For DS to file a grievance?

[Champagneme]

DS (19) works for a supermarket chain. They are not giving him his contracted hours.

Last week he had a probation meeting with manager A, but manager A didn’t show and manager B took the meeting instead half an hour late.

DS was told he was not meeting company standards as he is too slow when stocking shelves. He replied that he is always put on tills by manager A, so can’t get the shelves done as well. He also wasn’t aware of any issue as no one had spoken to him.

So manager B who is fair, gave DS an additional 2 weeks to prove himself on stocking shelves.

Week 1 - DS wasn’t given a single hour

Week 2 - DS was given half his amount of hours and asked manager A for the rest today. She told him that he’d have to go to another store, which he can’t as the suggested one is too far away.

DS came home after working extra hard to try to prove himself, felt cross, checked his contract, phoned work and explained to manager A that he was entitled to his contracted hours and before he took things further with head office, was there anything she could do.

Manager A took umbrage with this and asked him to repeat what he had said. DS reiterated that he would go to HR/Head office. That the situation was both inconsiderate and insufficient. He remained calm and polite, but she was clearly cross.

Manager A told him that he was supposed to fail probation last week and that’s why he hadn’t been given hours. That manager B had extended his contract by two weeks out of the goodness of his heart and that DS hadn’t completed all the online training so that would be going in the next probation meeting now.

But then she did give him the rest of his hours…and then hung up on him.

DS really would like to start the company grievances process, but I think it would be better to just approach manager A, explain how he feels he’s be treated unfairly and offer feedback in that way. Though I guess it’s not really my business.

I have posted about DS/work before and have name changed this time due to specific details being outing.

Any advice for me to advise DS would be appreciated.

YABU - don’t file grievance
YANBU - follow company grievance process

He's already spoken to Manager A and this resulted in no hours. He can't fail probation if he hasn't had a chance to actually do the task he's allegedly failing on.
He should go down the formal route as at least it will then be documented rather than a he said/she/he said situation.

Thank you. That’s his argument to be fair, but I’m also conscious of getting people into trouble.

At this stage, they can get rid of him for pretty much any reason they want as long as it's not illegal or discriminatory.

Yes, and I’m pretty sure that’s how it going to go.

Surely they will just fail his probation, it doesn't sound like he will be treated well there so perhaps best to look for something else.

Grievance
include breach of contract as the main point
Add in unreasonable goals, lack of training etc
Refer to their own policies in their handbook regarding training etc

However, bear in mind that with such short service it is - unfortunately- very easy for a company to dismiss someone without come back (unless it’s a discrimination covered by law obviously or the criteria for automatic unfair dismissal is met)

Yes, he is looking and he’s decided to go to uni in Sept now, so it’s not a huge loss anymore. But he feels that he wants to complain.

So what's the purpose of the complaint?

He feels he’s been treated unfairly and would like that raised with the person in question. He wants them to be held accountable and not be allowed to treat people poorly.

Nothing will be done, it will be a wrist slap if anything at all happens, but I doubt it would even go past getting deleted from someone's inbox or just being filed away somewhere. They won't be held accountable.

Best to concentrate on finding a new job.