Need some advice...

[Pops]

I have worked down here for a little more than 1 year starting a biz. After about 12 months it became evident that the startup capital that was "suppose" to be there wasn't. The biz began sliding, overhead was being cut and the focus became something completely different than what I signed up for. Entonces, I gave my 1 month notice to help transition and was fired. Now, after more than 2 weeks, I am certain that I am not going to be paid my final pay check, my vacation days, my alguinaldo, nor some of my expenses. This equates to a good sum of money.
How should I go about retrieving this sum?

 

[BaseballGuy]

Get a job in the United States where there are courts and laws that protect you.

 

[WildBill]

Unfortunately in the US you can get screwed out of promises such as these as well. Just ask United employees about their pensions or ask people that got a pink slip and no severance pay. It happens. Best of luck sir, if it is a failed business you will need it.

 

[wolfie_cr]

If there is still an office with some equiptment in then you might file a complaint at the "ministerio de trabajo" and try to get a lien on the equiptment, freeze on bank accounts etc

but if there is nothing left anymore then its over

 

[Katwoman]

I don't wanna give you any hope or anything like that, but according to the ministerio de trabajo they have 1 month since the day you are fired to pay everything they owe you. The preaviso is for 1 month, if they fired you before you finished that preaviso month they have to pay that to you too

 

[fkartavia]

If you are a Costa Rican citizen or if you have a work permit, things would be a lot easier. Just go to Ministerio de Trabajo and file a claim. And yes, as Kat said, you should be paid:

Aguinaldo
Preaviso
Cesantía
Vacaciones
and Emotional stress (he he he)

But something important is to know if they are under a company name so that you can file a claim against someone. If they have no money here and nothing under their name, it will be harder.

Good luck. Keep us posted.

 

[wolfie_cr]

Actually I don't think that the law specifies how fast the employeer has to pay any liquidation monies owed. One more fantastic thing about the huge........confusing.................18th century work laws that we have. What do I care about all the rights that are there if they are protected by a legal system that works at the speed of a turtle?

I rather have simpler laws that are easier to execute and have somebody thrown in jail if they owe me money and don't want to pay but no...............

 

[canuck23]

Actually I don't think that the law specifies how fast the employeer has to pay any liquidation monies owed. One more fantastic thing about the huge........confusing.................18th century work laws that we have. What do I care about all the rights that are there if they are protected by a legal system that works at the speed of a turtle?

I rather have simpler laws that are easier to execute and have somebody thrown in jail if they owe me money and don't want to pay but no...............

big guys escorting you in and demandign payment, works most of the time

 

[-Slim-]

1. Have patience of biblical proportions...

 

[Pops]

Hmmm, no solid course of action I can take huh?

Do you think empty threats will do anything?

 

[wolfie_cr]

if your employeers are foreigners you might threaten/actually file a request forbidding them from leaving the country

from your answer I take it that there are no assets to take over?

 

[alitercorpsa]

follow Katwomans advice its:think: right! If they have not gone bellyup you will get paid!

 

[Pops]

They still have some hardware and are still renting some space for the other part of the business. How would I begin the effort of going after this money?

 

[wolfie_cr]

Get a lawyer

 

[odogg25]

:director: ........... :uzi:

 

[-Slim-]

whos the one yelling orders, odogg?

 

[odogg25]

whos the one yelling orders, odogg?

start off with a warning!!:director:

if that doesnt work, then...:uzi:

 

[Katwoman]

think about if it's really worth it. You have to get a lawyer and obviously pay him, go to the ministerio de trabajo and spend hours there making line (you will have to go there several times for what I've heard), go to trial, etc etc etc.

So think about in the end, is it really worth it or are you going to end up with 2000 colones after paying the lawyer and all that ...