Employment

Michigan Department of Civil Rights Report on the Conditions of Farmworkers in Michigan

You can read the 2010 report here.  

End of Season Reminder: Bonuses

Farmworker Legal Services often receives calls from farmworkers who are told that they will not receive their end-of-season bonuses. The reason usually involves the grower firing the worker before the end of the season. However, the farmworker often contends that the reason for the firing was a pretext for the grower simply not wanting to pay the bonus.

Our office will investigate all farmworker complaints to determine if the farmworker should have received his or her bonus at the end of the season. Farmworkers who find themselves in this situation should call our office toll-free at 1-800-968-4046, even if they have already left the state of Michigan.

Reminder About Farmworkers' Employment Rights

· Each worker must receive his own paycheck, even if the worker is a child. Sometimes growers pay farmworker families on one check for the whole family – this is illegal.

· Each worker must receive a pay stub that indicates the gross wages paid, the pay period, the number of hours worked, the number of pieces picked and the piece-rate (if paid by piece-rate), and all deductions made from the employee’s wages. In addition, most employers must also list the worker’s permanent address and social security number, and the employer’s name, address, and IRS identification number.

· An employer cannot make a deduction from the employee’s wages unless the deduction is authorized by law or unless the worker has consented to the deduction in writing each time.

· If a worker is fired, he must receive his last check within 1 day if the work was picking, or within 4 days if the work was not picking. If a worker quits, he must receive his last paycheck within 3 days if the work was picking, or on the normal payday if the work was not picking. An employer cannot withhold a worker’s last paycheck to make sure that the worker leaves the employer’s housing or for any other reason.