DS17 has a job at a supermarket stacking shelves. He was given a fixed term contract in the summer which finished at the end of September.
He spoke to his manager and asked whether it would be extended or whether that was it. Manager said he'd extend to the end of October and DS explained he needed some time off in October due to two 18ths and a family holiday. Manager verbally agreed as DS couldn't book on the app due to shifts not showing (as contract had ended).
DS rang me from work Friday saying Manager was now refusing the time off for family holiday as he had too many off. Didn't realise it was half term. I chatted it through with him and DS went back to him and explained about the verbal agreement but also that it was a booked family holiday.
Manager then said he had to try and get cover which DS has tried, or speak to a different manager or leave. DS cancelled Sat leave and worked but different manager wasn't in. He had picked up an extra shift today and tomorrow and I've said he MUST get this sorted as we are going away Friday no matter what.
Contract has expired so no notice period either way. Ive told DS he needs to say something like "Im sorry there's a rota issue but I am going on a family holiday which cant be changed. Im happy to do a morning shift on Friday but I won't then be in for a week."
Had we known the manager was going to backtrack then he'd have just left at the end of the contract but cant change that now.
Ideally he wants to keep the job as they're hard to get but he has saved up a lot so would be ok for money.
Im a manager but not in retail. My thinking is that it's better to suck it up as will need staff in run up to christmas. Easier to keep one thats already in post than have to recruit, onboard and train someone else.
My instinct is to just go in and sort it but I know I cant do that. I need to support DS with the conversation. He's a pretty introverted teen boy so finds these conversations hard. And at 17 they are nearly adults but also still children in a way.
Any advice?