Status: Terminated. Job: Unprofessional

[Shia Kyosuka]

Well, it seems I didn't choose wisely while searching for jobs.

I just got fired from my job, which I wasn't told on Saturday from my manager. I had to call in and ask for my schedule, only to be told that I'm "Not up to (insert restaurant name here)'s..." (she didn't finish that sentence), and that they felt they should excersize their 30-day probationary period and "take me off the schedule". What's funny about that, is I called in yesterday, on Monday, and asked if I worked yesterday, and all they said is that I'm off that day.

I thought it was a weird mistake when I didn't find my name on the list while I was looking for my schedule on Saturday.

I'm not particularly upset or anything, I just see this as really unproffesional for a few reasons (and a few obvious reasons. See above).

1) It said I haven't been employed in the past and that this was my first job on the application I sent in. Therefore, I'm not going to know if I'm not working quite as hard as everybody else. I've done everything that they told me to do, on the spot. The few things I knew how to do were to use cash register, clean dining room, and very few other things.

I'm homeschooled, so they scheduled me on mornings a few times. Meaning, I had to go there, work longer than I was supposed to (because they had less people than they needed and worked everybody longer hours than usual), come back home, watch my classes that I had to record earlier as a result, and get the homework done all before bed.

2) As someone who's new to working for this particular business, or any business at all, I think I should KNOW when I'm not doing something right, or enough, or whatever. You can't throw a new guy out with very little training and expect him to freaken run the place!

I did all that I could over there. I talked to the customers as if they were good friends, and not just customers. On dining room, I constantly cleaned, and did extra as I was told, with good attitude. I thought what I was doing there was very efficient. My workmates constantly asked me for favors such as getting heavy food ingredients from the walk in freezer, cleaning up their mess or whatever. I simply said "ok" and did it on the spot. I did everything I was trained to do, as well.

I never complained about being tired (which I was), about being felt as if I was treated like nothing (which I was), about feeling like my tiny paycheck wasn't enough for the work I was doing (which it wasn't), about being unappreciated (which I was), or anything else.

I never shouted very rude things while our customers in the restaurant were trying to eat (like another workmate of mine).

I never complained about our breaks being only 20 minutes, when the law states that employees should get a 30-minute break minimum.

I even looked for more workers when they were short staffed.

One night they kept everyone until 1 AM in the morning, because one manager wanted everything (and I really mean eeeeverythingcleaned, even to the point where it became weird. The managers were yelling at the workers, because they were being kept there way later than they planned to be. Keep in mind, many of us that were kept late had school and church the next day, yet we didn't complain, and we did everything they told us to do, right on the spot. I was one of those workers. and earlier, I didn't complain about being yelled at and told that I didn't change every trash can liner in the dining room, 15 minutes after I did. That night, we had alot of customers right before closing, and they threw away their trash before leaving. Changing all the trash can liners is preclosing and it's called that for a reason.

Now, I'm stuck with way less than I needed to earn for future plans that I had made. only around $300. I have to decide.

I'm a hardcore gamer, pretty much, so...

Instead of building a whole new gaming computer, right before the launch of Wii, I have to either:

Buy a slightly dated video card, and CPU mobo combo.

or

Preorder Wii and buy one game for it at launch.

Fission Mailed, ne?

Next time I look for a job, It's not going to be in fast-food, or groceries.

[Bobtheduck]

So you made enough to get a wii? Sounds like a winning situation to me... Except that firings look bad on your applications... If I give you any advice, I'll have to take it myself, because my only experiences so far have been iffy too...

[mitsuki lover]

Is there a lot of need for yard work in your area?If so that might be a good way to earn a bit of money while you still decide what type of work you want to do next.
It probably won't be enough to get what you want to buy but it might help your finances until you get another job.

[Radical Dreamer]

Wow, that's rough. Well, at least you have some experience in the workplace now. And you also know that you should never work in fast food. You've learned much, young padawan. XD

[Sammy Boy]

Some employers can be downright unreasonable. I wish you that your next employer turns out to be wonderful and good to its employees.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Some employers can be downright unreasonable. I wish you that your next employer turns out to be wonderful and good to its employees.

Could explain why you were fired unrationally. You should seriously go up and ask why you were fired. If they don't give a real answer I think you can sue them. (Why anyone would do that I don't know though, that takes more money)

[termyt]

Sounds like you are better off not working there, anyway. Not all employers are like that. I encourage you to try again. Unfortunately, at your age, both employers and employees tend to make snap judgements. I hope your next experience is much better.

And I wouldn't recommend suing them. If you were in a 30 day trial period, you will have no grounds to sue since they can simply choose not to keep you on board. Technically, you were not fired - it's more like a lay off.

[Warrior4Christ]

Wow. That sounds remarkably like what happened to me.

Except I was past my probationary period. And we're supposed to have at least a 30 min break every 4 or 5 hours too... but most times people there just voluntarily work through up to six hours without taking a break, and mark down in the book that they had taken a break... Actually, the work culture there almost discouraged it...

But I digress. I was a 'kitchenhand' at a restaurant too. Worked hard, did a thorough job, much like you've said. Then they stopped adding me to the roster for a number of weeks. They had previously commented that I needed to pick up the pace a bit. I didn't think I was slow; I didn't think I was fast either. But I did think they had unreasonable expectations on how quickly they wanted things cleaned, etc. Then they put me on one last time, and after that, it seemed they'd made up their mind. I kept calling to see if I was on every week though... they claimed that it's been quieter during these months, so they didn't need as many staff on each week. It wasn't really getting anywhere, so I resigned.

Um, so in conclusion... I know how you feel.

Could explain why you were fired unrationally. You should seriously go up and ask why you were fired. If they don't give a real answer I think you can sue them. (Why anyone would do that I don't know though, that takes more money)

In Australia, I think they're about to, or already have, or are still discussing laws that give the employer power to fire an employee for basically no reason. Not good.

[Neko Niisan]

This sounds almost like a summer work program I was in once. The managment at the Restaraunt I worked had just had no respect for me working there. The thing was (as I was living in the Phlippines on a long term visitors visa) I wasn't allowed to get a payed job so my school had this funded scheme where you worked for free and then the school payed you. Unfortunately the managment didn't bother to hide the fact that they didn't have to pay me and tried to work every second out of me.
Fortunatley I had the option to talk to someone on the program and quit before it came to serious and it wasn't noted as a firing as I was never actuall working for them but I know how it feels to be in your situation...

P.S. I vote you get the Wii

[yukinon]

It sounds like your employers were very unproffesional. Even when someone is fired, there are certain measures of proffesionalism and basic respect that should be used.

[Shia Kyosuka]

I'm so glad you guys can relate so well. ^_^

It makes it that much easier for me.

Thank you for commenting. ^_^

[Gypsy]

Yeah, I'm seeing a bit of a trend here too - "unprofessional" is one of the biggest foggy areas that employers are allowed to fire employees for. Unless someone is being ridiculous, being let go because you're unprofessional is usually an excuse on their side, either for finacial reasons, or someone is pulling strings behind curtains.

Don't let it get you down, you're obviously willing to work hard, and that's a valuable thing for any employer.

[Yeshua-Knight]

well shia, all things considered, you have tasted of the bad part to employment, in which those around you have bad attitudes and in reality are only there to make a few bucks, in reality you may have been released because you were doing too good a job and were making your coworkers look bad (who knows, maybe even making some management look bad), now please don't ever think that by decreasing the quality of your work that you're doing a good thing, we are called to do our jobs as though unto the Lord, because in reality He is our boss, so don't think of it so much as getting canned by a bunch of losers, but instead think of it as being relocated to a better position in a field that you may be more comfortable in.....ever tried retail? from my experience christian bookstores and goodwill stores are pretty good, steadier pay than food service and much easier to work with the hours

[yukinon]

Great point, Yeshua-knight. I've had several friends let go or treated badly simply because they made the other employees look bad.