Options
Being Sent home from work without pay? Any rights
The Face of Boe
Posts: 843
Forum Member
✭✭
Hi all.
I work as a shift manager in McDonalds and am absolutely furious with the events that transpired today.
I will first give you a bit of background info. Last week it was announced that the CEO of McDonalds UK was due in store for a visit today, me being the kind good natured soul that I am agreed to give up my five days holiday I had booked in order to help them get ready for the visit, this involved working until 3.15am this morning(after a 4.30pm start) and coming back in at 11.00 am( a whopping 7hrs 45 mins between shifts), Now bearing in mind I had probably 5 hours sleep at most, I don't expect to be moaned at as soon as I get in about something that wasn't done the night before. the first event I can recall today was that my friend who also worked until 3.15 last night and started at 10, was abused by the manageress because he dared to go for a break at 1.30pm, I stuck up for him and explained he had about 4 hrs sleep , was knackered and was entitled to a break, which she didnt like.
10 Minutes later someone on front calls for something, I ask back because I didn't catch what she said, She snaps at me then moans to the manageress about my attitude. 2 seconds later the assitant manager comes up to me and tells me that the manageress is sending me home, no explanation given, I ask the assistant why, and all she can say is " don't blame me, I am only following orders".
I can't believe the way I have been treated by such a ungrateful bunch. I did not swear, refuse to do something or anything like that, but by sticking up for a friend and daring to ask what food they were waiting on , I have been sent home in disgace.
Are they within their rights to send me home without pay? Obviously I didnt want to go home and have now lost 5 1/2 hours worth. I am tempted to write them a letter but feel it would get no-where.
I work as a shift manager in McDonalds and am absolutely furious with the events that transpired today.
I will first give you a bit of background info. Last week it was announced that the CEO of McDonalds UK was due in store for a visit today, me being the kind good natured soul that I am agreed to give up my five days holiday I had booked in order to help them get ready for the visit, this involved working until 3.15am this morning(after a 4.30pm start) and coming back in at 11.00 am( a whopping 7hrs 45 mins between shifts), Now bearing in mind I had probably 5 hours sleep at most, I don't expect to be moaned at as soon as I get in about something that wasn't done the night before. the first event I can recall today was that my friend who also worked until 3.15 last night and started at 10, was abused by the manageress because he dared to go for a break at 1.30pm, I stuck up for him and explained he had about 4 hrs sleep , was knackered and was entitled to a break, which she didnt like.
10 Minutes later someone on front calls for something, I ask back because I didn't catch what she said, She snaps at me then moans to the manageress about my attitude. 2 seconds later the assitant manager comes up to me and tells me that the manageress is sending me home, no explanation given, I ask the assistant why, and all she can say is " don't blame me, I am only following orders".
I can't believe the way I have been treated by such a ungrateful bunch. I did not swear, refuse to do something or anything like that, but by sticking up for a friend and daring to ask what food they were waiting on , I have been sent home in disgace.
Are they within their rights to send me home without pay? Obviously I didnt want to go home and have now lost 5 1/2 hours worth. I am tempted to write them a letter but feel it would get no-where.
0
Comments
(Gross misconduct can after a period of suspension (ON PAY) lead to dismissal))
I don't think they can withhold pay unless they have grounds to do so in the contract of employment you signed....is there a clause in there which states that suspension without pay is an option?
Might make 'em taste better, certainly make 'em hotter than you usually get them
I didn't get a reason, apart from the line that " ____ wants you to go home", so no gross misconduct charge or anything like that.
i would include a full summary of what happend including names etc.
and insist you are given a full explanation as to why you where sent home, and what your next course of actionshould be.
you may also want to give the citizens advise a ring too.
good luck op !
I am going to write a letter, I just want to know where I stand from a legal viewpoint.
Seen it all the time.
Good idea, yes go back and tell the manager you intend to hang around to have a quiet word with the CEO about her
Then urinate in the Fries
The ACCAS helpline is really helpful. Why don't you give them a ring? They may be able to tell you the questions you need to ask, advise you on what your should do etc.
http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1565
Be good to know how you get on. Bets of luck and a (((hug))) for your rubbish day.
PS: If you have car or home insurance they often include free legal advice which is provided by trained solicitors.
What are they worrying about in the first place? That it was not clean or tidy? Should it no be if it's a restaurant with food material about?
Your CEO is the least important person in town, they should become worried when the customer is less than satisifed with the place - as in no doubt the CEO would become worried because less customers use it. Though I doubt very much this would happen.
As a shift manager I'm guessing you are salaried so won't lose pay like you would if you were crew.
(or are you a floor manager, in which case you are hourly paid! - was only usually the 2nd assistants, 1st assistants and manager who were salaried when i was there many years ago!)
Making sure the restaurant was sparkling for the CEO, So we can all pretend its always like that:rolleyes:
Salaried , thats a joke. The good old franchised community means I do the job of a salaried manager for the pay of a floor manager.
I'd far rather be a pair of hands short for half a shift, than have someone who is so tired that they may in fact be a danger to themselves and others.
If, however, you have been sent home, and penalised financially as a result then you should get a damn good explanation, and may even need to seek advice from CAB or ACAS.
See the CAB about a tribunal, then when you've screwed as much as you can out of them, give them as much bad publicity as you can.
Good luck.
WHy not **** macdonalds off and go work for a decent company, and take them for as much as you can while you are at it.
nice! id be very tempted!
Where? Sounds good. Do you have a link?
Isnt that illegal? I thought it was something like 8 hours between daytime shifts, and 10 hours at night. Its something like that i think...
I suspect it is only illegal if you are forced to do it ie part of your contract.
When you return to work, stay VERY calm; do not make and accusations, or have a go - let your manager get hot under the collar if they desire, but you stay cool, calm and collected. You are now halfway to winning your argument.
Then, when you get your moment to put your point of view, tell them that you are disappointed with the way that you have been treated; you understood the paramount importance of the CEO's visit, and that was why you felt it would be beneficial for the entire team if you knocked back your holidays, and worked into the small hours of the morning in preparation. You realise, with hindsight, that working such long hours and to such an unsocial hour may well have made you more tired, and even perhaps more sensitive to what was being said to other members of the team , however, given the effort that you and the other team member had put in during the night, you couldn't help leaping to their defence - for that you apologise.
And now the real arse-biter (as long as you have kept your cool):
In addition to this, you were even more disappointed to hear, when speaking to one of your colleagues later in the day, that it had been said in open earshot of others that you "needed sorting out" - this is not the professional attitude that you would expect from a member of management, and that you would have expected to at least be extended the courtesy of a private conversation, particularly if the manager felt you were in need of a 'dressing down' - furthermore, add that you hope the matter can be brought to an agreeable end, and that you will not be suffering financially as a result, particularly in the light of the additional work undertaken over the past few days.
Lose your cool though, and you will lose your argument.