Good Morning Mamas!
So I have a work related question this morning. One morning a week (it began as two, but my hours were cut due to the time of year) I work outside of my home. I took the job as a way to justify sending my son to preschool and to help pay for it. I have a college degree, but work in a retail store since it is difficult to find something part-time in my field. While the hours were always tough, for the most part, I enjoyed my job.
My issue with the job began when I got pregnant about 3 months ago. My job is to unload a truck and stock shelves (something not terribly easy to do while pregnant), and because of this, my day on a Wednesday starts at 3 AM so I can be at work by 4 AM. As of last week, I worked from 4 AM- 12 PM on a Wednesday morning for the past 7 months. I currently live about 25 minutes away from my job even when I leave that early. About two weeks ago I talked to my boss about being able to change my "early day" to a Thursday because my husband's new job is not as flexible about when he works as his last one was, and since my son goes to preschool on a Thursday (and there are two other people at the store that early), he said it shouldn't be a problem. I also asked that if/when a cashier position becomes available that I am considered for it.
Fast forward to this morning at 4 AM when I show up to work only to find that I am not on the schedule today, but am on tomorrow from 7A-12P. Basically, my boss decided to switch my day, cut me by 3 hours, and not tell me that any of this was going on. The schedule is never posted when I leave on a Wednesday, and while most weeks I call in to confirm my hours, I assumed (and obviously incorrectly), that if they were going to cut me on a Wednesday morning that they would let me know as I am up well before what are considered "normal business hours"! After speaking with my boss, I will not be able to get any more hours anytime in the near future, and my Wednesdays are now going to become Thursdays from 7A-12P.
With all of that information, I feel like my boss is trying to force me out without actually forcing me out (since he knows about the pregnancy and I'm sure doesn't want to deal with the legality of things). Needless to say, I am livid. More because I was up at 3 AM only to find that I drove all the way in for nothing. My husband is more or less acting like I have no reason to be frustrated because it is "just retail" and that's "how it goes". I feel like the job isn't worth my time or energy (since I will bring home less than $40 a week from it with this cut in hours), and I should give my two weeks notice. While my husband is okay with this, he doesn't want me to talk to my boss about how inappropriately things were handled. I would also like to call corporate (after I leave) and discuss things with them; again, he doesn't know that that is a good idea since I may need a recommendation from them at some point in time.
What would you ladies do? How would you handle the situation? I have been with them since July, so it hasn't been forever, but it is certainly long enough that I would like to keep them on my resume.
Sorry for the length, and thanks in advance for your help!
Thank you ladies for all of your help. My husband and I decided that this wasn't worth the hassle anymore. The point of this job was for me to enjoy being out of the house, and it was becoming a mess. I gave my two weeks, they changed my hours for the following week without telling me again (thank goodness I went in to get a paycheck and was able to check), so I am going to be done!!! I do plan on calling corporate (as we have no one in house who does HR that I would trust to actually report my problem), and while I don't anticipate anything to change, at least I know I spoke my peace! Thanks so much!
Request an exit interview with HR. With the gas prices, less that $40/week is not even worth the drive.
That's retail. That is exactly how they push people out - I've seen it many times and heard from the managers themselves say they will make an employee's schedule to where they can't work and they will have to quit or be fired b/c they can't work. Since this is a part time job and retail scheduling is so fluid w/ no 'contractual' arrangement on a schedule - you really have no recourse. You can voice your concerns and they will listen, but then turn the other cheek and move on.
I'd quit, no 2 weeks notice, no follow up call/complaint. Just let it go! In the big picture of your life, this job means nothing to you. Don't add extra stress while pregnant. Just move on.
I agree with an exit interview and letting HR know how you feel. Even if your boss wasn't/isn't trying to push you out due to your pregnancy, it's sloppy and remiss of a manager who schedules employees to change an employees' schedule and not notify them ahead of time. ESPECIALLY if they know that employee has kids, but really with anyone -everyone has a life with other responsibilities. Also, $40 a week isn't worth getting up for -and I know times are tight, but seriously -if this involves gas and cars and possible childcare in the future, it isn't worth it. Also, you would have to go out on maternity leave in the not-so-distant future anyway, AND your current unloading and stocking job could be put to an end any moment on orders from your doctor.
I've worked retail, and that's not how it goes.
I'd quit and find something closer to you. Really, you don't need them on your resume. You can still quit with a good referral, just give them a two weeks and say the hour changes as the reason. They legally can't give you a bad referral over that. Realistically, you'll only be able to restock/load shelves for a very short time anyways, then go on maternity leave.
Chances are, you can get another job lined up anyways without needed their referral.
Also, the pay/gas/travel time/taxes probably aren't' really worth it anyways.
I certainly understand your frustration. Yes, I would want to contact corporate and give them a piece of my mind, but to be honest, they just don't care.
If you can live without the $40 a week, I would simply give my 2 weeks notice and move on.
I think, after taking all things into consideration: the total work hours per week, the weekly pay, the commute, the inconsiderate treatment, etc., I would just quit. It's not worth the aggravation and this is not the kind of job worthy of becoming Norma Rae! LOL
Seriously, the boss acted like an A$$, that's for sure, but I've gotta believe you can find something closer and comparable to what you were making. I wouldn't die on this particular hill.
Good luck!
(I would, however, make it very clear when you do quit to tell him exactly why you are leaving, about what you perceive to be unfair treatment and how you will not be suggesting this particular retail establishment to anyone, as an employer or as a retail venue!)
It's hard when they try to force you out without really firing you. I think he's deliberately putting you in a bad spot on purpose, and I'm sorry. You can talk to HR, but he might not be doing anything "illegal".
Something you might want to consider is working from home. I wouldn't call it a movement, but there's a lot of sites now that cater to moms who have degrees who want to be home. Some legit ones are Biztant.com, odesk.com, and HireMyMom.com (beware of scam sites that want you to pay for jobs...paying for access to job postings is different). You will have to get schooled on contracts, paying your own taxes, etc., but that might be a way to ease out of this retail job and still provide for your family.
I would also talk more to your husband because even if that's "retail", he seems really unsympathetic that you are pregnant, driving all that way in the early hours to accommodate HIS job, and not really bringing anything home but frustration. I don't think he gets the whole picture.
For 5 hours a week I am not sure if this is even worth it. It's retail; your employer does not have to give you preferential treatment because you are pregnant and your child goes to preschool on a specified day. It would be the human and nice thing for your boss to do but they are not obligated to do so. Also, if you do not have a contract or contracted hours then your boss does have every right to change your schedule and you are responsible for either looking at the schedule or calling to confirm your shifts. Again, if this is a shift that you've worked for the past several months and a change is made then it would be the human and nice thing for your boss to inform you but legally they are not obligated to do so.
While you may be upset and angry about this, I think you need to cut your losses and move on. You claim to want to put this on your resume - don't burn bridges if you're planning on future employers contacting this one for references. If you go out with a bang, kicking and screaming, that's what they're going to remember and say to your future employer.
I think that if you speak to your boss you should handle it calmly and with grace. Simply say I dont think what was done was right, and I am upset and therefore I will be forced to give my 2 weeks notice. If you speak to HR/Corporate again in a calm and respectful way then I don't see why you would have a problem getting a recommendation in the future. If you keep it on friendly terms but express your frustration and disappointment, there should be no hard feelings, just maybe an eye opener for them. HR may reprimand your boss after you leave, but that is none of your concern, because he/she was in the wrong. You may want to consult an emplyee handbook also, because he/she may not be able to actually change your hours like that. If you signed something that had a schedule on it when you were hired and it did not include those hours, you can reference that and take it up with your boss. I work at a large retail wholesale company and they are very by the book. If you signed your application saying you could work any hours, and never made alterations to them that were approved by a manager, they hold you to it, and they in turn schedule you by those original hours. I was also lucky enough to have them bend over backwards for me while I was pregnant. Good luck and as long as you dont lose your cool and stay professional, there's no reason why you can't use them later as a reference.
You request a day change & assumed you would get the same hours. I would talk to the boss and just say it doesnt make sense for you to only work 4 hrs a week (or what ever it may be) let him speak and see what he has to offer up. He may say he accomodated your day change and those were the hours available. If you showed up to work, in CA they are mandated to pay you a minimum 4 hrs. I would stick it out til your next drs appt and ask him to give you a note for light duty and no more heavy lifting, it sounds like you do inventory, and see what is offered to you then. Make sure you talk to HR aswell, but dont keep your boss out of the loop.
When you figure in taxes and gas to get there and your aggrevation and unhappiness, is it really worth $40 a week or less?
I think you might be right about your boss trying to force you out. But also I'm thinking it could have been some miscommunication because you did ask to be switched days right? Is it possible he thought what he did with your hours is what you wanted?
