Comments on: Peak cuts FT pay by 10%

By: Jim Smith

Jim Smith — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:25:29 +0000

Employment security law varies from state to state with the federal rules as the baseline. Thus the $8.55 per hour minimum wage in Oregon vs. the federal minimum which is observed by Idaho of $6.55.

By: RadioActive

RadioActive — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 04:07:21 +0000

Jim-

Excellent info on employment laws….In a nutshell what about Oregon and Washington…are those laws the same?

By: Jim Smith

Jim Smith — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 03:20:14 +0000

FYI – “Right to work” , applies to union labor ONLY! “At Will” means that an employer in Idaho can terminate you without disclosing the reason. A contract between an employer and an individual is a contract! It trumps At Will, union minimums and state and federal minimums if those minimums are met in the contract. And… if you didn’t sign your life away in the contract.

By: Jim Smith

Jim Smith — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:22:42 +0000

Again, your PSC or Personal Services Contract, superscedes any union agreement or state/fed law so long as it meets the minimum standards set forth by the law and/or the collective bargaining agreement (not like those exist in Idaho)…minimum wage, OT, etc…

Idaho Employment Security Law only states that an employer must notify you first before they change your pay. In other words, they can’t go retroactive and say they are cutting your pay. They have to notify you of the reduction before you work the hours at a reduced rate.

If this case came before me, as a judge for the Dept of Labor, it might be interpreted as follows: Let’s say that you were working for $12.00 per hour and the employer notified you that your new pay, effective today would be $10.00 per hour. At that point, it could be determined that 2 things happened… you were terminated from your position at $12.00 per hour and were offered a new position at $10.00. The discharge would need to be adjudicated. Did they terminate you with good cause related to the work? Not likely. If you decline the reduced rate, it may be seen that you refused an offer of work. A number of factors are looked at in determining whether you declined the work for good cause; the most important which is suitability of the work… Does it pay a prevailing wage and other factors. That’s just to get your unemployment if you are separated from the employer. You may have a much more lucrative case in a civil court. Every case is different and would be looked at individually.

By: luckytohaveajob

luckytohaveajob — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 14:51:52 +0000

Idaho is basically a right to hire or for that matter right to fire State. Your contracts under these circumstances are worth virtually nothing. If you cannot get work at another cluster do what you have to do to stay employed.

As to legal recourse in regards to your contract, the threat of legal action does nothing to frighten a company that may well be in its final moments. They will fight to stay alive at all costs.

With hypothermia, the body will start decreasing blood flow to the extremities to keep the core intact as long as possible. Like the cold, Peak’s debt is in essence causing it to freeze to death. This is another symptom.

Do what you have to do folks and keep shopping your talents. As my mom used to say, “this too shall pass”. We are all pulling for you.

By: Interested bystander

Interested bystander — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 06:39:02 +0000

Busted, in this economy I don’t think a company has to “ask” you anything, especially if it’s about taking a lesser amount. Personally, though it totally sucks, I’d take the 10% pay decrease rather than a 100% pay decrease by being unemployed. As one who is hearing on an almost daily basis that my employer doesn’t know how much longer his business can hang on, I’ll gladly take less money just to keep some money. Yes, Peak could just fire you if you say no thanks I need all my money. If the money isn’t there, it matters little, what you want. If you have a job you should concentrate on keeping the job, cuz if you gotta start looking, you will be looking with a lot of other people. Believe me, I know I’ve been looking for 2 1/2 years to get back to where I was…it’s not pretty. I’m glad for every paycheck I get.

By: rapidrunner

rapidrunner — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 01:14:26 +0000

The obligatory “we’re all family” doesn’t fly any more; corporate management doesn’t give a rip! It’s now ’survival of the luckiest’ in a business that has perfected the knack of eating its young! So fasten those seatbelts, fellow radio-lovers…and hang on! This bumpy ride’s only gonna get a lot bumpier!! Good luck!!

By: The Shadow

The Shadow — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:30:31 +0000

…and this is a surprise? To anyone? Look a the people running Peak?

Now, all that data they ripped off from Citadel is running out now they have no original programming ideas to make any real money so they have to take money back from the employees?

Sure makes McDonald’s sound a lot better these days than being in broadcasting. At least when it comes to working for Peak.

By: Jac

Jac — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:30:05 +0000

Not many people in this market have a contract. But yeah, I was wondering how that works too.

I have friends at local companies whose companies cut their pay by 10%, but asked them first. Basically it was “Do you mind taking a pay cut, because if not we can’t survive in this economy anymore.” And they were all okay with that.

By: busted if writing from work

busted if writing from work — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 16:43:43 +0000

So…explain how this works…YOU have a contract that states they pay you ‘this” much a year. NOW the company says…um..no…we are now gonna pay u only ‘this’ much. Aren’t they violating the contract? Do they have to ‘ask’ you first to see if you will take the lesser amount? and if you don’t they can then decide to just fire you and let you go?