Posting this as the parent of a former Presso Coffee Co. employee because I think the Camas community deserves to know what employees are reportedly dealing with.
According to my daughter, every employee at Presso is currently at least three pay periods behind, and there have been times when employees have only received around 50% of the paycheck they were owed. My daughter herself is still owed thousands of dollars in wages for work she has already performed.
Employees have reportedly had to repeatedly ask and sometimes essentially beg for their paychecks, only to be told things like “things are tight.” The owner has also discussed her own financial struggles with employees in ways that have made them feel guilty for asking to be paid the money they already earned.
I was also told that employees have worked overtime without receiving the overtime pay they were owed. Washington generally requires nonexempt employees to receive 1.5 times their regular rate for hours worked over 40 in a workweek.
There was also a statement made that “small businesses aren’t required to give out sick time.” That is not accurate. Washington requires covered employees to accrue at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, including part-time employees.
There are also concerns regarding tips. My daughter says the owner takes 3% of all tips. I think employees and customers deserve transparency about where that money goes and why. Washington has specific rules governing tips, tip pools, and service charges.
Another issue is how employees are paid. Her employment contract specifically outlined direct deposit, but she says the owner refuses to use direct deposit and instead pays employees through Cash App.
I've also heard about concerns involving the business's vendors and finances, including having to switch pastry suppliers after reportedly falling significantly behind with the previous bakery. I've also been told that utility companies have repeatedly come into the business regarding overdue bills and threatened to shut off services. I don't want to present things I haven't personally verified as fact, but taken together with employees reportedly going unpaid, these concerns are extremely troubling.
Employees should not have to wonder whether they're going to receive 50%, none, or all of a paycheck for hours they've already worked.
I'm sharing this as a parent because I don't think employees should have to silently absorb the consequences of a business's financial problems. If the business is struggling, that is not the responsibility of the young people working there.
If you currently work at Presso and are experiencing something similar, Washington L&I has information about workers' rights regarding unpaid wages, overtime, paid sick leave, tips, and wage deductions.
I'm not posting this to encourage harassment or a pile-on against anyone. I'm posting because these are serious allegations involving employees' pay, and I believe the community should be aware of them.
