I began a job on 6/21/2013 with a promise of fully paid dental, health and retirement plan. I was told it would be effective on 10/1/2013. It was not. My employer gave me dental application for coverage but when I received my coverage information it was not effective until 11/1/2013. When giving me the dental information he said well we will have to see above the medial coverage due to the new medical effective. When I asked to speak with him on 9/30 he said when he returned to the office. He was out for a couple of weeks then mention the next week that he would talk to his wife and get back to me. He did not talk to me until 10/25 and I told him I took the job due the coverage... blah blah blah... gave me a slight increase in pay and said I;m not sure if you could get temp coverage. I don't know why he hadn't look into it. I said if I knew nothing was being done I would have looked into it starting back in August... He said look into it. (By the way he sells insurance) THis was on 10/25 and I didn't have time until 11/8 and its complicated. I slipped last week and wish I had insurance to check out the bump on my head... I am tired and getting headaches. Even before this I thought I should be compensated for the missed insurance and I feel that his lack of caring like this doesn't even matter has me very upset. I used to be in HR. Besides this... I did love my job but am feeling resentful. I could have gotten temp coverage from 10/1 then switch to Covered California per an agent I spoke with. What are my rights? Shouldn't I receive compensation for the missed insurance.

First question is whether you have anything in writing. Second question is whether there is an employee handbook that spells out what benefits are given to employees.

This where I feel so dumb. I asked him for something in writing because I had other interviews and job offers... He emailed me... as per our conversation... so no I have nothing in writing... but isn't a verbal contract binding and the fact that the woman I replaced was getting fully paid benefits for the past 20 years... I can prove this fact as bookkeeping is a part of my job. Uggh... I feel like an idiot!

And yes there is a handbook I received it finally on 11/15 (I have asked for it several time and he always said he had to find it... and boy he did find it to prove his point). I though 11/15 was pay day and I pay myself and he signs the check (payroll 11/1-11/15). He said pay day is 11/16 and I said that's a Sat and he said then its on Mon 11/18, didn't you read the handbook? I said No that's the problem, I never received it... you keep saying you can't find it. The handbook is 20+ years old and no mention of the fully paid health, medical and retirement plan. I have been asking him questions as he is passing through... like what is vacation policy... because I wanted to take a day off... I don't know the sick policy and now he tells me the retirement plan is effective after two years. I am so frustrated. I will get the CA covered effective 1/1 but I feel that I should be reimbursed medical 10/1 - 12/31 and what about the dental of 1 month not being covered 10/1-11/1 and the attitude like this is all so unimportant. I want to get it in writing but now I am so upset and the stage is set so wrong... I'm tempted to look for a new job. He is so poor at this and he assured me he didn't do any of this on purpose and wants to keep me happy. Wow... funny way of showing it. Any advise is appreciate.

Yes a vocal contract is binding, if it can be proven. The fact that your predecessor was given full benefits is helpful, but only if you take him to court. And doing so may be counterproductive.

So Scott, Your advise is do nothing? How would you proceed or advise your wife or daughter?

I would continue to pursue him fulfilling his promise. But I would not file suit if I wanted to continue to work there.

When you slipped and bumped your head were you at work?

Thank you Scott,
Yes of course I realize that and would not want to file suit in any case better off just to get a job somewhere else. I do plan on pursuing it instead of just verbally now in writing... asking him for the same back in writing... awkward...
To Ballengerb1: No I was not at work but getting out of the bath tub... Tomorrow it will be two weeks and I am feeling so much better just tired and a little dizzy when I lift my head off the pillow in the morning.