How retail jobs exploit and steal from employees

[cindybubbles]

This article just about nails it.

I think it's time for a change, do you? I myself wish that we could call a demolition crew and throw a wrecking ball at companies and businesses that do this, but we all know that's not going to happen.

What do you think?

[Food Lady]

I've seen all these things in person or on the CS board. Scheduling has always been my main complaint.

[Racket_Man]

I hate to say this but been there done that

Especially in the pizza delivery ie. low tipped wages, unpreditctability of tips, unreimbursed vehicle expenses, less hours, lots of on the job work expectations that need to be fit into said low amount of hours, cutting back of hours if you exceed the limit, etc/.

[Rageaholic]

I don't even work retail and 5 is a huge problem for me. For on call employees, it's a first come/first serve basis. Hours are posted online and the first on call employee to respond gets the shift. Usually, they are posted within an hours notice (so you never know when to check).

What was especially frustrating was the time when I asked about hours available 2-3 weeks prior. I didn't here back from them so I assumed it was taken. But then I get a phone call the day before the shift asking if I was interested. Looking back, I probably should have said no (I had plans), but I get hours so rarely that I had to take this opportunity.

[KellyHabersham]

Not in retail anymore, but #2 and #5 on that list do apply to my job in many ways. (my unpredictable schedule is one of the reasons I've not bothered to look for a second job)

[wolfie]

On the issue of unpredictable schedules (especially due to "on call"), a RESPONSIBLE government could allow for flexibility while at the same time protecting employees by requiring the following:

- Schedules must be made available to employees a minimum of $time before the start of the period covered by the schedule. Once a schedule has been made available, no changes may be made to any employee's scheduled shift unless it is to a shift which begins a minimum of $time after the end of their previous shift.

- If an employee is expected to be "on call" to come in if needed for a particular shift, they are to be informed IN WRITING that "You must be available to be contacted between times A and B to be notified of whether or not you will be needed for work between times C and D", must be paid their normal wage for the period between times A and B, or X hours at their normal wage, whichever is greater (since the employer is expecting them to use the time for the employer's benefit), and in the event that they are not called in, half their normal wage for the period between times C and D.

Note that in trucking, when a driver is "on call", they are required to log the time as "on-duty, not driving".

[Dreamstalker]

(my unpredictable schedule is one of the reasons I've not bothered to look for a second job)

This. I am looking, but the store makes it hard to block out time for interviews/training/etc. Any requests for time off or adjustments need to be made at least three weeks in advance, yet we only have two days' notice of the new schedule (and we use a physical binder for requests; I'm never sure if they get looked at in a timely manner or by the right person).

I'm one of about four part-timers that ASM relies far too much on; yes I live five minutes away and cover whenever I can, but I've said that if he expects me to be available at the drop of a hat, then pay me enough that I don't need two other jobs (which means at least $100/hour, which will never happen).

[TheHuckster]

My wife used to be on-call all the time, and it was horrible. You're basically confined to not committing to things you might have if you had the day 100% off. You simply can't make plans because Murphy's Law will jump in and make that the one day you actually will get called in mid-shift. Most of the conversations with her friends would go like this:

Friend: We got tickets to the [game] tonight! Wanna come?
Her: I'd love to, but I'm on-call tonight.
Friend: I thought you weren't working today.
Her: I'm probably not, but I have to be available just in case.
Friend: In case what?
Her: In case I get called in because I'm on-call.
Friend: I don't get it.
Her: Neither do I.

Because you're effectively chained to your phone and can't make certain plans because you may or may not be working, I'd be in favor of requiring some kind of compensation for being on-call. Even if it's less than minimum wage just so employers don't abuse it. Because, let's face it, you don't really have the day off if because of work you can't do certain things.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I understand "on call" for emergency services (my mum was a nurse and sometimes had that) but for RETAIL?

For retail workers, the problem really began when stores were allowed to be open on Sundays and bank holidays, and it all went downhill from there. There are loads of customers who are just incapable of imagining retail workers having any kind of life, and who demand that shops be open all day, every day, cuz they have lost the skill to plan ahead.

[KellyHabersham]

I understand "on call" for emergency services (my mum was a nurse and sometimes had that) but for RETAIL?

We had two women with that status in my department at Macy's, and I think they mainly covered call-outs, or were there during busy sale days/the holidays. (One of them I didn't know, the other I didn't work with very often, so I don't know exactly how it worked)

[jedimaster91]

I'd be in favor of requiring some kind of compensation for being on-call. Even if it's less than minimum wage just so employers don't abuse it. Because, let's face it, you don't really have the day off if because of work you can't do certain things.

Someone mentioned this, but in healthcare you do get paid for being on call. It's a pittance, really, but over a weekend it can really add up. What I do when I'm on call and someone wants to do something, I just let them know I might have to leave. So I don't really do anything I couldn't drop at any given moment. Out to dinner is fine, I just drive separately and prepare to possibly have to box up what I'm eating. I'll run to the grocery for a few odds and ends, but not do the big grocery run and avoid stuff that has to be frozen or refrigerated. You can't just halt your life when you're on call, but you do have to be smart about it.

On call for retail just doesn't make sense to me. Now obviously any day can get crazy and if someone's willing to come in, you thank them profusely. But if they're not scheduled and not being paid to wait around to see if they're needed, they shouldn't be obligated.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Someone mentioned this, but in healthcare you do get paid for being on call. It's a pittance, really, but over a weekend it can really add up. What I do when I'm on call and someone wants to do something, I just let them know I might have to leave. So I don't really do anything I couldn't drop at any given moment. Out to dinner is fine, I just drive separately and prepare to possibly have to box up what I'm eating. I'll run to the grocery for a few odds and ends, but not do the big grocery run and avoid stuff that has to be frozen or refrigerated. You can't just halt your life when you're on call, but you do have to be smart about it.

On call for retail just doesn't make sense to me. Now obviously any day can get crazy and if someone's willing to come in, you thank them profusely. But if they're not scheduled and not being paid to wait around to see if they're needed, they shouldn't be obligated.

Exactly. Where I work, if someone calls in sick, then whoever's in at the time calls around to see if anyone's free to cover the shift. However, no-one is obligated to come in when called. I've been called up on a day off and asked to cover a shift; if I have no plans, then I'm happy to help. However, if I do have plans, then I'm not coming in. I've also been asked to stay on and do a late shift on more than one occasion when I've worked the day shift, and every single time I have refused. Despite what some deluded customers might think, my job isn't my entire life.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

I've also been asked to stay on and do a late shift on more than one occasion when I've worked the day shift, and every single time I have refused. Despite what some deluded customers might think, my job isn't my entire life.

I was in a similar situation in which I generally refused to stay for the late shift if asked. My problem was the managers at this job were constantly on me about my lack of "loyalty", even having the gall to compare to me to another guy who came in or stayed late every opportunity. Nevermind the other guy was single and only a couple of years out of college. I have a marriage, a family and other no-work obligations to fulfill.

Nevermind I NEVER missed a shift at this job except for legit reasons (doctor's note, funeral, family emergencies), I was constantly treated as though I was lazy and unmotivated.

I quit that job after about 18 months.

[the_std]

Nevermind the other guy was single and only a couple of years out of college. I have a marriage, a family and other no-work obligations to fulfill.

Sorry to interject, but you hit on a note that bothers me in these situations - the assumption that a young, single person's free time is less valuable than someone older, or someone with a family. I found myself having to fight for my time off too, because everyone assumed that since I was not married, I had oodles of spare time. I have a lot of obligations outside of work that are just as important to me as a married person's family might be to them.

Now, if this younger person was volunteering for those shifts, that's a different story, but the automatic "I have a family!" should not be a valid reason to dump extra work on anyone.

[Lace Neil Singer]

Sorry to interject, but you hit on a note that bothers me in these situations - the assumption that a young, single person's free time is less valuable than someone older, or someone with a family. I found myself having to fight for my time off too, because everyone assumed that since I was not married, I had oodles of spare time. I have a lot of obligations outside of work that are just as important to me as a married person's family might be to them.

Now, if this younger person was volunteering for those shifts, that's a different story, but the automatic "I have a family!" should not be a valid reason to dump extra work on anyone.

Agreed. Back at a place I used to work at, it always annoyed me that a lot of the time, people with kids assumed that certain holidays were automatically theirs just cuz they had bred. One girl kept harrassing me after I got Christmas Eve off (didn't book it, it just fell on my day off), trying to force me to swap with her. While I might have done if she'd just asked me nicely once, the fact that she was bugging me constantly made me want to refuse all the more. What clinched my refusal was her assumption that just cuz I didn't have kids, then Christmas wasn't as important to me.