I was an international driver for 6 days on the road. The boss wanted to pay me PLN 250.

Well, I have my own little story. If it weren’t for the ID, I would have been left with PLN 250.

I started working as an international driver. Transport. Delivery vehicle, trips around Europe.

Day 1-5: Czech Republic, Slovakia. Everything’s fine.
Day 6: The boss calls – "Tomorrow Bochnia -> France, 8 pallets."

Yes: Okay.

I check the data of the order’s goods. I look – 8 pallets, somehow strangely heavy.
After asking, answer "3,5 tony"

I check the previous CMR,
2500 kg.

The vehicle has DMC 400 kg.

So I’m taking it 625% above the norm.

I ask the forwarder: "Are you sure this is good?"

On: "Normal, let’s go."

I’m driving slower, I’m thinking about what I’ll check on the Internet soon at a stop, and from moment to moment there are more and more question marks in my head xd Do I want to drive illegally?

Well, I’m going.

Slovakia, highway. Traffic inspection stops me.
The inspector looks at the documents, looks at the car.

He speaks English: "This company… we see them many times. Many times overweight."

And: "Damn, this opinion was missing." (I don’t have anything in my car)

On: "You are very overweight. This is dangerous. You understand?"

He said that they couldn’t do anything to me (which is true), but I would think carefully and read about what could happen to me even if my boss pays the fine.

(Then the next question is whether I have it confirmed in writing that if a fine comes for me it will be PLN 4,000 and for the company it will be PLN 7,000. So I won’t suddenly be left alone with -4k?)
SMS from the forwarder with confirmationyou can only wipe yourself with something like that.

I went "Next time – big fine."

I’m going back to base. I think: ok, I’ll talk to the boss, most likely a silent announcement that I’m about to leave.
It turns out: it’s not a mistake. It’s standard.

Next departure tomorrow: Bochnia -> France. 8 pallets, 3500 kg for a 400 kg vehicle.

875% above the norm.

I sent an immediate termination email with reasons and evidence in case of attempted fraud and penalties.

I tell the boss: "I won’t go. The inspection warned. France has inspections every 50 km. It’s suicide."

Boss: "Don’t even talk to me like that, do you know what penalties I can impose on you if you quit tomorrow?"

And: "Look, I didn’t quit because I didn’t want to.* I’m just giving up because I won’t drive illegally. And I don’t leave the job suddenly, I just don’t start it tomorrow.

*rips\*

And: "Yes. I resign. Article 55 of the Labor Code – termination due to gross violation by the employer."

Silence, some yelling, and that he will fine me for fuel. (270km return to base, calculated as PLN 800)

I returned the car. End.

A week later: I’m going to the office after payment.

It was supposed to be: PLN 800 (6 days of work, minus advance payment).

It came: PLN 250.

I say: "What is it?"

Boss: I deducted PLN 800 for fuel from Bochnia to Radom."

And: "…co?"

On: "You were going to pick up the goods, you didn’t go with the goods. You must return the fuel."

Again: I said, I didn’t give up casually because I didn’t want to. I’m just done driving illegally.

I count: Bochnia -> Radom = ~200 km. Fuel consumption 16L/100km = 32 liters.

Diesel ~7.30 PLN/liter = ~PLN 278.

The boss calculated: 90 liters × PLN 7.90 = PLN 773.

He overestimated it by 300%.

I sent an SMS:

"Article 87 of the Labor Code – list of what can be deducted from your salary:

– Judicial executions

– Advance payments

– Penalties under Art. 108 of the Labor Code

‘Fuel’ is not on the list.

I have our conversation recorded for defense purposes.

You have until March 20th.

If you do not pay – PIP (National Labor Inspectorate) + possibly court.
30 minutes later. I’m riding my bike home. I look, the boss’s car is parked on the side of the road.

One kilometer from the office. The boss is standing on the sidewalk. Red.
Waves his hand: "Come here."

And: "No, because you look like you’re about to do something to me." XD
He shouts something. I’m coming.

Boss (pissed off): "RECORDING IN MY OFFICE IS ILLEGAL!"

And: "It would be illegal to use the recording for any purpose other than my defense. I have to defend myself."

Silence. He takes out his wallet. He gives it to me PLN 400 in cash. He gets into the car. He’s leaving.

Balance: Due: PLN 800 I got: PLN 650 (250 + 400) Missing: PLN 150

Am I fighting for this PLN 150? NO.

Time – PLN 150.

I have better things to do (building software after hours).

What I learned:

1. Know your rights. Article 87 of the Labor Code is not a theory. This is a specific list.

2. "Fuel" is not on it.

1. Document everything. A recording of an office conversation is leverage.

Without it, I would have PLN 250 and my dignity hidden.

1. Don’t let yourself be scared. My boss was waiting for me on the road, red and pissed off. If I was scared, I wouldn’t get anything back.

2. Know when to stop fighting.

PLN 150 vs 10 hours for PIP/court? It’s not worth it. I’m moving on.

And this is just me 🙂