If you were responsible for...

[dicar123]

things that happen at work when you are not there, how much would you expect to be paid?

I work in an industry NOT known for high pay to begin with. I am in a new store, in a new to them position. They don't really know how much work/revenue my job will create.

Not long ago I was reprimanded (twice, by two different managers) because an important ball got dropped while I was gone. It was suggested that I designate surrogates to deal with X, Y and Z, make lists of instructions AND follow-up with phone calls from home to make sure things are on track.

I am not full time, I have no benefits and make not much more than the federal minimum wage. My husband is furious and says that they don't pay me NEAR enough to worry about anything that happens after I walk out the door. A friend I was talking to last night burst out laughing and said, "Oh stop it!" when I told her how much I make. She was stunned when she realized I was serious.

I'm willing to be underpaid for now because I think the issue is mostly one of uncertainty for them. I have little work history and the economy stinks. I'm really not in a position to be demanding.

But what would be your bottom line, as far as pay, in this situation?

 

[dzneelvr]

I'd recommend a meeting with your manager to outline the expectations and responsibilites of the job. Obviously you both have a different picture of what they are. A start up position is incredibly confusing if a detailed job description doesn't exist--volunteer to work with your manager to develop one.Once you both talk through the job there will be facts and data to support a rationale that pay is not reflective of the duties and/or the duties need to be adjusted to reflect the pay. DO NOT use words like me, mine, I, etc. Structure your meeting discussion with the duties as the subject. Keep in mind that the managers may be acting out as a defense mechanism because even they don't know what is going on.....and they may not give another thought to what they've said to you.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Depends on the job position, really.

If your job were manager--and you managed the schedule and the operations for example, you would be somewhat responsible for what happened while you were gone.

If you were like me--I was a housekeeper at Vero Beach and I clean while on the clock and obviously can't when I am not there--I cannot be responsible nor accountable for unruly guests who make icecream messes in the overnight hours.

If you are dropping the ball--ever, then it will be difficult to negotiate your value. Bottom line, you ALWAYS do a good job and then tell your superiors about your added value and your true worth.

The only comment I have, if you are hourly--then no, you are not supposed to call in unless they wish to pay you for it. It is an illegal expectation of them.

I guess if I were in a position, I would make sure all my i's were dotted and t's were crossed that I am missed, but not missed while I am not on property.

If you feel you are not paid enough and they aren't open to increasing your pay, you have the option of quitting. It may not be in your best interest--but they are not forcing employment upon you.

"Dropping a ball" based on your reasoning, is never acceptable IMHO if that is what is expected of you. Your work ethic should never be compromised.

 

[Pakey]

Unless you are an exempt, salaried employee, I have to agree with your husband. You should not be doing any work at home. One short phone call, I could live with, but if they are expecting you to make lists, prepare job descriptions, etc. you need to be compensated for your time. I've been in upper management for a lot of years and I believe most employers will pay people what they can get away with rather than what they are worth. They also know you have little job experience and the economy sucks so you have to let them know what your boundaries are.

I agree with PP that the best way to resolve this is via a meeting and a written job description, job duties so that both you and your employer know what the expectations for the position are. Otherwise, your employer is going to expect everything and pay you nothing.

Good luck. I know the economy is bad but I don't think that gives employers a free pass to treat their grateful employees like garbage.

 

[dicar123]

I am a Catering Manager for a newly-opened fast food restaurant. I am paid hourly, just over minimum wage.

If you want lunch delivered to your office, I'm your girl! Outside weekday lunches, I am not scheduled to be there. If there are no lunch orders, I run a cash register. Last Saturday, we had a ton of catering orders, so I volunteered to work. I ran all day!

I volunteered to come in today because we also had a ton of orders. I was told not to. Just leave lists and instructions and find other people to do it. And then call to make sure they're on the ball. And if they screw up it's my fault because I'm the Catering Manager and ultimately the buck stops here.

At the same time I was trying to arrange everything for today, I was trying to arrange a huge delivery order for Monday morning before I am scheduled to be there. Who is going to plug in all the hot packs? What time does everything need to be cooked by? How is it going to be packaged up? Who is going to deliver it? Other than food, what else is needed (plates, utensils, etc.)? Gather all that stuff up, bag and label it. Do the paperwork, make sure the delivery guy knows what papers need to be signed and how to set things up. And then put all this stuff somewhere where it won't be moved for 2 days so it can be found Monday morning.

They insist I be responsible for it all, but don't want to schedule me to be there because outside that hour for the delivery, they won't need me until lunchtime.

My husband sighs. "It's a FAST FOOD job. You're making minimum wage. I cannot believe you're calling them to make sure that the cold order for 3:00 is being cooked at noon so that it can be cooled properly." But I did.

 

[bumbershoot]

Who is going to plug in all the hot packs? What time does everything need to be cooked by? How is it going to be packaged up? Who is going to deliver it? Other than food, what else is needed (plates, utensils, etc.)? Gather all that stuff up, bag and label it. Do the paperwork, make sure the delivery guy knows what papers need to be signed and how to set things up. And then put all this stuff somewhere where it won't be moved for 2 days so it can be found Monday morning.

That's the kind of stuff you'll need to work out. Get a space created where info about that sort of order will be, and will not be moved. Get your SOP sheets up and laminated so that the underlings can follow it and even check off each bit they've did (with an appropriate pen for the laminated sheet hanging *right there* for that purpose). etc etc etc.

 

[dicar123]

That's the kind of stuff you'll need to work out. Get a space created where info about that sort of order will be, and will not be moved. Get your SOP sheets up and laminated so that the underlings can follow it and even check off each bit they've did (with an appropriate pen for the laminated sheet hanging *right there* for that purpose). etc etc etc.

I got all that stuff worked out, kind of. Here is the problem. Even now, there is no schedule for Monday. If the Supervisor who is making the schedule doesn't remember that X employee needs to be scheduled for Monday morning, I'm screwed, unless employee X takes the initiative to just show up. I've talked to the Supervisor and left him a note. I've talked to the driver guy and have left him instructions. I had to give instructions to three different groups of people because no one was sure who was going to be in charge of the kitchen, the front, or who the shift supervisor was going to be.

And for all the planning and toubleshooting, calling on Saturday afternoon, calling Monday morning at 6:00am, I am making under $10 per hour.

Reasonable? Not reasonable?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

It sounds like it is a position that you can grow or do for a while and then take that experience into a different catering job. It can pay off down the line to go a little above and beyond now. I don't think making a few phone calls is exceptionally over the top if they are 10 or 15 minutes long. I would also consider keeping a log of the calls and extra work you do and maybe bring it to your next evaluation, or if you approach your bosses for a promotion or full time status.

Earning yourself a stellar reputation can also help you if you look for another position.

Have they spoken about the possibility of making you full time with benefits in the future if this goes well?

 

[dicar123]

I guess the better question to have asked would have been what would be the bottom line salary for a manager these days.

Right now, I have all of the responsibility, but low pay (I think) because that portion of the business isn't making much money yet. It's already been growing, and they've just hired 2 more marketing people to develop it. Their goal is for Catering to make a million dollars per year, with me making sure all the food gets out the door.

It's an excellent opportunity! And the job is really going to expand over the next 6 months or so. So, when the time comes to move me into a full-time position, I was just wondering what a reasonable bottom line would be, given the responsibility I have. Even the shift Supervisors are only responsible for what happens when they are actually there (although that is EVERYTHING that happens on their shift). They don't call to make sure that the shake machine got cleaned, or to verify that all the crew showed up. KWIM?

 

[chloelovesdisney]

The salary depends a lot on where you live, your level of education and years of experience. You can do a search on the internet for managerial salaries in your area. Do you know what the other fulltime managers are making? (ballpark number)