#BossTampering #ContractorIssues #HighHourlyPay #OregonMaintenanceJob
So I recently discovered that my boss has been tampering with my timesheet behind my back whenever I make a mistake on the job, so I’m considering leaving the job altogether. However, the only thing that’s holding me back is the $40 an hour pay I get. The job is a contracting gig where I drive around Oregon doing maintenance on these little security units. There is no company provided vehicle, and there is no gas reimbursement. When I first told my friends about this job, they were so surprised that my hourly wage was so extremely high, but the other contractors on the job have told me that I’m getting screwed and am not actually making much more than I was working DoorDash. Both of these opinions seem kind of extreme to me, so I wanted to get some feedback.
## Calculating the Worth of Your $40 Per Hour
My car is a used Mazda 3 2007, which gets about 25 mpg. We’ll say that I drive an average of 350 miles per week for a total of 25 hours at $40 an hour. 60% of this drive time is spent on the highway/freeway. Usually once or twice a week, I’m tasked with hauling one of these security units with a truck that I borrow, which only gets about 10-12 mpg. Again, gas is not reimbursed unless there is a task that is extremely far away (>250 miles).
– Calculate your gas expenditure for the week based on your car’s mileage and driving habits.
– Factor in additional costs such as vehicle maintenance and wear and tear.
– Consider the value of your time spent driving and compare it to your hourly wage.
– Assess the overall financial benefits and drawbacks of the job.
A lot of those stats are very rough estimates, so if they sound super off then I can try and provide something more precise. Any help is greatly appreciated in helping me figure out exactly how worth it is to keep this job. Thanks!
Your boss can’t tamper with your hours, pretty sure that’s illegal. I’d look into your state’s labor laws to confirm this, and then use it to confront your boss about it.Â
You have a great lawsuit on your hands if you got evidence.
What the manager is doing is illegal. If you have proof… time to escalate.
Are you being provided any kind of insurance benefits etc? I’m guessing completely no due to the fact you said contractor and that there’s no vehicle or gas reimbursement. Â
 With that in mind you’re not making a ton but still better than doordash unless you were making absolute bank dashing.
What your boss is doing is illegal as fuck modifying your hours. Do you actually work for them, or do you get a 1099, or what?
Hey, just out of curiosity, two questions for you:
1) What kind of maintenance work?
2) How long have you been doing it?
Save all conversation text and report to State’s Labor. Meanwhile go look for a new job.
Keep records of your driving, you may be able to deduct mileage on your taxes
Gas is only part of the equation when using your car for work. Maintenace is the hidden cost. Right now the federal govt mileage rate, based on average total costs (gas and maintenance) to operate a vehicle, is 67 cents/mile. Your actual cost per mile could be lower or higher, but it’s going to be pretty hard to determine.
If you’re driving 350 miles a week for work, that’s $234.50. Subtract that from 25 hrs at $40 and you’re really only making about $30.62 an hour.
With the fact that you’re only getting 25 hrs/week, get no reimbursement for travel, and have a criminally shady boss, it doesn’t sound like your job is all that great. Personally, I’d find better employment.
Not gonna lie, that sounds like a sketchy job. They’re having you tow things with truck you’re borrowing, that’s a GIANT red flag
report to the department of labor for your state
Contracting like you’re paying your own employment taxes?
I think you should start applying for other jobs and see what the potential pay would be.
Make sure you are weighing all your costs (including gas and additional car maintenance) against the **total** compensation.
Make sure and set aside 15% for your federal taxes. If not, you are going to get screwed when it comes time to file. Keep every single receipt and a spreadsheet for every drop of fuel you purchase and every single $you spend on maintenance. Also, don’t speed at all. Does your boss control your hours, time, place, and conditions of your employment. You sound like you are an employee, and you should be receiving a w2, not a contractor receiving a 1099. Did you have to train formally for this career? I would glass door this company and start looking for a better company to work for. Good luck!
That’s a paddlin.
Contractors are different than employees. Employees have the state labor board and a slew of protections which the state enforces at no additional cost to you.
Contractors have none of these protections. You get stiffed on a job, you have to collect on the debit yourself. What you are entitled to is defined by your ability to negotiate and collect.
Retainers for attorneys are steep, your attorney will always end up on the best side of the deal.
Time to take control. Draw up a simple terms sheet and do your own invoicing. You are acting like an employee otherwise.