Help Wanted: Read fine print on commissions

Help Wanted occasionally focuses on a single topic. Today's column tackles commissions.

"Based on the information at hand, the company is in compliance if they are paying commissions as agreed and the minimum wage is covered," the New York State Labor Department said.

Here are some excerpts from labor law the department provided:

"A commission salesperson shall be paid the wages, salary, drawing account, commissions and all other monies earned or payable in accordance with the agreed terms of employment .?.?. The employer shall furnish a commission salesperson, upon written request, a statement of earnings paid or due and unpaid. The agreed terms of employment shall be reduced to writing, signed by both the employer and the commission salesperson."

The employer's policy seems unfair to you and the other hardworking groomers, but labor laws focus on what's legal, not on what's fair.

SEE PHOTOSSee who got hired, promoted on LI

"We will have to investigate the nature of the commission agreement to determine whether or not this was legal," the Labor Department said.

You should contact the department to press the point that the business got most of its money on your sale. Call the department at 516-794-8195 or 212- 775-3880.

UPDATE

A former taxi driver who responded to the "Granny's Tapped Out" question that ran last month said he doubted the cab-driving grandson's contention that he cleared just $25 a night, an amount that dismays Granny, who helps to support him. Here is what the reader wrote: "I drove a cab 25 years ago as a tree worker in the off season and never made less than $60 to $80 a night, sometimes a lot more. He must be doing something he shouldn't." For more on state law and commissions, go to http://bit.ly/16SVp5h.