At the labor court hearing, Mr. Siqueira arrived with a lawyer. He claimed Clara was "lazy" and "not a team player." But Clara had her evidence: emails sent at 9:47 PM, WhatsApp messages from him asking for "just one more hour," and the pay stub showing Pedro's higher salary for the same role.
Over the next three months, the late nights became routine. "Just this once," Mr. Siqueira would say, but "just this once" happened four or five times a week. Clara arrived at 9 AM and often left at 9 PM or 10 PM. Her lunch break shrank to 20 minutes, eaten in front of her screen. Direito do Trabalho
Clara was thrilled. After months of sending out resumes, she landed a job as a marketing assistant at Siqueira Criativa. The salary was R$ 2,500 (approximately $500 USD) plus transportation vouchers. The contract was signed on a standard form, with a clause stating her work hours were 9 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday, with a one-hour lunch break. It seemed perfect. At the labor court hearing, Mr
The first month was a dream. Clara learned fast, impressed Mr. Siqueira with her social media campaigns, and felt part of a close-knit team. Over the next three months, the late nights became routine
When Clara politely asked if they would be paid for the extra hours, Mr. Siqueira laughed. "Clara, we're a family here. Families help each other. Besides, your contract is for a salaried position. You're expected to get the job done, no matter the hours. That's the startup spirit!"
Then came the "urgent project."
Clara felt humiliated. She also noticed he had hired a new assistant, a young man named Pedro, who sat at the desk next to hers. Pedro did the exact same tasks she used to do. When she discreetly asked Pedro his salary, he whispered, "R$ 3,200."
