I worked in a grocery store in California for two years. The chain of stores had a safety bonus program working in cooperation with its insurance company. If everyone in the store worked injury-free to achieve a total of 13000 person-hours then each employee received a $25 bonus. If a total of 56000 person-hours was reached each employee received a full weeks' pay. There was usually a four-week waiting period between the time the bonus was reached and the time until it was rewarded. This was to allow any late claims to be made and to give employees with delayed injuries (ie back pain) time to realize and report it. Although four weeks was the standard waiting period it varied widely in reality as bonuses were often awarded late. I was on the store's payroll until two days AFTER the 56000-hour mark was reached. I quit voluntarily after giving two weeks' notice to the store manager since I was about to move to Washington State. I called the store two months later to ask if the bonus cheques were in. I was told that although I was an employee of the store at the time when all employees qualified for the bonus and although no late claims had been submitted they would not award me the bonus cheque since I was not employed at the time the cheques were issued by the insurance company. Does anyone know about any specific legality that applies to this situation? I believe that as I was employed during the entirety of the 56000-hour accident-free period I am as entitled to the bonus as much as I would be to any money I earned during my employment there. Anyone know if this is correct? Also is anyone aware of any free legal resources that could be of assistance? One weeks' pay in my case amounts to under $400 so it's probably not anything most lawyers would want to bother with. Thanks in advance for any advice.
ps333@aol.com
Safety Bonus Denied
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