The employer refusing to pay wages
Hi all, I arrived to Sweden with EU passport to work in a restaurant in Sweden, as part of the kitchen staff during seasonal work. However, I quit job prematurely due to agressive and controlling behavior of the employer, as well as the chef of the kitchen. Upon quitting the job, my employer told me that he was currently busy, and that I would get paid for my work as soon as he found the time, and that I was free to leave accomodation. However, when I left accomodation and arrived to another city, the employer called me, threatned me for not giving the period of job notice first, and to my question if and when he intends to pay me for the work done, he told me our communication finished and hung up on me. The employer has not responded to my phone call, sms or e-mail for 12 days, until the day before yesterday he sent me a message on viber, stating that he would call me when he has less work, and that I make sure to behave nicely. This makes no sense to me, as I have always treated him respectfully - never raised my voice or insulted him in any way, but he is the one who disrespected and verbally abused me. In addition, there is nothing to talk about - he simply needs to pay me my wages on my bank account, as he had initially promised before I left, but he is either stalling, or not intending to do at all.
Hi all, I arrived to Sweden with EU passport to work in a restaurant in Sweden, as part of the kitchen staff during seasonal work. However, I quit job prematurely due to agressive and controlling behavior of the employer, as well as the chef of the kitchen. Upon quitting the job, my employer told me that he was currently busy, and that I would get paid for my work as soon as he found the time, and that I was free to leave accomodation. However, when I left accomodation and arrived to another city, the employer called me, threatned me for not giving the period of job notice first, and to my question if and when he intends to pay me for the work done, he told me our communication finished and hung up on me. The employer has not responded to my phone call, sms or e-mail for 12 days, until the day before yesterday he sent me a message on viber, stating that he would call me when he has less work, and that I make sure to behave nicely. This makes no sense to me, as I have always treated him respectfully - never raised my voice or insulted him in any way, but he is the one who disrespected and verbally abused me. In addition, there is nothing to talk about - he simply needs to pay me my wages on my bank account, as he had initially promised before I left, but he is either stalling, or not intending to do at all.
I am not member of workers' union in Sweden, and have not made any written contract with the employer. We had only made an informal agreement related to period of my seasonal work for him, as well as my monthly salary, but we never discussed or agreed upon other issues such as the period of job notice.I am considering to file a complaint at court for him failing to pay my wages, but I am not sure about the period of time he legally has until he decides to pay me (1 month, 2 weeks? ). I do not want my complaint to court to be premature and thus terminated (it has been two weeks since I quit work), but at the same time, I do not want to leave Sweden until I have any kind of guarantee he would pay me for the work done.Any kind of help or advice would be helpful - but please, only if you are truly familiar with Swedish laws for this particular situation.- @Annabelle xx
Cut your losses and say live another day.
@SimCityAT I have clearly stated that I did not sign any contract with the employer, and I had good reasons to leave work. I don't think you took the time to read my post before replying, and you don't sound like someone who has higher education level and understands swedish laws and workers' rights. Not to mention that your response seems inconsiderate. Next time if you're not familiar with the topic do not bother to reply, thanks!
@Gästen Hi Gasten, thanks for your response. The employer didn't mention any period of notice - he accepted my resignation and told me I was free to leave accomodation any time soon, and that he would pay me out as soon as he found the time. It was only after I left accomodation and arrived to another city that the called me, threatened me with the period of notice and told me our communication finished. I believe his obligation was to tell me about the period of notice before leaving the job, not accepting my resignation, and then blackmailing me with the period of notice aftwerwards.
In any case, I do think he is still legally obliged to pay me my wages, or is there a Swedish law that suggests otherwise?
I just can't possibly imagine that in any civilized country the employer can get away with not paying the worker for 168 hours of work.
@Gästen Hi Gasten, thanks for your response. The employer didn't mention any period of notice - he accepted my resignation and told me I was free to leave accomodation any time soon, and that he would pay me out as soon as he found the time. It was only after I left accomodation and arrived to another city that the called me, threatened me with the period of notice and told me our communication finished. I believe his obligation was to tell me about the period of notice before leaving the job, not accepting my resignation, and then blackmailing me with the period of notice aftwerwards.
- @Annabelle xx
In any case, I do think he is still legally obliged to pay me my wages, or is there a Swedish law that suggests otherwise?
I just can't possibly imagine that in any civilized country the employer can get away with not paying the worker for 168 hours of work.
@Gästen Hi Gasten, thanks for your response. The employer didn't mention any period of notice - he accepted my resignation and told me I was free to leave accomodation any time soon, and that he would pay me out as soon as he found the time. It was only after I left accomodation and arrived to another city that the called me, threatened me with the period of notice and told me our communication finished. I believe his obligation was to tell me about the period of notice before leaving the job, not accepting my resignation, and then blackmailing me with the period of notice aftwerwards.
- @Annabelle xx
In any case, I do think he is still legally obliged to pay me my wages, or is there a Swedish law that suggests otherwise?
I just can't possibly imagine that in any civilized country the employer can get away with not paying the worker for 168 hours of work.
Legally, he has two days left to pay me out. If he doesn't do it I will certainly file a complaint to the court and for me this is not questionable. I was only curious about the legal time the employer has until he is obliged to pay me out, as this was a piece of info that was a bit harder to find online. However, in the meantime, I have gathered all the information I need. All the best to you too!
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