For four years I worked for a national automotive service department as an assistant manager. When I was told of my promotion to the assistant manager position two years ago, I was promised a raise by my manager. This was in agreement for me to stay on with that store as I was seriously contemplating a move to Maine. I got the promotion the following Sunday but no pay raise, he told me HR sometimes takes an extra week or two before it takes effect. So I waited and in that meantime he walked off the job.

For the following two years I complained to my immediate managers and my area directors, by then the only raise I had recieved was from my yearly evaluation. From my area director I was told, "You should be lucky you even got a raise," and from others, "Your supposed promotion raise was too close to your yearly evaluation,". Though everytime I was told it was, "being looked into,".

Back in October of 2005, when I had picked up pursuing this full speed again since the employer now owed me over $11,000 in unpaid wages. I was approached by my then manager and was told, "Drop it or you need to be looking for another job,". Shorty there after in November of 2005, I was fired for "violation of company policy", later found out through their own corporate policy and proceedures manual and store operations manual, no such policy existed. I was told at my termination by my area director, with a smug smile on his face, laughing, "Yeah, good luck with that," about my unpaid wages.

My managers and corporate officers of the company deliberately delayed and lied to me about my unpaid wages. Then proceeded to threaten my job when I pursued it hard and then terminated me. Do I have a case and what is my next step in this to reclaim my money?

The problem is that, unless you have a contract or other enforceable agreement that requires the company give you this raise, you have no legal recourse. It stinks, but that's the way the (nonexistent) law is on this issue.

Section 41-10-30 which outlines that an employer must have a written contract and itemized statement of wages (for hiring), states this at the end "This section does not apply to wage increases,". I cannot find any section that does, which says to me a written contract or agreement is not required when it comes to wage increases. All wage increases in the company are done verbally, even with the yearly evaluations, you sign the evaluation which has nothing on it about wage increases and it is discussed with management how much of a raise you are to recieve.

That's my point. Short of a contract, if they renege on the verbal agreement, shame on them, but it isn't a violation of law.