School keeps bouncing paycheck--WWYD??

Gold Member Joined: May 12 2008 Posts: 1282

I'm not sure what to do...
The Bais Yaakov I taught in this past year has been horrible with paying me. They owe me over $600 since September for paying partial paychecks, and they have just bounced my April paycheck twice in a row. This means they owe me that plus April-July paychecks that they haven't paid yet (plus all the overdraft fees I keep incurring when the checks bounce!)
They're avoiding my calls, and when I do get through to someone they say they're sorry and they'll call me when there's money in the account. The principal of the school is NOT poor, drives a very nice car, lives in an affluent neighborhood, runs a daycamp where he charges over $2,000 a summer per kid, and flies to Israel to see his kids fairly often. I don't know what he keeps doing with the money in the school account, but there's no reason it should be empty! Oh and tuition for his school ain't cheap either.
I taught for them this year because they were desperate for a teacher in addition to my regular job, and I made myself CRAZY preparing classes, marking papers, and actually going to teach!
I'm due next week I"H, and I'm the only one pulling in a paycheck in my house. I really really really need this money that they owe me (it'll be about $4,000 total), especially since I have a $3,000 deductible at the hospital once the baby comes. And then maternity leave, which I'm realizing now I may not be able to afford to take (which is insane!). I'm going out of my mind.
I've spoken to other teachers but most of them trade their kid's tuition for their paychecks (so they just pay less tuition) so they don't have this issue. Or their husband's work so it's not bothering them as much. Or they're single so it's not bothering them as much. But I don't have any kids in the school, and I have a growing family to support!
Do I threaten to take them to bais din???? What can I do to get the money owed to me???
Any suggestions please??? I'm desperate for these paychecks. I won't be able to get through the next 3 months financially without them.

Platinum Member Joined: Jan 23 2008 Posts: 9074

Din Torah. This isn't right. And look for another job. If you have a Din Torah anyway, they'll have to pay you if you win, which hopefully you will win. BTW, the excuse "we don't have" is not an excuse in Jewish law.

Get DH to approach the Board of Directors...these people listen to men more than women. Also, the community Rabbi, Balabatim & Gvirim. Make it public. Stop being nice, start being tough. I hope you get your money (cash ONLY unless it comes from a third party)...let us know.

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 30 2009 Posts: 4663

Call again and if they are still not helping then certainly call your rav and see what to do from there (prob a din torah)

Diamond Member Joined: May 27 2006 Posts: 2817

send your husband down to take it up with the principal. dont give prior notice that hes coming, and dont leave without money

Posted: Wed, Jul 14 2010, 7:10 pm Post subject:

Platinum Member Joined: Dec 27 2007 Posts: 7253

This is not legal advice. I am not an attorney.

In your position, I would get an attorney to write a cease-and-desist letter. Or write one yourself, from yourself. You can threaten a lawsuit even if you don't go through with it.

Also, I hope you are not working there next year.

Active Poster Joined: Sep 23 2009 Posts: 52

Unfortunately this is not uncommon in a lot of Jewish schools.
However I don't think its entirely fair to blame the principal or discuss the car he drives and his persona life style. In most schools the principal mainly deals with educational aspects and there is a board and executive directors etc that deal with the money. In fact usually when schools are short on money they pay the teachers before they pay the administrators so it is very likely the school owes the principle more money than they owe you. It is very very wrong for schools to be behind on paychecks. And then when they pay you eventually they dont include the additional expenses (interest charged on credit cards etc) accrued because they were so late in paying. But don't necessarily blame the principal or draw his personal life into this.

Gold Member Joined: May 12 2008 Posts: 1282

Thanks for all the advice!
I am DEFINITELY not working there next year. They actually asked my why. I told them I don't work for free.
DH said he would go but honestly I'm not sure it would make a difference. He's not the type to be intimidated.
In the meantime, DH said he will ask his Rav, so I guess we'll see.
Sigh...