Isn't that *ILLEGAL*?!?!?
Aug. 25th, 2003 06:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Today was my first day working at Subway. Now I know a bit about restaurant management and the different laws/health code regulations, and saw enough going on today to have this Subway shut down!
The two biggest violations I saw were:
-I am scheduled for 4 and 1/2 hours every day, Monday through Friday, with no break. Washington State Law requires a 10-minute break for every 4 hours worked, plus a 30-minute lunch break for shifts over 6 hours. I was informed today that they justdidn't give breaks at Subway because they couldn't predict when customers were coming in.
Bullpucky. It's the LAW.
-Secondly, today was my very first day. They put me to work IMMEDIATELY, with no Food Handler's license. Also, they didn't have me fill out a W2. Both of these are pieces of paperwork are the types of things that not only result in getting shut down, but ALSO result in some very hefty fines!
So now I have to decide... get the restaurant shut down (cutting off my only form of income), or just go with it? What would you do?
The two biggest violations I saw were:
-I am scheduled for 4 and 1/2 hours every day, Monday through Friday, with no break. Washington State Law requires a 10-minute break for every 4 hours worked, plus a 30-minute lunch break for shifts over 6 hours. I was informed today that they justdidn't give breaks at Subway because they couldn't predict when customers were coming in.
Bullpucky. It's the LAW.
-Secondly, today was my very first day. They put me to work IMMEDIATELY, with no Food Handler's license. Also, they didn't have me fill out a W2. Both of these are pieces of paperwork are the types of things that not only result in getting shut down, but ALSO result in some very hefty fines!
So now I have to decide... get the restaurant shut down (cutting off my only form of income), or just go with it? What would you do?
no subject
Date: 2003-08-25 08:04 pm (UTC)I don't know what to say. See how it goes for the week then decide? Talk to the manager more? Um.......
no subject
Date: 2003-08-26 07:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-25 08:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-25 08:31 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-25 09:06 pm (UTC)Well, in my mind they're just not that big of issues. At least not enough to ethically quit over. I've worked at two fast food places and neither have required me to do any sort of food handler's license thing. Also, I currently work anywhere between 3-5 hours a day at a fast food place of similar type to Subway, and I don't get a break. And it's really no big deal. As long as you eat and go to the bathroom before work you should be fine. I definitely get hungry by the end of my shift, but I just eat as soon as I clock out. I don't feel it's anything worth fighting over, especially if you need the money. And it's true, you don't know when it's going to get busy, so it's hard to "schedule" a break. If the restaurant traffic clears up enough and you're not doing anything I'm sure they'd be fine with you getting a sub or a drink or something. Heck, my manager will give me free cookies. Just start off on the right foot by being super nice and not pressing the issues. Then they will eventually fall into place. If you're nice to them I can't imagine why they wouldn't be nice back and let you have an unscheduled break.
no subject
Date: 2003-08-26 07:13 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-26 08:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-26 08:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-26 09:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-26 09:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-08-25 09:51 pm (UTC)We did get scheduled breaks, though they were nothing to brag about. We had to pool our tips with everyone, including the kitchen staff (who were paid more than we were), and so it worked out to something like 26 cents extra on the paycheck. I liked working the cafe, though... The customers were by and large pretty nice with one or two exceptions. I even dumped au jous sauce on one girl my first day on the job and she was cool with it. LOL. Towards the end of my employment there, I fell one night while one of the managers was mopping up... Had a HUGE bruise on my right hip that went from my waist to my knee and I was sore for weeks. Everyone was REALLY nice to me after that, but it only dawned on me years later that I could have sued them for every stinking tip I ever had to split and then some.
But, I was 17 and that was the kind of job 17 yearolds get. I stuck with it for 3 months before quitting to go work as a student assistant for the state. Which sucked more in it's own special way. Afterwhich, I quit and got a job working for Tower Records which was definitely a much cooler place to work for (and where the General Manager said to me the first day of work "Hey, Sarah, you should dye your hair blue and get some facial piercings. You look too normal.").
After Merlino's, however, I swore I'd never work in the food industry ever again. That sort of job is one step up from indentured servitude.
no subject
Date: 2003-08-25 11:06 pm (UTC)