Boss Is Dodging Me And Refusing Payment.

I have been working with a family member for 2 months. I caregive for her and her husband. I clean house, drive her places, help her around, cook meals, i even helped her find a siamese cat off craigslist. Anyway, before i was working with her she needed a caregiver for a while so I had met her as she’s my grandmas cousin. My grandma was there when we agreed on the wages $20/hr. I would come in as requested, and I would leave when work was done. I did a lot of house work as well including dishes, laundry, wiping counters, taking out the trash, etc.

So everything was going good. I had got my paycheck on the 4th of May. I worked after that for a week and about 17 hours. 17x20 would be 310. On that last thursday I worked she requested chicken for dinner so i had cut up her chicken and fried it to her liking. I made sure to clean off the counters and stove before i left. (this is important for later)

After that weekend, i got a text saying she had covid and i didn’t have to work for a week (because we both got covid from how much she wanted to go out and shop). I believed her. She said she was interviewing someone and i thought it was great for her, especially since her husband is a veteran to use those benefits. I knew she wanted someone to live in house with her (i would not want to live there because of how disgusting it is and it’s infested with bugs) and i was going to be replaced anyway, but i never thought she would deprive me of my paycheck.

I texted her saying, “Hi, let me know if/when i’ll be needed again. Hope you and kittens are doing well. “ to which she read and didn’t reply.

i then said, two days later (today) “if i’m not going to be needed again, i will need to come pick up my last paycheck sometime :) “

She then finally responds by saying this, “I get paid on the 3rd. I need to figure out the time. You really didn’t clean much and I had to clean the chicken mess you did for dinner on Thursday. When I asked you to clean the kitchen you should have done the dishes and cleaned the stove. We did do a lot of running around, when you took me to the store you went shopping also. What do you think is a good price for me to pay you? Let’s face it you didn’t do a lot of cleaning.”

so i respond with “i did clean the stove, there was nothing underneath the metal parts or on the plastic and i wiped it down. i also had put the rest of the chicken in a safe bag in your working fridge. i wasn’t aware you needed your dishes cleaned, i think proper communication could’ve prevented this. And i went to the stores that YOU specifically went to. i did shopping for myself out of convenience, which could equate to less than 30 minutes, because you were buying a lot more than me(other than the time at the dollar tree). If you told me you had a problem with me shopping, regardless of the occasion, you could’ve communicated that to me. I did things ON the clock. if i had stayed and did dishes that would’ve been another hour. I did work on that time, it’s not about what work i didn’t get done, you’re not focusing on what i did get done. and not to mention i scrubbed your floor for 2 hours while you were sleeping at one day. I had no proper cleaning supplies other than a mop and cleaner so i did the best i could. your house has a lot of work that needs to be done, and nothing can change it to what you want it to be that fast. It’s already looking a lot better so far, but, As my boss, if there were things you needed and wanted done, you should’ve communicated them with me. We never had time for me to properly even try to clean your house because we were always out and you wanted to do things. I was prepared to clean your house after your one week covid recovery but you didn’t text me back. I am owed my last paycheck regardless. I added up 15.5 hours for the week after i had gotten paid. You can take two hours off for shopping time i had done then and in the past. That still leaves 13.5 hours i worked. which would be 270. I don’t want to leave this on a bad note either, and i appreciated the time we spent together. I do wish the best for you and kittens, along with (dog name) and (husband name) If you know how to use Zelle, you can send it through that.“

She has left me on read, if she doesn’t respond, will i have a case? and if i do, is it worth it to get my $300?