company policies or toxic culture might get on our nerves. Especially when an employer promises one thing while offering the job but goes on to act the opposite, it's surely off-putting. It's only fair then to question the job's worth. That was the case for an individual, u/haute_honey on Reddit who found the perfect job in a summer camp only to be double-crossed later. Being recently out of college, the worker was perplexed by how the job changed their offer letter terms without notice and the internet concurs. 

"I thought I found a job rewarding enough," the person began their post. Though their summer camp job didn't pay much, a promised stipend of $900 every two weeks felt satisfactory to them. Since they were just out of college and were simultaneously trying to identify their career path, this pay felt like a fair deal to them. "Lots of hard labor, but room and boarding were provided plus three meals a day," they mentioned. They pointed out that they were the only commuter since their home was just a 30-minute drive from the camp. 

This job was not an easy one. "During the first day, we worked hard. I loved it! But they barely went over orientation stuff before putting us to work," they explained. When the work started, the worker felt the need to know when they would receive their pay. "The next day I realized that I hadn't asked about payday, so I found the camp director and asked when the checks would be mailed out," they said. However, the camp director's response threw them off. While they were expecting to receive their $900 after two weeks, they were told that their payday would be two weeks after the campers had arrived. Since the campers weren't expected for two more weeks, the worker was basically employed for free. 

Knowing that their first salary would arrive only a month later, the person was shocked. "I asked what I was doing the first two weeks working for free and he told me the room and board accommodations were my pay," they mentioned. "Inquiring further, I figured out that everyone else on the team was part of a work exchange type of program. Most of them weren't even getting paid with money, just room and board," they added. Eventually, the worker decided to walk out. "I don't do work for free, I have a home so I don't need board, and I can make my own damn dinners. I feel lied to," they said.

Their decision was supported by many users. "Sounds like a scummy small-time business. I can't imagine it is legal to write an offer letter in a way that makes you think you are getting paid for two weeks of work when you aren't. Think you made the right decision!" said u/bacan_. When the worker pointed out that the job was actually "a part of a National (USA) program," u/Stlrivergirl responded, "Get in touch with someone on the national level and inquire as to whether the pay you were updated with is standard practice. At the very least you are owed pay for the days you worked." u/Ill-Structure-8292 suggested, "If you've gotten nowhere with the program, try filing complaints with your state's Labor Board and/or Attorney General's office."

This article originally appeared 3 months ago.