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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

DD walked out of job

100 replies

MiansyMoo · 13/08/2017 20:16

Will try and keep short. DD is 18, recently got first job at local supermarket. Had an induction where she was waiting around for hours, signed a ten hours minimum contract waiving her right to work less than 48 hours a week, even though the position was advertised as part time.

She signed it anyway. Like I said, first job.

At first shift, she was left alone for four hours before someone came and realised she was there at work. Apparently everyone ignored her request for help, was very unfriendly and rude. On top of this, she was also not given the door code to get in, not given any duty manager numbers, or any information about what duties she was supposed to carry out.

She had her second shift yesterday. Again, she said she was given no duties, no guidance, just left in the store despite her induction consisting of just signing a contract. No training was given at all, aside from a brief e-course.

She said she roamed around the store for six hours completely clueless, before eventually walking out during the shop hours.

DH thinks she has behaved appallingly and has no sympathy. However, although she is 18, it's her first job and she was up all of Friday night anxious and even crying as she had no idea what the hell she was supoosed to be doing. On top of that, she hasn't been put on the rate of pay advertised at the interview and they've given her 45 hours next week, not the 20 she agreed too.

AIBU to side with DD on this? Not saying walking out of a job is right, but it clearly was making her very unhappy

OP posts:

Welldoneme · 13/08/2017 20:46

I have quit before the end of the first week was up.
At the interview I was shown the office where my desk would be with the other admin colleagues, great I thought I really liked the look of the place.

When I actually started I was shoved in a portakabin on my own, no one showed me where the toilet or canteen facilities were so I didn't bother going back.

Fluffypinkpyjamas · 13/08/2017 20:47

She did the right thing, what a dreadful place. Your DH should be proud of her.

Topseyt · 13/08/2017 20:47

I can also absolutely believe this. Through people I have known rather than my own personal experience.

Original poster

MiansyMoo · 13/08/2017 20:48

She wasn't interviewed by the manager, and then given the uniform at the end of the interview.

She was then told what time to come in on her next shift and was told to find a rota 'behind the till point.'

There was a duty manager on shift both times. The first shift he told her to 'tidy stuff up' and on the second shift DD asked a colleague who said there was nothing to do apart from tidying, as she was not trained to operate any of the ladders needed to reach shelves (so couldn't really tidy anyway ) and is not till trained. She said she felt like a spare part.

The store is a value store, very high shelves, very high stacking... but employees are strictly forbidden to use any equipment unless trained.

And DD did also admit that an eight hour shift of vague 'tidying' was a complete bore.

OP posts:

yorkshireyummymummy · 13/08/2017 20:49

I would get her to write a letter to the store manager and send a copy to the heard office HR department. What is the point of advertising, interviewing , doing the paperwork and then just dumping somebody into a store where they have no idea what they should be doing? As a side note, They obviously don't need the extra staff though do they? Also, just out of interest, did they phone your daughter/ her home to find out where she was? They wouldn't have known where a member of staff was who technically should be on shift, therefore the store manager is partly responsible for his/ her staffs safety. What if she had had an accident somewhere on the premesis and was injured, unable to call for help?? You really should report them to head office, atrocious way to treat a young woman in her first job.

ScissorBow · 13/08/2017 20:49

I was treated like shit in a retail job and walked out on day 5. My DF told me he was impressed I lasted that long! (It was a shitty shit shit of a company which he knew and naive me didn't) It's OK to quit. It's OK to try and find out something is not for you. Hear other people's stories at sticking at stuff they wish they'd jacked in.

Ihavepatrick · 13/08/2017 20:49

Team DD here too

SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 13/08/2017 20:50

I'm team DD and I think your DH is a massive hypocrite given that he did the same. Usually, I'd say stick it out but in this case, she was totally in the right and was treated appallingly.

PoorYorick · 13/08/2017 20:55

Team daughter.

Viviennemary · 13/08/2017 20:56

I'd question her version of events. I'd find it hard to believe there was no supervisor or anyone in charge she could have informed she was going home. But if it's all true then she probably did the right thing to walk out. Wouldn't bother mentioning even being there on a CV. It's unusual for absolutely everyone to be unhelpful.

Witchend · 13/08/2017 20:59

And DD did also admit that an eight hour shift of vague 'tidying' was a complete bore. that does sound like she just didn't want to do it. Yes, tidying is a complete bore, but if there was plenty to do then it was reasonable to tell her her job was tidying and not expect to instruct further.

londonrach · 13/08/2017 20:59

Well done op. Wish id walked from a job when i was being bullied aged 19....uni broke the cycle but as a result i now interview anyone giving me an interview as no way do i want to get involved in such a hostile situation. If i had my life experience now id have walked. (By the way interviewing the interviewers seems to work very well for interviews which wasnt why i do it)

londonrach · 13/08/2017 21:00

I meant well done dd!

HunterofStars · 13/08/2017 21:03

Good on your DD. I once walked out of a voluntary job as a receptionist for a charity who sold second hand furniture because I wasn't prepared to give up my free time to be abused down the phone because furniture wasn't picked up on time. Not only that but everyone kept disappearing for coffee breaks leaving me to deal with the phones.

Pantryboy · 13/08/2017 21:06

Whatever the circumstances , I feel the zero hours contract and having to be available to work for 48 is enough reason to jack it in. I hate these contracts they are like they have control over your whole life.

Topseyt · 13/08/2017 21:12

As an earlier poster asked, did they even notice that she had gone? It doesn't sound like it.

Will they even notice when she doesn't go back? Maybe, or maybe not.

I once had a job I had to leave after less than a month, for my own sanity. It was full of men who treated women like shit. I found out too that I was far from the first who had quit that actual job. Nobody else had lasted any longer there either.

Your DD definitely did the right thing. It didn't affect my employment prospects even though I had to leave with nothing else yet lined up. I just explained to anyone who interviewed me subsequently exactly what had gone on, and had another (and much better) job within about three weeks.

There is no reason why this should have any adverse effect on your DD either.

OnionKnight · 13/08/2017 21:14

I'd have walked out on the first day TBH.

Team DD.

WeAllHaveWings · 13/08/2017 21:14

Sorry, I'm with your dh, it's all very well walking out of a job when you've got mummy and daddy to pay your bills, but not in the real world.

It's was only day 2, she should have complained until she got somewhere, or stayed to get her wages to pay her way while looking for another job.

Walking out of the store on day 2 without discussing with anyone sounds more like an immature sulkly teenager with no regard to the consequences of having no money than principled and I'd be very disappointed if ds did this.

zzzzz · 13/08/2017 21:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Spangles1963 · 13/08/2017 21:23

I feel sorry for your DD OP. I don't blame her at all for walking out. In fact,I did something similar about 20 years ago when I was in my early 30s. I thought things might have improved by now. What happened with me was that I left my job in a small shop because a) I was bored and b) we had a new manager who had it in for me. I was over the moon to get a job in a big,very well-known department store. But I was literally thrown in at the deep end. I was given no training whatsoever on how to use the tills,but I was expected to work an 8 hour shift behind the counter,all by myself,and keep calling staff from other counters over every time I needed to serve someone. It was beyond a joke. And it was so embarrassing having to keep explaining to the customers that I was new,sorry I won't be long I've just got to get someone who can operate the till. Not surprisingly,I got a few sarky comments saying that I shouldn't be behind the counter,serving,if I couldn't work the till,as if it was my choice,although I could see their point. I got thoroughly pissed off with it and after the 3rd day (and being told I would receive till training the following week) I walked out. And I've never regretted it. Well done to your DD for not taking any shit.

Topseyt · 13/08/2017 21:23

Wings, it can also be the action of someone who is feeling lost, ignored, intimidated and having their confidence destroyed by unfriendly staff.

I had to leave with no money. I also wasn't living at home either and having only recently finished my student days I was broke with no savings either. I would never have done it by choice, but shit happens sometimes.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 13/08/2017 21:26

Good for her. I don't blame her for walking out. I'd never have had the confidence to make a stand at such a young age.
The way she was treated was disgraceful.

thenightsky · 13/08/2017 21:29

Which supermarket?

(I'm thinking Costco)

BarbaraofSevillle · 13/08/2017 21:30

Is there an area manager she can talk to? What is her role supposed to be and when will the training to use the ladders happen - that's what she needs to be clear about.

Shops aren't in the habit of employing people without giving them duties. Retail workers on here are always saying how short staffed they are, how hours have been cut and there isn't enough time/people to get everything done that needs to happen.

Maybe this 'tidying' or facing up as it is sometimes called - making sure all products are in the correct place, the shelf is tidy and labels to the front etc is the first part of the job and other duties/training will come in time?

StaplesCorner · 13/08/2017 21:36

My DD is 16 and being exploited in a shit job but she keeps wanting to try the next week and see if its ok. Its all I can do to stop myself charging in and giving the manager what for, but then she only does 8 hours a week - if they suggested 45 I'd definitely be in there. Nah, help her look for something else the whole thing sounds like bollocks.

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