Kenneth Lucci, Owner & Short Operator of Ambassador Limousine & Sedan, Inc has no regards for his Customers or his employees. He has two recent lawsuits from former employees he settled out of court. Mr Lucci does not think the law applies to him. Even AFTER two lawsuits....he continues to test the boundaries of employment law.
In the past, he paid his employees as subcontractors with tips. Drivers where working 50-60-70 hours a week. Paid by the run.
Mr Lucci wrote a blog in Limo Digest stating Owner/Operators have to pay the drivers on an employer/employee basis.
2013 Mr. Lucci blamed the economy for having to change to hourly wages. He stated that 1099 for drivers was illegal. The new pay structure was $8 an hour, add $4 per hour when you have passengers and NO GRATUITY. **NOTE the Customer still being charged a tip for the driver but the driver would not get it. Mr. Lucci (lacking integrity & character) could legally do this since he was paying his employees minimum wage Just because you can do something...doesn't mean you should.
8/2013 Mr. Lucci asks employees to go off the clock for downtime over 2 hours. Says they can use that time to run errands and such. Oh sure...go work out & get a call to be some where in 30 minutes..all sweaty...sure ...just an example but it' BS & not realistic.
9/2013 Mr Lucci is trying to work around the "taxi exemption" by creating a staffing company and giving it to Erin Santiago to run. On 9/5/2013 Erin Santiago sent out an email to all the employees that NOW as a condition of their employment they will need to become subcontractors and work for her. The driver will need to file paperwork for to become a DBA or LLC as well as assume all responsiblity for paying their own taxes and so on.
Shady business practice.
Doesn't want to pay overtime. Wants drivers to go off the clock to save himself money because he is greedy. Charges Customers Tips for the Driver but doesn't give tip to Driver.
There's more but you get the point
Jim Erb, Driver Supervisor fired an employee for refusing to go off the clock. Ken Lucci sent out an email to other limo companies such as Advantage Limo that he had fired said employee and they could have him. He regards his employees as trash.? This employee was an excellent driver, trained new drivers, worked tons of overtime..not getting paid. Never late. Never Missed Work Never written up or even coached.
Shorty won't be told what to do & won't tolerate someone asking him to abide by the law. Who wants to work for free? Have their tips taken from them? Be charged a tip that doesn't go to it's intended?
Do the right thing...find another limo company. He doesn't deserve your business. He takes advantage of a bunch of good people who need to make a living. He is a dirt ball.
Hell in High Heels
Florida,#2Author of original report
Tue, April 15, 2014
Your words not supported by deeds, actions or reality. Your employees, especially your drivers, are miserable. They barely make minimum wage. You don't provide benefits. Your don't even provide ties. You take advantage of your employees...some days they are employees when it suits you and others W9. Your daily business practice amounts to whatever lines your pockets and pilfers from theirs. Lying to the employees and keeping their tips...AND not informing your Customers of such. Stellar??? In what galaxy or universe?
Case & point...the Democratic Convention...you promised the drivers who went for that week to put them in a decent motel. What they ended up with was a flea bag hotel in a seedy area of town that didn't even have a pool or area for recreation....except for pimps, tricks and drug distribution. You made $1000's and couldn't spend a little extra and take care of the people who made it possible. You are a self entitled, arrogant jerk Mr. Lucci.
This isn't sour grapes. Ex-employee or not...this is the truth. You prey on the weak or less fortunate...make them kiss your a*s to keep a meanial job...and dispose of them when they dare to speak up for themselves. You promised Jim Erb bonuses that you never paid out and when business slowed down you found a reason to fire him too. You have no character, no integrity, no moral ground. You worship money and the little bit of power it gives you. You don't have to like it or even acknowledge it for it to be so.
Ambassador Limo
Clearwater,#3UPDATE Employee
Mon, April 14, 2014
Ambassador Limousine and Sedan Inc. and its Chairman Kenneth Lucci have a stellar reputation in the community for charitable work and impeccable business practices. We have hundreds of compliments from clients and charitable organizations. Recently Mr. Lucci was instrumental in raising 1 million dollars for the American Heart Association. Please google us to substantiate our true reputation.
In 2010 Ambassador Limousine was the victim of one predatory lawsuit brought by one disgruntled chauffeur. This caused a tremendous disruption within our ranks. We are pleased to report that matter has been settled and everyone who works at the company truly loves what they do and they love the company. The only bad reviews of Ambassador are the two on this site that come from one driver we terminated and his wife who chose to lash out against us in this manner. We wish them well in their future. Ambassador has no further comments on this situation or post. We are committed to our impeccable business practices and good work in the community and so are all our current employees - references are available upon request.