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Original poster

McDonalds Disciplinary

102 replies

OlafLovesAnna · 19/03/2022 15:09

My 16 yr old had an investigation today today as he missed one shift (didn't know he had it) and was sick for his next one. All his fault and it's his first job so he's finding his feet. When he went to the meeting today he was told he had to attend a disciplinary meeting next week with a more senior staff member and have sanctions from there.

My question is that given he's not in a union is it wise to ask for someone to accompany him to the meeting. The letter says he could also be accompanied by a colleague.

Also, he's on a 0 hours contract, so presumably they could just dismiss him. He doesn't have any mitigating circumstances, he was just disorganised.

He's quite worried about it and would like to know what to expect.

OP posts:
Orchidsonthetable · 20/03/2022 14:22

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

I'm really surprised at everyone saying how awful it sounds. It's pretty standard to be disciplined for not following the company's procedures.

He missed a shift with no warning or apologies and then didn't phone up in time for his next one. It's absolutely right that he should be disciplined for that whether he's sixteen or sixty.

Me too. I’m quite agog by the responses. This is totally normal procedure and correct, people not Showing up for shift leaves them with issues, and then not calling in till the beginning of shift again leaves them with issues, if he’d followed procedure they could possibly have given someone else the shift. His age is irrelevant, he’s sixteen though not six.
Bananabutter · 20/03/2022 14:23

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

I'm really surprised at everyone saying how awful it sounds. It's pretty standard to be disciplined for not following the company's procedures.

He missed a shift with no warning or apologies and then didn't phone up in time for his next one. It's absolutely right that he should be disciplined for that whether he's sixteen or sixty.

It’s because it’s fast food. People don’t take it seriously as a business and think it doesn’t matter if young people don’t follow policy because “it’s only fast food what does it matter”.
Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 20/03/2022 15:38

So many responses- brilliantly helpful in getting a 360 view.

In answer to a couple of questions he missed the shift because a. he requested that week off because he needed to revise for exams then didn't check the online system to ensure there were no shifts. And b. they didn't call or text him, if they had he would have gone straight in as we only live 10 mins away and he was at home. Easily solved going forwards.

I agree that they same employment procedures have to be followed for everyone. At the moment I think the best thing to do is that he attends the meeting explains, apologises and takes whatever the consequences are. We have had a chat about not worrying about it or getting worked up, if he gets binned it's certainly not the end of the world.

OP posts:
Bananabutter · 20/03/2022 16:06

In answer to a couple of questions he missed the shift because a. he requested that week off because he needed to revise for exams then didn't check the online system to ensure there were no shifts. And b. they didn't call or text him, if they had he would have gone straight in as we only live 10 mins away and he was at home. Easily solved going forwards.

The reason doesn’t matter. The onus is on him to check his holiday has been approved, not just assume it has and not turn up.

Also, management are not babysitters. They don’t have time to be chasing up people who don’t show up, nor should they.

Original poster
OlafLovesAnna · 20/03/2022 16:08

@Bananabutter

In answer to a couple of questions he missed the shift because a. he requested that week off because he needed to revise for exams then didn't check the online system to ensure there were no shifts. And b. they didn't call or text him, if they had he would have gone straight in as we only live 10 mins away and he was at home. Easily solved going forwards.

The reason doesn’t matter. The onus is on him to check his holiday has been approved, not just assume it has and not turn up.

Also, management are not babysitters. They don’t have time to be chasing up people who don’t show up, nor should they.

Of course. You're entirely right. I only mentioned it as someone else asked.
OP posts:
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 20/03/2022 16:09

Did he ever get confirmation that his holiday as approved?

TokenGinger · 20/03/2022 16:11

@Bananabutter

In answer to a couple of questions he missed the shift because a. he requested that week off because he needed to revise for exams then didn't check the online system to ensure there were no shifts. And b. they didn't call or text him, if they had he would have gone straight in as we only live 10 mins away and he was at home. Easily solved going forwards.

The reason doesn’t matter. The onus is on him to check his holiday has been approved, not just assume it has and not turn up.

Also, management are not babysitters. They don’t have time to be chasing up people who don’t show up, nor should they.

She's said all along the onus is on him. What's the point of your nasty comment? He's taken responsibility for it, said it's his fault, apologised to his employer. He sounds like a sensible young man, taking a week off to study. He's made a mistake, which is something he'll learn from and won't do again. There's no need for your snarkiness.
Kenwouldmixitup · 20/03/2022 16:13

Remind hardcore posters - this thread relates to a16 year old child. I am full of respect that they have the courage to turn up to the meeting. Most 16 year olds would run a mile. Star

moonbedazzled · 20/03/2022 16:23

He's 16. This is not going to affect the rest of his life but is a massive learning opportunity. He's stressed now but it'll be over in a few days.
But it's terrible advice for mummy to ring up or for him to just jack things in at the first problem. 16yos are not known for their reliability and they'll be wanting to impress on him, at an early point in the employment, that missing shifts is not on. Their policy is probably blunt tool that won't distinguish between good workers and poor ones. But they won't sack him - they're too desperate for staff. He sounds like a good guy actually, taking this seriously and acting sensibly, and hopefully this is a good life lesson for him.

And you sound like a great mum too - supporting and helping him whilst letting him take responsibility for what he's done.

ChocolateDeficitDisorder · 20/03/2022 17:18

I knew a young man who worked many hours on a 0 hrs contract for McDonalds. He was rostered for both Christmas and New Year and told them clearly that he wouldn't be working a shift on New Years day but that he was happy to work over Christmas, which he did.

They refused to take him off the roster and he didn't turn up for the shift. He was sacked at the disciplinary.

I would encourage your son to find a better employer - MacDonalds are shit.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 20/03/2022 17:28

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

I knew a young man who worked many hours on a 0 hrs contract for McDonalds. He was rostered for both Christmas and New Year and told them clearly that he wouldn't be working a shift on New Years day but that he was happy to work over Christmas, which he did.

They refused to take him off the roster and he didn't turn up for the shift. He was sacked at the disciplinary.

I would encourage your son to find a better employer - MacDonalds are shit.

You can't just refuse to work like that though - no wonder he was sacked!
Sadless · 20/03/2022 17:35

My daughter works for McDonald's and before Christmas she rung up at 7am to tell them she wouldn't be in that day due to illness. Her shift was supposed to start at 11am. She was on loud speaker on the phone and she said she had been sick that morning and the women said you sound too

upbeat to be ill and have you got proof of the sickness. They said she would have to attend a meeting but it never happened.
She's thinking about quitting now because they seem to employ school leavers and every body will be wanting time coming up to exams. She doing a levels.

Sal

NoWordForFluffy · 20/03/2022 17:38

@fairylightsandwaxmelts, you can refuse with a 0 hours contract.

WeirdlyKind · 20/03/2022 18:21

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

I knew a young man who worked many hours on a 0 hrs contract for McDonalds. He was rostered for both Christmas and New Year and told them clearly that he wouldn't be working a shift on New Years day but that he was happy to work over Christmas, which he did.

They refused to take him off the roster and he didn't turn up for the shift. He was sacked at the disciplinary.

I would encourage your son to find a better employer - MacDonalds are shit.

First of all, it's McDonald's. No A!

And no, they're not shit, in general. I've worked for them since 2010 and barring one horrible business manager, had nothing but good experiences! You do have to actually turn up though, same as most jobs!

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 20/03/2022 18:26

[quote NoWordForFluffy]@fairylightsandwaxmelts, you can refuse with a 0 hours contract.[/quote]
Yes, but you still have to follow the company procedure, surely?

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 20/03/2022 18:27

I would encourage your son to find a better employer - MacDonalds are shit.

Most McDonald's are franchises so they're not going to all be the same.

WaitinginVain · 20/03/2022 19:16

My DS works for McDonald's and as an employer they have not been shit.

They also did not allow him to work until midnight at 16.

Orchidsonthetable · 20/03/2022 21:06

@WaitinginVain

My DS works for McDonald's and as an employer they have not been shit.

They also did not allow him to work until midnight at 16.

Surely you know then McDonands is a franchise and much is down to the franchisee?
ChocolateDeficitDisorder · 20/03/2022 21:18

You can't just refuse to work like that though - no wonder he was sacked!

He was on a zero hours contract and gave them plenty of notice. He was not prepared to work both Boxing Day and Jan 1, he was fully prepared to work one of them, which he did. They were told but refused to take him off the rota.

ChocolateDeficitDisorder · 20/03/2022 21:21

He was a Uni student, he found a better job within days.

I wouldn't advise any young person to work for McDs - the very worst of employers.

Frazzled2207 · 20/03/2022 21:25

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

He was a Uni student, he found a better job within days.

I wouldn't advise any young person to work for McDs - the very worst of employers.

Jeez they really are not. I take it you haven’t heard about what P&O ferries did recently?

I worked for McD and it wasn’t my favourite job but I really had no complaints as an employer.

Lurking9to5 · 20/03/2022 21:31

A disciplinary when he's on a zero hours contract! Geez. Just dont give him any more shifts. A long time ago but i worked for mcdonalds as a teen and it was awful. I asked for a courtesy cup of coke (about 50mls) when i was baking on grill, and the manager said yes. I drank it and it didnt touch the sides of my thirst, so i refilled it and drank that too. He came up to me to shame me for stealing. I was dehydrated!

MaChienEstUnDick · 20/03/2022 21:44

The reason for missing the shift is actually highly relevant OP. He needs to go in to the meeting and say 'I requested the week off for study and assumed that would be fine, Of course what I should have done is double checked that the request had been authorised and double checked the rota, so I'm really sorry for that mistake, it won't happen again.'

They may give a warning but essentially it's 'mistake made, employee recognises mistake, employee will take steps to not make same mistake again' which means the manager can tick the box. They're not going to want to sack him any more than he wants to be sacked! Tell him to replace the words 'disciplinary meeting' with 'fact finding meeting' in his head, that may help.

My 16 yo has a job and it is very hard to strike the right balance between encouraging your child's work ethic and making sure the employer isn't taking the actual piss out of them! I'm also pretty sure its illegal for a 16 yo to work until midnight, mine does 6 hour shifts without a break but he won't challenge that. It's tough to watch as a parent but you have to let them find their own way through!

cstx89 · 20/03/2022 21:47

Hey i work in HR and this would be normal process (although a bit extreme). He can be accompanied by TU or colleague.

He should just explain he didn't know he had a shift and can only apologise for it.

For the sick day - did he follow absence procedure? If no - explain why he didnt e.g. wasnt told the process etc.

It should be a verbal warning. Its not a gross misconduct case.

Lurking9to5 · 20/03/2022 21:56

If they start shaming him like he's sold secrets to the russians, then tell him to stand up and leave. His A levels are more important. I was treated like SHIT by mcdonalds and I think it made me feel too grateful to have a job at all and not be sacked / shamed. I always settled for too little, was scared to promote myself, ask for anything, raises, days off. I think the narrative is that these summer jobs are great for you but I never went to university and I think it contributed to me feeling worthless as an employee and channelling too much gratitude to have a job. I should have exuded a bit of ''I could leave'' (of course.)