I'm working in hopsitality. Spent the last 10 years hopping from place to place. From washing the dishes, managing a team over 20 people. I did everything, you can imagine in lower levels in the industry.
At the moment I'm at a million pound company, with over 1500 employees. For the past 2 months, we have been asked for feedbacks and asked to do loads of training on the business and their brand which stands for loyalty, honesty and family.
Things are okay, I can manage to live on 3 day weeks, working 36 hours over the weekend and spending all of my free time to kickstart my own project.
We are working on a road base, my usual day looks like 11.00-21.30 or so and I am being asked to do overtime pretty much every other shift I do. Problems started months ago but last week it boiled over.
I have a manager who constantly tries to emotionally blackmail me to stay longer. Making nasty comments (when for example I'm scheduled till 8 pm, and at 8.30 I say I'm pretty much done and if I'm not needed I would like to go) that it's me again and I am problematic. Stuff like that.
The other day, I left on time without being asked and the manager in question complained about me to another one and decided that for rotad staff it will be a requirement to stay at least an extra hour on top of their scheduled time without notice. For obvious reasons I was not happy about the situation. I told this in person to manager 2, who told me there will be a meeting to inform the team about this and I can raise my concerns with manager 1 on person. However, out of the 3 managers we have, only manager 2 will be present at the meeting. So I got upset and told her if this will be raised in front of the team, I'm going to stand up and speak in front of everyone about what the issue is with this.
I have been ignored and instead of bringing this up on person, on a meeting, they posted a note in our WhatsApp group. I was on shift when it's been posted. Not gonna lie, I lost my shit. Contacted manager 1 and 2 and explained them that it was unfair, and I am going to be part of the conversation if it stays up like this. Instead of doing anything, that started pointing fingers at each other, saying who's idea the whole thing was.
So I lost it.
Here's the message they posted.
'Hello Team 🤩
Thank you for a great week. We’ve beaten our forecast by £1k thanks to that crazy Saturday we already talked about
Rota for the week commencing 20th November has just been approved by our area manger.
Guys! I had to shave minutes / hours here and there so that were in line with the budget.
You’ll see some funny end times chefs. 21:45 means you’re on a close with the other chef who’s on a 22:15. You guys are very good with staying and helping each other close down.
Waiters. Can we agree that if your shift shows 8pm or 9pm finish you allow yourself an extra 30 mins as we can’t add this on the rota beforehand but obviously if a busy day requires it we will need you. “
And here's my answer
'I was considering for very long if I should reply publicly, but since it has been put on the group chat, I think I have every right to publicly raise my concerns.
First of all, even without nameshaming me, it is kind of obvious that the post about the hours was addressed to me. I feel it really unfair that the issue has been addressed this way rather than talking to me personally. Especially given the fact that I HAVEN'T even been asked to stay longer on Saturday.
I don't think I'm being unreasonable wanting to finish on my scheduled time as I am an employee, not a slave. It bugs me much that people, who are doing their best working hard get pushed harder, while we have people who don't even turn up for their shifts.
I also remember, how (without name calling) we have a manager that refused to stay for a booking of 40, when we needed help. What are these if not double standards?
We just had problems regarding staff food as well. As it has been made very clear, we cannot offer our staff food to each other. How is it possible that a manager can just walk in with their friends and claim their staff food from the previous day? Talking about double standards…
A better solution for this problem would be to give us more hours and everyone would be happy to finish earlier. Or put out an incentive that motivates people to stay longer.
If we are being serious about this being a requirement, could you please point me to the policy that staying longer is a requirement for everyone? Last I checked, for rotad employees, it's a 48 hours notice prior the shift starts is the legal requirement prior the start of the shift, otherwise it's up to the employees good will to accept the changes or not. Regardless of the business being hospitality or not.
And I think I have been flexible with this in the past, so this whole thing, and the way it has been presented is really bothering me.'
And it all exploded after this message. I didn't even name all the problems I see.
Anyway, manager1 removed my message and called me out for how I act and how in that group it's only managers, who can post. (Which is bullshit)
I answered that they raised a problem to the whole team, I'm only joining the conversation to find a solution. And posted my message again. Got removed and I have been kicked out from the group.
Meantime, manager 2 was in shift with me. After seeing what's happening she started to scream at me. Tried to confiscate my phone saying, it's policy. Told her it's not a problem. Here's my phone and I'd like to see you put yours in the locker as well. As it's company policy as you said. I have been tried to be sent home, which I refused as I couldn't see why couldn't I work.
Anyway, after this, I have been called problematic, ununderstanding and drama king.
They can say what they want. Never been as proud as that night. Some of my coworkers were giving me a clap as I walked out after my shift that night.
Since then, I had my chat with their manager as well. And I'm not backing down. I don't want drama, I don't want special treatment. I wan CHANGES!
Sorry for the long post, thought some of you might enjoy the story.