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Boss Issues An Ultimatum After Woman Refuses To Work On Her Time Off, She Doesn’t Waste A Second And Quits
Many Americans and a couple of other folks will argue that the fourth Thursday of November is one of the greatest days of the year.
Thanksgiving is a real blessing since it gives us a whole day when there is no need to be anywhere else but with our loved ones, without the burden of looking for the perfect gifts, yet still in the company of some fabulous food.
Though before we can start stuffing ourselves with that delicious turkey, there’s one thing that every working person ought to do, and it’s to request that time off.
When preparing to take a leave, it is advisable to follow a certain routine. For instance, you should notify your employer in advance that you want to take time off; the notice should be at least twice as long as the number of days you intend to take. The same holds for your employer and their refusal. If they decide not to grant it, they should give you at least as much notice as your desired leave. However, like in the case of this Redditor, some workplaces simply lack respect for their employees.
More info: Reddit | Sarah Burrows | Alice Stapleton
RELATED:
Having a bad boss isn’t your fault – however, staying with one is
Image credits: Kelly Sue DeConnick (not the actual photo)
“I feel like I can breathe again” – this netizen turned to one of Reddit’s favorite communities to reveal a text conversation that she recently had with her boss. The post managed to garner over 147K upvotes in just a span of a few days, as well as 7.1K comments discussing the audacity of some managers.
Woman quits over text after boss tries to make her work on her time off
Image credits: bearandthebunny
It’s no big secret that this whole “I’d rather be tired than broke” mentality is a bunch of malarkey. Everyone knows that getting some time off from work is essential. Visiting distant family, spending a week with your couch, going abroad to enjoy some sun and sip on margaritas – whatever it may be, you have the right to break out from this frequently pretty taxing routine.
Now, this doesn’t change the fact that some – or perhaps most – employers regard working ourselves to the bone to be the norm and an expectation, even – but without regular breaks, your productivity will decline and you’ll start to burn out, meaning that the bosses themselves will suffer.
Fellow Reddit users shared their thoughts and opinions on this eventful text exchange
Bored Panda decided to reach out to a couple of professionals to get their take on this text exchange. Sarah Burrows is our first expert, and here’s what she says about herself: “I’m a Career Change Coach based in London. I’m passionate about helping people change career and find a role that is suited to them and aligns with their values. I support my clients to break down the overwhelm, increase motivation, and ultimately help them find a job that fulfills them and makes them excited to go to work.”
We asked Sarah what a person should do if they find themselves in a similar scenario, and she replied: “Is there an expectation to be contactable outside of your working hours in the first instance? Is it necessary to respond to your boss at all hours? Especially for those last-minute requests? These are more general boundaries that can be good to exercise in any job where your personal mobile number is shared. There is no single answer for this, at times it might be necessary but you need to manage your own boundaries first if you don’t want to do it.”
Now, we then posed the same question to our second expert, Alice Stapleton. Identically to Sarah, Alice is a career coach that helps individuals decide what career they’d prefer to be doing, and how to go about making that a reality, and here’s what she had to say: “I would advocate calling the boss and discussing the situation over the phone, if possible. Perhaps there’s a compromise or negotiation conversation to be had where both parties get what they need. It’s absolutely reasonable to maintain boundaries and not accept disrespectful behavior from a manager.”
We then asked how one might resist succumbing to such provocations. “Speak to your boss assertively about their behavior. Describe how it makes you feel using ‘I’ statements, not ‘You’ statements, as they can get defensive and the situation can escalate. Respectfully ask for their behavior to change. You have the right to lodge a formal complaint to the organization if the behavior continues. It is perfectly acceptable to stand up for yourself in these situations,” said Alice.
Sarah, our first interviewee, also responded: ““It’s easy to want to be helpful at work and want to prove yourself, but saying no and following through with it is also good to practice. If you ABSOLUTELY can’t say no, and you feel like you need to go in on that occasion if you can’t quit, and if this happens regularly and you’re not ok with it, then it might be worth thinking about an exit strategy, it seems like that workplace doesn’t suit you & your lifestyle.”
Image credits: Quinn Dombrowski (not the actual photo)
Finally, both experts were asked whether they had any advice for managers who treat their employees in a similar manner. Sarah replied: “Treating the staff team well will be beneficial in the long run. Staff well-being is linked to staff retention! Don’t rehire and retrain when you don’t need to! Do it, for yourself!
“Respect your employees. They are human, just like you. Accept that they have lives outside work. Collaborate with them in situations where a problem needs solving. Treat them like the capable adult that they are, trusting them to come up with a solution. Remember to treat others how you would like to be treated. Communication is key to building trust and an accommodating workforce – they won’t want to help you out when you’re in a bind if you treat them like they don’t matter to you,” said Alice.
What do you think about this situation?
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Roddfergg 2 years ago
I worked 10 hours daily, Mon-Thus. That schedule was set in stone when I was hired. There was no problem for about a year, then I got a new supervisor. He didn't like me because I was 20 years older and, I knew more than him, since I used to do his job, and his bosses job. He started saying that I needed to start working Fridays. To he more of a team player. I let him know in no uncertain terms my hiring contract said otherwise. He decided to schedule me on a Friday, right before our financial year end. Told him I wasn't coming in, so he fired me. His boss started calling me Wednesday begging me to come back, since I was rhe only one to know how to get the numbers needed to close out the books. Told them they should have thought of that before they threatened and fired someone that just works, to keep busy. They had a great time with an IRS audit.
m.w. 2 years ago
Why not "my rates are $500 an hour started, minimum 4h a day, and the new supervisor is having a week off while I work there"?
Load More Replies... Lane Bass 2 years ago
It's almost like everybody deserves the holiday off. No, that can't be it.
Michael Largey 2 years ago (edited)
You could have replied to the higher-ups "I'm gone unless he is. Your choice."
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Chase Smith 2 years ago
Customer: "Oh I'm so sorry you have to work on Thanksgiving!!" Me: *.... You're the reason MF...* "Oh yeahhh... How can I help you...."
Andy Frobig 2 years ago (edited)
In the '90s, I worked overnights for a big-box "club." One November our bosses got us together and gave us a choice: work Thanksgiving morning so we can chill through the holiday, or Friday morning when we're all tired. We chose Thursday. They said great, now sign this waiver so we don't have to pay 1½ for the holiday. We grumbled, but signed. Next year, same thing. The year after that they forgot, and we all got what we deserved! Then the fourth year, they forgot the choice and waivers again, and paid us 1½ time for the holiday...then in the check after that, they clawed back the half time. Corporations are evil and work is a scam.
Andy Frobig 2 years ago
Thinking you deserve something and expecting to get it are two different things.
Terri Robinson 2 years ago
I had a full time job and a weekend part time job. The weekend part time job was because I was single and cashiering was easy. So one Thanksgiving they pulled the same thing with me. "You're working Thanksgiving", no I'm not. "yes you are." No I'm not. I don't need this job. "yes you do." no I don't, this just gave me something to do on the weekends + extra cash. I have a full time job. "you're scheduled to work". nope. I quit. good luck with that schedule! Had all the other cashier's clapping and patting me on the back on the way out the door. Went the following weekend to another business and started immediately back to weekend cashiering for something to do and meet people.
Roddfergg 2 years ago
Should have made them fire you. If you are hired just to work those days, it is consideredan employment contract, they can be made to pay a partial unemployment for firing without cause. Usually about $50 a week, but it also helps anyone else they pull this with, since it shows precedence.
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P Webb 2 years ago (edited)
Wrong. Cashiers in the USA do not have employment contracts. And anyway, 49 States are At-Will Employment States. Meaning you can be fired for any reason except on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin. So yes, you can be fired without notice, if your boss decides that your agreed upon schedule no longer "works" for their benefit. Obviously if you have an actual written contract signed by both parties, then it's a breech. But there are no "implied contracts" in the USA
Steven Mello 2 years ago (edited)
He's wrong about it being an employment contract, but his main point, while moot because OP had a job again next weekend, is correct. Being fired because the employer no longer wants you working there entitles the employee to unemployment pay and the company has to pay half, unless they can prove termination was the fault of the employee.
Clara Harrison 2 years ago
not in Illinois, if you quit a part-time job and have a full time job you are not eligible for unemployment.
DJR 2 years ago (edited)
If the phone number to your business isn't 911 (999 for my UK friends), there is no reason to be open on Thanksgiving. But, we the consumers are the problem. If we would stop buying stuff at times we all agree would suck to work (weekends, early mornings, holidays) the businesses would stop making people work during those times. Easy to say, harder to do. I bought breakfast at 6am today (Saturday) on my way in to work.
Jason Melvil 2 years ago
The whole point of having time off is to enjoy yourself. That doesn't mean shutting yourself at home like a caveman. If you want to go on your holiday to the movies, eat at a restaurant, go to a theme park etc there's nothing wrong with that. But guess what? Someone still has to work to make sure you have your fun. Though other countries recognize this and force employees to pay extra for anyone who has to work those days - so they keep the minimal staff needed and the workers are well compensated for it.
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A. Embleton 2 years ago
I am plenty old enough to remember when there were few things to do on a Sunday. I say we as a society should consider being accepting of an idea that any business should have the option but not the expectation to be open on any holiday.
Carrina Hanson 2 years ago
I remember a time when everything was closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. You know what we did? We watched a movie on the tube, played games, spent time with each other. If the weather permitted, we went for walks, went to the park, or something of that nature. The point of these holidays is to enjoy the people who you love most and to bring light to the darker days. You don't have to go out and spend money to do that, and the things that cost nothing are more meaningful. Our society is so broken and unhealthy.
JJ Mai 2 years ago
Okay, but what about thsoe of us who do work in emergency services? It's nice to be able to get a quick bite when you're working. My whole family has always worked in healthcare so holidays mean nothing to us. What sucks is all the stores being sold out the week before because of normies emergency buying food for the holidays and then not being able to shop for 2 or 3 days because of the holidays. Heaven forbid someone works 4 12hr shifts the week of Thanksgiving and then tried to stop for a quick meal somewhere after shift.
Carrina Hanson 2 years ago
Plan ahead and have a meal at home? That's what I used to do when I worked on the holiday. Cook the meal before your shift or earlier when it's convenient, make a plate ready to go and heat it up when you get home. It's cheaper, and it's healthier. Easy peasy.
Shauna Hayden 2 years ago
The worst is when you get stuck working on these days and customers come in and say to you ' oh it's terrible you have to come in and work during these holidays it's not fair' and you have to smile and nod while internally you're screaming ' well if you weren't here shopping we wouldn't be open!!!'
natalie cohen 2 years ago
Honey, Back when most of the world went to Church on Sundays we used to have the “Blue Laws” which mandated that things were closed on Sundays and Holidays. Then they built malls and big box stores and the Church decided going to Mass on Saturday “counted” and the country decided people wanted the “freedom” to shop on those days….
Ivy la Sangrienta 2 years ago
The US is wild. Firing someone for frivolous reasons like that is super illegal in my country.
cogadh 2 years ago
I never said she didn't. All I said was that is not how her termination would have been reported. Her termination paperwork would show her time off was not approved and she refused her scheduled shifts. It would be recorded as a termination for cause. A manger like this is not going to let a little thing like the truth get in the way of a clean and justified termination, just like most a*****e bosses out there. It doesn't matter if it's legal or not; in employment, it's only illegal if you get caught and the way this played out, he wasn't going to get caught. She actually decreased his potential legal exposure by quitting instead of making him fire her. But hey, at least she got a moral victory, right?
bluskyelin4me 2 years ago
Have you been to many unemployment hearings? I have. Her word bears as much weight as the employer's absent corroborating witnesses. In most U.S. states, the hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge. In AZ, it's pretty easy for employees to win a no-show accusation. A mistake or misunderstanding about the work schedule aren't grounds to deny an unemployment claim.
Andy Frobig 2 years ago
In my 20s, I worked a job where employee dress was very casual and we had an overnight shift. Sometimes you'd see night managers at work in the daytime, and dressed up. This always meant they were heading for a labor hearing, and that meant somebody who was fired wasn't letting the employer tell their side alone. It happened pretty frequently, and with the way that place was run, I guarantee they weren't batting 1.000 for not paying unemployment.
K W 2 years ago
Did it say what kind of business it is? I really love the trend of closing for Thansgiving and I don't understand non essential businesses that don't at this point.
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
Greed. Pure, unadulterated greed. And being an a*****e, especially if they always take weekends and holidays off themselves, but threaten employees who had time off already OK’d—-sometimes in place for months and taken away at the last minute—-with loss of their jobs if they don’t come in and work on that pre-approved time off. F**k that. YOU work it boss.
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BravePanda 2 years ago
I used to work for a major high-end retailer that would be closed to customers on Thanksgiving but did 80% of the holiday decorations on Thanksgiving Day. If you volunteered to work that day, you'd receive 2X hourly pay, a restaurant provided Thanksgiving meal, a pie to take home, and a fun, "Santa's elves in the workshop" atmosphere. I was a part time employee and didn't get selected to work. There were far more volunteers than open spots. Then on Friday, the store would have had a major Christmas makeover much to the delight of our frequent shoppers.
Jerry Mathers 2 years ago
I can understand what leverage these guys think they have. Especially when people are working a minimum wage (or lower, for restaurants) job. Like do they really think that the threat of not having a low paying job is not replaceable or something of value. Like someone couldn't just get another one. That's the problem with paying people rock bottom salaries. They are easily replaced.
JJ Mai 2 years ago
I remember at my first real job, I requested off a week of vacation like 3-4 months in advance. It was approved. About a month before my vacation we had a high turnover of people, so a lot of firings and people quitting. We were short staffed. I did pick up extra the month before. Then the new schedule came out and my PTO wasn't on there. I took it to my supervisor. She said we were on a vacation "lock out" due to staffing. I went to HR. They said they had no record of me ever requesting it off. It wasn't until I posted my grievance on Facebook that they suddenly gave me my vacation back. All the "old timers" and my supervisor told me how unprofessional I was, but I was just like "I got my vacation, didn't I?" And that's why I save pictures and copies of my requests and approvals now. For evidence.
Lena Frost 2 years ago
My work place put up a paper in our breakroom about how no one can ask for Halloween + day after, Thanksgiving + day after, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, or New Year's off and if anyone fails to show up they'll be suspended for a week without pay. And they still wonder why people keep quitting.
C.M. 2 years ago
Wait, so instead of the day after the holiday off I get the entire week after the holiday off? Where do I sign up?
Load More Replies... Andy Frobig 2 years ago
When Mario Cuomo was governor of NY, I was a full time forklift driver at a Costco wannabe. We had two part time drivers whose full time job was at a state warehouse that supplied the prison system. Then George Pataki took over and privatized their jobs. Toward the end of that year, their new private employer scheduled them for Christmas. As soon as these guys saw the schedule, our part time drivers changed to full time.
Lyn Moffett 2 years ago
Call me now so you don't have what I'm about to say in writing!!!! Must have been gonna threaten him and didn't want OP to show it to HR
Evelyn Haskins 2 years ago
I am constantly amazed as to the USAmerican System. :-( Stop thinking of yourselves as the Land of the Free, and think the Land of the Downtrodden.
Ronnie Cutshall 2 years ago
That happened to me and did same thing. They closed store down three weeks later as no one should work 3rd shift but Me.
Lori T Wisconsin 2 years ago
In the US the Fair Labor Standards Act doesn’t support you when it comes to vacation time. The FSLA doesn't require employees to be paid for time not worked, such as vacation, sick time, or holidays. Since employees are never legally entitled to time off in the first place, there is no discourse when it is canceled. We have no decent laws that support workers rights.
Karen Lyon 2 years ago (edited)
When I was young and working my way through college, I did the fast food thing. I'm the oldest of five, so I always had lots of responsibilities, and often had to step up and cover for one of my other siblings when they'd "forget" to do something. (My brothers and my sister really are the best, but when we were young, they'd blow stuff off, of course. My sister, the baby of the family, often got away with things like not putting the meatloaf in the oven. Me, not so much! LOL.) It was what it was -- but the real effect was that I was trained to be that always reliable person. Managers like the guy in this post love people like me -- mine once told an assistant manager "Oh, Karen will do it", before he even asked me. It took me awhile in to recognize when my manager was taking advantage of me -- hearing what he told the assistant manager was a wake up call! I'm glad for the lesson. I learned to set boundaries and look after myself, instead of letting people think I'd always "be there".
Neill Powell 2 years ago
Our bosses wouldn't dare. While we do planned work at night and the occasional "hail-Mary" from colleagues.. being "on leave" is cardinal law. Work phones are turned OFF (personal phone numbers are only accessible by top senior management for true emergencies) and you are considered to have left on a journey to a remote desert
Mark Janssen 2 years ago
I would have called the CEO and showed the texts. Then tell the CEO it is either the manager is gone or I am gone.
Liz-ard 2 years ago (edited)
I didn’t catch what this work was at, BUT I feel there is not such big problem the boss have steamed up it to be. If it is hard to get employees to work at special occasions - like special holidays as in this post - what the heck CLOSE the place! Put up a sign “We have chosen our families this weekend and closed *what-ever-business*. See you again *date*!” !!! Think that would create an enormous WIN for both the workplace AND the boss! There is even a possibility that he would come to have to say “thanks, but I have all employees I need right now” to a row of people wanting to work there! Just a thought …
Valerie Mace 2 years ago
Unless I'm not busy, no real plans & paying time & half, not going in. And want that in a text.
Matthew Raiche 2 years ago
"Working ourselves to the bone" is not the expression. That doesn't even make sense. The expression is "Working one's fingers to the bone."
Xander Kurtz 2 years ago
Honestly next time a supervisor should be asking me for a favor, treating me with respect, and accepting no for an answer (especially regarding coming in on days off that i need for physical recovery), but they decide to try to power trip and try to threaten me instead. I will make their jobs harder. I already left my last job for that same reason pretty much. It wasnt my day off but my ride didn't come. They scheduled me to work weekends after i already requested only to work during public transit hours. So u called in and she started telling me to "just walk" when i already wasn't sure how i could stand that long to begin with without walking 2 miles for about $20 for the day. She said they were just too short staffed to let me not come in etc so if i don't i won't work there anymore. She didn't know the hospital was wanting me to choose between the two, paid more, and let me bend, kneel, and sit as needed/possible for no tasks. So it was not at all hard to decide what to do.
Xander Kurtz 2 years ago
I am semi disabled but getting approved for the label and thus accomodation requirements is hard, takes a long time, and is expensive with all the doctors visits needed. So i have to try to navigate the working world as an autistic person with PTSD and issues with both my hip and hand/wrist that i can't really afford to diagnose (though blood and electric tests bean when i was on parents healthcare showed it wasn't RA, lupus, or carpal tunnel. Tendonitis seems likely to be now. But i do have reynauds and recently found it too can have similar effects over time.) I just. Physically and psychologically can't handle these kinds of managers or situations. And if everyone stood up for themselves and made reasonable accomodations (like even sticking to agreed and approved time off) it would make it a lot easier for me to function well enough to keep a job for more than a couple months
bluskyelin4me 2 years ago
Never tell them you quit. Let them fire you...for taking time off that was already approved. You'll be able to collect unemployment while looking for a better job.
Kadochi 2 years ago
This is the third time I've seen this "story" and twice on bp and once elsewhere and all the names are changed in every version lol. How lazy have "journalist" become.
Louise Platiel 2 years ago
Always ends with "please call me now" HAHA thats the sign you are too late to the table my friend!
Ovata Acronicta 2 years ago
Back the ol retail days... before Thanksgiving, the CEO of the company sent out a newsletter expressing his gratitude for being able to spend Turkeygeddon with his family. Coincidentally, every single person in the store was scheduled for a shortened shift that day (at least the store manager thought to make it equal, as shitty as it was that we had to be there at all). The newsletter did not go over well, and half of us were under the influence of one substance or another to make it palatable. Cue, of course, the shopper asking why we were there that day. You, it's your fault. I can give or take a lot of holidays but Tday... man let me go home and eat.
GD 2 years ago
Are we really having this discussion? Obviously lacking in any meaningful leadership. The company is a disaster—or at the very least is managed by an incompetent shitheel. Why should someone come in to do a job that’s completely useless for someone who’s an obvious tool? I’d fire them all and start over if it was my company. Good grief. What a “manager” 🤣🤣
Sammie 19 2 years ago (edited)
In Sweden we celebrate and open presents on Christmas eve and my local supermarket and other stores in my town close at 1pm on Christmas eve so that the workers can go home and have a good Christmas with their family. The only people who are working are in the healthcare area/emergency services. I remember my middle daughter offering to work Christmas and New year because she got triple pay for working and she works with the elderly. In Sweden over the summer all staff get 4 weeks paid vacation and for those who didn't take those 4 weeks they got triple pay and could take the 4 weeks at other times of the year. She was on maternity leave after having her baby in February but worked the whole summer because of how much she was paid. Helped to buy a house. Her partner's work closed for the summer so no money lost from him.
Jim Ray 2 years ago
I don't owe any employer a damn thing. I don't ask, I am making you aware I won't be there and if you push back, I quit. Don't call me when I'm off or I will quit and don't even get me started on two weeks notice. Hell no, you don't give us 2 weeks notice before you fire us so you can't get that either. I QUIT! IN LMAO
TheElderNom 2 years ago
My work is legally allowed to force people to work, public service and all that. But they're still trying everything to avoid doing that. They're also try to help us if we need to switch days or take a day off. And well, that makes most of us willing to help them in return. Obviously it's not perfect, far from it, but generally speaking things feel fair and we're all willing to help make things work.
Jody Whitmarsh 2 years ago
Did he fire or threaten to fire the person that called off and didn't get their shift covered?
The Cute Cat 2 years ago
This sound like my own situation before jumping to other profession. Actually there are tons of candidates but the clinic that I work prefers to over work us because our pay for extend is low. Medic life is so mentally unhealthy
Shawn Laframboise 2 years ago
All new & employees are told that if they normally work on a Thursday (Thanksgiving) then they have to work or make arrangements with a coworker. Everyone works either Christmas Eve or Christmas day. No one, including me the manager, can not request off big holidays. We all have families & want to be with them. I've done this for 10 yrs now & haven't had a problem.
Jessica Olson 2 years ago
The thing that sucks about that... My job I worked Thursday and I didn't get to do family Thanksgiving for 8 years... And Christmas also landed on one of my normal days about half the time. No one wants to trade those days. I was a nurse, but also it was home health so literally the families I worked for would usually take pity on my and just have me for 4-5 hours to help get the day going. (Thanksgiving family not so much 😮💨 that one they even scolded me for stopping to have my lunch break be cause "I don't pay you double to eat", like you don't pay me at all and TG is 1.5, and I still get my mandatory break....)
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Roddfergg 2 years ago
I worked 10 hours daily, Mon-Thus. That schedule was set in stone when I was hired. There was no problem for about a year, then I got a new supervisor. He didn't like me because I was 20 years older and, I knew more than him, since I used to do his job, and his bosses job. He started saying that I needed to start working Fridays. To he more of a team player. I let him know in no uncertain terms my hiring contract said otherwise. He decided to schedule me on a Friday, right before our financial year end. Told him I wasn't coming in, so he fired me. His boss started calling me Wednesday begging me to come back, since I was rhe only one to know how to get the numbers needed to close out the books. Told them they should have thought of that before they threatened and fired someone that just works, to keep busy. They had a great time with an IRS audit.
m.w. 2 years ago
Why not "my rates are $500 an hour started, minimum 4h a day, and the new supervisor is having a week off while I work there"?
Load More Replies... Lane Bass 2 years ago
It's almost like everybody deserves the holiday off. No, that can't be it.
Michael Largey 2 years ago (edited)
You could have replied to the higher-ups "I'm gone unless he is. Your choice."
Load More Replies... Chase Smith 2 years ago
Customer: "Oh I'm so sorry you have to work on Thanksgiving!!" Me: *.... You're the reason MF...* "Oh yeahhh... How can I help you...."
Andy Frobig 2 years ago (edited)
In the '90s, I worked overnights for a big-box "club." One November our bosses got us together and gave us a choice: work Thanksgiving morning so we can chill through the holiday, or Friday morning when we're all tired. We chose Thursday. They said great, now sign this waiver so we don't have to pay 1½ for the holiday. We grumbled, but signed. Next year, same thing. The year after that they forgot, and we all got what we deserved! Then the fourth year, they forgot the choice and waivers again, and paid us 1½ time for the holiday...then in the check after that, they clawed back the half time. Corporations are evil and work is a scam.
Andy Frobig 2 years ago
Thinking you deserve something and expecting to get it are two different things.
Terri Robinson 2 years ago
I had a full time job and a weekend part time job. The weekend part time job was because I was single and cashiering was easy. So one Thanksgiving they pulled the same thing with me. "You're working Thanksgiving", no I'm not. "yes you are." No I'm not. I don't need this job. "yes you do." no I don't, this just gave me something to do on the weekends + extra cash. I have a full time job. "you're scheduled to work". nope. I quit. good luck with that schedule! Had all the other cashier's clapping and patting me on the back on the way out the door. Went the following weekend to another business and started immediately back to weekend cashiering for something to do and meet people.
Roddfergg 2 years ago
Should have made them fire you. If you are hired just to work those days, it is consideredan employment contract, they can be made to pay a partial unemployment for firing without cause. Usually about $50 a week, but it also helps anyone else they pull this with, since it shows precedence.
Load More Replies... P Webb 2 years ago (edited)
Wrong. Cashiers in the USA do not have employment contracts. And anyway, 49 States are At-Will Employment States. Meaning you can be fired for any reason except on the basis of race, religion, sex, or national origin. So yes, you can be fired without notice, if your boss decides that your agreed upon schedule no longer "works" for their benefit. Obviously if you have an actual written contract signed by both parties, then it's a breech. But there are no "implied contracts" in the USA
Steven Mello 2 years ago (edited)
He's wrong about it being an employment contract, but his main point, while moot because OP had a job again next weekend, is correct. Being fired because the employer no longer wants you working there entitles the employee to unemployment pay and the company has to pay half, unless they can prove termination was the fault of the employee.
Clara Harrison 2 years ago
not in Illinois, if you quit a part-time job and have a full time job you are not eligible for unemployment.
DJR 2 years ago (edited)
If the phone number to your business isn't 911 (999 for my UK friends), there is no reason to be open on Thanksgiving. But, we the consumers are the problem. If we would stop buying stuff at times we all agree would suck to work (weekends, early mornings, holidays) the businesses would stop making people work during those times. Easy to say, harder to do. I bought breakfast at 6am today (Saturday) on my way in to work.
Jason Melvil 2 years ago
The whole point of having time off is to enjoy yourself. That doesn't mean shutting yourself at home like a caveman. If you want to go on your holiday to the movies, eat at a restaurant, go to a theme park etc there's nothing wrong with that. But guess what? Someone still has to work to make sure you have your fun. Though other countries recognize this and force employees to pay extra for anyone who has to work those days - so they keep the minimal staff needed and the workers are well compensated for it.
Load More Replies... A. Embleton 2 years ago
I am plenty old enough to remember when there were few things to do on a Sunday. I say we as a society should consider being accepting of an idea that any business should have the option but not the expectation to be open on any holiday.
Carrina Hanson 2 years ago
I remember a time when everything was closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. You know what we did? We watched a movie on the tube, played games, spent time with each other. If the weather permitted, we went for walks, went to the park, or something of that nature. The point of these holidays is to enjoy the people who you love most and to bring light to the darker days. You don't have to go out and spend money to do that, and the things that cost nothing are more meaningful. Our society is so broken and unhealthy.
JJ Mai 2 years ago
Okay, but what about thsoe of us who do work in emergency services? It's nice to be able to get a quick bite when you're working. My whole family has always worked in healthcare so holidays mean nothing to us. What sucks is all the stores being sold out the week before because of normies emergency buying food for the holidays and then not being able to shop for 2 or 3 days because of the holidays. Heaven forbid someone works 4 12hr shifts the week of Thanksgiving and then tried to stop for a quick meal somewhere after shift.
Carrina Hanson 2 years ago
Plan ahead and have a meal at home? That's what I used to do when I worked on the holiday. Cook the meal before your shift or earlier when it's convenient, make a plate ready to go and heat it up when you get home. It's cheaper, and it's healthier. Easy peasy.
Shauna Hayden 2 years ago
The worst is when you get stuck working on these days and customers come in and say to you ' oh it's terrible you have to come in and work during these holidays it's not fair' and you have to smile and nod while internally you're screaming ' well if you weren't here shopping we wouldn't be open!!!'
natalie cohen 2 years ago
Honey, Back when most of the world went to Church on Sundays we used to have the “Blue Laws” which mandated that things were closed on Sundays and Holidays. Then they built malls and big box stores and the Church decided going to Mass on Saturday “counted” and the country decided people wanted the “freedom” to shop on those days….
Ivy la Sangrienta 2 years ago
The US is wild. Firing someone for frivolous reasons like that is super illegal in my country.
cogadh 2 years ago
I never said she didn't. All I said was that is not how her termination would have been reported. Her termination paperwork would show her time off was not approved and she refused her scheduled shifts. It would be recorded as a termination for cause. A manger like this is not going to let a little thing like the truth get in the way of a clean and justified termination, just like most a*****e bosses out there. It doesn't matter if it's legal or not; in employment, it's only illegal if you get caught and the way this played out, he wasn't going to get caught. She actually decreased his potential legal exposure by quitting instead of making him fire her. But hey, at least she got a moral victory, right?
bluskyelin4me 2 years ago
Have you been to many unemployment hearings? I have. Her word bears as much weight as the employer's absent corroborating witnesses. In most U.S. states, the hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge. In AZ, it's pretty easy for employees to win a no-show accusation. A mistake or misunderstanding about the work schedule aren't grounds to deny an unemployment claim.
Andy Frobig 2 years ago
In my 20s, I worked a job where employee dress was very casual and we had an overnight shift. Sometimes you'd see night managers at work in the daytime, and dressed up. This always meant they were heading for a labor hearing, and that meant somebody who was fired wasn't letting the employer tell their side alone. It happened pretty frequently, and with the way that place was run, I guarantee they weren't batting 1.000 for not paying unemployment.
K W 2 years ago
Did it say what kind of business it is? I really love the trend of closing for Thansgiving and I don't understand non essential businesses that don't at this point.
Kathryn Baylis 2 years ago (edited)
Greed. Pure, unadulterated greed. And being an a*****e, especially if they always take weekends and holidays off themselves, but threaten employees who had time off already OK’d—-sometimes in place for months and taken away at the last minute—-with loss of their jobs if they don’t come in and work on that pre-approved time off. F**k that. YOU work it boss.
Load More Replies... BravePanda 2 years ago
I used to work for a major high-end retailer that would be closed to customers on Thanksgiving but did 80% of the holiday decorations on Thanksgiving Day. If you volunteered to work that day, you'd receive 2X hourly pay, a restaurant provided Thanksgiving meal, a pie to take home, and a fun, "Santa's elves in the workshop" atmosphere. I was a part time employee and didn't get selected to work. There were far more volunteers than open spots. Then on Friday, the store would have had a major Christmas makeover much to the delight of our frequent shoppers.
Jerry Mathers 2 years ago
I can understand what leverage these guys think they have. Especially when people are working a minimum wage (or lower, for restaurants) job. Like do they really think that the threat of not having a low paying job is not replaceable or something of value. Like someone couldn't just get another one. That's the problem with paying people rock bottom salaries. They are easily replaced.
JJ Mai 2 years ago
I remember at my first real job, I requested off a week of vacation like 3-4 months in advance. It was approved. About a month before my vacation we had a high turnover of people, so a lot of firings and people quitting. We were short staffed. I did pick up extra the month before. Then the new schedule came out and my PTO wasn't on there. I took it to my supervisor. She said we were on a vacation "lock out" due to staffing. I went to HR. They said they had no record of me ever requesting it off. It wasn't until I posted my grievance on Facebook that they suddenly gave me my vacation back. All the "old timers" and my supervisor told me how unprofessional I was, but I was just like "I got my vacation, didn't I?" And that's why I save pictures and copies of my requests and approvals now. For evidence.
Lena Frost 2 years ago
My work place put up a paper in our breakroom about how no one can ask for Halloween + day after, Thanksgiving + day after, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, or New Year's off and if anyone fails to show up they'll be suspended for a week without pay. And they still wonder why people keep quitting.
C.M. 2 years ago
Wait, so instead of the day after the holiday off I get the entire week after the holiday off? Where do I sign up?
Load More Replies... Andy Frobig 2 years ago
When Mario Cuomo was governor of NY, I was a full time forklift driver at a Costco wannabe. We had two part time drivers whose full time job was at a state warehouse that supplied the prison system. Then George Pataki took over and privatized their jobs. Toward the end of that year, their new private employer scheduled them for Christmas. As soon as these guys saw the schedule, our part time drivers changed to full time.
Lyn Moffett 2 years ago
Call me now so you don't have what I'm about to say in writing!!!! Must have been gonna threaten him and didn't want OP to show it to HR
Evelyn Haskins 2 years ago
I am constantly amazed as to the USAmerican System. :-( Stop thinking of yourselves as the Land of the Free, and think the Land of the Downtrodden.
Ronnie Cutshall 2 years ago
That happened to me and did same thing. They closed store down three weeks later as no one should work 3rd shift but Me.
Lori T Wisconsin 2 years ago
In the US the Fair Labor Standards Act doesn’t support you when it comes to vacation time. The FSLA doesn't require employees to be paid for time not worked, such as vacation, sick time, or holidays. Since employees are never legally entitled to time off in the first place, there is no discourse when it is canceled. We have no decent laws that support workers rights.
Karen Lyon 2 years ago (edited)
When I was young and working my way through college, I did the fast food thing. I'm the oldest of five, so I always had lots of responsibilities, and often had to step up and cover for one of my other siblings when they'd "forget" to do something. (My brothers and my sister really are the best, but when we were young, they'd blow stuff off, of course. My sister, the baby of the family, often got away with things like not putting the meatloaf in the oven. Me, not so much! LOL.) It was what it was -- but the real effect was that I was trained to be that always reliable person. Managers like the guy in this post love people like me -- mine once told an assistant manager "Oh, Karen will do it", before he even asked me. It took me awhile in to recognize when my manager was taking advantage of me -- hearing what he told the assistant manager was a wake up call! I'm glad for the lesson. I learned to set boundaries and look after myself, instead of letting people think I'd always "be there".
Neill Powell 2 years ago
Our bosses wouldn't dare. While we do planned work at night and the occasional "hail-Mary" from colleagues.. being "on leave" is cardinal law. Work phones are turned OFF (personal phone numbers are only accessible by top senior management for true emergencies) and you are considered to have left on a journey to a remote desert
Mark Janssen 2 years ago
I would have called the CEO and showed the texts. Then tell the CEO it is either the manager is gone or I am gone.
Liz-ard 2 years ago (edited)
I didn’t catch what this work was at, BUT I feel there is not such big problem the boss have steamed up it to be. If it is hard to get employees to work at special occasions - like special holidays as in this post - what the heck CLOSE the place! Put up a sign “We have chosen our families this weekend and closed *what-ever-business*. See you again *date*!” !!! Think that would create an enormous WIN for both the workplace AND the boss! There is even a possibility that he would come to have to say “thanks, but I have all employees I need right now” to a row of people wanting to work there! Just a thought …
Valerie Mace 2 years ago
Unless I'm not busy, no real plans & paying time & half, not going in. And want that in a text.
Matthew Raiche 2 years ago
"Working ourselves to the bone" is not the expression. That doesn't even make sense. The expression is "Working one's fingers to the bone."
Xander Kurtz 2 years ago
Honestly next time a supervisor should be asking me for a favor, treating me with respect, and accepting no for an answer (especially regarding coming in on days off that i need for physical recovery), but they decide to try to power trip and try to threaten me instead. I will make their jobs harder. I already left my last job for that same reason pretty much. It wasnt my day off but my ride didn't come. They scheduled me to work weekends after i already requested only to work during public transit hours. So u called in and she started telling me to "just walk" when i already wasn't sure how i could stand that long to begin with without walking 2 miles for about $20 for the day. She said they were just too short staffed to let me not come in etc so if i don't i won't work there anymore. She didn't know the hospital was wanting me to choose between the two, paid more, and let me bend, kneel, and sit as needed/possible for no tasks. So it was not at all hard to decide what to do.
Xander Kurtz 2 years ago
I am semi disabled but getting approved for the label and thus accomodation requirements is hard, takes a long time, and is expensive with all the doctors visits needed. So i have to try to navigate the working world as an autistic person with PTSD and issues with both my hip and hand/wrist that i can't really afford to diagnose (though blood and electric tests bean when i was on parents healthcare showed it wasn't RA, lupus, or carpal tunnel. Tendonitis seems likely to be now. But i do have reynauds and recently found it too can have similar effects over time.) I just. Physically and psychologically can't handle these kinds of managers or situations. And if everyone stood up for themselves and made reasonable accomodations (like even sticking to agreed and approved time off) it would make it a lot easier for me to function well enough to keep a job for more than a couple months
bluskyelin4me 2 years ago
Never tell them you quit. Let them fire you...for taking time off that was already approved. You'll be able to collect unemployment while looking for a better job.
Kadochi 2 years ago
This is the third time I've seen this "story" and twice on bp and once elsewhere and all the names are changed in every version lol. How lazy have "journalist" become.
Louise Platiel 2 years ago
Always ends with "please call me now" HAHA thats the sign you are too late to the table my friend!
Ovata Acronicta 2 years ago
Back the ol retail days... before Thanksgiving, the CEO of the company sent out a newsletter expressing his gratitude for being able to spend Turkeygeddon with his family. Coincidentally, every single person in the store was scheduled for a shortened shift that day (at least the store manager thought to make it equal, as shitty as it was that we had to be there at all). The newsletter did not go over well, and half of us were under the influence of one substance or another to make it palatable. Cue, of course, the shopper asking why we were there that day. You, it's your fault. I can give or take a lot of holidays but Tday... man let me go home and eat.
GD 2 years ago
Are we really having this discussion? Obviously lacking in any meaningful leadership. The company is a disaster—or at the very least is managed by an incompetent shitheel. Why should someone come in to do a job that’s completely useless for someone who’s an obvious tool? I’d fire them all and start over if it was my company. Good grief. What a “manager” 🤣🤣
Sammie 19 2 years ago (edited)
In Sweden we celebrate and open presents on Christmas eve and my local supermarket and other stores in my town close at 1pm on Christmas eve so that the workers can go home and have a good Christmas with their family. The only people who are working are in the healthcare area/emergency services. I remember my middle daughter offering to work Christmas and New year because she got triple pay for working and she works with the elderly. In Sweden over the summer all staff get 4 weeks paid vacation and for those who didn't take those 4 weeks they got triple pay and could take the 4 weeks at other times of the year. She was on maternity leave after having her baby in February but worked the whole summer because of how much she was paid. Helped to buy a house. Her partner's work closed for the summer so no money lost from him.
Jim Ray 2 years ago
I don't owe any employer a damn thing. I don't ask, I am making you aware I won't be there and if you push back, I quit. Don't call me when I'm off or I will quit and don't even get me started on two weeks notice. Hell no, you don't give us 2 weeks notice before you fire us so you can't get that either. I QUIT! IN LMAO
TheElderNom 2 years ago
My work is legally allowed to force people to work, public service and all that. But they're still trying everything to avoid doing that. They're also try to help us if we need to switch days or take a day off. And well, that makes most of us willing to help them in return. Obviously it's not perfect, far from it, but generally speaking things feel fair and we're all willing to help make things work.
Jody Whitmarsh 2 years ago
Did he fire or threaten to fire the person that called off and didn't get their shift covered?
The Cute Cat 2 years ago
This sound like my own situation before jumping to other profession. Actually there are tons of candidates but the clinic that I work prefers to over work us because our pay for extend is low. Medic life is so mentally unhealthy
Shawn Laframboise 2 years ago
All new & employees are told that if they normally work on a Thursday (Thanksgiving) then they have to work or make arrangements with a coworker. Everyone works either Christmas Eve or Christmas day. No one, including me the manager, can not request off big holidays. We all have families & want to be with them. I've done this for 10 yrs now & haven't had a problem.
Jessica Olson 2 years ago
The thing that sucks about that... My job I worked Thursday and I didn't get to do family Thanksgiving for 8 years... And Christmas also landed on one of my normal days about half the time. No one wants to trade those days. I was a nurse, but also it was home health so literally the families I worked for would usually take pity on my and just have me for 4-5 hours to help get the day going. (Thanksgiving family not so much 😮💨 that one they even scolded me for stopping to have my lunch break be cause "I don't pay you double to eat", like you don't pay me at all and TG is 1.5, and I still get my mandatory break....)
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