Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To make daughter face her bosses on her own

286 replies

krustykittens · 23/05/2019 00:27

I'll try to be brief! My teenage DD approached a family-run restaurant that was looking for waiting staff and was told that she should come in for an unpaid trial and they would let her know. She did, they called her after and offered her a shift, she turned up for it and was told after three hours, when the rush was over, "Oh, this is another trial, unpaid, you can go home now." She wasn't happy but was desperate to land her first job, so when they offered her another shift, which she confirmed would be paid, she went in and again was told to go home after a couple of hours as the boss's son had turned up and wanted to work. Hmm Then, for three weeks, they didn't call her in for another shift, just kept telling her they had no work. A friend told her of a job going at a place she was working in and she got it, did three shifts last weekend. The old place owe her 20 pounds and didn't pay it into her account, instead they told her to come into work tomorrow (an hours journey by public transport) to pick it up and have a meeting with them. They have a track record for being unpleasant as bosses, which she knew before she applied for the job, but she said she would ignore it if it meant getting her first job. Now she is scared they are going to get nasty with her and wants me to come with her. They haven't a bloody leg to stand on with her as far as I am concerned and I think she should just go in and face them and tell them, calmly, that yes, after being left high and dry by them and treated fairly shabbily, she has found another job. She has to learn to be an adult and do things without me at her side. But she is worried sick about tomorrow - should I offer to stand outside the restaurant and go in if she calls me on the mobile to back her up? She is only a kid and these people love to power trip, which is why they are demanding she do a 2 hour round trip for twenty bloody quid! I'll be honest, part of me wants to walk in like Clint Eastwood and demand her money on her behalf! I am driving her in partially because I can do some shopping in the town, partially because I don't want to give these arse holes the satisfaction of wasting her whole morning when she is meant to be revising for exams!

OP posts:
AlyssasBackRolls · 23/05/2019 15:32

Haven't RTFT but I think you were right to step in. As teens we don't automatically know how to handle every situation, this was a stinker, and I think watching you handle them will be really helpful for her, so she has a "model" to work from in the future.

Well done to the pair of you though, glad the outcome was positive.

Dixiechickonhols · 23/05/2019 15:34

I’d go with her. It sounds like she has a lot of get up and go. She applied for the job and clarified re pay etc. They are taking advantage.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 23/05/2019 15:36

when they heard I was an experienced waitress, they asked me if I wanted a job!!!!!

Sorry, but you've almost got to laugh; if you didn't you scream and rend your hair Wink

Very pleased DD got her money - surprised, I admit, but still pleased. I can only assume they realised the game was up when you appeared with her, but please assure DD there's nothing wrong with her attitude (if there was, she wouldn't have got the better job so soon)

And definitely contact HMRC ... DD might have got her money, but there's no way this will stop them trying it on with others

hellsbellsmelons · 23/05/2019 15:37

I'm so glad you went with her.
I too would have gone all mamma bear on their asses!
Well done to your DD as well.

Dixiechickonhols · 23/05/2019 15:37

Just seen your update well done to you both.

DesparateDino · 23/05/2019 15:38

Glad she got her money.

There is a dessert shop near me that does this. They have different 16/17 year olds doing unpaid trials every weekend. My dd wanted to work there but I warned her off. I since found out some of her friends had been conned as well.

QforCucumber · 23/05/2019 15:42

if you want to be pinickity she would also be owed 30 mins holiday pay for a 5 hours shift :)

louise5754 · 23/05/2019 15:46

Being the person I am I'd probably give her the £20 myself 😂

I had a trial cleaning at a play centre. Took myself and someone else 2 1/2 hours and we only got 3/4 of it done.

It looked like it hadn't been cleaned for weeks. Food everywhere, cobwebs etc.

I received an email to say they were getting contractors in. So basically we just got the place looking ok ish before they got someone else in.

I've not been back there as I can't get over how cheeky they were!!

Cafelatte2go · 23/05/2019 15:51

This happened to me years ago when I was young with a Saturday job at Burton's. Announced when we were about to leave after five hours it was 'training' and we wouldn't be paid. I rung up the morning of my first proper shift and told them I wouldn't be coming and explained why. It's disgusting it still goes on.

floribunda18 · 23/05/2019 15:52

Well done, OP. Great update.

QforCucumber · 23/05/2019 15:56

It's shit but even HMRC won't do anything about it. I used to be a general manager in a pub chain, then once I moved to office based work went to take on a casual bar job and was told an hour into a 'first shift' that it would be a trial (Saturday night big football match on) to 'see how you get on and can manage' I walked out at that point as I didn't need to prove for free that I could pull a pint - pretty sure my CV explained that!

ScampiLady · 23/05/2019 15:57

Good she had her money. Take it as a big learning curve.

Dd had a run in with a manager when she started, bordering on bullying.

Her dad gave her tools in how to deal with it, he does a lot with HR in his work.

She stood up to the manager, absolutely wiped the floor with him and everything has been great since.

Dh was all for calling into the bar and introducing himself to the manager, I suggested we leave it to her and if that failed then he can go in full blast.

Jaxhog · 23/05/2019 16:12

I would just get her to ring ahead and ask to speak to the manager and advise she would like the £20 deposited in her account as she's not traipsing in on a 2hr round trip to discuss payment owed. If she struggles on the phone call then by all means take over but if the management have nothing better to do than schedule work time to quibble over a few pounds with a teen then there's something highly amiss.

Me too. They obviously don't actually expect her to come in. But I don't see why they should be let off. If by any chance you do go in i.e. if you're passing, do your best 'polite but firm' mother bear act, and do it in front of their customers.

Jaxhog · 23/05/2019 16:12

Oops, missed the update. Well done OP!

Lovemusic33 · 23/05/2019 16:15

If t was my daughter would be going in with her to collect the money and to tell them to shove any future work.

RedDogsBeg · 23/05/2019 16:21

Judging by their actions and attitude today krustykittens I believe that they knew full well they were wrong, what they are doing is wrong and this isn't the first time they've had teens and their parents bring it to their attention.

Glad to hear your daughter has received her well earned money, that you went to give her moral support and that you are going to report this establishment far and wide they will not change their practices otherwise. Hopefully others may be protected from being conned particularly those who do not feel able to act as you and your daughter have done.

ThatCurlyGirl · 23/05/2019 18:31

Oh yay! What a great update I'm so pleased, you sound like a lovely mum and she sounds like a great girl - you two are a good team! Thanks

SusieOwl4 · 23/05/2019 18:40

my daughter had a job for a few months and basically they treated her really badly and then just sacked her and never paid her what she was owed . It turned out the company was going bust so sacking her for no reason was a cover up . In the end I did go in with all guns blazing and asked them what she had done wrong - the owner admitted she had done nothing wrong. So I asked him how would he feel if his daughter had arrived at work and been treated the way she was? Especially as on some shifts she had been so hot she had to go outside to vomit and then she went back in and carried on working . He apologised and paid her the money in the end and trust me she can stick up for herself now , and I felt better for putting him in his place. then the business folded and I felt even better .

Femalebornandbreed · 23/05/2019 18:46

I would have done exactly the same! Bravo!

Jamiefraserskilt · 23/05/2019 18:48

They owe for the shifts she has done after the first trial. This is a crappy approach to shift covering where they get free labour and it stinks. You go get those asshats mamma bear!

Badbilly · 23/05/2019 19:00

I wonder if someone at the Cafe is a mumsnetter and had read the thread and hence decided to play it “nice”

maxbabi · 23/05/2019 19:08

Pret did this with my dd it was her first trial job. It was decided by the team that she did not get the job.
I won't divulge all what happened but I emailed everyone I could find at Pret so pissed off. Got response but their card is marked I will never buy a thing from them.
I hate the trial unpaid con. We should all call out companies that do it.

mathanxiety · 23/05/2019 19:49

louise5754 they were probably afraid of being reported by the contractors for a bio hazard. Did you see any rodent droppings?

Jimdandy · 23/05/2019 20:15

I’d give her the £20 myself and say you will never let anyone rip you off again.

Fair play to her being so determined to get a job. All the lazy sloths you hear of on here who won’t get a job and still live at home entitled.

PeoniesarePink · 23/05/2019 20:17

Great update OP. You've shown your DD a really positive example.

Swipe left for the next trending thread