WWYD - Employer/Employee situation

[foolishmortal]

Instead of spending money on cameras you could just stop abdicating your responsibility as owner of the store and spend some time there rather than leave one person on their own all day.

I would argue that responsiblity of the owner is being met by firing an employee who isnt doin what they are supposed to do.

 

[Nennie]

Just popping back in to explain, so you guys don't think I'm torturing my employees with long hours and no breaks!!

My store is open 12-10, and is in a beach town. Anna is 21 and is living in the town for the summer. When I hired her, I asked her how many hours she wanted to work, etc. She requested to work 10 hours a day, 3 days per week. She liked the idea of only working 3 days a week (albiet 3 long days) so that she could have the rest of the week off to go the beach, etc.

There is a bathroom in my store, and it's not like it's so busy that she can't take a bathroom break when the store is empty (although I wish it were that busy!!!). There is also a fridge, microwave, etc, and many food places in our little strip that deliver.

I have other employees (like Beth) who just work 10 hours a week. I'm realize it's summer at the beach, and some want to work more than others, so I try to be very flexible in giving the kinds of shifts that they all request.

Obviously, in Anna's case, she wanted the 10 hour shift, but now I know that she can't handle being there for 5 hours by herself (til the 5pm person comes in). It's a learning process for me too! Now I know that when people ask for these long shifts, I shouldn't always give it to them!

This is why I feel like she took advantage of me. She asked for the long shift (knowing she'd be by herself for 5 hours), and then closed my store for an hour. I guess I'm still learning how to be a good boss!

Thanks for all the advice everyone!

 

[N&B'smom]

My store is open 12-10, and is in a beach town.

What part of NJ??? Just curious! I started working at 14 as well on the Ocean City boardwalk!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Fired...outta here... she lied and she stole from you (or tried to with the fudging the hours she would get paid for) NOT good

 

[PghLybrt]

Instead of spending money on cameras you could just stop abdicating your responsibility as owner of the store and spend some time there rather than leave one person on their own all day.

I am sorry but that made me laugh. Do you own a store?

It is the store owner who works the really bad shIfts, who get put on the bottom of the vacation list (if they are lucky to get one!), have the stress about making enough to cover all expenses including those of their employees and their families!

As for the cameras, there are some cheaper versions out there. They really only need to think you watch all of them so maybe 1 at first would be ok?

Some of my locations we have only 1 person working (depending on season). Panic buttons are only as good as your local pd. True story, we acidentaly hit our and it triggered a silent alarm. In walks one of the local police very causally and asked was everything ok. Had there been a person with a gun she would have been dead.

Direct Deposit- In our state I can't make people do it, I can only offer it.

 

[N&B'smom]

I am sorry but that made me laugh.

It had me cracking up too, doing the ol' disboards head shake.

 

[Art 1]

You know what needs to be done. Don't forget to cover all your bases, seems like you have.

 

[SKWDW]

That's a tough situation for you Nennie. You are NOT being harsh. Forget docking her pay, just fire her.

I agree that firing is tough, but Anna needs to be fired. As you and PPs have noted, Beth needs to hear the ground rules again, since Anna led her astray.

The store owner next door needs some kudos too. The pp-mentioned gift basket or maybe an hour or two of coverage at their store.

 

[PghLybrt]

It had me cracking up too, doing the ol' disboards head shake.

Glad it wasnt just me!

 

[Jennasis]

Instead of spending money on cameras you could just stop abdicating your responsibility as owner of the store and spend some time there rather than leave one person on their own all day.

Sounds like someone has no idea what owning a business is all about.

 

[Nennie]

What part of NJ??? Just curious! I started working at 14 as well on the Ocean City boardwalk!

Very cool! I'm sure it was a fun time! I'm close to OC, but not in OC!

Thanks again everyone for your advice and support!! It's great to hear from other small business owners as well!!! I'm working 60-72 hours per week right now...wish I could be there 24/7 (not just for payroll purposes, but also b/c your employees will never work as hard as you do!!!), but those of you that do this kind of stuff know that's not always possible!

Thanks again all!!!

 

[TwinsinCA]

In a 10 hour day how long do your employees get for breaks and lunch? Aren't either paid? If they are paid, I don't really understand why they need to be noted on a time sheet at all.

It seems reasonable that if you have only one employee in the store that it has to be closed for a couple of brief periods of time so that employee can have a proper break. Most places I have worked, I get paid for my breaks. I do not have to record them on a time sheet so I am docked for that time. And although your employees are allowed to eat there, being 'on call' is not a real break. That is just downtime at a job. Some jobs have them, some don't. But that isn't a "break".

Yes, she lied, but it bothers me to think of this girl left alone all that time without a break of any kind. And it floors me that it doesn't go against some labor laws in your state.

 

[Disney Doll]

I wouldn't hesitate, fire her. Why would you ever keep on an employee who closed down your store OR one who fudges her time sheet? You can find someone much more responsible. No discussion needed and no second chances. Don't think twice about it, just do it and don't feel bad!!!

I agree.

 

[Becky2005]

I think Beth is young and new and may well have been led to believe (by Anna) it is policy not to sign out for breaks (I have worked where that is the case actually). Thus, she needs to be spoken to and the rules made abundantly clear--but I think she should not be fired.

I don't have to punch out for our 15 minute breaks.

In our case, if it's over X hours (I think 7?) they INSIST you get your lunch break -- they practically will fire you for NOT taking it unless you have a bunch of approvals because the company can be fined $10,000 for EACH offense -- so if 6 employees don't get their lunch that's $60,000!!!! (my guess, is they got fined from our state before! As I have never in my life had a company so adamant about making sure you take your lunch break during training which is a clock-out time).

 

[meloneyb21]

She should be fired. Especially for that BS story she told about her boyfriend giving her cash.

 

[tluvstink]

At my job we don't have to clock out for lunch if we eat at our desk. We are still working however and if the phone rings we answer it.

We are permitted to leave for up to an hour but if we do we clock out.

Terri

 

[N&B'smom]

Very cool! I'm sure it was a fun time! I'm close to OC, but not in OC!

I have another guess but won't because I don't want to seem stalker-ish!

 

[FireDancer]

In a 10 hour day how long do your employees get for breaks and lunch? Aren't either paid? If they are paid, I don't really understand why they need to be noted on a time sheet at all.

Liability. If you leave the store for your break and get in an accident while you are on the clock and under certain circumstances the business can be held liable. Even if the normal operation is not to punch out for breaks the second they left the premises they should have punched out.

At work our hourly employees don't normally have to punch out for breaks but if they are leaving the premises, even if it is to walk across the street for a coffee, they do have to punch out. It just comes down to liability on the part of the business if something happens, our policy came straight from our attorneys.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I worked for several years managing a store. I like the camera, I mean it helps for theft and such, but also for employees, I reviewed the camera one morining only to see an employee pull out about 20 lottery tickets and scratched them right in front of the camera and then threw them in the trash, needless to say I had to locate them out of the dumpster. He was suspended until I could get the final check to let him go. I could never understand that his thinking he would not be caught. Hopefully he learned a very valuable lesson. Jo

 

[plutotek]

I don't think you should fire her. Take both employees out, give them a nice meal, and move on.

Okay, I don't really think that but I can't stand unanimous votes.