LOVE IT!
Money is sadly still … somewhere in the Land of Promises. Sent them the NDA last night. Finally got a message that the order to transfer the money will be made soon and in 2, maybe 3 days I should get the money. A little different to the previous promises. “It is all your fault that we are delaying the payment” note has been attached.
Should these people choose to shoot me on the street, it will probably be my fault too.
That is the worst deal I have ever heard. Like the absolute WORST. And I have made A LOT of deals. It might be the worst in the history of the planet.
Why did you sign the NDA? Don’t they owe you money for the month worked regardless?
Let us know if you ever get paid.
The prize for who took the worst deal ever goes to Trump’s prior investors, and the republicans. 
Unless he has serious plans to attempt to slander the company by telling his story to anyone who will listen, why wouldn’t you sign the NDA?
You sign the NDA and have a shot to get paid.
If you don’t sign the NDA, and likely won’t see the money without a lawyer (less money).
Even if he does decide to tell everyone about the company the NDA is likely not legally enforceable. IANAL, but first you could argue that there was no consideration from the company since him being paid was supposed to happen prior to them wanting him to sign a NDA. The second thing you could argue is that you signed it under duress because you needed food to eat and felt this was the only step to get money which was already owed to you.
None whatsoever.
What scared me off were the penalties for non-compliance with NDA, and their multi-tiered nature. I was afraid to make myself more vulnerable by signing, that’s all.
It is o.v.e.r. guys, at least in terms of money. I am so grateful to you for support. Got the wire from some dodgy third company today.
Looking back, I wish people could hold together in such situations. I could have saved a few bucks (spent on legal hotlines and crash legal assessments, these things are not that expensive, but a cash drainer too), time (spent searching for affordable legal help, for free legal help and for general information) and some nerves if the other damaged party at least have directed me. The lawyer out of job is not such a hot potato - especially in a city full of unemployed lawyers - to play diva and to take an “are you asking me for free legal advice” attitude. I understand his confusion and fear but we should stay humans no matter what.
It is amazing how little the state can do for one in such a situation. I am not living in a crude capitalist country like USA, this country claims to have solid social security system yet there is NO SINGLE possibility for a person in my situation to find reasonably priced legal help in labor disputes. Every single point of free/ reduced fee- legal advisory explicitly excludes labor legislation and directs you straight into private lawyers’ hands. The system creates a nourishing ground for “lean business models” which I am going to steer away from now.
Awesome. 
I’m glad they actually paid you. It’s a shame though you didn’t get the chance to pursue this company to the full extent of the law. I say this because of how much of a learning experience it is. Regardless of the outcome, you come out more knowledgeable and twice as prepared for when the next crappy company tries to take advantage of you. It’s soo advantageous to go through a situation like that when there’s not really that much at stake. (You said it was just one month’s work, I too was only fighting for one month’s wage the first time). When it really matters, you won’t make any mistakes.
Also, I would have been surprised if they didn’t pay you after signing the NDA.
Imagine this: * They promise to pay you IF you comply. * You comply * They don’t pay you. That would have to be about the dumbest move any company could make. It spells out their dishonest and criminal nature like it was a fluffy pink neon bar sign that read “Lawsuits, get your lawsuits! Get em while they’re hot”
Also also, I agree with the above posters. You shouldn’t have signed that NDA, but, you probably had nothing to lose by doing so.
BankThatDank
Thanks for your reply. I totally agree with you on the learning experience. I have indeed become even more cautious of such “specialist” boutiques. As a person without employment I am in no position to cherry pick but I think the post-traumatic shock will save me a few similar experiences. Unfortunately firms like this one are not rare, there are loads of these even less unique players with inflated picture of their operations. This was the company that has gone bad over years, quite a few start dodgy and stay dodgy for good.
As far as the legal side is concerned, I will probably get a freebie consultation on the discrimination part of the deal (if I am correct, it not not a labor law but a violation of the constitution). Can not let go of that, it is not so much the money issue but the confidence issue to me.
Not a bad idea. Knowledge truly is power when it comes to the legality of things. I hope any extra effort you make in this regards will be fruitful in preparing you for future business. Now that you have the money from them, there is no more monetary gain, so it’s all pro bono from here mate.
I severely regret having sacrificed 2 down-to-Earth, not so glamorous but hopeful interviews in favor of that co, I should have listened to my instincts and quit after a week. The company that has actually waited for me turned out a disaster - they were not prepared to pay anything decent, all seniors were rich kids working for ZERO salary, the specialists were on a shoestring salary (no graduate in this country would accept this level!) with a promise of a huge bonus (sure, excitement all the way) and yet they were incredibly arrogant. Besides it was a role when I would be cut off from the rest of the team and noone expressed strong desire to integrate me into that team: looks like I would be ina location of an experimental value, the office they rent for supposedly a few years already is missing any sort of corporate identity, not even a corporate logo on the door bell. I talked to an old colleague of mine before even heading for that interview and he told me to keep looking. While cool-headed, I understand that he and me were seeing the same red flags in that role but sadly, even that idiotic company has not made me an offer. I understand why: they saw my doubts and that I am no longer the young idiot excited to be a toy in the rich boys’ playground, the excitement is gone, I want a decent job with trade unions and stability.
Return the money.
All over now! They discovered the loss, I wired the money back.
I am terrible with passwords. But anyhow. I just want to add my 2c to the situation with this employer.
Of course, a lot has happened for myself. I have not given up. And that boutique`s owner has not and will not be the last bastard I have or will encounter. It is always about people and their motives. And learning how to play people. Sometimes against each other. But always to your own purpose. And only if you have to. People are not for play and should be treated with respect. Unless you have to protect yourself.
These bad experiences taught me one thing - they freed me of fear. When you have nothing to lose, you become totally fearless. Fearless people have no limits and it is the most scary thing for all the office game players to have as the game suddently comes back at them, with an escalated payback (expected losses approaching the infinity).
About this company: I have been closely monitoring their assessments on the specific employee assessment website so popular in that country.
Suddenly I feel out of the observing loop and - now they have 10 assessments instead of 2 (3 employees I witnessed left the company and sustained their 6 months probation with the new employer so nearly safe)… 2 women deprived of salary got paid via court… and so the others joined the party… It is always one thing “never pays the salary”, “court proceedings to receive salary”… Now that my legal insurance is finally in the active mode (fearless but not brainless!), it is time to join the party!
Now, looking back at the situation, I realise that it was actually quite unusual to get paid in my situation.