Job advice help

"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
05/16/2016 at 20:30 • Filed to: None

I need some help formulating a response that I can text to my boss over at the diner. Currently, I work Thursday night, Friday night, and Sunday morning. The owners (my boss because it’s little family run place) are going away for three months starting this Sunday. She wanted me to work a little more once I graduate. I was thinking maybe a shift or two. She sends me this.

Server. Cashier

Mon. 11-4. 4-8

Tue. 11-4. 4-8

Wed. 11-4. 4-8

Thur 11-4. 4-8

Fri. 11-4. 4-8

Sat.

Sun. 8-2

Saturday I have off because I’m at the dealership from 8-6 pm. That’s over 50 hours a week there. And it’s not even prime hours. In my town, out of season, I’ll be lucky to get two tables from 1pm-5pm. So, making $5 an hour means I could make more at a normal job getting normal $8 an hour without tips.

I was planning on working just another night or two until I leave in July. I don’t even know what to say back. How do I respond to something this crazy? And it’s over text, and I can joke around a little with her. But I’m speechless over this request.

DISCUSSION (23)

Die-Trying > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 20:43

there comes that time in your life, where you flat gotta stand up and tell someone “thats just not going to happen”..... then tell her what YOU are WILLING to work.( decide before you call)...... then stick to what YOU have decided that you are WILLING to work, and dont deviate.

man up....

e36Jeff now drives a ZHP > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 20:44

politely say no and counter with a schedule more reasonable to you.

Steve in Manhattan > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 20:49

“For 15 bucks an hour, I’ll do this. For 10 bucks an hour I’ll do 2/3 of it. Otherwise, I quit. I am done.”

smobgirl > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:00

If I'm reading this right, you're serving all the crappy shifts and cashiering all of the shifts that would be profitable as a server? Also...do they pay you overtime for the hours over 40? That sounds totally unfair.

ttyymmnn > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:01

That’s a crazy schedule. What sort of breaks do you get? I would ask for at least two full days off. One of them would have to be during the week, but that’s a nuts. Especially for only $5/hr. You’d do better working at McDonald’s.

Bytemite > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:02

Holy shit. 50 hours of work for no benefits and no overtime? Fuck that.

Kinja'd!!!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > smobgirl
05/16/2016 at 21:03

Basically.

And Florida doesn’t require overtime if you make tips. So, I’ll get the same pay regardless.

It’s absolutely insane unless she wants to pay me to be a manager. Which isn’t going to happen.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Steve in Manhattan
05/16/2016 at 21:03

That’s why I’m only working until June 21...

And the fact that without the owners it’s probably gonna turn into a shitshow

Die-Trying > smobgirl
05/16/2016 at 21:05

as a waiter most folks get $3 an hour TOPS. time and a half is $4.50

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > ttyymmnn
05/16/2016 at 21:05

18 now. No breaks. “Breaks” will be when the restaurant is empty and I can sit at the bar to watch some TV.

And that’s the problem. Especially when McDonalds is offering $9 an hour. During the “babysitting shift” as we call it (when no one is in the place from 2pm-5pm) I’ll be making less than standard.

ttyymmnn > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:06

Time for a new job.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Die-Trying
05/16/2016 at 21:08

That’s what I’m going to have to Do. It’s just hard for me because that’s not who I am. I’m not a confrontational person and do usually get pushed around because of that and the fact that I’m a hard worker.

Rust and Dust - Oppositelock Forever > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:08

Quite frankly, it sounds that she’s asking you to be a manager now, just without the pay.

smobgirl > Die-Trying
05/16/2016 at 21:10

Yeah but cashiering should be at least $5, maybe more depending on where he lives and whether that still counts as a tipped position due to tip-outs. Also don't know what day of the week is the first for their finances (was Tuesday at the restaurant I worked at) and what shift will then end up overtime. I would piss off our managers by ending up on a salad bar shift for overtime, at $15/hour (rather than 1.5x $2.13, which was my server pay rate). Just trying to help him scam the system the best.

smobgirl > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:13

Yeah, I would AT LEAST demand to serve some of the better shifts. But that’s too much time for the pay.

I know when I served you had to make at least state minimum wage when they added the $2.13 plus tips, or else the restaurant had to make up the difference (not that they ever did) but I was at least at a place that had late nights and lots of alcohol so I was only suffering during Mon-Tues lunches.

Steve in Manhattan > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:16

Get into a lifeboat before the ship goes down.

Die-Trying > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:21

you dont have to get CONFRONTATIONAL(no need to argue or get insulting) . you just have to stand up, and stand firm for yourself. decide what YOU are WILLING to work. and stick to it....... time to grow some courage. it will serve you well in life.

everyone gets pushed around.........until they dont.

RyanFrew > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:25

“Sorry, NAME, I think there might have been a miscommunication. I am happy to pick up an extra shift or two, but can’t take on the schedule that you’ve outlined. This equates to more than 40 hours of work, throughout which I’ll be earning less than minimum wage. It just doesn’t make sense for me. Would you be open to discussing allowing me to step into a managerial role?”

If you’re set on leaving soon, it might be better to just leave that last sentence out.

Die-Trying > smobgirl
05/16/2016 at 21:27

and then get cut early, because youre killing labor. great idea

smobgirl > Die-Trying
05/16/2016 at 21:35

Win-win!

bob and john > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/16/2016 at 21:56

You grow a pair of balls and tell her you cant work that much.

Is it really so hard?

BoulderZ > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/17/2016 at 01:13

Nope, that’s a bridge too far. As, others have mentioned, you only need to be “polite but firm”. If you want to offer something (and be specific, like “extra shift on Thursday and Friday as server”), mention it, but otherwise it’s time to move on. It’s okay for the owner(s) to ask. It’s also okay for you to counter-offer, or even just say “no thanks”.

Everybody has some hard work patches, especially starting out. Holding two jobs, seeing how long you can go without a day off, and so on. But 50+ hours per week at $5/hour in 2016? Unless you have a violent felony on your record, you could do better applying while drunk and interviewing while high, and you have every right to (professionally) do so.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
05/17/2016 at 02:33

Time for a new job. Seriously, this is insane.