labor ethics/ rules
 

If you work at a place that pays you draw against commission, then do they really pay you for vacation? Does the idea of vacation really exist in the non salary environment? If not, then can they regulate your number of vacation days or hours? As a non salary employee, just how much do you have to play by the rules? If you are not an hourly employee then what hours are you required to work?

No, no, yes, somewhat and unsure. Anything else?

Ok I understand the short version. Care to splain?

This is where I give a nervous cough, look at my watch and slink out of the room. Stop pressuring me, Man! I can't do everything.

It's a little confusing. Are you saying your employer gives you a paid vacation or you are free to take time off?

As to the number of hours required to work, that would go with the expection of production your employer places on you. I know lawyers who have a 2100 billable hour requirment (per year) That averages out to about 45 hours of billable time a week, taking about 60 to 70 hours of actual work. Do they get a paid vacation? Yes, but it is all smoke a mirros. Their employer doesn't cut thei yearly billable hour requirement and they are required to make it up somehow.

OK Ok, where I work, a newspaper, we as sales people are draw against commission. We are given a monthly budget, if we hit budget we get to keep our draw, if we are above budget we get a better than draw commission. if we are below budget we still get our draw, but we owe them the differance in the below buget percentage the next month. That being said, they also tell us that we are allowed so many vacation days based on our seniority. However we must be on the job 75% of each month or they do not pay commissions, only draw and then you owe them. Now they are writing people up for not being here 9-5 and not bidding vacation 2 weeks in advance like the salaried people. Last year I was out of "vacation" time but needed a few days off for a personal thing. They said "we will dock you for the days you are not here" I said great! Then at the end of the month when I pay back my draw i will owe you less money" right?" They looked a bit confused and the boss was too lazy to do whatever paper work might be used in this situation and they just turned the other way. I kinda think they are getting away with things but I'm not sure.

As an employer, paid vacation/bonus/health/retirement/# of sick days/overhead/etc. are all expenses that that get broken down as to the 'cost' per hour of an employee. A $20/hour employee actually costs me $40-$60/hour after overhead expenses. The less hours an employee works, the more expensive it is to keep them around.

So when I can hire a subcontractor for less, I do.