consulting firm taking over lots of pay changes

[Krystala]

I am employed by a distribution company (for 2 years) that has hired a consulting company about 4 months ago. Since the switch over my pay has went from straight comission to salary. In the beginning of the change all sales employee's were promised verbally that no pay would change for the worst only better and more mileage would be paid as well.

We have all been given job duties that were not explained entirely and we have all been trying to follow the rules they have given us. But they change from week to week on certain items. They decreased our sales territory by 1/2 and kept our pay the average that we got last year. They also raised our mileage allowance by almost double. I didn't think that this would do to well, but went along for the ride.

Anyway we have these monthly evaluation meetings and I was at mine last week when I was told I wasn't performing to my level's expectation and therefore 2 weeks before christmas the told me my pay would change as of the first of the year from 3600.00 per month to 2400.00.

We have been mandated to work on weekends with no extra pay, they think it should be included in our salary. As it stands now I work 60 + hours per week.

Is this legal to do in such a short time of notification?

 

[cbg]

You have not provided your state and what, if any, notice is required before a pay cut is state specific. However, most states do not require any particular notice at all, as long as you are notified before any hours are worked at the lower wage.

However, I would question whether straight salary is legal; can you give us a general idea of your duties?

 

[Krystala]

I live in Illinois, sorry.

I am an outside sales consultant, my job duties include counceling clients on retail purchases and promotions, monthly meetings with clients in addition to seeing them every week on a rotating schedule, helping them realize thier potential based on the consulting company's formulas that they have given us, delivery of product sometimes, collecting money, data entry of all orders, memorizeing monthly sale bills, working directly with manufactures to set up classes for customers & traveling about 3-5 times per year on company trips that aren't paid for by them.

We have sales meetings that are required to attned that go from friday to tuesday and they pay for our hotel, we are responsible for all food & incidentals as well as getting there which usually costs about $220.00 for airline tkts. As well as not being paid any extra money for working all weekend and don't give us any time off the folowing week.

My co-workers and I are really upset and our bosses seem to feel like it's ok to do this.
Thanks for your quick reply.

 

[cbg]

Sorry, IL is not one of the very few states with a required notice period for pay cuts.

From your description straight salary does seem like a viable option. Sorry, I know these are not the answers you want to hear.