MEMOIRS OF AN INNOCENT INTERN: Part II

PLEASE NOTE THE SUBJECT OF THIS SERIES IS NOT MY CURRENT BOSS, DAN COFALL. DAN COFALL IS THE ANTITHESIS OF THE BOSS I HAD IN “MEMOIRS OF AN INTERN.”

Note: I actually sent this letter to my boss, but it has been edited down here to protect sensitive information.

Dear Boss,

I simply do not understand why you have failed to pay my agreed upon wages for the services I rendered this summer as an intern with you and your firm. I arrived at work on time every day. I worked as diligently as I could to accomplish the tasks that were assigned to me. I had excellent working relationships with you and your team.

Your partner paid his share on a timely basis. At the end of each of the first two weeks, he left me checks. He explicitly stated he had “limited resources,” yet he understood I showed up every day.

You stated at the end of both weeks one and two that you would give me a check. I never received anything.

Prior to the start of my internship, we agreed on $b a week ($y/day). Your partner gave me $c. I am now owed $x, and you even agreed and acknowledged you owed me this amount on public Facebook postings, text messages, e-mail exchanges and in person.

On several occasions, you indicated you would mail my payment “immediately.” Coming up on two months after the fact, I have yet to receive any payment. These are not disputable facts.

After I quit work, I did my own due diligence to protect myself from situations like this. When I was home, I gathered many facts. I talked to people who know you very well or did business with you in the past. I have records of all our electronic communications. Before I left for school, I met with an attorney to prepare myself just in case things became unfavorable.

Now, we have arrived at a very uncomfortable point. You have indicated you do not want to pay the wages we agreed to. You leave me very few options.

I should have received these wages at the end of every week I worked. At the very least, I should have collected them upon the conclusion of my work. It is completely unjustifiable to continue to withhold or negotiate these wages with me.

Though this is a very small amount of money to you, I am a college student and my internship income is essential to me in order to pay for my books, living and other expenses. You have put me in a very difficult financial position.

May I ask that you send me a check for $x today? If you cannot or will not do this, I will have no choice but to seek a legal solution through the local small claims court. I will also pursue this issue with the proper agencies.

I hope you understand this is not a route I would normally choose, but you have delayed paying me. Should I not receive full payment of $x by [specified date], I will have no choice but to pursue legal action. This seems like such a small and insignificant amount of money for services that I clearly rendered.

Yours Truly,

Naresh Vissa

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Naresh Vissa — Taking Syracuse University by storm, Naresh is a third-year Renée Crown University Honors Program student, majoring in Finance, Accounting and Broadcast Journalism at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Previously a writer for the ?Daily Orange? newspaper and Executive Board member of the South Asian Students Association, he is a Junior Analyst for the Orange Value Fund (OVF). Known as "the Ivy League within the Whitman School," OVF students take MBA-level finance classes, learn the ins and outs of value investing philosophies, and help research, report and manage more than 1.1 million dollars of investor money. As producer, Naresh books guests everyday and seeks media and business development opportunities to increase branding and overall listenership. With more than a year?s worth of experience producing more than five business shows at the BizRadio Network and CNN Radio, Naresh has booked more than 400 guests in the fields of finance, economics, business management & consulting, self-help, leadership, sales and marketing. He serves as a member of the Foundation for Economic Education.