There's a word for making people work without pay. That practice was supposed to have ended with the Civil War. I almost wish I worked at 50 Below myself, just so I could sit with my feet on my desk until I got paid. A good book, a sandwich, an occasional middle finger tipped toward management...it sounds like a fun day to me. Quitting a job is tough, but putting up with something like this year after year would, for me, be much, much tougher. I am sure that not paying one's employees for 24 days qualifies as employer misconduct. If that doesn't qualify, what does? Public whippings? Walk out. All of you. Today. Come on! Do I have to come down there?

so @50belowemployee, I'm sure there are plenty of people who are unemployed who would love your problems. Why don't you put your feet where your mouth is and quit. Say, aren't you on the clock right now? Is there no morality to you spending time on this site while you bash the company employing you?

I am a current employee of 50 Below. I am frustrated that I didn't get paid on time and that checks have bounced. I have bills to pay and a family to feed like everyone else. However I can't really complain; because I knew these issues going in. It was a risk I was prepared to take. Where else in Duluth can you get a job without a college degree that pays $30k starting? The reality is that the problems they are facing are not due to unethical business owners. I've talked to them personally and I don't think these problems are driven by greed. I just think it's pure mismanagement. They have no structure in place for accountability. There is no CFO, no CEO, no director of operations, no accountant, nothing. Just Dave and Mike running it. Themselves. They are running the company as if it's a small company. They've ruined their ability to take out loans and/or have business credit. So it's just a revolving cycle. If they get into cash flow issues they have no options but to wait for cash. Most people don't realize that there are many companies that operate in the red for long periods of times. The difference is that those companies have security blankets; like shareholders, investors, liquid assets, etc. Sears, JC Penny, and Wendy's all suffered a loss in the 3rd quarter of this year. That means they lost money and not a little either; millions upon millions of dollars. I read a story the other day of a company that reported a loss of seventy million dollars in Q3. Most of the loss was absorbed by its shareholders. Problem is 50 Below has no means to do that. They are in a vicious cycle. Because of their tarnished relationships, it's going to be next to impossible to get any financial support from any lenders or private investors. I don't think 50 Below is actually losing money, they just can't manage their money. They have a lot of overhead and expenses that can be cut back on, but from my experience in the company it can be very profitable if some changes were made to the structure. I don't think it's fair to blame all of the managers in the company, while I'm not saying there some managers that do nothing and need to go, I am saying there are managers who have worked their asses off, opted to go without pay longer so their subordinates can get paid before them. There are managers who work very hard to get things done and to push the company to the next level. Regardless of the industry or employer; people will always complain about "top level executives" as if anyone who makes a lot of money is a huge greedy asshole just out to get everyone. 50 Below has to be doing something right or else it wouldn't exist. They have a very interesting niche solution that is certainly in demand. The company has a lot of potential but they need to make some very serious structural changes if they expect to survive with employees. The employees wouldn't stick around if they didn't see hope.

@employee: Your comment makes me sad.

@anonymous1, what does my employment situation matter? Do my words bear less weight if I was employed or unemployed? For the record, I am employed. I work in the mining industry. Need to go take a nap soon as I work night shift. Do you work? Scratch that, I don't' care.

@anonymous1, I stated I don't work at 50below so that implies ignorance to some degree. Thanks for stating the obvious. What was sarcastic? Asking you if you work? And a bit of a lesson for you, it's "couldn't care less" not "could care less." Sorry, that's a pet peeve. And I do care for the folks there. They are two of my closest friends, however, I've asked some questions to people on here that are tough. Like, does everyone on here think they should lay off a bunch of people? Seems like everyone on here is more interested in them paying their bills than employing our friends, family and neighbors. Why can't anyone answer that?

@Reality: "Seems like everyone on here is more interested in them paying their bills than employing our friends, family and neighbors." A paycheck is a type of bill that a company is obligated to pay, so yes, I think the employees have a vested interest in the company meeting their payroll every payday.

"We're being paid right now" ... Great, then off to Black Water, drinks on the boss. Figure it out 50 Below! "50 Below could benefit from a trained professional in matters of cash flow forecasting, departmental budgeting, and employee effectiveness." +1 tang!

Hmm... According to Razzle Dazzle, their "financial institution issue" is resolved and people are getting their checks. So what are they now? Just a company in Duluth that employs hundreds of employees. What do you all want to say about it now? (Disclaimer: I have not confirmed with my friends who work there). Should we all go pitch a tent to #OccupyLastPlaceOnEarth? What else can we get all excited about?

We were told that the issue was resolved early last week. Still ... no check. Also, part of the issue is that no banks in Duluth want to do business with 50 Below. That isn't a problem that is going away.

So that makes it OK that some have not been paid for over a month and are now just getting one of their paychecks? While others are still not getting paid at all? Hey guys!! It is all hunky dory now, some of us got our checks finally after two, three, four weeks!! No need for any more concern with why we don't get paid on time! Continue with business as usual! Sarcasm. Goes both ways.

@anonymous1 That's the magic question. Is it too late to fix? I wish I could answer that. I'm torn. All I can do for now is be hopeful and say yes. From my perspective I think there is potential.

Move along, nothing to see here ....

The issue for me is that I genuinely like my job and I don't want to quit. Does that mean I should have to put up with these kind of shady shenanigans? I don't think so. I don't think it's appropriate for the people in charge to issue ultimatums like "if you don't like it, quit.". Employees should not be held hostage that way. So far, we have received nothing buy excuses and extremely evasive answers from the owners. But at least they could be respectful. Anyone questioning them has been met with intimidation and aggression.

@ employee: Your comment makes me sad because I'm sure that employees could force a clean-up, or at least some kind of resolution, by taking a stand, but your comment makes it clear that you are not going to take a stand. Your comment makes me sad because it shows that you, and undoubtedly many others at 50 Below, operate in fear rather than confidence. Your comment makes me sad because even after your employers have stolen from your pension funds, they are still "Dave and Mike" to you. If it were me, I'd be lighting the torches and unpacking the pitchforks. I guess your comment makes me sad that you're not me.

@anonymous1 Agreed. That's why I don't plan to work here for the last of my life.

LOOOOOUUUD NOISES!!

@Ramos - Here here! This is what I wish would happen as well. Maybe not with the pitchforks quite yet, but a stand should be made. Though, we can't force anyone's hand can we. @rnarum - That is definitely the question that needs to be addressed here.

Final Word from me. What most of you are stating and the advice that has been offered has been discussed, contemplated, regurgitated for years by 50 Below employees. Many believe we should have a CFO and accountants, and better cash flow management, and better this, that and whatever. Why we stay,or "put up with it," in reality is of no concern to those outside. You have your right to your words and thoughts, and outrage. I and others want to stay, and produce, support and see this company thrive. Even while knowing that we have issues that have needed to be addressed. We don't want to throw a tantrum, walk out, take a chance of unemployment benefits being denied. We want to work ... here, even knowing that being compensated at times is an issue. If you knew me you would know that the conversations I have had with friends families and co-workers have been about topics addressed here. I stay because it's where I want to be. It's called life, it isn't always perfect, or easy. Do I feel frustrated for those who are frustrated here? I hear it and see it every day ... all I can say is that I believe it will get better, more stable, and that it will be better managed. That's all ... more than enough said.

Why do people think it is OK to trash the work ethic of the employees who are not getting paid?!? 50 Below made a business contract with its employees: "work x hours a week and we will pay you x dollars a week." By withholding money from its employees, 50 Below is in breach of contract. How could you possibly think it's OK to snark at someone who is effectively slave labor, hostage for the next maybe-paycheck? Yes, 50 Below is a local business, and yes, it is a tough economic time everyone, but any business that knows what its doing doesn't bounce paychecks for 10+ years (while hiring new people and expanding into a new building). 50 Below's bounced paychecks were not caused by a bad economy, or a simple math error - 50 Below is a bad business that has borderline-illegal financial issues and deserves to be recognized as such (I hope Google searches pick this thread up and holds it for any future 50 Below prospects).

When you Google "50 Below Duluth" this thread comes up on the first page. One thing that I'm not sure has been touched on is that while employees eventually get paid, the bills they have responsibilities for rarely afford extensions. There are pay-by-dates and it helps to have money in the bank so you can pay your power bill, credit card bill, etc. etc. It really makes no sense at all that 50 Below can keep hiring people and move into a nice new building downtown yet not have the means to meet payroll for its current employees.

Razzel states that nothing illegal is going on, and that the media should look elsewhere for a story. I'm sorry to inform you, especially since your lips are planted so firmly to Mike and Dave's rear ends ... but, knowingly issuing NSF checks is, in fact, illegal. Anything over $800 is a felony. You were saying?

Reality -you are exactly the reason why I lose faith in humanity. Bad Cat has an excellent point and never once said he wanted the business to fail. Saying that it has a borderline illegal financial system is only the truth. It may be harsh but it is reality. Why are you so willing {when you don't even work there} to support a company that is actually hurting this community, not helping it? Yes it has almost 300 employees, but that sure doesn't give them the right to screw them over just because they were so kind in giving them employment. And it definitely does not make them some great entity because they really are basically using these folks as slave labor. Handing out jobs like it is candy at a parade, then making them work even if they are not getting paid and letting them know where they can go if they don't like it. You just don't get it do you? This has nothing to do with being individually selfish and everything to do with ensuring these 300 people and their families are fairly treated and have a dependable job where they can afford to put food on their tables and pay their bills. Which is their right. People have been laid off in 50 Below before due to situations like this only to be replaced by others a month later. So the fear of not having employment on a daily basis -right now- is more real than losing their jobs because they wish for the company to change it's bad ways. Nobody wants the business to shut down. We all just want it to be repaired. But honestly, it will sink if things don't change. And that is fact. But you wouldn't know that because like you said, you are not directly involved and are only going off of bits of information from friends and what you wish to absorb here. Again, why do you think it is all solved because one of many checks have finally been paid? Nothing about that makes it alright and all it is doing to it's employees, is forcing them to walk on broken glass hoping they don't fall through. 50 Below employees can not depend on their employers to pay for what they are providing this company. They are always questioning whether or not they get paid. If your friends have not had an issue with this since they started working there two years ago, I call bs or they are Supers. It is a WEEKLY pattern for the owners to ask who will forgo getting their check on time. Every payday. Have I made this clear enough for you? Or do you really think they are still owed respect and gratitude for what you think they are doing for their employees? If so, just let it go. Please just stop. You are bringing nothing to the table that is useful or open minded to try and help the situation. And since this does not pertain to you and you only think all others who have valid concerns are trolls, just leave it alone. Go to another blog or post if you feel the need to continue doing exactly what you just called them.

Wow "Reality", you read that much into BadCat's statement? What I read was someone stating that a company should not treat workers like they do, and since they do they should not be in business. NOT "I hope that 300 families go without food." Just because they sometimes pay their employees does not make them a good company, nor a good place for a person who has a family to work. I am willing to bet those 300 families are struggling pretty hard to make ends meet while feeding their kids when they don't get a paycheck for a month. The bottom line is, you are putting words into peoples mouths trying to get people to feel sorry for 50 Below.

@Anonymous ... don't believe everything that you read. In situations where cash has been tight, 50 Below always has paid staff first on up to management last. Any disgruntled employees who hate that place: it is not a communist state! go get a different job! Can't get one? That should tell you something.

Everything that you read.

And Jack hits the nail on the head.

@ Gorilla Which is what exactly? Please enlighten me so if I am mistaken I can correct myself and because 99% of what I have written is from experience and obviously my own opinion. In regards to the the owners paying the employees before themselves, if you were directing that toward me, I never said anything about that. That was someone else I believe.

Really? That's all you got huh? Answer the question or be a butt. I don't care, whatever floats your boat.

Grab your tents bitches. We are heading to the Last Place, grabbing some bath salts, pitching a tent at the tech village, and protesting anything. We are the entitled generation. Give us everything. Ramos, Anonymous, Jack and the Cat. Let's get together. Let's smoke some weed. Let's demand that Donnie's team takes care of us.

The real issue is that cash flow problems are systemic and they are unlikely to change. Dave and Mike use the employees as a defacto bank. Because they are unable to work with a bank or credit union for a line if credit, they borrow from the employees at no cost - unless they start paying interest on all those held and bounced checks. They have come to depend on the fact that local banks hold employee checks for 10 days before releasing funds. They know they can cut Payroll checks when there are insufficient funds since the check do not hit the account for 10 days. If checks are written with the knowledge there are insufficient funds - it's illegal. It's called check kiting. If this were a one-time issue, it would be a different story. If Mike and Dave ever figure things out, do you think they will track down all the employees who held checks, had them bounce or had to wait months for expense reimbursement and pay them interest? A better bet would be adage will go to Black Water and let everyone know he is a Captain of Industry and Mike will sit back and say nothing. Oh wait, that's the way it is now.

Funny that wanting a paycheck on time is now considered whining. And someone complaining about anonymous posting while hiding behind being anonymous? Nice. I bet the IP logs for this post are interesting.

At least I am honest about being anonymous. Oh and don't forget, those of us thinking things should change within the company are all druggies and need a job now to. Did 50 Below just can everyone?

@Razzle - I work at 50 Below and didn't get my paycheck today. What department do you work in? To Kevin Jacobson and Darren Danielson - I sincerly hope you will find people willing to talk to you. However, I think most employees (myself included) are not willing to lose our jobs - even if we aren't being paid on time. To all of those on here who have posted that we should leave and find different jobs - pretty sure this thought has crossed our minds and we are looking! Easier said than done.

The reason we aren't talking about other companies on here Bulls on Parade is that they meet the most basic of employer responsibilities: paying your employees. "... especially when they had an issue moving between banks." You make it sound like this is something new. It's not. It's been going on for over a decade. I run my own business here in Duluth and am well aware of the cost of leasing retail space. The new digs they are moving into won't be cheap. However, they should AT LEAST have the money to pay their own workforce before moving into a new building. Speeding ticket? WTF does that have to do with anything. It's a shame and rather despicable that they are running this company for free off the backs of their employees. I have friends who have to put bills on credit cards because their checks are late. They've had to switch banks because the bank they had for 20 years won't accept their checks anymore without putting a 10-day hold on them. Paying your employees should not be a problem. If you can't pay all of them at once then you shouldn't have hired that many to begin with. Again, that falls on the employer and not on the employee. Everyone posting here that this behavior at 50 Below is something new needs to get a grip. This issue is endemic and it represents a poorly managed company. They've had YEARS to fix this yet they still continue to hurt the people who make the company what it is. Whether or not they eventually get paid is irrelevant. You've got people in this town who can barely afford their new property taxes and everyone who works at 50 Below should just suck it up because *gasp* a tech company decided to set up shop in Duluth and all it's a recession and we're all hurting and blah blah blah. No. Paying your employees is not a difficult thing to comprehend. Either pay them, get organized so you can rid yourself of these ridiculous issues or stop hiring people when you can't pay the ones you already have. Right now they are hiring for at least three positions... http://www.50below.com/careers/ What a joke.

Jack- I believe Ramos was referring to the dwi+ which shows that it has been sent to collections. Though from my understanding shows it has been paid also. I am probably reading it wrong. And I imagine the reasoning for it being mentioned was purely for character judgement? It does help to know a little personal background on an individual to help see the larger picture.

I will never ever complain about my employer ever again.

Wow. All I can say is f*cking wow! 1. It's pretty sad that my generation has reduced to such a group of small-minded individuals that 300 of them would work for a company that doesn't pay them on time! Unbelievable to me! 2, Hey owners, I too own a small business (although mine actually is, 300 people is not a small business) and I know I have never missed a pay period once, and I would imagine my employees would have left if this type of shenanigans happened. Anyways, you guys must be hell of good motivators to keep people still not only coming into work but from coming into your office and demanding there money! 3. It sounds like this is an ongoing issues, I like all the people on here standing up for this company by saying it is a "current" issue. That's like calling the Iraq war the current topic of foreign policy. 4. A former bar in town had the same issues (noticed I say former hah!) A lot of people/patrons knew about these ongoing issues. One night before the bar closed down one of the bouncers came in and went after the owner demanding his money. The owner ended up going in the register and paying this guy his "owed" money. The bar never opened again and most employees went without there last few checks! With that said, get your money and get out! Get creative and find a job! Or here is a crazy idea: make a job! Find someone who will pay you! Isn't that why we all work? Heck, if you want to work for free call me!

Delivering pizzas pays at least $12 an hour, when you figure in mileage and tips. You can earn over $200 a month donating plasma. Food shelves and food programs can feed you for practically nothing. The library provides free books for reading and research, and Netflix only costs $8 a month for movies. Our social safety net may not be the best in the world, but it exists. Reading the comments here, I would not be surprised if the end is near for 50 Below. Why would anybody cling to a company, and owners, that clearly do not care about them at all?

Are you serious SlingFade? Are you asking why the city won't help out a private business? Maybe they should have helped out Hell's Kitchen, all the bars that used to reside where the Duluth Athletic Club once was and every other private business in dire straits. The train has the possibility to be a benefit to the entire public, local and state and it's a project that cannot get done without public assistance. Unless you are into powersports and whatever other niche industries they provide websites for, Joe Schmo doesn't benefit from 50 Below unless they work there.

I am an employee at 50 Below. I was told about this blog yesterday. My coworker said to read it and see how the human race is not that different than wolves. She said I can see first hand how humans deal with the smell of blood....dirty laundry. She is correct. Honestly, this blog has turned out to be an embarrassment to many of those that have posted. Bad blood, bad feelings, and vindictiveness is what I have read. I am concerned about the present payroll issue, but the company, my supervisor, and my manager have been great. I graduated from college and the best offer I had was from a box store and offered $9/Hr. I came here and recieved a livable wage and a job I enjoy. The loss of this company to Duluth would be terrible. There is not doubt I would have to move away.

It truly amazes me how some of you still boggle at the people commenting here. An embarrassment to the city? Really? What exactly would 50 Below have to do to get you to say enough is enough? I am sure it would have to be extreme bodily harm at this point. It is extremely disappointing how weak some of you are. How you can dismiss the well earned anger others have. This anger, frustration and outcry has been a long time coming but you would wish for people to keep muffled and continue pretending you are living centuries in the past. Labeling it shameful that they are upset and are finally talking about it. It is not selfish to want change and have this company run legally. It is selfish not doing a thing about it besides cutting down the people here and declaring that you love your job regardless whether or not they pay you or run things properly. Keep that wool pulled up over your eyes. This is exactly why this city is hurting and not progressing forward with the rest of the world. Keep pretending this is a small town folks ... a small town with over 87,000 residents within its city limits. Those of you who stand up for people who have owed the country almost 4 million in employee taxes, destroy every bank relationship they look at, make the community turn away in embarrassment and continue in their careless regard of the people who keep the business afloat ... you are the disgrace to this community.

To those of you who have never worked for this organization, your comments, your incredulous tone your admonishes to throw a temper tantrum, to "F-"bomb" the owners, walk out in a Wild Cat-esque manner shows that many of you probably have never been in the position we are in. Are we upset, frustrated, concerned? Yes. We are also thankful that we do have a job in this economy, in this market. Do I feel trapped here personally. No. I am here because I like what I do, like those I work with, and those I provide services to. I also stay, because I don't want to look elsewhere, I want this place to succeed. I want to be a part of the solution. If people leave under the present circumstances, I understand. People that have commented here, current employees, have expressed the same concerns. Yet we are regarded as victims, or with derision. "You work for 50 Below ... ohhh sorry." It makes me work that much harder. Before you comment, and or accuse, I am neither an owner, manager, supervisor. You have of course the right to comment, and wonder why we tolerate this. In reality, it's none of your business. The decision to stay here, to purposefully not look elsewhere, is mine. I have been in worse situations, overworked, underpaid, and I was a member of a union. The union was worthless, and yet, I had to compensate it for representing me. No thanks, the last thing I want is to have an outside entity like a union and its representatives working on "my behalf" ... Uhmmm, sorry, no thanks.

I'm pretty sure the media won't report on this, since house fires and kitty cats aren't involved. The main usefulness of this whole discussion has been to get the information out there. Personally, I had no idea the situation was so bad at 50 Below. Now I do. That's valuable. Keep an eye on your pension funds, everybody.

I've worked at companies that didn't pay me on time. I've worked at companies that took taxes and 401k out of my paycheck, but kept the money. I've worked at companies where an owner followed me around the length of my shift goading me into a fight so he could fire me. I've worked at companies that had full management turnover as a result of a management coup on a semi-regular basis. I've worked at companies that required going to the bar for shots at 10am in order to tolerate a 10:30 meeting. I've worked at companies that were so stressful it increased the number of migraines I had by 400% and gave coworkers PTSD. All of this was in Duluth, in a poor economy, in a job that I was lucky to have and couldn't afford to lose. Even so, I managed to get out of those situations. Bad jobs can be like bad relationships. You tell yourself it's bad everywhere, you're lucky to even be in this shitty position, you don't want to leave your coworkers in a lurch, it could be worse, you don't have any chance of finding somewhere else to go, you don't deserve anything better. Jobs are more than just jobs. You spend 1/3 of your day at work. It is your source of financial, professional, and social connections. It provides financial stability for your basic needs. They are a necessary part of life, but you don't need to give up your soul for it. My advice: do what I did - get the hell out. If you have some savings built up and can walk out the door, do it now! If not, start working on plan B right now! Get your resume updated, start surfing job postings, take classes. Even if you're not able to jump out and find a comparable job right now, consider stepping into a job that pays less but lets you sleep at night while searching for something different. No job is worth the amount of stress and angst that you have to go through on a daily basis! You need to take care of yourself, this includes financially as well as emotionally. You will not be able to provide for yourself or for your family if your job turns you into a shriveled wreck, full of stress-induced emotional and medical issues. Best of luck - I wish you all the best!

+1 Bad Cat!

"Bad jobs can be like bad relationships." Thank you Bad Cat - that analogy is well worth posting. Being in a bad relationship sucks. Staying in a bad relationship is our own mistake. I do have concern for the employees of this company. You are worth much better than you are receiving! I can't imagine the instability and potential personal financial crisis the employees endure each pay period cycle. I hear many of you say that you enjoy and value your job. How many times will it take for you to not be paid on time before you've had it? Expecting/hoping for different results each pay cycle is not the answer. Sounds like the owners have clearly shown that they are not capable of changing in the long run. If it continues and employees are denied or asked to postpone a payday will the sound-bite in the newscast be "Going 50 Below"?

Thank you JustStop. Even with this plea, sadly, there are those who have the time to insert themselves into a matter they have no stake in. Easy to chide, mock those who want to stay here, want to see it succeed.

I think a lot of stuff on here has been exaggerated. I work there. They've had some issues, yes. We can't deny the past, but overall people on this blog are making it seem like the work conditions are so horrible and managers are just yelling at everyone and have no respect and treat us like slaves. That is not the case. Maybe in different departments, but where I work it's pretty good. Remember no one has ever not gotten paid. If there are any issues because of it they always get taken care of too.

@ juststop if you want people who don't work at 50 Below to stop posting their thoughts I would gently suggest that the World Wide Web is not the place to start a conversation. The last line of the original post says "Any thoughts are welcome"!

I currently work at 50 Below, and I also have a little side thing going. I've been here for several years, but some of us have trouble finding this kind of work because of lack of experience and no college degree. I worked at a billion dollar company for five years ... sure they paid you on time, but the work was hard, hours sucked, you felt like crap at the end of the day, and you were always hounded on that you weren't good enough. Eventually I was shown the door. Most of my co-workers would just not show up one day and never come back. I spent 3 months trying to find a job ... 4-5 applications a week, only got 1 interview besides 50 Below, several temp agencies, and all I had was a temp job that lasted a week, and then they told me not to come back because "I had too many ideas." Sure the paychecks come late sometimes, but working on my own, I find sometimes that you can put a lot of effort ... and then not get paid at all ... or even lose money. I could get by on the side thing I got, but I'm not ready to take the risk. Since I'm not hard up on money, I'll let the paycheck slide ... and let those that need the pay more get paid. I respect my co-workers. I'm not management ... just another person behind a screen.

To those who have suggested that individuals not employed at the company in question should not participate in the discussion ("Stop giving your two cents when you don't work here,") please ask yourselves why so many who do not work at this company are concerned. This is a clear case of systemic abuses of labor, and has implications for all workers in our community.

I think that the reason a lot of people who do not work at 50 are down on Mike and Dave is also because they owe so many local businesses money. In order to get their money back, these local business as a result of nothing more that selling their products and services, are forced to show up at Mike and Dave's office begging and threatening in order to get paid. I know that most never get paid. So these two yahoo's are causing harm not only to employees, but fellow local businesses.

I have been with this company for more than a decade. I have seen a lot of good and have lived through some lean times. Now is one of those lean times. I too have questioned some of management's decisions, but it is not my company to run. I have been owed money by 50 Below. Never has that debt gone unpaid. You would be hard pressed to find a vendor that 50 Below hasn't paid. One cannot give money that does not exist....which simply goes back to a management issue....not blatant ill-will. For everyone blasting the owners of 50 Below for personal issues, you are cowards hiding under an screen name. If you have something to say about someone personally, say it to their face, you cowards. For those employees slinging s*!t, you are part of the problem, not part of the solution. If you cannot handle the way things are....simply quit....we don't want you here anyway. It does not make sense that you would poison the well from which you are drinking. Don't suck money from a company and then bash it publicly. Just quit the company. We would be better off without you on the payroll. I would be happy to give you my feedback. Call anytime, Charlie Van Derven, 218-464-2610.

@Charlie: When was the last time you worked at the office in Duluth and had to be subjected to 3 levels of management jacking with you? I don't think you have ever been in that situation, you are one of the "golden boys" who will always get a paycheck and a large one at that. You are like a lord in his manor trying to tell the peasants that the king isn't actually treating them that badly, because you, yourself don't have to suffer. The phone number was a nice touch.

That's the issue Charlie, the company isn't paying them.

@L: A lord at this manor, please. I am sure I don't make what you believe I do. And, I am in communication with two levels of management every day. I've worked hard to help build the company that supports your livelihood. When was the last time you spent a week on the road away from your family to make sales for this company. Believe what you want. BTW, the phone number is for anyone who wants to speak their mind without hiding behind a monitor.

Clearly there are issues. I would much prefer to do what I can to solve those issues than bash the company that employs me....anonymously.

They don't employ me anymore.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Charlie-Van-Derven/169149013129242?sk=wall Charlie updates his Facebook page about as regularly as 50 Below employees get paid.

Seems like 50Below owes more to the State of Minnesota and Wisconsin for unpaid payroll taxes. Duluth Tech Employer receives cold reception

I was just thinking of applying there for a new change of pace and a location change. From what I am reading this would be a bad move without a back up plan. Thanks for the heads up everyone. I like getting paid when I do work.