Unpaid Salaries

[BartS]

I tried calling Helsinki Police District all day but no one is picking up the phone.. is this typical?

Dunno, but if the companies are really 3 of the top 5 tax contributors and based in Helsinki... Woah! Try to contact police local to the company/ies involved: http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/home.nsf/www/contactus

Better use email than phone. The time difference? What was the time then in Finland?

[toxent]

I use Finnish time.. We have 6 hours difference with my location and I am well adjusted with your time because I work locally here until evening to catch up time diference.

I havent divulge the company name except with OSH as I am also careful. Honestly, I believe I can damage my employer personally and business wise, I know I can do this but this is not what I want. I simply want my money.

By doing legal, the only option now is Police - if they listen to me. Problem is, no email contact so I am obliged to make a call instead. NBI- no reply. Labor office- no reply. OSH- admitted they cant help.

Upphew and Penny gave me links to contact police so I have to do it later Finn time. I have to contact police first, if no one can help then Ill turn to govt officials and the newspaper.

I already accepted the fact that this would take a long time.

[toxent]

Hello people, first off, thanks for the input of everyone.

I took now a bolder step against my employer. I just sent report to the Police District. I reached HQ first and they advised me to contact the local police so I moved to another city. The officer of the day cannot speak English well but was very very accomodating and attentive. I just sent them my formal complaint and I received a reply that the Station Superintendent is now reviewing my email and will contact me on how the case should be treated. I trust Finland cops are fair and helpful.

Honestly, I feel sad that I have to report my company to authorities. It is getting big now and I dont know were this would lead to. I havent filed a police report in my life and making such is a heavy feeling. I know though what I did is just right. My company was very ungrateful, if they cannot afford to pay me it is alright as long as they would explain and surely I would understand and just walk away but they treated me so bad.

I will update progress here. Wish me luck.

[ajdias]

Have you considered pointing them to this thread at some point? They'll know that you stand nothing to loose, other than what is due to you.
On the other hand, if you choose to reveal the name of the company in this thread's title it will be seen and read by the thousands of people that visit this forum, many of which are Finns. People may even choose to comment on the company on other forums and blogs...
The thread will jump right away to Google results, and anyone searching the company's name will see it right away. And, if you write the names of the persons involved, the same will happen for their personal reputation.

Personally, I think you'd do everyone a favour by publishing their names, so that people can be warned in advance, but I understand your concerns.

[AldenG]

My company was very ungrateful, if they cannot afford to pay me it is alright as long as they would explain and surely I would understand and just walk away but they treated me so bad.

They may have picked up some "easy victim" aura from you and thus of all the possible choices, you were the one who got exploited when money was tight.

On the other hand, it sounds like the CEO is an alcoholic with possibly some other problems as well. There may be no real logic to his behavior, at least not the kind that normal healthy people would understand. I remember one of my employers in Finland once had to deal with another company's CEO who was like that.

I really hope this works for you but I still have trouble understanding how a contract dispute and non-payment rises to a criminal matter and police action rather than a matter which (unfortunately) would have to be resolved in civil court. I can see how if there was some kind of fraud involved, that might eventually lead to criminal court but even then I don''t see how that would help you.

But I don't know much about the Finnish legal system and hopefully there is something in it that will make this bring a quick resolution for you.

[Karhunkoski]

Have you considered pointing them to this thread at some point? They'll know that you stand nothing to loose, other than what is due to you.
On the other hand, if you choose to reveal the name of the company in this thread's title it will be seen and read by the thousands of people that visit this forum, many of which are Finns. People may even choose to comment on the company on other forums and blogs...
The thread will jump right away to Google results, and anyone searching the company's name will see it right away. And, if you write the names of the persons involved, the same will happen for their personal reputation.

It depends really.....on whether people will make negative business choices on the evidence of one individual. I really doubt it. After all, many countries and their businesses have appalling human rights records, but we still choose to buy their products because the price is cheap

[toxent]

On the other hand, it sounds like the CEO is an alcoholic with possibly some other problems as well. There may be no real logic to his behavior, at least not the kind that normal healthy people would understand. I remember one of my employers in Finland once had to deal with another company's CEO who was like that.

I really hope this works for you but I still have trouble understanding how a contract dispute and non-payment rises to a criminal matter and police action rather than a matter which (unfortunately) would have to be resolved in civil court. I can see how if there was some kind of fraud involved, that might eventually lead to criminal court but even then I don''t see how that would help you.

But I don't know much about the Finnish legal system and hopefully there is something in it that will make this bring a quick resolution for you.

Actually, police action wasnt in my mind from the start but as I ran out of options, I end up seeking their help. OSHA wont help, Labor Office is not responding, I cant file a case myself in Finnish court. I told police if they cannot handle the matter it would be helpful if they can advise me the right office to deal with or a referral. In my mind, they are the best contact now to inform the employer that I am already near and capable to reach people in their area. My boss is hiding from me, I hope it wont be hard for police to visit the office and check if he still there because they wont pick up phone if I call them.

I was firm overtime about my salary issues and I was promised many times that it will be fixed.

I also dont know if I get good result. Sigh...

[ajdias]

It depends really.....on whether people will make negative business choices on the evidence of one individual. I really doubt it. After all, many countries and their businesses have appalling human rights records, but we still choose to buy their products because the price is cheap

You are right, unfortunately many of us oversee those minor inconveniences when the price is cheap. That means that the price has to be cheaper, though. Even if only a small portion of costumers google them and pay attention to these details that can be enough to lower their sales and their margins.
Costumers aren't the only ones googling, prospective business partners may also be worried upon reading of them. There is a reason firms go crazy every time a blogger writes a complaint or negative review, and end up paying small fortunes to companies to clear their search results - and the work can never be perfect. And if the CEO is really keen on being an influential person as the OP says, he won't be very happy to have the less pleasant side of his life exposed for everyone to know.

[toxent]

Have you considered pointing them to this thread at some point? They'll know that you stand nothing to loose, other than what is due to you.
On the other hand, if you choose to reveal the name of the company in this thread's title it will be seen and read by the thousands of people that visit this forum, many of which are Finns. People may even choose to comment on the company on other forums and blogs...
The thread will jump right away to Google results, and anyone searching the company's name will see it right away. And, if you write the names of the persons involved, the same will happen for their personal reputation.

It depends really.....on whether people will make negative business choices on the evidence of one individual. I really doubt it. After all, many countries and their businesses have appalling human rights records, but we still choose to buy their products because the price is cheap

Oh well, you just pointed straight to my company. Did I mention I am assigned here in Asia... and on same country in your mind probably.

[Rosamunda]

Despite what the others say I would advise you against publishing any details on here that would enable the company or the individual to be identified. It could turn against you which would defeat the object... Anyone remember Phil's episode with a certain Finnish newspaper tycoon ? There was also a case on a (defunct) French-Finnish forum where a daycare employee bad-mouthed his employer because he felt he had been over-worked and under-paid (whatever) and the woman took legal action against him and if I remember correctly ordered all the posts to be deleted, public apology - it turned very nasty. Leave the libel suits to the newspapers (they have their own lawyers) and give your own actions time to take effect.

I'm not sure how familiar you are with Finland but it is a Very Small Country, population-wise and in a place like Mikkeli or other small towns in Etela Savo everyone knows everyone. A word in the right ear is probably all it needs, all the local entrepreneurs know each other (Lions Club, Rotary etc) and who knows, maybe the policeman you spoke to went to the same school, or maybe his wife works in that company too....

I would say your chances of getting paid are not sub-zero

[toxent]

Despite what the others say I would advise you against publishing any details on here that would enable the company or the individual to be identified. It could turn against you which would defeat the object... Anyone remember Phil's episode with a certain Finnish newspaper tycoon ? There was also a case on a (defunct) French-Finnish forum where a daycare employee bad-mouthed his employer because he felt he had been over-worked and under-paid (whatever) and the woman took legal action against him and if I remember correctly ordered all the posts to be deleted, public apology - it turned very nasty. Leave the libel suits to the newspapers (they have their own lawyers) and give your own actions time to take effect.

I'm not sure how familiar you are with Finland but it is a Very Small Country, population-wise and in a place like Mikkeli or other small towns in Etela Savo everyone knows everyone. A word in the right ear is probably all it needs, all the local entrepreneurs know each other (Lions Club, Rotary etc) and who knows, maybe the policeman you spoke to went to the same school, or maybe his wife works in that company too....

I would say your chances of getting paid are not sub-zero

Thanks... I am also careful that my actions will not be used against me esp defamation. My intention is not to damage anyone but just seek for my rightful claim.While it is good to warn people about this company, I also believe I am not in the position to do the job. Whatever the results, at least now there is a police record that some people can trace back. Who knows, maybe the reason why they are not answering me is because they are waiting me to bad mouth them and use it as my pitfall. They are eerily silent you know, very unpredictable.

[toxent]

I lawyered up. A lawyer on same city with my company. She started her work today and for one call the company called back immediately that they will settle my salaries and that they only need some emails from me. They also said, according to my lawyer I did good job to the company and my salaries will be paid. They said they do not want legal problems in this case. I was surprised by the sudden change of mood while just last week one of the owners was completely ignoring me in skype.
The lawyer explained to me that in Finland, if your income is low, you can actually file for legal aid only if the matter ends up to court. The rate is per hour but reasonable than the previous lawyers I contacted. She said, if the case will be settled amicably, the legal service would only take few hours.

My company has emailed me and started to discuss my turn over again with promise to make replies asap. Very weird but I am happy as of now. I hope it will continue to be like this.

[AldenG]

That's great news. I hope you'll have your money very soon.

I hope she is saying that FIRST you get paid, and THEN you return company materials.

I mean she's the lawyer, I'm not, so maybe there's something I don't know. But it just seems to make sense.

[toxent]

we are not on that point yet like turning over the important materials. We got the first email only today from them regarding previous emails and I expect also the lawyer to nego the terms like cost of delay etc and on how we turn over some stuffs.

lets see then..

[Rosamunda]

Great news. Do let us know when you get the money...