Complaint Review: The Perfect Light

I went to work for The Perfect Light in 2007, and was told that I would be working in the warehouse 40 hours per week, and get paid $600 for the work. I agreed, because it seemed like a great opportunity. It all seemed a little "too good to be true," but I still committed. As the Christmas season started, the 40 hours a week turned into 45, then 50, then 55 then one night we worked the whole night through, with no extra payment for our extra time. Our original agreement was 40 hours=$600. In the end of the season, when I added up the total paid verses hours worked: it came to less than MINIMUM WAGE, which is illegal. A few years after I left the company the state stepped in and forced the company to pay people per hour due to the fact that what he was doing was unfair to employees. The turnover rate of employees is extremely high as well. I also worked in the sales department on two different occasions. I ended up quiting The Perfect Light after the first year, when the Christmas season started again, because I wasn't going to be put through that horrible experience again, I was told they were redoing how they paid people, but still I left. During the sales season, I was told that I would be paid commission on only what I sold. I ended up doing almost 4-6 demonstrations a week and most of those were "company leads," which means because I did not create the lead, I didn't get paid. Imagine working 45-55 hours a week doing sales, and selling almost every demonstration, and still not getting paid. I was one of the best sellers, and sometimes would work a month strait and hardly make any income because I was selling "company leads," not "my leads." I went to work for The Perfect light again after being promised by Tom Oviatt that I would have at least one day off a week to go to church and have personal time, on top of Sundays. I was also promised that I would not be over worked and under paid like the last time I worked for Tom, he apologized for what happened in my last term of employment, and personally promised it would not happen again. Well, cheat me once its on you, cheat me twice, its on me!!! The season started out well, and went smoothly, I was bringing in sales, and doing demonstrations, and most of them were mine, so I was making great income. I was then asked to step in and cover one demo for somebody, then another then another. Soon, I was doing up to 4 or 5 demonstrations a week, and not getting paid for them, unless they were my created leads. If I were on salary then it would have made sense, but I wasn't. When I approached Tom about the situation, he agreed that it was unfair, and said he would think about it, and see what he could do. Well, Tom called me the next day and said he would pay me a percentage for all the 3 months I worked. I said OK. When doing the math it came to approximately $175 dollars for over $35,000 worth of sales. During the same season there was also a guy who set up an appointment by calling the office, and asked for me by name. Since, I was not present in the office to actually set the appointment I did not get the commission, even though the guy asked for me by name. When I add up all the different times I did not get paid due to technical problems, it adds up to over $4500, on unpaid commissions. After these things, we both agreed that it was not good for me to be working there any longer. Other employees have got the same sketchy treatment, and current employees have said that things are still SKETCHY. I just want other people who are considering to work for The Perfect Light to know what it is like working for there. Now, there are some really really good, people at The Perfect light who I have a lot of respect for, and I still have a lot of love for, this is not directed to all of the company. My disagreements were between me and Tom Oviatt. I learned a lot, and met great people while there, however, you may run into problems negotiating with Tom. Thank you