I Have A SuperSized McProblem!

[Banzai]

Background:

I have been working a full schedule all summer, five days a week. I noramlly will do a six hour shift, or a seven and one half hour shift, with the average week having 28-34 hours. Saterday and Sunday I will normally start at 6.15 and end at 1.45. I like getting up early and doing this. Its a nice 7.5 hour shift, and I still have a free afternoon/evening.


Story:

Yesterday I get my scheudle, as they were published late this week. My manager, Martha (First Assistant Manager of Store, and my McHero ) was with me, and was wondering why I had a starange look on my face. Well, it was becasue I was given, get this 3 hours this week. One shift of 3 hours on Monday.

She couldn't figure out how I got so few hours. So she added me hours for Today, Tuesday, Friday and Saterday. Nobody else could figure out what caused Karim (Second Assitant Manager, who does Schedules) to give me three hours. He has done this for others, as his policy is "No hours for those who whine". Stephanie didn't get <b>any</b> hours this week. She also had to be added on. Also, I got sent home over a lunch rush by Karim.

I get into work this morning, and Martha's daughter, Bonnie is working. Bonnie is also a manager. She sees me walk over and goes "Get over hear right now and listen to me!". Bonnie opened today, but she closed the store last night when Karim was working. He was talking to Matt (another Manager) and Bonnie where several crew members could hear.

They were talking about not having enough workers, and I was brought up. Karim goes "Brad got 3 hours next week because the week before my vacation (2-3 weeks ago) he made me mad by not doing his job right and not listing to me, so I am mad at him, so now hours." The comment was also made that "he should <b>not</b> be called in under any circumstances". He was not happy when Bonnie said that Martha had given me hours. It was also said that Stephinie was not given hours becasue her avalibilty was not open enough.

Martha and Bonnie are both so furious that he is playing the favorites game on hours. He is not honoring avaliblity changes, and cutting hours if he is mad at you. Now, I have called off work twice in a year and a half. I will always come in early/stay late...as well as come in on my days off. I was told by several managers and people from the offices downtown that I am a good worker.

What do you all think about this situation?

 

[JohnTBap]

I think that schedule making man is petty and childish. Unfortunately, many people who have the power in jobs such as foodservice and retail are this way. If memory serves, you are still in school. Let this be a lesson to you - work hard, get into college and get out of college! Best of luck to you, Brad.

 

[Banzai]

Thanks. Ya, I still have two years of school left. I would probally have quit this job a long time ago, but I have so many friends their.

 

[Mermaid02]

This should be brought to the attention of the manager- not by you, but by one of the other assistants. Karim is going to go through LOTS of employees if he keeps this up and I doubt the others will appreciate it.

You just keep doing a good job and "keep your nose clean" (I really don't know what that means, but my grandmother used to say it! )

 

[doxdogy]

Sorry to hear that one of the manager's is being allowed to act in a childish manner. Is the store manager ever around? What does he/she say about this ridiculous situation? If not and you feel comfortable doing it, I would talk to the manager.

 

[Banzai]

Sue is away on vacation right now, or this would have gone to her today.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

Unfortunately we all get some sour pickles in the job market.

When does this Sue get back? It needs to be brought to her attention.

 

[gshoemate]

I agree with Mermaid02, if your managers are aware of the way Karim is doing the schedule, then it should be up to them to talk to the store manager. The wonderful chain of command.

 

[Tiiiigergirl]

You also may have the right, depending on your state, to file for unemployment benefits for a week when a manager seriously reduces your hours. In my state the only requirements are that you be able and available for full time work, be looking for that work, accept all hours from your employer and report all earnings from the work. Unemployment varies from state to state and it isn't without risk of retaliation but it lets management know that you need and want the hours to work but will do what you need to ~ to survive. Call your local UI office and get information. Good luck.

 

[Keli]

Hey Brad,
This manager sounds like a loser big time. That's why you have to do as JTB says and go to college so that you don't have to spend your life taking stuff like this off people like him. Nothing like having options in life.
One question though- are you guilty of not doing your job right before he went on vacation? It still wouldn't justify this behavior, this dude is definitely flunking management 101 either way but if you weren't doing as good a job as you should have you've got to keep that in mind and use this as a learning experience.
Good luck, and I'm glad you've got some in management that see your side of things and will pull for you with the store manager.

 

[DocRafiki]

I don't understand how it's childish to want workers who work hard and with a good attitude. The bitter ones will call it "playing favorites," but why do you think some are favorites? Because they are good workers and make life easier for their superiors. I have two very obvious favorites. They've both been promoted to lead nurse since I've been working here. They don't complain when I ask them to do things, they help me out to no end, and I don't have to spend 2-3 hours a day double-checking their work. So, they get more responsibility, they get paid more, they're not the ones who get sent home early when we're slow, and they always get 40+ hours.

I'm writing this thinking of a certain 19-yr-old employee who constantly complains about not having any hours but then always wants to go home early and asks off several times a month. He also works very slowly, spends a lot of time milking the clock, and tries to get me to do his work. Then he says he's a slacker because he doesn't get paid enough to work any harder. He doesn't understand that the pay comes AFTER you prove yourself, and that he'll never get a raise if he keeps working at the same level of quality.

I'm not saying that you're this type of worker; I don't know. But if you're looking for a way to actually help the situation, try to look inward and see if you can improve in any of these areas. It might just be a personality conflict, though, in which case I would just say that sometimes it's good to keep your personal opinions/lifestyle a mystery when it comes to co-workers. If that manager doesn't actually have to work WITH you, and the other managers think you're a good worker, maybe you can have them put in a good word for you.

 

[mhopset]

Brad it sounds to me like he is being petty. Along with someone else I know

 

[caitycaity]

that sounds like a really yucky situation.

i hate to tell you though, there are karims in all workplaces, even after you graduate college.

 

[grinningghost]

I've been thinking back, and yep, there's been at least one Karim in every place I've ever worked. Best advice for now - let it roll off your back. You won't have to deal with him someday.