Fired and being accused of stealing. Any recourse?

[Anonymous]

I've been at this nanny job for only several months and was let go Friday and my (former) employers excuse? they claimed little items were going missing. I'm still very upset, embarrassed, and this is dwelling on me. They have no proof so is there anything I could do? I didn't get any severence or warning. TIA!

[Anonymous]

You could try to file for unemployment. I'm not sure of it'll work but worth a try!

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

Unfortunately that's that. Live and learn, though - next time have a contract that protects you as well as your employers and demand to be paid legally so you'd have access to unemployment if it ever happened again. Sorry, OP, it sucks. Most of us have been there at least once.

[Anonymous]

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....

[Anonymous]

What state are you in?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Did you see any indications of their dishonesty before this, OP?

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[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....

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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....

+1

Well, Ms Einstein, if she stole the loot, why would she expect a severance? Oh yeah, you never know, huh? It must be hell having strangers caring for your kids.

[Anonymous]

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.