Okay so, I work as a remote legal assistant in a law firm, but let me give some quick context on how I got my job, Back in 2023, I studied in a School where people from USA would visit, so me twin and my younger brother (he is 18 months younger) met a guy, here is the thing, I live in guatemala and I have a native english speaking dad, and my native spanish speaking mom, so since we are little we speak both languages, but at my school being able to speak english was a flex because you would be able to interact with americans, so back to the guy, it turned out that he was an Personal injury attorney, So I guess he liked us and he told us about him wanting to hire us because we seemed like good kids, So my younger brother started in early 2024 part time because we would still go to school, so in october of 2024 he offered me and my twin to work at his firm, so we thanked him and accepted the job, at that time we really needed a job, because we wanted to help with the expenses in my house, so yeah, so since my younger brother had more time being there the attorney would chat with him more often, and he would say, once you finish school you will get an american salary, which here in guatemala that’s a great salary, so we kept working part time and during vacation we would work full time, here is the thing, we were earning 3 USD an hour, and we would work 3 hours a day, so yeah we would get 45 USD a week, So back in november of 2025 my bothers and I graduated high school, we were in the same grade because there is not a big age gap and our school sugested that so we were cool with that, anyways, the attorney came back to see us on grad day, and then he told my mom and my younger sister, oh now they will make good money, so yeah, we were exhausted of school and final tests so we decided we were gonna take a week off to start exactly the second week of november, but we only got 2 days off and our supervisor which i don’t think she likes us said, ok you will start again today, and tomorrow you will start your training, so we thought that MAYBE that would be a training for a better role and a better pay, so the training lasted until mid december somehow and now we have 6 times the amount of tasks for the same 3 USD an hour, its not that I’m ungrateful I just think for an american job it should be a crime, but we din’t say anything until the other day the attorney said, ok you will get a raise, 4 USD per hour now, the thing is that he gests 50+ cases a month and he makes a bunch of 5 digit settlements a week and we can’t get at least 5? plus they got us 2 more supervisors, so there are 3 ladies on our ass all day and it remids me of Walter white working with Gus, I just think I can’t tell him anything asking for a better salary because I think he sees us as charity, plus beggars aint choosers, so I want to quit my job, it got me deppresed and ik its stupid but I get severe anxiety every morning for the fact that I have to work, should I get another job?
NTA – Applying to other jobs is not an asshole move. This guy is exploiting you and your brother. He’s probably paying you under the table, so try to contact Human Resources and verify that you are \*actually\* listed as employees.
NAH leaning NTA. It sounds like this started as a mutually beneficial arrangement but then quietly turned into scope creep with very little compensation. You’re not wrong for feeling resentful, especially when expectations keep increasing. That said, you should absolutely look for another job before quitting if possible, and if you feel safe doing so, ask directly for a raise that reflects your workload. If they say no, that’s your answer.
What are other people in the same field, doing the same job with the same parameters making? If it’s more ask for a raise and if it’s not more then maybe just go to a firm where you feel more appreciated but either way NTA
NTA. He’s taking advantage of your situation. It’s borderline a scam, and he keeps you lured in with false promises of “an American salary”, and making you feel like you owe him anything. You don’t owe him a single thing. Quite the contrary actually. I bet you he’s made a lot of money off your work.
Exactly. He’s playing the OP, plain and simple. American salary promises? Big red flag. OP’s been doing the work, he’s reaping the benefits. Time to stop giving energy to that nonsense.
NTA, OP get this guy to write you a recommendation letter, say it’s for applying to college or grants for college to help you job search.
And please job search, this is exploitation and it’s really sad to see an adult doing this to young adults like this.
NTA. Focus on school and university if able to. If not, save up the money. Is it 3 USD each?
NTA, it sounds like he’s exploiting you.