Current Events > Restaurant workers seek ban on surprise scheduling

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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fastfood-schedules-idUSKBN1A20VC

The text message came as Flavia Cabral walked to a McDonald's restaurant in Manhattan for her 6 p.m. shift on a May evening. It was from her manager. Business was slow and she was not needed.

Cabral said she was not too surprised. Her work hours fluctuate almost weekly, though losing an entire shift at the last minute happens only once every few months. This time the canceled shift took a $63 bite out of her average $350 gross weekly earnings from two part-time jobs.

"Every week you're guessing how much money you're going to get and how many days you're going to work," said Cabral, 53, who has been employed at McDonald's for four years.But a measure of relief is coming for Cabral and 65,000 other New York City fast-food workers whose schedules and incomes often change with little or no notice.

New York recently became the largest U.S. city to require fast-food restaurants to schedule workers at least two weeks in advance, or pay them extra for changes.

The law, which the restaurant industry vigorously opposed, also requires employers to allow 11-hour breaks between shifts, offer part-time staff additional work before hiring new employees, and pay retail workers to be "on call." It takes effect late this year.

McDonald's Corp did not respond to a request for comment.

Nationwide, the issue of scheduling is becoming a new battleground in the fight to boost living standards for low-paid workers, waged largely by the "Fight for $15" movement. The five-year-old, union-backed initiative has already helped convince many jurisdictions, including New York state, to raise minimum wages.

In Oregon, a bill that would set regular scheduling for workers at large food service, hospitality and retail companies is awaiting the governor's signature. Similar bills are pending in five other states.

Not only do fluctuating schedules wreak havoc with tight household budgets, they make it difficult to make appointments, arrange child care and plan family time, workers point out.

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Half of them are literally going to replaced by machines yet they continue to whine
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Patty_Fleur posted...

Half of them are literally going to replaced by machines yet they continue to whine

This whining got them a better deal in the meantime so it's hardly pointless. Automation will happen regardless.
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On one hand, stuff like this shows why the supply and demand labor can't be easily explained by theoretical economics.

But on the other hand stuff like this (especially for jobs that can be easily automated) shows that people need to better themselves and get better skills.
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How to quickly be replaced by kiosks, the bill.
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Antifar posted...

New York recently became the largest U.S. city to require fast-food restaurants to schedule workers at least two weeks in advance, or pay them extra for changes.

That's awesome.
If you treat your employees like your personal servants then you can go fuck yourself.

voldothegr8 posted...

How to quickly be replaced by kiosks, the bill.

Implying they won't be firing people to increase that bottom line once the technology is more affordable. We've created such a society that has it's priorities so skewed as to imagine less manual work being done as a bad thing.
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Antifar posted...

New York recently became the largest U.S. city to require fast-food restaurants to schedule workers at least two weeks in advance, or pay them extra for changes.

IMO this is exactly where it makes sense for the government to cut in. The market can govern lots of things, but when you effectively force your employees to be at the ready 24/7 for work or cancellations it ruins their ability to have a life and do the very things that would help them become more skilled and thus graduate up to a better job.
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Damn_Underscore posted...

On one hand, stuff like this shows why the supply and demand labor can't be easily explained by theoretical economics.

But on the other hand stuff like this (especially for jobs that can be easily automated) shows that people need to better themselves and get better skills.

I feel like the other side of that coin is that skilled labor exists in a smaller pool. Even if you get the skills to do something more complex, there aren't as many jobs the further up you go.

Higher automation is going to create a larger unemployed sector and no amount of adaptation is going to fix that.
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Why the hell do companies feel entitled to on-demand servants? If you expect workers to show up, then you must be expected to pay. Free teleportation doesn't exist, it's not free traveling to work.
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These people have no right to complain. Their jobs are dependent upon the company. If the store is dead and they have extra staff or it's busy and they're short handed you work or go home. Don't like it? Too bad go find a real job.
X777WgpUYZ5Hv23 posted...

Antifar posted...

New York recently became the largest U.S. city to require fast-food restaurants to schedule workers at least two weeks in advance, or pay them extra for changes.

That's awesome.
If you treat your employees like your personal servants then you can go fuck yourself.

If you work retail as an adult you have no leg to stand on. This is a mindless job in which you can easily be replaced. Theres zero reason for any Manager to treat you well.

k darkfire posted...

These people have no right to complain. Their jobs are dependent upon the company. If the store is dead and they have extra staff or it's busy and they're short handed you work or go home. Don't like it? Too bad go find a real job.
X777WgpUYZ5Hv23 posted...

Antifar posted...

New York recently became the largest U.S. city to require fast-food restaurants to schedule workers at least two weeks in advance, or pay them extra for changes.

That's awesome.
If you treat your employees like your personal servants then you can go fuck yourself.

If you work retail as an adult you have no leg to stand on. This is a mindless job in which you can easily be replaced. Theres zero reason for any Manager to treat you well.

Do you feel special or something? Is that why you're being belligerent?
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k darkfire posted...

If you work retail as an adult you have no leg to stand on. This is a mindless job in which you can easily be replaced. Theres zero reason for any Manager to treat you well.

I'm going to go for the lowest and easiest comeback because quite frankly, this is the amount of effort I can muster to your comments: use better English, please.

The reason why these workers shouldn't be treated poorly is basic morality
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Solid Sonic posted...

somethin

Nope. I work retail as a Manager and it's all about business. Stop treating these employees like they're irreplaceable. When Johnny or Sussy come crying to me when their hours get cut I tell them get a second job or deal with it. The business comes first.

k darkfire posted...

I work retail as a Manager

Ah, a better comeback I can muster:

k darkfire posted...

If you work retail as an adult you have no leg to stand on.

I'm a Manager working for a beer job. I understand I cam replaceable and my job is dependent upon the company. I don't cry or complain my hours get cut or I'm underpaid or overworked.

s0nicfan posted...

Antifar posted...

New York recently became the largest U.S. city to require fast-food restaurants to schedule workers at least two weeks in advance, or pay them extra for changes.

IMO this is exactly where it makes sense for the government to cut in. The market can govern lots of things, but when you effectively force your employees to be at the ready 24/7 for work or cancellations it ruins their ability to have a life and do the very things that would help them become more skilled and thus graduate up to a better job.

This. Both Best Buy and Liz Claiborne Corp. did this bs when I worked for them years back. No schedule for next week until Saturday. Then either getting sent home early after an hour of work or getting attitude from bosses when you don't pick up your phone when someone calls off and they're looking for someone to cover at a moments notice. You're expected to sit waiting by your phone holding your breath for these assholes to call every day.
Are you a happy person? Do you have faith in humanity? Do you love your fellow man? Work retail. That'll all change if it hadn't already.

I do maintenance and janitorial work now. And let me tell you that honestly it pays better, it's steady, going in to work doesn't feel like I'm descending into the fifth level of hell. Okay. Unclogging a toilet is a thousand times better than having to deal with asshole retail management types who do nothing, nothing but fret over numbers of other stores all day, kiss ass and apologize to their bosses on the phone over numbers and make employees lives a living hell by fucking with your hours.
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k darkfire posted...

Solid Sonic posted...

somethin

Nope. I work retail as a Manager and it's all about business. Stop treating these employees like they're irreplaceable. When Johnny or Sussy come crying to me when their hours get cut I tell them get a second job or deal with it. The business comes first.

You are a pretty terrible manager and employee turnover is a waste for the company to constantly be training new people to do these responsibilities. There's a reason wealthy like shopping at Nordstrom because of good customer service.

k darkfire posted...

I'm a Manager working for a beer job. I understand I cam replaceable and my job is dependent upon the company. I don't cry or complain my hours get cut or I'm underpaid or overworked.

If you did, you'd get better results. Organizing works.
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If you're working at McDonald's for FOUR years, you have no right to complain about anything, ever.
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k darkfire posted...

I'm a Manager working for a beer job. I understand I cam replaceable and my job is dependent upon the company. I don't cry or complain my hours get cut or I'm underpaid or overworked.

As you have stated, you work retail thus:

k darkfire posted...

If you work retail as an adult you have no leg to stand on.

Now, everyone, please understand I applied the troll's logic towards themselves.
Stop responding to the account, thanks.

k darkfire posted...

I'm a Manager working for a beer job. I understand I cam replaceable and my job is dependent upon the company. I don't cry or complain my hours get cut or I'm underpaid or overworked.

This user also says c town from Reddit isn't racist. So take his comments with a grain of salt.

And as an engineer who scheduled a production line I never took such a callous look at my employees. Lol imagine having such a low opinion on your self worth and such little pride in your company culture.

CruelBuffalo posted...

k darkfire posted...

Solid Sonic posted...

somethin

Nope. I work retail as a Manager and it's all about business. Stop treating these employees like they're irreplaceable. When Johnny or Sussy come crying to me when their hours get cut I tell them get a second job or deal with it. The business comes first.

You are a pretty terrible manager and employee turnover is a waste for the company to constantly be training new people to do these responsibilities. There's a reason wealthy like shopping at Nordstrom because of good customer service.

If i told you the real reason why people shop there I'd get modded lmao.

Antifar posted...

k darkfire posted...

I'm a Manager working for a beer job. I understand I cam replaceable and my job is dependent upon the company. I don't cry or complain my hours get cut or I'm underpaid or overworked.

If you did, you'd get better results. Organizing works.

Why should I do that when I can just fire them and replace them the next day? If anything firing them saves me money since I can underpay the next person.

CruelBuffalo posted...

And as an engineer who scheduled a production line I never took such a callous look at my employees. Lol imagine having such a low opinion on your self worth and such little pride in your company culture.

You're working a real job not a minimum wage job. Big difference.

Didn't she get the memo? She's supposed to have a second job so she can afford her 20/month health insurance and 600 mortgage.
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Some one who has a space in their username can't be a troll. They've been here for too long.
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pinky0926 posted...

Patty_Fleur posted...

Half of them are literally going to replaced by machines yet they continue to whine

This whining got them a better deal in the meantime so it's hardly pointless. Automation will happen regardless.

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k darkfire posted...

Why should I do that when I can just fire them and replace them the next day?

You can fire and replace your bosses?
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k darkfire posted...

CruelBuffalo posted...

k darkfire posted...

Solid Sonic posted...

somethin

Nope. I work retail as a Manager and it's all about business. Stop treating these employees like they're irreplaceable. When Johnny or Sussy come crying to me when their hours get cut I tell them get a second job or deal with it. The business comes first.

You are a pretty terrible manager and employee turnover is a waste for the company to constantly be training new people to do these responsibilities. There's a reason wealthy like shopping at Nordstrom because of good customer service.

If i told you the real reason why people shop there I'd get modded lmao.

Antifar posted...

k darkfire posted...

I'm a Manager working for a beer job. I understand I cam replaceable and my job is dependent upon the company. I don't cry or complain my hours get cut or I'm underpaid or overworked.

If you did, you'd get better results. Organizing works.

Why should I do that when I can just fire them and replace them the next day? If anything firing them saves me money since I can underpay the next person.

CruelBuffalo posted...

And as an engineer who scheduled a production line I never took such a callous look at my employees. Lol imagine having such a low opinion on your self worth and such little pride in your company culture.

You're working a real job not a minimum wage job. Big difference.

Yeah, but I was scheduling low income workers and I didn't treat them with disdain or malice

These workers can't be replaced soon enough. Imagine having no skills and a horrendous attitude and still believing you're entitled to $15 and hour. McDonalds couldn't make it any clearer that it doesn't value these workers at all.
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The Admiral posted...

These workers can't be replaced soon enough. Imagine having no skills and a horrendous attitude and still believing you're entitled to $15 and hour. McDonalds couldn't make it any clearer that it doesn't value these workers at all.

Oh gawd, he came.
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Antifar posted...

k darkfire posted...

Why should I do that when I can just fire them and replace them the next day?

You can fire and replace your bosses?

The customers are my bosses and none are more powerful.

lol @ not being a 1%er in america, enjoy your 0 rights and poverty.

also lol @ other 99%ers making fun of their peers as if they are any better, truly pitiful.

Unquestionable posted...

voldothegr8 posted...

How to quickly be replaced by kiosks, the bill.

Implying they won't be firing people to increase that bottom line once the technology is more affordable.

Yes automation is coming regardless but shit like this is just going to fast track it. These workers think they've won some kind of battle but they're really just that much closer to doom. If I were a fast food worker in NYC I'd hate this bill.
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Tough situation here. They probably aren't over scheduling just to fuck over people, and at the same time these things happen. Probably needs to be some give an take on both sides. However I suspect these kind of surprise cancellations are covered in whatever employment contract they sign.

And trying to seek an outright ban on this certainly won't help in the long run. You can't predict with 100% certainty what a day will be like. Sometimes slow days happen. They need to try to work something out rather than going all or nothing here. It won't help them ultimately.
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Good thing for the 11 hour break between shifts. I remember many times I would be closing the store, and opening it back up less than 6 hours hours later. Downright unethical.
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If the employees are expected to be at work at any moment 24/7, then they should be paid 24/7.
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Antifar posted...

The law, which the restaurant industry vigorously opposed, also requires employers to allow 11-hour breaks between shifts, offer part-time staff additional work before hiring new employees, and pay retail workers to be "on call."

Woooow, its gonna suck to be a bartender in New York.
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I used to work as a bartender back in the day and wow man. A lot of you guys don't do shit or have accomplished anything besides graduating HS so idk why you talk to down these people

I will never trade my M-F schedule for those days. One week work 3 days then the next 6 days. Never knowing what day you'll be off so it's impossible to make plans or have set dates for school and shit. Employers just don't care even if you write it down. I used to have a manager schedule me on army days and he would say you know I don't have to give you those days off for you to have fun. I quickly showed him USCERRA and he never scheduled me again

They're people too
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Good