To think that management are pretty poor?

[Glassmatt]

DC16 “Chris” started a new job about 2 months ago. Waiting on in a local restaurant chain, only a couple of 3.5 hours shifts a week.

We’re going to Wales for a few days in 3 weeks so I told Chis to tell work they won’t be able to do one of their shifts where we’re away (Typical, the rota had only been done the day I booked the holiday) so sent an email to work Tuesday gone, but no one replied, then he told one of the managers this morning (when he was at work) who basically wasn’t interested and was no help. She said “ermm ask someone to cover it”. He doesn’t know anyone really as he’s hardly worked there. There is a group chat so he put it in that and asked if anyone would like it or to swap it and no ones replied as of yet.

We’re going away so the shift won’t be covered but to think it’s poor that no one replied to the email in the first place, then the manager was basically not bothered/unhelpful. He’s panicking now, thorough no fault of his own. I would have expected them to say ‘see if you can get it covered but don’t worry if not’. In the future if they don’t reply to emails, what’s going to to happen? How are employees supposed to let them know before the rota is even done, such as if there are dates they’re away/unavailable?

As I say he’s only 16. When I was booking it, I wasn’t thinking it would be a huge problem at his work.

WTF is supposed to happen now? We’re going away regardless. I know the main manager (not the one that was unhelpful today) and I’m very tempted to message them directly as I feel Chris has done all he can. Help!

You’re supposed to request holidays in any job and then book the holiday once granted. I understand it’s just a little part time job but I think you’ve put him in a really awkward position. I hope you sort it for his sake really, it’s a really difficult age to ask for things. That said, they should respond to emails.

Does he not have any form of contract? That would say how much notice to give about not being able to work a shift.

How did you book time off for the holiday OP? How much notice do you have to give to your employer?

Well your point seems to be it's everyone else's fault but definitely not your son's for failing to request the time off correctly, or yours for booking a holiday and not considering that he has a job and time off at any age for any employer needs to be requested.
You're keen to blame anyone else, but you're his parent, when considering this holiday and knowing your son had a job, why didn't you ask him about the holiday procedure before you booked it and then if he didn't know, wait until he did and had requested the holiday time and had it granted or denied?

You've got no respect for his job. If someone booked a holiday for you without checking you could get it off work and then insisted you go on the holiday anyway, would you be fine with it?

His workplace might be a bit slapdash but it's each employee's responsibility to follow holiday booking procedures. If they don't know, they need to ask a colleague, a supervisor, or a manager - easier to ask in person during the shift. The policies are usually in some kind of staff handbook and he'd have been shown that on his first day or at least told where it is. Again, if he forgot or didn't know, he could ask.

He's either going to lose his job or if mummy speaks to the manager and gets it sorted, he'll look like a twat in front of his colleagues. Mummy knows the manager so he can piss off on holiday even though he's only been working there two minutes and some other poor bugger has to cover his shift.

This is really embarrassing for him.

Is he on a fixed hours contract or zero hours?
workplaces treat young people badly and don’t seem to take the time to explain how things work unfortunately.
my DD18 is on her third park time job and they have all treated her badly.
if he is zero hours then he has no obligation to work the shift or find cover.
i know it’s tempting but don’t get involved and contact anyone. Your DS needs to navigate this on his own.