is this legal in AZ ?

[alicefright]

Sorry to be a pain, but I'm sick of being treated poorly at work and would like to know if any of the following are even legal. Any input is greatly apreciated!

1) I work at a store which buys/sells used merchandise. We sell online, and sometimes our items get damaged in transport by the shipping company we work with. Because the shipping company refuses to be financially accountable, my work reimburses customers who file complaints about said merchandise. But from there, they deduct said reimbursements from the paycheck of the guy it's pays to package these items. He works 54 hours a week for $7.00 an hour, but often recieces bi-weekly checks for less than $350.00. How is this legal? Can't the company 'damage out' these claims as tax write offs?

2) When I first started this job, I was told I'd recieve a raise within 2 weeks. Being a laid back work envirornment, I noticed my coworkers surfing the web on the job, so I assumed this was ok to do as long as it was done during a 'slow period'. A supervisor saw me doing this, informed me it was against the rules, and reported the incident to the owner, who used it as grounds to withhold my raise. Since then, I've seen other employees surf the 'net IN THE PRESENCE of this supervisor, who never takes disiplinary action against them.

3) When I began this job I signed a contract that states that in the event I no longer work there, I can't seek employment from one of it's competitors, nor share 'trade secrets' with them, nor start my own competing business, for 18 months. To do so would result in the company taking legal action against me. How can an employer prevent someone from gaining employment?!?!?!

4) Lately the owner of this company has threatened to make deductions from my salary the way he does to our packaging guy. Because some electronics we sell malfunction/die altogether, he wants to hold me accountable for them in the event myself OR someone else breaks them. Keep in mind that A) I've never damaged these items B) He has no audio or video evidence of me damaging them or not anyway C) These items are used D) Many electronics we buy 'die' on their own in storage, but E) The owner doesn't fine the retail clerks if they buy an item that malfunctions/dies. Again, why these items can't be 'damaged out' baffles me.

4) The owner now wants me to supervise our packager to ensure he packages items properly, sends the right item to the right address, etc. etc. I have NO experiance in the shipping department, nor was this part of my job descrption. To take on this task potentially means pay deductions in the event the shipper makes a mistake. If I refuse to take on this task, is it grounds for termination?

5) The owner has blatantly accused our packager of stealing merchandise, stating these claims to myself and other employees. However, he has no audio/video/eye witness proof of this.

6) I'm the only employee who isn't on the company payroll, they're paying me 'under the table' - weekly, in cash. In the event any of their actions are illegal, do I have any legal recourse against them? Or should I just report them for not paying employee taxes?

7) Because my employment is under the table, in the event I quit, if they withheld my last weeks worth of pay could I still take legal action against them? While a 'paper trail' doesn't exist, I could prove I was employed there through employees being witnesses, right?

Sorry for the essay, but thanks for your time/consideration.