Cancellation After Arriving at Work
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Question
Good evening, If I agreed with an employer to work as a medic at a football match, arrived on time, and because one of the teams decided at the last moment not to come - the referee canceled the match and I returned home. According to Halacha, should I be paid in full? (It should be noted that according to the law, yes) Second question: If I am indeed entitled to full payment, what happens if immediately upon arriving at the field the employer called to say that the game was likely canceled and offered 100 shekels, and I agreed, because I was not familiar with the Halacha and the law on this. Can I later demand full payment from him?
Answer
Hello
Response from the Rabbis of the Beit Hora'ah:
Question A: You are entitled to partial payment - ('as an idle worker') since you arrived at the location and then the matter was canceled.
However, if there is a fixed custom in such cases (even if according to the law you are entitled to full payment, in any case, we follow the actual custom unless a condition or contract was made between you that explicitly states the procedure in such a case) we follow the custom. It is possible that according to the custom, it is not customary to compensate the worker at all or to give him a predetermined amount, etc.
If there is no known custom - you should contact the Beit Hora'ah again and provide additional details so that the Beit Hora'ah can guide you regarding the amount of payment due to you.
Question B: In continuation of the above, as explained in the previous response, everything depends on the actual custom, and I will specify:
If there is no clear custom - we revert to Torah law. Therefore, it is possible that you are entitled to more, and what you agreed to is considered a 'mistaken agreement' and does not obligate you (in such a case, you should contact the Beit Hora'ah again and provide the missing details about the amount of payment for further handling)
If it is customary for the employer to compensate the worker as he sees fit - then your agreement to receive 100 shekels obligates you.