Fired and being accused of stealing. Any recourse?

[Anonymous]

OP, since you were working "off the books," I would just cut my losses and move on.

Sure it sucks, especially to be accused of doing something like being a thief, but at least it was only a few months. You probably do not need them as a reference anyway.

Try to find another job and screw this family.
Karma will bite them in the butt.

[Anonymous]

So this is a dumb question but here goes:
I understand that the state will come after the family for back taxes, but won't they also come after the nanny for back taxes?
If so, it makes sense for OP to figure out how much she would owe in back taxes and make sure she has the money for it regardless of whether or not she gets unemployment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She'll probably get much more $$$$$ than she expects, seeing the way these cases often go. The state has a way of digging up all kinds of back wages owed.

Most nannies don't have a clue with regard to how often they get screwed over by their clever employers.

This, PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She'll probably get much more $$$$$ than she expects, seeing the way these cases often go. The state has a way of digging up all kinds of back wages owed.

Most nannies don't have a clue with regard to how often they get screwed over by their clever employers.

This, PP.

Can you link us to an article, or even a story, that might outline how much "$$$$$" this would be? An anecdotal piece about what one nanny (or other domestic worker) was able to claim? I confess I'm ignorant but I'd like to learn more...

[Anonymous]

I got a $1500 refund the year I filed unemployment after bring paid off the books. I owed the state $190.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a contract? Are you paid legally (i.e. above-board with taxes withheld)?

We have a list of rules a regulations but no, I wasn't paid above the table so I guess i'm pretty screwed.

You can still file for unemployment. The state will go after the family for not paying nanny taxes, and regardless of a contract you can still claim it.

Yes, okay, she can do that.

The question is, is the hassle worth it? In most cases it won't be. Filing for unemployment when you're paid legally is reasonably straightforward - pursuing it when your employers have been dodging taxes - and also being liable for your own unpaid taxes - is a much nastier process. OP, you do have the right to pursue it but it may not be worth the time and expense (did you save up enough to pay back the taxes you'll owe?) to do so.

Umm of course it's worth it if she has no income she has nothing to lose

She actually does, though. She has (an unknown amount of) back taxes to lose... Since unemployment only partially replaces your earnings (varies from state to state), if she's able to get a new position in the next couple of weeks she's probably better off (financially) not claiming it.

The job has only been in place a few months (well, OP said several) so it couldn't be that bad, it's not like it was going on for 3 years. I would worry more about your previous work history. They want you to give all work history for the past 18 months when applying, including how you were paid etc. If you were paid under the table for previous positions and didn't pay taxes for that work either, then you could really be screwing yourself over. I would then probably not apply and make sure to get a new position that is above board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a $1500 refund the year I filed unemployment after bring paid off the books. I owed the state $190.

Off the books means that former employers get to pay up. What's wrong with that, PP?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a $1500 refund the year I filed unemployment after bring paid off the books. I owed the state $190.

Good example. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got a $1500 refund the year I filed unemployment after bring paid off the books. I owed the state $190.

How long had you been working under the table?
How much were you paid weekly?
Which state were you in?

And finally, how much did you owe the feds? You say you owed $190 in state taxes but obviously you had to pay federal taxes too...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I got a $1500 refund the year I filed unemployment after bring paid off the books. I owed the state $190.

Good example. Thank you.

If you got a refund, then you must have been paying your taxes. It isn't clear that OP has been paying her taxes. If she hasn't, they will go after her as well as the family for all taxes owed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What state are you in?

I live in NJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These dimwits telling you that you can't file unemployment if you've been paid under the table are wrong. You can. You need to prove your income though. The more of a paper trail you have the better.

You memtion they had no proof...does that mean you stole and they simply can't prove it? You didn't deny it....

No I've never stolen anything and the things they're saying I took are multiple little items and not something worthy of actually taken and if they truly lost these items i'm surprised they even noticed.

how can i prove my income? any advice is much appreicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got a $1500 refund the year I filed unemployment after bring paid off the books. I owed the state $190.

How long had you been working under the table?
How much were you paid weekly?
Which state were you in?

And finally, how much did you owe the feds? You say you owed $190 in state taxes but obviously you had to pay federal taxes too...

10:29 is just mad. She doesn't think employers should be held accountable. Too bad. Nannies should collect every dime they are owed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got a $1500 refund the year I filed unemployment after bring paid off the books. I owed the state $190.

How long had you been working under the table?
How much were you paid weekly?
Which state were you in?

And finally, how much did you owe the feds? You say you owed $190 in state taxes but obviously you had to pay federal taxes too...

10:29 is just mad. She doesn't think employers should be held accountable. Too bad. Nannies should collect every dime they are owed.

Excuse me? I AM a nanny but I would like the full story so as to better educate myself on this subject. I've always been paid legally so have no direct experience with it but someone giving half the details offers no benefit to anyone. I think you're just mad that you're too dumb to appreciate the importance of having all the facts before making an informed decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got a $1500 refund the year I filed unemployment after bring paid off the books. I owed the state $190.

How long had you been working under the table?
How much were you paid weekly?
Which state were you in?

And finally, how much did you owe the feds? You say you owed $190 in state taxes but obviously you had to pay federal taxes too...

10:29 is just mad. She doesn't think employers should be held accountable. Too bad. Nannies should collect every dime they are owed.

Excuse me? I AM a nanny but I would like the full story so as to better educate myself on this subject. I've always been paid legally so have no direct experience with it but someone giving half the details offers no benefit to anyone. I think you're
just mad that you're too dumb to appreciate the importance of having all the facts before making an informed decision.

Why does weekly income make any difference to you?