I used to manage an amazing pub/restaurant back in my old city. It’s a 16th century coaching inn that had recently had a multimillion pound refurb. I more or less got on with the owner but I knew he could be a bit of a tool so I kept my eye on him. I hired all the staff and worked closely with them, they were all 18-25 and I was early to mid 30’s at this point so I saw them as kids that were my responsibility. I genuinely liked nearly every member of staff I ever hired and wanted the best for them. ….
Here’s where we get into it – every week I’d input the hours my staff worked and send it over to the gaffer to pay. One day about 5 years into my tenure he told me he was taking over that job, obviously alarm bells rang as he’s a known penny pincher. As anyone that’s worked this job knows, it’s common for staff to stay later than rota’d quite often if the place is really busy or someone calls in sick. My staff were happy to help me out as they know i’d help them out if needed and often they need the extra cash. My boss decided that if people worked late or came in early then they wouldn’t be paid for it. Staff that accounted for that money were left short that week. I had 18 year old girls crying on my shoulder saying they can’t eat, I was furious. I ranted at my boss and he gave excuses and said he’d look into it and refused to reimburse staff for what they’d worked.
Luckily at this point I’d lined up a new job because f*ck this guy. I went to work on the next shift and my replacement in the evening (just as it was getting busy) was late. Now I’m no sucker, I do not work for free and neither do my staff. I went around the pub and told every customer that we were closing and told them why. I took food off people and returned there cash and threw it in the bin. I sent all the staff home and text my boss telling him “hey the assistant manager was late taking me off, as I knew I wouldn’t be paid for this extra work I’ve closed your pub”. Maaaaan he was going crazy. Phone rang off the hook and got ignored. I was put on gardening leave meaning I was getting paid for no work for a bit, I went into a disciplinary meeting hoping to be fired (so I could appeal and get more gardening leave) but they knew that I had too much on them so they tried to just give me a ticking off. At which point I told them about themselves in no uncertain terms and then quit, in the following week the entire staff except the ass man quit too.
The pub is on its arse now and he’s trying to sell but no one wants it as it’s underperforming and will cost a fortune.
Posted on Pro revenge and malicious compliance but was removed for not being Pro revengey or malicious compliancey enough. Maybe anti-work can be it’s home?