Q: My Slack team has produced content Jan-Mar 2017 and not gotten paid as usual. Bosses avoiding questions. What can we do?
My Slack team is a hired international group of writers and videographers producing content for a YouTube channel. The curator who hired us and manages the Slack team has not paid us for all of 2017 despite many videos being produced, uploaded and making money for the YouTube channel. The manager now says he does not have the money and must wait for the YouTube channel owner to pay him before he can pay us. Many employees would simply like to quit and demand back wages. What are our options?
A:
1. Contact the New York State Department of Labor if you performed services in New York State or your employer has a presence here.
2. Serve a demand for wages due on your employer or sue for breach of contract or for services rendered in court. Federal court has unique requirements so hiring a lawyer is a good idea.
3. Find new jobs and get written contracts each time. Nothing worse than having to prove the terms of a services contract with parole evidence although you have posted videos and valuation experts can provide expert opinions. Copyright or trademark laws and other potential issues can arise.
You should consult an employment or possibly commercial litigation lawyer depending on what you did, how much your services are worth,....... Sometimes we take wage cases contingent but I suspect a retainer of some kind will be necessary given the limited facts you relayed. Good luck.
Will Blackton and Barry E. Janay agree with this answer
A: You can sue for breach of contract. More details are necessary to provide a professional analysis of your issue. The best first step is an Initial Consultation with an Attorney. You can read more about me, my credentials, awards, honors, testimonials, and media appearances/ publications on my law practice website. I practice law in CA, NY, MA, and DC in the following areas of law: Business & Contracts, Criminal Defense, Divorce & Child Custody, and Education Law. This answer does not constitute legal advice; make any predictions, guarantees, or warranties; or create any Attorney-Client relationship.
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