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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:
ForalltheSaints · 23/05/2019 20:18

Do they have a social media account? Worth posting on that so those who might go there are aware?

ElectricOrgan · 23/05/2019 21:48

Lush did this to me. Two trial shifts. But one of them I was honoured with a few lumps of soap, despite having outsold their paid staff.

I wish I had someone to go in for me and demand payment. I was a child and scared

DarkAtEndOfTunnel · 23/05/2019 22:16

Really glad you got the money for her Star. There's far too much unpaid work expected nowadays and in a time of rising living costs it has to stop.

Anniegetyourgun · 23/05/2019 22:21

Well done you and your DD.

TriciaH87 · 23/05/2019 22:44

I suggest going with and telling them the second trial was not disclosed as unpaid before it was carried out. If she was an apprentice they would have paid her. If they do not pay the 20 owed plus how ever much the 3 hour trial was and an hour for the day she turnt up to be sent away you will be going to the local papers and spreading the word all over social media so no one will want to work for them. If they think it will damage the reputation and their business more they may just shell out to keep the peace. I would threaten to contact citizens advice to have them looked into also.

gotosleepalready · 23/05/2019 23:09

Ffs would people RTFT.

ssd · 23/05/2019 23:31

Please can someone tell me about the organisation representing min wage workers in Scotland?

Ghostontoast · 24/05/2019 10:05

I don’t give my custom to employers who rip off their staff so Lush is off my list Electric.

lalasmum11 · 24/05/2019 10:43

Well done OP, our ex aupair had an horrendous experience. We wet expat living in Denmark. She was starting university so could do our aupair anymore. Had got a job as a cleaner with a bedroom in the basement included with a Danish family. Basically cleaning instead of rent.

She moved in her stuff in over the weekend, the family were away and the mother in law staying to supervise her cleaning. She cleaned the house from top to bottom and on the Sunday the mother in law told her she wasn’t needed and she had to pack her bags.

Poor girl, she phoned us in bits. Her family were in Croatia. We had another aupair in the room but we took her back sleeping on the sofa and got her set up with friends of ours for accommodation a few weeks later.

Was so disgusted with that family, treating a 19 year old living in a different country like that.

TheGoalIsToStayOutOfTheHole · 24/05/2019 11:11

The entire sector runs off paying under 18s minimum wage. And now they don't even want to do that.

Also using 'apprenticeships' to get away with paying less. ear every bar/restaurant job I see these days is an 'apprenticeship'. Same with a lot of other places, Subway..offers apprenticeships, in sandwish making Hmm Of course, its not about being able to pay people pennies though, no, no way.

TheGoalIsToStayOutOfTheHole · 24/05/2019 11:14

Anywa, glad you got it sorted OP. This whole thing is quite likely to make your daughter a bit nervous when applying for jobs in the future..it did me. I know some places have legitimate 'trials' but when I was jobseeking, I automatically said no to any asking for a free trial given my esperience of them. Mind, this was back in a time when jobs were plentiful, rather than the state of things today. Back when I walked out of one bar job because the manager was treating me like shit, and within 5 mins had another and started that night..its not like that for people today sadly, with 100+ applicants for every job in my area, thats a shitton of 'free' workers there, should the company chose to be awkward and basically, wankers.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 24/05/2019 11:44

So Costa, Lush,
Anymore big chains I need to add to my list? Already boycotting a posh pub restaurant near us that ripped off my DS for a Sunday lunchtime waiter trial and never contacted him again.

Sistersis · 24/05/2019 11:59

I've been in this position before. My dad did the Clint Eastwood thing. I went in on my own, super scared was just 17 and asked nicely for my outstanding wages of 6 weeks work. He kept making an excuse saying that there was no money. Yet managed to pay himself a bonus...

After he rejected to pay me again, I don't my dad who went it and the guy transferred the money there and then. It was in my account the following day.

It's super scary, but there are people who do take liberties. He also owed colleagues wages as well, those were also all paid the week later. Turned out another parent went there and gave him a good shake down. Never went back there again and stuck to working for big firm in my teens.

There are crooks out there who will rip off and take advantage of young people, especially the small firms when it comes to wage, preying on their inexperience. Knowing my dad was outside was really comforting when I went there. @krustykittens

TheGoalIsToStayOutOfTheHole · 24/05/2019 12:29

Anymore big chains I need to add to my list?

Raddison Blu..though not sure if they still do it. It was maybe 12 years back they did it to me. They probably do still do it tbh if they got away with it as..well why not, if you are solely concerned with profit then free staff is a great thing for you! Like companies who accept workfare people really, with no intention of ever giving them a job at the end, just using them instead of paying staff,

jillb55 · 24/05/2019 17:30

I `would go in her stead, take the money and tell them what I think of them. Hopefully she will never have to suffer such employers again. I wish her luck in the future.

Amitskitshaw · 24/05/2019 17:35

How old is your daughter? If she is 16 or under they should have written permission from her school suing she can work there. I’d collect the £20 with her and then report them to the local authority.

BumbleBeee69 · 24/05/2019 17:38

Well done Mum Flowers

BarnabasTheMaineCoon · 24/05/2019 17:45

Good for you, krusty and DD. Definitely don't let it lie!

Pipps35 · 24/05/2019 17:52

Well done to you and DD Smile

simiisme · 24/05/2019 18:00

They are dodgy AF and I would not want a child of mine - teenage or otherwise - to go near them on their own.
You should ring them & demand that they transfer the cash to her account immediately or you'll go public about their fraudulent business dealings.
Once they've paid, go public anyway.
Also, speak to the local council & let them know that they're running a scam

dirtystinkyrats · 24/05/2019 18:05

I was going to point out she is still of school age if she is 16 and in Year 11 until the last Friday in June so different rules apply eg she does not qualify for minimum wage. Not sure how that works in Scotland though.

HootsBootsShoots · 24/05/2019 18:07

You could you go in with a friend and have something to eat then complain about the meal and not pay for £20 worth?

Or Tripadvisor
Or Facebook
Or Twitter

The world is your oyster

SchadenfreudePersonified · 24/05/2019 18:07

They were VERY nice when we turned up, which threw me a bit because I was getting ready for a knock down, drag out fight.

It's always the way.

When you are prepared, they sense it and are conciliatory.

When you aren't they sense that too, and catch you on the hop.

Someoneonlyyouknow · 24/05/2019 18:12

Don't force your DD to do this on her own if she is getting upset just thinking about it. She should get her money. You want her to be able to fight her own battles but she may need a lesson in how to do this. You can try practising some role plays together but you need to be ready to step in for her. If she can take the lead that's great but she doesn't have to agree to any meeting where they are obviously just planning to bully her. I go ultra-polite in situations where I have to complain.

vasillisa · 24/05/2019 18:12

Round of applause for Smaller. They had it coming. People should not get away with exploiting teenagers. It stinks.

I would tackle them on her behalf. Role models are good to learn from.