I work part time for a company that does special events. The other day someone wasn't able to make it to their shift. I replied to management's last minute request and volunteered to take the shift. Shifts are normally 5 hours long. Typically if someone arrives late (either because it was a last minute staffing or for other reasons) they stay late to makeup for the missed time. Due to the nature of this event, staying late wasn't possible. I still invoiced for the full 5 hours even though I wasn't there at the scheduled start time (because when I got the request to come in, it was already after the scheduled start time).
To complicate matters, the app we use on our smartphone to check in to for shifts was being buggy for me. Mine was missing the check in button. I texted my manager once I had arrived on site.
To complicate matters even further, the address management gave me was really vague. They basically gave me the building name but didn't say which room/suite to go to. I think I was supposed to have been given more directions but the app being glitchy didn't relay it to me. I called my manager and she said she didn't have further directions but gave me the contact number of someone on site. I contacted this person and he gave extremely unclear directions, but eventually I found where to go. I texted my manager again once I got to the specific area where my on-site contact was.
The app was buggy for a week and I was unable to submit my invoice the normal way. I emailed them one I wrote manually. Finally the company owner fixed the app and manually added an invoice for me to their system. The invoice she made for me was wrong. I contacted her and she fixed the pay rate. But we couldn't agree on the length of the shift.
- Since I got called in last minute it wasn't exactly my fault I was late and I would've liked to be paid for the full 5 hours. I know this isn't really fair so I'm willing to let this point go.
- I would like to be paid for when I arrived at the address they gave me. It took a while to figure out specifically where to go in the building but I think that time should still be payable.
- The time the owner wants to invoice me for is about 10 minutes after when I finally got to the final location where I was supposed to be working.
Also when I say "we couldn't agree on the length of the shift" we had exchanged a few emails and I had repeatedly tried calling my manager and the owner. The owner got mad and said she felt like I was trying to "hustle" her and cancelled my assigned shifts in the future and basically fired me. She still isn't paying me the full amount I think I'm owed.
I think this is a huge over reaction. I would be disposed to at least work my scheduled shifts. I have had a good relationship with the company this far and have worked for them about 6 months. I'm not sure if what they did is legal.
Is there anyway I can salvage the situation? At least I would like to work my scheduled shift?
With the disagreement with the invoice, we were only $20 apart. I didn't feel comfortable not addressing it but I certainly don't think this is something to lose the business relationship over.
If I'm ever in such a situation again I will make sure to get much clear understanding and in writing. Am I being unreasonable for wanting to be paid starting at the time I showed up to the address I was given? Basically the instructions were "find the person inside the building and he'll show you what your supposed to be doing". Also though I texted when I arrived and again when I found the person, there was a slight delay as I didn't consider texting an immediate priority. If the app was working I would have been able to check in right when I had arrived at the building.
According to here there's a good chance I was actually an employee and not a contract. Also normally I interact with my manager, NOT the owner. She got involved because the app was buggy. This is a relatively small company and doesn't have an HR department.
TL;DR
Got called in to cover last minute shift. I wanted to invoice from when shift was supposed to start, but would be ok if I get paid from time I actually arrived. Owner doesn't want to pay me from arrival time but wants to pay me from when I found the person who was supposed to show me what to do. App was buggy and the check in feature didn't work and I didn't prioritize sending text messages to let management know where I was at. We were $20 apart on what we thought my invoice should say, but owner fired me for being difficult. I want to at least work my scheduled shifts.