Burger Bitch: Asshat Managers and Awesome Retail Slaves

Just a short rant today, but I need to get it out of my system.

I am so pissed off right now that I could very well shit a fucking hedgehog.

I’ve had a trip planned for a little over six months now and I’ve been looking really forward to it and when I was hired 3 months ago, I made sure to book the day off right away. When I was hired, I asked my manager how much notice she preferred when booking time off, and she told me 2 weeks. The day I want off is this month and I booked it off at the beginning of August. She informed me that I gave a great amount of notice, so I definitely had the day off.

So I purchased all of my tickets, booked everything and now everything is planned. But wait, there’s more. Today, she came up to me and told me that she’ll still “try her best” to give me the day off, but there’s nobody to cover for me.

Wait, what the FUCK now? First off, her AND my only other morning coworker BOTH called in sick last minute last week, so I was by myself for 3 hours (The first 3 hours after we open are the busiest, by the way) until my awesome coworker came in. Plus, my coworker, we’ll call her Bitchy McWhineass, books off at LEAST 5 days a month and always gets them off. I’m asking for ONE day, and it’s not even a busy day of the week, either. But besides, she already told me that I had it off. The tickets for the show I’m going to see are non-refundable AND there’s a price to cancel my other tickets. I’m so fucking fucked if she decides to not give me the day off.

Fuck fuckity fuck fuck fuck!

Alright, now onto a decent story.

My step mum and I went shopping the other day in a town about an hour away. We picked up a few Christmas gifts then wandered off to look at boots for myself, since I was in desperate need of a new pair of winter boots.

We greeted the two men working and went on our way to check some out, shortly after, my step mum wandered off to the store next to us to look at some gift cards.

One of the men came up to me and we started chatting, he even told me when a pair of boots were ugly, which was nice. I settled on a nice, decent priced pair of boots and we continued chatting for a bit more. He was honestly one of the nicest people I have ever met, he told me that him and his husband had recently got married and even showed me a few photos (Note: Such an adorable couple.)

He took me up to the cash to pay for my boots, and then he said “Ok, I am SO not supposed to do this, but you are one of the most polite and adorable girls ever! So I’m going to give you a discount.” I was already really excited, just to be told that I was adorable, and I was honestly just expecting a small discount. However, he gave me 20% off! I was so excited that I nearly peed, I swear.

Being a polite and awesome custy pays off, bitches!

--Burger Bitch

 

 

Comments

[Svantus, the Wageslave Avenger]

"could shit a fucking hedgehog"
Oh my...oh...my side....it hurts. XD

That was awesome. Totally have my respect.

Oh, and awesome of that guy to help you out like that. Love when humans actually act like...well..human beings.

[Chicken Flinger]

The image of you shitting a spikey little critter is entirely too amusing. I'm sending you laptop repair bills, BurgerBitch, because I sprayed pop everywhere. It also sounds painful. Maybe you should wish hedgehog shittin' on your manager instead.

Anywho, hope your boss lady comes to her senses. If worse comes to worse, you could always call in sick that day anyway. If she calls you on it, just tell her that you were sick (inside your head: of your BULLSHIT) and you needed a day off to recoop. It probably would look sketchy but she can't really tell you that you weren't sick...

Good luck!

[Mcarp555]

Dimwit Manager: I'll try to give you the day off, but there’s nobody to cover.

BB: Well I'll be out of town that day, so don't bother trying to call me in.

If she told you in August you "definitely" had the day off, it's her ass now to find cover. The life lesson is if you teach people they can screw you, they'll poke you in the hedgehog every time.

[Thank Gooodness]

I wish had a situation where I booked off a trip to Cuba 3 months in advance. 2 weeks before I am suppose to leave my manager took my aside and told me that he couldn't cover me anymore on the floor, that I needed to cancel my trip. (This was after it was confirmed that my trip was off. It was confirmed verbally and in the calendar, plus I had the emails to prove I asked for it off 3 months in advance)

I was told that if I took my trip I may not have a job when I came back. I sent an email to the DM, took my job, and wow, my job was still there. Also I would like to point out that I only worked 12 hours a week at this point. My manager was special. During the school year I would 30-36 hours a week plus full time university, during the summer (April to August I would work 12 hours a week) My trip was in May, I found out he was made because he wanted me to cover for him, so he could go to a movie opening show with his girlfriend. He wanted me to CANCEL my whole trip that I paid for, so he could go to the movies...

After my spouse became very ill and required surgery and many hospital stays, I quit my job there. Thank Goodness.

[Thank Gooodness]

Not *I wish* - I had ****

Sorry for the typos - it is very early were I am.

[Spider]

She told you that you definitely had the day off. It's her responsibility now to work it out. Take the day off anyway, if she protests, point out that she already told you it was OK and she should have worked it out. It's her job to make things work, it's not your job to get fucked up the hedgehog because someone else is incompetent.

*hugs*

[Jennabee]

I'm pretty sure legally they have to give you the time off. I don't know exactly and it might vary state-to-state, country-to-country but... if they don't come back to you within a certain amount of time and tell you no, it's a yes. I know where I work if they don't say no within 2 weeks of you booking it off, they have to approve it, and once it's approved they can't reneg on it no matter what. Even if there is no one to cover it... tough bananas. The manager will have to work it because it's her job to cover any shifts that employees can't work, period.

[Kittycow]

Will noone think of the hedgehogs?!

Agreed though, you've been told it was ok, therefore it's ok. I'd be completely bloody-minded and leave her to it, it's not your problem.

[Dollface]

Take the day off. If you cave in she will think that she can keep treating you like shit so stand your ground before its too late.

[Framer-Fatal]

She told you long ago that it was okay. Go ahead and let her know that you've booked all your tickets and you simply will not be there. Period.

[Drug Store Diva]

I learned the hard way...never make the first exception to anything because they'll just figure you did it once you'll do it again. If she told you in August you had it off (and if you have proof that's even better), then you have it off.

I had a job that tried to call me in...when I was in Seattle! It was my vacation week (because I went to Seattle) and somebody called off in the middle of the week. I even said "I can't come in, I'm on vacation and I'm in Seattle" "Well, can't you fly back?" Sure I"ll fly back...when my vacation is over.

[Customer Service Slut]

Take the day off. Tell her she can go fuck herself. You gave her plenty of notice.

This happened a couple of years ago. I asked off for my boyfriend's birthday because his mother got us tickets for a comedian that we all liked. I asked way in advance because I knew she was planning something special. Well, my dumbass manager scheduled me anyway! So I told the assistant manager and she switched me with another girl, but that still had me "on call." It's a clothing store. We aren't nurses. We do not need to be on call. Anyways, so the day of the event, lo and behold, I get a call telling me that the main manager went home (I later found out because she was crying over her boyfriend of three weeks--she was twenty-six) and that I had to come in. I didn't hear my phone because it was in the other room. When I got it, I had that voicemail and then a really nasty voicemail about how if I did not get in there I would be written up and this is ridiculous etc etc. So I called the store and explained the entire situation, and she said, "Well, sorry, but you have to come in." And I said, "Then I'll take the write up." I was scheduled to work the next day, so I put in my two weeks and never looked back.

[Tara]

Take the day off.

When I was at a clothing store, me and 2 other workers scheduled off for the same day to attend a school function that we were very active in. I scheduled about a month ahead of them. Lo and behold they got the day, I didn't. Manager said that it wasnt garunteed that I'd get the day i asked for when I told him the prob. BUT the thing is they always said first come first served. He said I was SOL.

Day of the activity, I called in sick...I found someone to cover and all wad well.

[Burger Bitch]

The thing with my job is, if we're sick, it's OUR responsibility to get the shift covered.

So I can't even call in sick.

[MrSpellcheck]

Re: "can't even call in sick"

Not your store.
You are not a manager.
So...
Not your responsibility to make sure the store is staffed, period.

If you "no call, no show." they can discipline you per your employee agreement.
If you call in sick more times than you have sick days(spelled out in your agreement), they can dock your pay or discipline per the agreement.
But these are the limits of what they can do.

If they have that sick policy in writing, send it to the Better Business Bureau Labor Board, TV stations, etc. because it means that they are forcing you to take on Managerial responsibilities when you are not a Manager (big tax law violation, for one thing).

Take the trip. Have fun ;-)

[Lurker chick]

I once had a manager that would pull that crap. You put in the request with plenty of notice, and everything would be fine until shortly before the schedule of that week went up when manager would conveniently let you know he couldn't give you the day off. Most of the women working there were single moms that couldn't afford to lose their jobs, so they sucked it up. Once he got away with it, he kept doing it to you. He tried to pull that on me once. I flat out told him, tough shit, I put in my vacation request and met all your rules. You can schedule me, but I'm not coming in that day, and I'm not going to find anyone to cover me either. Guess who got her vacation time hassle-free afterwards?

Don't let your boss pull this on you now or she will do it every time. Be firm, but dont be obnoxious or insubordinate about it.

[Chicajojobe]

I agree just take a firm line about it. If she says "I'm going to need you to work" tell her that you won't be able to because you won't even be in town!

[NC Tony]

I'm jumping on the "take the day off anyway" bandwagon. She already okayed it, so you have no obligation to show up on a pre-approved, scheduled day off. Take the day off and enjoy yourself, and under no circumstances answer any calls from work.

[Delusional Convenience Store Clerk]

Scheduling and people showing up for their shifts is an ongoing problem at my workplace. It need not be so frustrating for anyone, but people are assholes. You won't believe the bullshit excuses I've had when people didn't show up for their shifts. It's happened when I'm about to go to sleep, and nobody else will come in to cover the idiot that is an hour late and counting.

You asked for the days off, Burger Bitch. These assholes feed on kindness. Don't be kind to them. They're taking advantage of you as I've been taken advantage of. I'm sick of it myself. I deal with so much stupid shit from my co-workers that I sometimes genuinely want to walk out in the middle of my shift and let one of my jackass co-workers cover the shift, as I've done so often for them. The worst part is that everybody is oblivious to my frustration.

[Laughing Barista]

You already talked to manager about these days off MONTHS ago, you procured your tickets and everything is set. As far as I'm concerned, you have every right to take those days off. If you get shit, tell her everything you told us. It's not fair for them to use and abuse you but not to say shit to everyone else who does not follow protocol.

[Conspiracy Girl]

My first job way-ay back in high school was at Timmy Hells, up here in Canadaland. I was there for not quite 2 years. In JANUARY, I asked my manager for all of July off so I could go to England for a school trip- I spent a month there stdudying and got my grade 12 English credit (great trip, totally rec it). She agreed that I could have the time off. So I booked the trip, paid, and then REMINDED her several times over the following months. I wrote her a note before she was supposed to make July's schedule reminding her that she had agreed I could have the entire month of July off and that I was going to be out of the country.

Well you guessed it, the schedule goes up and I'm schduled not only for the day I leave, but two days later. You know, when I'm already supposed to be a 9 hour plane ride away. I point this out to the manager, and remind her yet again that she approved the time off.

Cue the day I leave. I work the shift, and then she calls me in to her office. Blah blah bullshit reasons about how I was unavailable too many days recently (a, I was part-time, b, I scheduled the days off, I didn't just call in sick or not show, c, it was June and the days I scheduled off I had exams, and d, YOU GAVE THEM TO ME) and so she fires me. Since I was going to be out of the country for the next 2 weeks, that was my notice.

Being 16, I was shocked, upset, and had no idea if I could argue against this. Bear in mind I had had absolutely no warnings about any of the bullshit reasons she told me.

Still a little mad about this one. But I later heard that the manager was fired, and later re-hired as counter staff. I hope the new manager was as big a bitch to her as she was to me.

[shevrolet]

Ugh, so much of this is so familiar. How hard is it to schedule people when they're available?

At my work there are probably 5 of us who can work Tuesday morning. 2 weeks ago I booked this past Tuesday morning off for a doctor's appointment. Another girl, Golightly, booked the day reasonably in advance (especially because the scheule always gets done last minute)for a doctor's appointment.

We both find out Friday that Bossman had scheduled some poor girl who has NEVER been available that day due to class (same class every week)for Tuesday morning. She's having trouble getting it covered? Too bad. Why can't we cover for her, he asks. Legit reasons. Cue guilt and punishment. "Well, you guys are always asking for hours. Here's your chance. When nobody wants to cover a shift, then I have to hire more girls, and blah blah blah."

Golightly was only scheduled for one shift that week; She gets desparate, says she'll take it and just try to move her appointment date/time. Doctor has no openings for 6 weeks, so she and UnavailableTuesday spend the next 3 days begging one of the other girls to take it.

It all gets sorted, but in what world should that have been their mess to sort? >:(

[RDM]

Seems to me the thing to do would be to get the scheduling manager's agreement in writing when you first ask for the time off.

[true religion outlet]

It feels like the grant and program season is about to officially kickoff here at the arts council, but that’s just our minds playing tricks on us. The reality is that grants and programs are like the scenery in a Tom and Jerry cartoon: there is no beginning or end. We just circle around and around, breezing past the same end table and easy chair over and over as we chase our mouse.

[KitschBitch]

I had this happen once. My health insurance is very specific with the dentists I'm allowed to go to in my area, so I had to book an appointment to get my wisdom teeth out 6 months in advance. I told my boss when I booked the appointment that I needed two weeks off from the day of the surgery, and she approved it; I reminded her a month in advance, then again a week before, then two days before...

... Naturally, she called me up past 10 the night before I had to undergo surgery, telling me that she had a cough and couldn't work, and that I would have to cancel my appointment and cover her shifts for the next three days. Mind you, I'd been in constant pain for a very long time because of my stupid teeth, and cancelling my appointment would mean another 6 months of pain and possibility of serious infection.

She game me a warning because I refused to answer her calls for that week. Stupid bitch.