Employment query

[Tocken]

Hi everyone. Am i too involved? My daughter 20 yrs has struggled to find employment during her summer university break. However, since June she secured a position in a local shop. This was perfect, walking to work. Minimum 2 shifts per week days/afternoons, minimum wage. She has been flexible and worked whatever she was requested to do on a rota, never late, available 7 days per week, presentable, willing to learn new tasks, working late to clean and close up and friendly with customers. However, following the managers/owner return after a 3 week holiday, he has mentioned, she needs to start working more independently (putting 2and2 together the supervisor has fed back to him whilst she was covering in his absence) and depending how things goes over the next few days, this will be her last week at work. She was shocked and deflated. I advised to ask the manager exactly what he wants her to be doing independently? (Staff work has a team in the shop and are given their duties at the start of every shift, she is always busy working. The manager did not elaborate when she asked.)

I feel so upset for her. She has worked double shifts some days, walking back and forth.

I have checked her statement of employment and there would be no claim if he terminates the post. She would need 1 weeks notice and holiday pay. The employed commenced end of June.

I really want to ring the manager and if she does lose her job I will find it difficult to resist!!!!!

thank you 😊

I really want to ring the manager and if she does lose her job I will find it difficult to resist!!!!!

Do you see any correlation between your attitude and your daughter’s issue?

What do you deem as “my attitude”?

She's 20. Yes it would be wrong to get that involved although it's quite natural to be upset on their behalf.

Do they mean things like not dealing with obvious things like jumping on the till if there are customers waiting or cleaning something when it's obvious?

Is this her only work experience? What had been the feedback on her other jobs?

Obviously I haven no idea what your daughter is like at work, but I would say, having worked in shops, this is an unusual experience and would normally only apply to people who are very lazy, have a bad attitude or do something against company policy. Even if she was pulled up on something, it would be specified and she wouldn't be given a warning like that unless she'd done something serious, like sell alcohol to a minor. You say your daughter is hardworking and approachable, so I am going to guess that this is a small, independent shop and they want to get rid of her to suit themselves, i.e. don't want to pay her. It's probably not worth pursuing since she is going back to uni soon. I would advise her to look for another job next holidays, in a big supermarket chain or something, where this wouldn't happen.

It sounds a bit like unless she is given a task she doesnt do anything. So yes she might be always busy working but this is because someone has had to say to do X and when she finishes that she asks what to do next rather than be able to identify tasks and get on with them unprompted.

As she is 20 you need to stay completely out of it. Offer her advise at home but do not contact her employer.

Maybe but the treatment is still harsh - usually someone wouldn't be threatened with dismissal even if they did have to be directed to tasks, as long as they got on with it.

Perhaps she isn't needed now Manager is back and she hasn't done anything wrong itms and it's just an excuse. Not nice for her

I'm sure she will get a good reference

Yes but if you took them on becauae they were handy to have around while you went on holiday for 3 weeks but now University is going to be going back in a month or so and you are not that bothered about keeping them on when they are less available its a handy excuse.

It's possible that she doesn't notice what needs doing and doesn't do anything she hasn't been explicitly asked to do - quite a common approach for younger people in their first job. It's partly a confidence thing.

Absolutely do not get directly involved under any circumstance!

Ask her to ask for some examples and have her think about things that she can try and do independently. Is she asking a lot of questions/seeking reassurance all the time/ waiting to be told what to do etc?

definitely don’t ring the shop

It's perfectly understandable you're upset on her behalf.

But she needs to ask what she can specifically do to improve.

Problem is they've told her this verbally and she'll ask verbally and as she has under 2 years continuous employment with them they can do this. So they could tell her, she could do it or be doing it and they can still say not enough and get rid. Unfair and I hope they change this but it's the current rules.

Thank you. No she has had 2 warehouse positions last summer and never had anyone say this before! We are not really sure and when she asked for clarity there was no elaboration.

I think you could be right about suiting themselves. A new girl started yesterday and she was showing her how to do things??? Maybe I’m being sceptical here?? She was going to continue working there whilst at uni as the shift pattern would work, I agree with supermarkets, it just seems hard for students to secure employment when looking for part time work away from home.

I understand your thought process. I have asked my daughter all the usually questions. She is definitely not lazy and does show initiative by emptying bins etc when it is quiet. Thank you

Do not contact your adult daughter’s employer. I doubt they would engage with you for one (my company wouldn’t), it’s cringeworthy for two and won’t do any good anyway. Support from the sidelines of course.

I agree. It was an unexpected comment and left her feeling deflated and uncomfortable. I thought she was brave to query the comment and it demonstrated she cared about the job. In my opinion the shop manager should have spoken to her in private and able to give examples so it was very clear what he expected! She has felt under pressure the last 2 days not knowing if she was going to be given notice or not! Yesterday’s shift went the same as usually, it was super busy and she was on the tills the whole shift, nothing was mentioned about the comment. The managers wife has even given her shifts for next week (my question was to her, is this your notice period?) she is confused and not sure whether to stay quiet or speak to the manager!

Thank you. I understand.
it’s purely for my own satisfaction as I feel she won’t be the only student/pupil (all young staff who work there) succumbed to this treatment. My employment adviser friend advised this is not the way we expect employers to treat employees.

Yes I thought this too. Thank you.

I agree. Thank you.

I do too. I understand there are lots of employed adults worried about their income /expenditure. Students are the same with the pressure of exams, rent, food etc. The last thing they need is to find themselves unemployment unfairly!

Thank you for your advice!

Thank you.

Thank you.

Your attitude of being an overbearing parent who wants to swoop in and interfere in employment matters involving your adult daughter.

You seem to feel that the employer is in the wrong here and that you need to act in a manner that’s hostile towards them. You’re threatening to ring them.

What would you say to them if they dismissed your daughter and you did indeed ring them?