Q: Is it stupid, legal or it makes sense and able to fight for it?
Hello, I'm a unarmed security guard for Allied Universal, I kick out homeless people and loiterers, the area where I work at is big and I happen to work with myself (no coworkers).
Now with a Covid-19 pandemic, when a transient gives me trouble, the police are unable to help me. (That's not the case)
I earn $13/hr Minimum wage in California, I wanted to see if it maid sense for me to demand a higher salary, especially because the day-to-day troubles I always have nowadays with the Pandemic and almost not having a helpful source available like the police.
A:
Demanding anything from your employer may not be a good idea. Asking for more pay has a better chance of success, but the employer has no legal duty to pay you more. Tread lightly. There are a lot of people unemployed right now.
Good luck to you.
A:
I think you have a more basic matter with which you should be concerned, which Mr. Pedersen did not address.
All people in the State of California have been ordered to stay home, unless you work in a field which is exempt from that order. Even if you "work alone", as you say, you still have to come into contact with the homeless and loiterers, and now you don't even have the backup from the police. Is your employer providing you with any safety gear? Such as sterile gloves to wear and a safety mask? If you want to keep working, you should be provided the proper equipment, regardless of how much you are paid.
But even in this new normal situation we have, it may be prudent for you to point out the dangers to your health and safety you are having to confront. But you are taking greater risks to your health and safety, because this disease can be fatal for many people, so you should have proper training in how to protect yourself from coming in contact with persons who may carry the virus. And the added risk should be worth more in pay for you who have to take the risk, so I don't see why you can't request more pay under the circumstances.
But Neil is right: a lot of people might be willing to take the same risks right now because they are already out of work. So be reasonable when you discuss these matters with your employer. And make sure you go to the proper department head to discuss these matters.
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