Workers at Chief Building Services are raising their voices against the company's failure to honor payroll obligations. Joseph Reihle, a former employee wanting to secure an additional source of income, told ABC15, "I was supposed to get that first check, then nothing came." This complaint is part of a chorus of grievances from workers who report they have routinely been issued checks that, quite literally, don’t hold their weight on paper when it comes time to cash them.
Claiming a sequence of financial disasters as a result of unpaid wages, one ex-employee faced grave financial distress "I've been close to eviction for my house, my car has been repossessed," they conveyed to ABC15. Excited about the employment opportunity, the workers found themselves enmeshed in a struggle just to retrieve the pay they had earned. The unfolding situation underscores the lack of protection faced by employees when they are unwittingly entangled with unreliable pay practices.
Under Arizona law, employees should normally receive wages at least semi-monthly. This is according to the guidelines from Legal Aid at Work that describe payday requirements and what to do if those paychecks don't materialize, bounce, or are delayed. Employers must adhere to these regular paydays and failing to do so can trigger legal consequences.
Adding a layer of urgency to this paycheck fiasco, the Industrial Commission of Arizona's Labor Department has received an alarming 24 complaints against Chief Building Services in 2023 alone. These complaints include 21 wage claims and three payment compliance complaints, ABC15 reported. Whilst earnest workers like Reihle advise job seekers to vigilantly research potential employers before diving into new work opportunities, many are left grappling with financial instability due to Chief's alleged remiss behavior.
Attempts to reach Chief Building Services for comment yielded scant information. The company stated via email, "We are currently resolving matter(s) within the Phoenix Branch," dodging the direct question about the paycheck issues. When further clarification was sought, no further information was provided. A visit to the company headquarters during working hours resulted in an encounter with locked doors and silence.
As the Labor Department continues its investigation, affected workers may find little solace in due process given the immediate impact on their financial stability and emotional well-being. Meanwhile, resources like those provided by Legal Aid at Work remind workers across the board of their rights and the steps they can take when paydays go awry.
