- Joined
- Aug 11, 2003
I have just had the most frustrating week at work, and thought I would A) vent to all of you and B) pose a question for you to adress.
I am the manager of a well known fast food establishment. I had 2 students who worked part time, both of whom knew that it was an evenings/weekend job at the outset of their employment. To make a long story short, both students were scheduled to work through this long weekend, as neither had asked for it off. On Tuesday, I had the mother of the male student paid me a visit at work. She felt that her son had "paid his dues" and shouldn't have to work all weekends. This would make a 5th straight weekend that he has worked. I explained to her that while I try to schedule the kids off at least one day during the weekends, sometimes it is nearly impossible, and also her son is infamous for picking up shifts. I explained that the other student had just been off for 2 weeks on a school trip, which unfortunately left me short staffed. I also explained that I had scheduled him off on the two Saturdays previous to those weekends, but that he had covered the shift for the other girl when she asked. I explained to her that the terms of the employment were weekends, and that there was little that I could do, other than encouraging him not to agree to trade shifts anymore, but rather to take his days off and enjoy them. She then told me that unless I was prepared to give him weekday evenings rather than weekends, he would no longer work there. He had made plans for the long weekend and it was unfair to him to have to cancel. I told her it was unfortunate that she felt that way, and I told her that I wished he had come to me and expressed his concerns, but that I cdould not give him weekends off. She proceeded to quit for him.
As if the week wasn't bad enough, losing a staff member right before the long weekend, on Thursday I had a message on my answering machine from the other student stating that effective immediately she would no longer be employed there. I called her back at home and asked for an explanation. She then told me that she had been meaning to come in and ask for the weekend off, as she had plans with friends, but since she had forgotten to come in, she was just giving her notice. I explained to her that not only was I in desparate need of her for the weekend, but that her having taken the previous 4 weekends off, she had cost me my other student. She then put her mother on the phone. I explained that I needed more than one day notice, and that unfortunately, she couldn't have the weekend off. She asked about the lengthened shifts on the weekend, and I explained that because the other student was no longer working there, I had no choice but to give her 8 hour shifts instead of 4 hours. Her mother then asked why she had not been getting breaks when she has previously had to work a longer shift. I explained to her that the law states that the employee is entitled to a 30 minute break after 5 hours of work, but that if they are not able to leave the establishment (they work alone so this is impossible), they must be paid for their break, which she was. At this point the conversation came to a halt as she had another call that she had to take. Friday morning, she called me at work, and told me she had been in touch with the labour board, and it was not necessary for her daughter to provide notice, and therefore, consider this her notice.
I am absolutely shocked that these parents would A) quit the job for their child rather than having them do it personally, and B) are teaching them that just because they don't get their weekend off (which they never even asked for), its ok just to quit your job.
Would you ever do this for your child? I know when I worked during high school, my parents never interefered in my work, never spoke to my boss, nor did I ever ask them to. I am shocked at what these parents have taught their children this week.
Thanks for letting me ramble.
Canuck
I am the manager of a well known fast food establishment. I had 2 students who worked part time, both of whom knew that it was an evenings/weekend job at the outset of their employment. To make a long story short, both students were scheduled to work through this long weekend, as neither had asked for it off. On Tuesday, I had the mother of the male student paid me a visit at work. She felt that her son had "paid his dues" and shouldn't have to work all weekends. This would make a 5th straight weekend that he has worked. I explained to her that while I try to schedule the kids off at least one day during the weekends, sometimes it is nearly impossible, and also her son is infamous for picking up shifts. I explained that the other student had just been off for 2 weeks on a school trip, which unfortunately left me short staffed. I also explained that I had scheduled him off on the two Saturdays previous to those weekends, but that he had covered the shift for the other girl when she asked. I explained to her that the terms of the employment were weekends, and that there was little that I could do, other than encouraging him not to agree to trade shifts anymore, but rather to take his days off and enjoy them. She then told me that unless I was prepared to give him weekday evenings rather than weekends, he would no longer work there. He had made plans for the long weekend and it was unfair to him to have to cancel. I told her it was unfortunate that she felt that way, and I told her that I wished he had come to me and expressed his concerns, but that I cdould not give him weekends off. She proceeded to quit for him.
As if the week wasn't bad enough, losing a staff member right before the long weekend, on Thursday I had a message on my answering machine from the other student stating that effective immediately she would no longer be employed there. I called her back at home and asked for an explanation. She then told me that she had been meaning to come in and ask for the weekend off, as she had plans with friends, but since she had forgotten to come in, she was just giving her notice. I explained to her that not only was I in desparate need of her for the weekend, but that her having taken the previous 4 weekends off, she had cost me my other student. She then put her mother on the phone. I explained that I needed more than one day notice, and that unfortunately, she couldn't have the weekend off. She asked about the lengthened shifts on the weekend, and I explained that because the other student was no longer working there, I had no choice but to give her 8 hour shifts instead of 4 hours. Her mother then asked why she had not been getting breaks when she has previously had to work a longer shift. I explained to her that the law states that the employee is entitled to a 30 minute break after 5 hours of work, but that if they are not able to leave the establishment (they work alone so this is impossible), they must be paid for their break, which she was. At this point the conversation came to a halt as she had another call that she had to take. Friday morning, she called me at work, and told me she had been in touch with the labour board, and it was not necessary for her daughter to provide notice, and therefore, consider this her notice.
I am absolutely shocked that these parents would A) quit the job for their child rather than having them do it personally, and B) are teaching them that just because they don't get their weekend off (which they never even asked for), its ok just to quit your job.
Would you ever do this for your child? I know when I worked during high school, my parents never interefered in my work, never spoke to my boss, nor did I ever ask them to. I am shocked at what these parents have taught their children this week.
Thanks for letting me ramble.
Canuck