Fired K.H.M.H. Security Guards say they are owed overtime from 2011
In January of this year, the security staff of the K.H.M.H. was dismissed following a decision by the Board of Directors of the national referral hospital to outsource security services to a private company, SOS Security. At the time, the hospital claimed it was a cost-saving measure since tens of thousands of dollars were being spent on salaries and overtime for thirty security guards. It’s been months since the security personnel were sent home, but for some nineteen of them, payments for overtime have still not been forthcoming. A group of the former security employees came to News Five studios today to express their frustration with not being able to get their overtime money which dates back to 2011 and the day of their dismissal…They say that the hospital has been giving them the run-around.
Lana Usher, Former K.H.M.H. Security
“We have money owed to us. We have been dismissed from the K.H.M.H. and we have some money owed to us from over time. This is from 2011 and that’s eight hours from 2001 to the present time when we were dismissed. Ever since the C.E.O. told us that they were going to let us go, we asked them about this over time. Apparently it wasn’t posted to them and that is not our fault. And he said that he was going to pay everything that’s due to us. Now, every time we go there he turns us or we call in and they tell us they are taking care of it or it will be given to us…at one time they told us we don’t even have no claim to it. What I don’t understand is how we noh wah have claim to something that we already did. And it is written down in black and white in the register. We worked twelve hours every day and fourteen hours and there is an eight hours extra every month and that was from 2011 to now. All we are trying to find out is when he is going to give this money owing to us. We have no other else complaint against the K.H.M.H.; he was good to us. All of us had years there. But this is what is due to us and all we are asking is when is he going to be pay us our money.”
Duane Moody
Lana Usher
“What is the amount accumulated?”
Lana Usher
“At least over twelve to fifteen hundred dollars he owed us in over time alone. It was twelve hour shifts and we need our money. And for all nineteen securities. The reason why only a little of us are out here right now is because some of us are already working and can’t come out here. But otherwise, all of us are ready to get our money.”
Duane Moody
“What is going to happen if they decide that they are not going to give you guys any money; that they don’t believe that it is owing to you guys?”
Lana Usher
“Well what we are going to try to do is all get together and try to get us a lawyer to fight our case because we do have a case. We are not begging for this money. We are just asking for what is due to us; we worked it.”
News Five contacted the hospital to get a comment from C.E.O., Doctor Gary Longsworth, but we were told that he was in a meeting.
Not long ago I spoke with a friend of mine who is a labor lawyer in California; the employer we talked about was different, but the issue was the same. It seems they have wise laws there that deal with claims like these.
First, they have a Labor Commission that is separate from the courts, and it is able to make binding orders on employers when they don’t pay what they owe to workers.
Second, if an employee is not PAID IN FULL what he is owed within 72 hours after being terminated, HIS SALARY REMAINS IN FULL FORCE FOR UP TO 30 DAYS, OR UNTIL HE IS PAID IN FULL, whichever comes first.
Finally, any wages not paid when due CARRY AN AUTOMATIC 25% PENALTY paid to the employee. There are also fines, etc. that have to be paid to the government itself.
Belizean employers would think twice before they cheat their former employees, if they knew in the end they would have to pay much more to the employee.
Pay what you !@#$%^&. Owe KHMH people what there !@#$%^ money @$$!@#$ administrator