Employment Practices

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I am not going to name names, even if you have wild horses drag me, or tickle the bottom of my feet, but I am wondering if others have run into similar unusual employment practices as the following.

This is from an employer of seasonal, full-time employees.

First, at the end of the employment season, employees are required to be available for 7 more days even though they are not scheduled to work. Several employees were reprimanded this year for not being available, even though they told one or more of their supervisors that they would not be available one or some of the days, and were excused, the Supervisors saying it was no problem.

Each year each employee has a rehire interview. At the interview, held on a day the employee is not scheduled to work and does not get paid, they are to request the days they want off for the entire upcoming year. If there are days they want off, they have to sign an agreement that they are not guaranteed those days off, that their acceptance of employment is not conditioned on getting those days off. They will not know the final decision as to whether they get the days off as late as the day before the first day requested off.

The assumption is that if an employee requires days off as a condition of employment, that they will not be rehired. So, the only way they will be rehired is by agreeing that there is no guarantee they will get days off.

Is it not clear if an employee will get a day off if the reason is to attend their own funeral.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Incidentally, this employer is in an area of retirees where a lot of employees desire part-time employment. This employer hires almost exclusively retirees, but hires fewer than they need, forcing overtime as a condition of employment, like 60 or 70 hours a week during peak season. You either work those hours or not at all.

Because it is a federal requirement, overtime is paid, time-and-a-half, for those hours over 40. So, although it is forced labor, it is well paid.

There is an abundance of retirees in the workforce, so more could be hired at fewer hours each, without having to pay overtime and without forcing all employees to work 10-12/day, 6 or 7 days a week.

The employees themselves get along well, work well together, and are happy to have to jobs, but would prefer a less rigid policy.

[pranas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pranas]

If you know the rules in advance, what is the problem? What is wrong with having fewer higher paid employees?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I thought the problem would be obvious.

Do you have a rehire interview every year and do you sign an agreement saying you agree to work even if you don't get any days off, even after requesting them up to one year ahead?

Are you 70 or 80 years old, standing on your feet 10-12 hours a day, every day?

Do you never have to take a day off, with or without advance notice, and so that your job would be in jeopardy if you did?

Do you not want to attend your own funeral?

If you know the rules in advance, what is the problem? What is wrong with having fewer higher paid employees?

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

I absolutely agree it's appallingly crappy labor practice. I promise not to patronize this organization.

Is it Disney?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Oh. Got a problem with Disney?

If I told you who, they would have to kill me . . . it's in the agreement.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

My BIL had to schedule his vacation time for the entire upcoming year in December when he worked for StorageTek. He hated it.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The common perception about the rehire interview is that it is a chew-out session and requiring the signing of the agreement is considered blackmail to cover the employer's butt, so that they can do anything they want during the upcoming year.

FWIW, my graduate specialty was Industrial Relations, so things pertaining to the workplace has always been near and dear to me. The common practice, of course, is to have a vacation or days-off policy based on length of service. However, that is not required by law.

It's a shame cuz the employees like the job, the pay, each other, etc.

Seems like Tennessee Ernie Ford summed it up pretty well. :ccol:

[PigsDad Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PigsDad]

Unfortunately, with the current environment the employer has all the leverage. If the employee didn't agree to the conditions, there are tons of unemployed workers that would take would take their place in a heartbeat.

IMO, it is slimy that the employer is taking advantage of this situation.

Kurt

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

That is precisely the situation Kurt, and has the employees pretty upset.

Despite the crappy economy and the high pay, of 14 in the department we are damiliar with, one has quit and two are looking.

I've talked to another who used to be with them, and this is why he no longer is.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

During the elaborate recruiting process, prospective employees are told time off is not a problem as long as it is requested at the beginning of the year.

They find out that is not true at the rehire interview . . . they are told to schedule their personal time when they aren't scheduled to work.

[Tia Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tia]

Walmart?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

How did you know . . . that I have a list and was heading there shortly?

Really, would WM need to know now that I need a day off around Christmas?

Walmart?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

One thing that my employer is pretty good about is days off.

There is a schedule folder and if we want time off we just write it in a couple weeks in advance. I don't seldom ask for a day off, but if I have something planned, I get scheduled around it. I still work the same hours for the week.

And I get Weds off to play in golf league. And I get December, January and February off.

The others do request time off, and they always get what they want.

So, that part of it is okey dokey.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Yesterday was the first day back for the new season.

The employer has hired four new people and told the person they have been given the vacation time-off they wanted in July.

Just so much posturing.