Latest news with #unpaidwages
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Independent Singapore
Poly student says she was fired from internship without warning and wasn't paid for a week of work
SINGAPORE: A polytechnic student is seeking help online after she was suddenly fired from her internship without any warning or pay. Sharing her dilemma on Reddit's 'SGexams' forum on Sunday (Jul 13), the Year 3 student shared that she had been interning at a local company for about a week when she was suddenly removed from 'all group chats with no notice.' 'I had worked there for about a week, putting in full hours every day,' she said. 'During that week, the boss made us do OT every day and often arrived late, making us wait around 30 minutes each morning before we could even start.' Concerned about the working conditions, she approached her school lecturer for advice. However, he allegedly dismissed her concerns and told her to just grow up,' saying that this was just 'part of the working life.' Shortly after that conversation, the student found herself cut off from all work communication without any explanation. She said she had tried messaging her supervisor about her pay but has not received any response for more than three weeks. She also mentioned that another intern who was not fired had already been paid, although he had to follow up multiple times to receive it. When she raised the issue of her unpaid wages with her lecturer, he reportedly responded, 'Anyway, the money is a week of work so can't be more than 100 dollars right? So why is it so urgent for you? Have some empathy.' 'I feel like it's my right to ask for pay for the days I put in?' she continued. 'Why is he [my lecturer] downplaying it? It's not even about the money anymore, it's about the principle of the situation, and if it is only S$100, why is it so hard to pay me?' She added that she had asked her lecturer for a copy of her internship contract, as she was considering filing a claim with the Small Claims Tribunal. Unfortunately, he refused to provide it and scolded her for pursuing the matter, suggesting she was making too big a deal out of the situation. 'He refused to send it to me, so I'm not sure how my claim would hold up despite having pictures and videos of me working,' she said. 'And he berated me again for asking for it, claiming that basically I'm 'doing too much'—not exact words but basically the idea—and that I should just allow what happened to me to just happen.' She ended her post by asking if there were any official channels to report the incident or steps she could take to escalate the matter further. 'I'm refusing to keep quiet about this,' she wrote. 'I feel really lost and frustrated. I know it was just one week, but I did the work, and it feels so wrong to not get paid or even get a proper explanation.' 'Your lecturer is so out of touch with the world.' In the comments, many Singaporean Reddit users criticised the lecturer for brushing off the student's concerns. 'Your lecturer handled the internship situation in the worst possible way,' one comment read. 'From what you've shared, he offered no real support as any responsible lecturer should and instead appeared to have sided with the company. Telling you to 'just suck it up' or saying it's 'just 100 dollars' and that you should show more empathy to the company shows a complete lack of empathy on his part.' 'What part of normal working life involves getting fired with no notice or explanation at all? LOL, your lecturer is tripping,' another commented. 'Your lecturer is so out of touch with the world or just super jaded by it,' a third said. 'The lecturer smells fishy,' a fourth remarked. See also Overdraft facility is useful for business growth and expansion Meanwhile, other users chimed in to give the student some advice. One suggested that the student try escalating the matter to the head of the school department. Another recommended, 'Go straight to your course manager, and if that still does not work, escalate to the director of your school. Try to resolve it at school level first. I don't think the school will be this uncaring of their students; it does sound like it is a problem with that lecturer.' What can you do if your employer doesn't pay you? According to Gloria James-Civetta & Co (GJC Law), if contacting your employer about unpaid wages doesn't resolve the issue, you can escalate the matter by submitting a formal complaint to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM). MOM may step in to mediate and advise both parties. If the matter still remains unresolved after MOM's involvement, the next course of action is to file a claim with the Employment Claims Tribunal (ECT), which handles salary-related disputes and wrongful dismissal disputes between employers and employees. Read also: 'All MCQs with answers given?' Employee doubts manager's degree and credibility, says he was promoted unfairly Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside the crash of Mr Potato empire - as staff reveal the chaos that saw workers rely on UBER EATS for vital ingredients
A teenage worker left jobless by the failed Mr Potato fast food chain has described the chaotic months leading up to her store's closure and the business's total collapse. Maggie - not her real name - worked for Mr Potato at Newtown in Sydney 's inner-west from last year until the store finally closed its doors in late June. She watched on as basic ingredients for popular menu items had to be bought from Woolworths via Uber Eats because the usual suppliers had not been paid. Mr Potato had also stopped paying for its garbage to be collected and rubbish piled up outside the shop, while employees such as Maggie are still owed wages. When Maggie took a job at the Newtown store 'it was pretty normal for most of the time' but she soon realised there were 'issues paying people'. One manager left, and the operation began falling apart when its founders, Miss Universe entrant Jess Davis and her basketballer husband Tyson Hoffman, took over running the store. 'It just became clear that they didn't really know what they were doing,' Maggie said. Before the closed sign went up at the King Street premises - Mr Potato's only outlet in Sydney - Davis and Hoffman went on a marathon food truck tour around Australia. Franchisees were left facing bankruptcy when Mr Potato went into liquidation on July 4 after the Australian Tax Office brought wind-up action over a $150,000 debt. Phil Robinson of Deloitte was appointed as the Adelaide-based company's liquidator during a deliberation which took less than two minutes to be heard. Davis and Hoffman - also known as Tyson Finau - established Mr Potato in 2018 to capitalise on what they saw as a gap in the market for healthy fast food with a 'modern spin' on baked potatoes. Hoffman, who had played for the 36ers NBL team, suggested the idea of selling spuds loaded with savoury toppings to his then-fiancée as 'a joke' a few weeks after they began dating. Mr Potato grew from the first Adelaide store to other locations in South Australia before expanding into Queensland, with plans in 2022 to open 20 more restaurants across the nation. The Newtown store opened in April 2023 but there were clear signs the Mr Potato business was in big trouble later that year. By October 2023, Gold Coast franchises at Palm Beach, Upper Coomera and Mermaid Waters had gone bust and were taken over by head office in Adelaide. The number of franchises had fallen from 13 to just four by June this year, as Davis and Hoffman spent much of their time on their national tour promoting the brand. Davis sparked controversy earlier this year when she posted on Instagram her intention to seek investors for a $4million tropical resort. She and Hoffman acquired a 100-hectare slice of beachfront land on the Tongan island of Nomuka where they planned to build an 'eco resort', dubbed Oseni. According to the couple's Instagram, their plans for the resort included '30 private, luxurious and eco-friendly villas' on the remote beach. The couple also intended to build a seaplane wharf to help ferry guests from mainland Tonga to the island getaway. At the Newtown store, Maggie said the first time she was paid late was in November last year but only by a day so she wasn't particularly worried. When a shift leader resigned, she was left to open the restaurant on her own despite having never been trained to do so. Davis and Hoffman were acting as the store managers from December until late January and commenced their Mr Potato road trip in March. 'It became clear that they must have been struggling with the financial side of things,' Maggie said. 'We would start getting different suppliers than usual and we would start getting more and more emergency deliveries on most stocks. 'And then they decided that the best option to deal with all of this was to start a food truck.' In February, Davis and Hoffman threw a lavish Christmas party for their staff, hiring a yacht for a fully-catered cruise on Sydney Harbour, followed by Uber rides to karaoke. 'We were all kind of like, "What? How are you doing this? How are you paying for this?"' said Maggie. Daily Mail Australia has seen staff WhatsApp group messages from about March in which staff noted ingredients were being ordered from Woolworths every day and the 'run out list is getting longer'. One list of products not in stock featured two types of cheese, bacon, chipotle, mayonnaise, beans, jalapeno, beetroot, roasted peppers, vegan butter, lentils, hummus and tomato sauce. Maggie's pay was by then coming a couple of days late but other employees - international students - were waiting longer. 'They were still on tour,' Maggie said of Davis and Hoffman. 'And it quickly went downhill because they weren't contactable as much. 'Eventually we kept getting banned from our suppliers for not paying them. So we had to get the majority of our stock from Coles and Woolworths on Uber Eats. 'We kept getting into trouble with the council because we had the bins out the back, but they weren't paying for the bins to be picked up.' Easter brought more pay delays, including for lucrative public holidays. Maggie complained to Hoffman in a WhatsApp group chat in which she wrote: 'It's just disrespectful. A fortnight late? Come on.' Hoffman responded with an 'insane' message Maggie found 'a little bit threatening'. 'Obviously it's a tough time financially for us,' he wrote. 'Options are either we close the store and no one even has a job, any income or we find the solutions to keep things going. 'Anyone that thinks we have an immediate solution, is unfortunately incorrect. I do have solutions to make this never happen again. But they take time. This social media user and baked potato fan was unimpressed by the offerings at Mr Potato 'We have large funds landing any day now so we can ensure this doesn't happen again. 'We will remember who's on our team and who's not.' That pay problem was resolved but wages were late again in May and Maggie had had enough. Word began spreading the ATO was circling Mr Potato but Davis and Hoffman said nothing to staff. On June 26, Hoffman said in another group WhatsApp message the store would be closing 'for a few days', from that Friday to Sunday. 'We're currently waiting on some funds that are due to land on Monday,' Hoffman wrote. 'Once received, we'll be able to fully restock the store and resume normal trade from Tuesday. Apologies for the recent sporadic ordering and stock levels. 'In the meantime, please enjoy a well-deserved short break. Pays will be processed and in your accounts tomorrow.' On July 1, after repeated requests from staff for their pay, Hoffman responded on WhatsApp. 'At this stage, we won't be reopening the store,' he wrote. 'We know how hard this is to hear, and it's incredibly difficult for us to say. 'Jess and I have poured absolutely everything we have into Mr Potato - our time, our energy, our hearts. 'We've fought so hard to keep things going, and while we don't plan to give up, the reality is we're in a very tough spot right now. ' Hoffman revealed 'all of our other sites have either stopped trading or are still open but no longer paying us'. 'We're still exploring options, but we feel it's only fair to be transparent and not leave you all waiting in limbo,' he wrote. 'As painful as it is to say, we encourage you to look for other employment. 'In regards to wages and super, we're doing absolutely everything in our power to make sure everyone is paid. We don't have a clear timeline, but we promise to update you the moment we have more information. 'We're truly sorry. Thank you for everything you've given to Mr Potato - it's meant the world to us.' Maggie has heard nothing more from Hoffman since then and remains owed about $1,100 in wages. She said some of her ten or so workmates - as young as 15 - are owed much more. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Hoffman previously insisted: 'Each store is responsible for its own financial obligations to suppliers.' 'At Mr Potato, we remain committed to transparency, franchisee success, and the strength of our brand. 'Business performance varies due to multiple factors, and we encourage all franchisees to conduct thorough due diligence before making financial commitments. 'We care deeply about our franchisees and want them to succeed. We provide support not only in business but also in navigating the various challenges that life presents. 'Like any business, the success of a franchise ultimately depends on the business management, effort, and execution of the individual franchisee.'
The Sun
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sheff Weds crisis as ‘SIX stars hand in their notice' after wages not paid and club ‘battle to avoid full-scale mutiny'
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY's financial crisis deepened after six stars reportedly handed in notices over unpaid wages. The Championship club are in crisis mode with owner Dejphon Chansiri refusing to inject any more cash into the coffers. 2 2 And unpaid players are raging after being left out of pocket for several months. SunSport exclusively revealed how upset stars have asked the EFL to send them money, with Wednesday now banned from buying players until 2027. Out-of-contract stars like Barry Bannan have also left Hillsborough after seeing their deals expire. And now, the Telegraph claims that six players have handed in their notices over unpaid wages from May and June. All squad members are able to hand in a 15-day notice period to terminate their contracts. It's currently unknown which six stars have decided to head down that route. But with dissent growing, more could follow in the coming days as Wednesday 'battle to avoid a full-scale mutiny.' Even manager Danny Rohl has not turned up for pre-season, with the gaffer said to be nearing a severance deal. Assistant boss Henrik Pedersen is in line to replace him, but only if he receives assurances over several details. And elsewhere, clubs including Southampton and Norwich are still reportedly owed fees for deals dating back to 2022. Sheffield Wednesday crisis deepens as players free to resign, club legend leaves and staff going months without pay It now looks likely that Wednesday will be hit with a major points penalty for the new Championship season. But whether Chansiri is still at the helm remains to be seen amid growing takeover interest. An American consortium has already seen an offer of £48million turned down. While former Crystal Palace chief John Textor is interested in making a bid. Even former owner Milan Mandaric has jetted to Sheffield in a bid to save his old side from going under. And for now, the future of Wednesday appears uncertain.
Daily Mail
30-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
British caretaker successfully sues Saudi prince for huge sum in unpaid wages - but says he has not received a penny
A British caretaker has successfully sued a Saudi prince for a huge amount of money in unpaid wages, but alleged he still hasn't received a penny. Mark James, 45, has still not been paid 'a centime' despite winning a €200,000 (£171,000) legal case in France against Prince Fahd bin Sultan al-Saud in April. The 74 year-old was the Saudi defence minister from 1962 to 2011 and is currently the governor of Tabuk province. James, originally from Hitchin in Hertfordshire, managed a three-storey mansion at 36 Cours Alberts 1 in Paris' luxurious 8th arrondissement on the Prince's behalf. James, who now lives in Antibes on the French Riviera, said that while he lived at the nearly 6,900sq. ft. property, there was no hot water as gas bills hadn't been paid, nor was the lift working. On top of this, the swimming pool was reportedly unusable due to having a faulty pump. in April, a Parisian tribunal ordered the prince, via a company called Sofici that belongs to him, to give the caretaker nearly £200,000 in pay and damages for his 'dismissal without real or serious cause.' Despite this, and despite a previous ruling ordering Sofici to pay an initial instalment of €70,000 or face penalties of €1,000 per day, James says he still hasn't received any money. His lawyer said bailiffs had failed to seize funds for any accounts belonging to Sofici as they are said to be empty. James' lawsuit was one of several filed against Prince Fahd to recover funds. In May, the property's butler and maitre d'hotel also sued the prince for failing to pay them or provide them with payslips for over a year, a move that meant neither could claim any social security or pensions. On the eve of the May 21 hearing, the prince reportedly paid the sums he owed them, totalling to €140,000 (£120,000). Raymond Rudio, James' lawyer, told the Telegraph he believed that Prince Fahd is in dire financial straits as he is being squeezed by Mohammed bin Salmad, the ruler of Saudi Arabia. MBS, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, began cutting his family off from the nation's vast reserves of wealth, and has cracked down on alleged corruption. 'I was told his lavish lifestyle had been considerably reduced after his cousin MBS cut funds,' Rudio said. As a result, several of his multi-million pound homes across Europe have been seized, along with a luxury yacht. In 2023, Credit Suisse, Fahd's main credtor, seized his chalet in the French Alps. And in a separate case held in London in 2022, the bank alleged that Fahd failed to repay £57million in interest and loan he had taken out to refinance the Sarafsa, a British-made yacht which has reportedly been 'left to rot' in Monaco. The six-deck yacht was sold in 2023, having been listed for £65million.
CTV News
24-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Dutchie's Fresh Market says they will do better but former employees doubt it
Dutchie's and its business owner were fined for wage theft, but some workers are still waiting to get paid. CTV's Jeff Pickel reports.
