| (IANAL) Vacation is part of a compensation package. I.e., they owe it to you. The question is if the law in your state agrees that they owe it to you. If making your former boss angry with you is ok (or even desirable) head to your local courthouse and get the forms for small-claims court. The filing fee is usually under $100. Sue him. If you win, you can get your back pay and probably the court costs (though almost definitely not punitive damages). If you lose, you're not out much money, you forced your boss to go waste his time in court, and if he has a boss you might make your boss look bad.
In a situation like this, documentation is everything. The person who is able to wave a piece of paper with each statement is likely to win. A collection of pay stubs from throughout your career at that company will probably be good enough to substantiate that you did not, in fact, get your vacation. Something that substantiates that you were promised a vacation will also be required. It's not likely that you can win a subpeona to get your pay records for a small-claims case, but you could try.
-Miko |
