Verbal Agreement? Texas

[sabeier]

If an employer verbally agrees to pay you a commission starting from a date in the future and does not pay, what if any recourse does the employee have?

[Pattymd]

Not much. Although verbal promises "can" be contracts, they most likely aren't.

So, why do they say they aren't paying?

[sabeier]

I had taken a new outside sales position with the company. This position I was told would include a raise and commission of .05% on gross sales of the territory. This was to begin after a 90 day probationary period. When asked about after the 90 days was complete, I was told that it would not begin until the following month. I did not see anything the following month on my paycheck and inquired again about the raise and commission. I was then told it would not begin until Feb. Now, I have been let go by the company...no reason given for dismissal and no reason given why they did not want to pay.

We have two other outside employees who recieve commission, and the pers on I replaced had been recieving commission as well as the person before him. They both left on their own and as I understand they had a difficult time getting paid what the company owed them.

[Pattymd]

You can certainly contact a local attorney versed in contract and employment law to get an opinion. I would be optimistic, though, without anything at all in writing.