The office: Chatter about your job

Okay, so I applied to a job that said it would pay $12.50-14.50, which is perfect for getting all my bills paid. However, I had the interview and they said they could only pay 11.

This might have been for training only. I've taken a screenshot of the ad and asked for clarification from the person who interviewed me.

Edit: Their answer was essentially "The $12-14 range was for line cooks, but minimum wage plus tips would make over $18" and they never said they would raise the base wage. I had SPECIFICALLY applied for line cook, and I have the email to prove it.

Their evasiveness is already an extreme red flag, but I'm sending an message asking "So you have stated that training starts at minimum plus tips, and once we are hired as full employees in the line cook position, we would get a raise to the wage you stated in your ad, correct?"

Edit 2: They said full employees would stay at minimum wage, and tried to play up the tips aspect. I asked to reschedule the first day of training to Sunday while we sorted everything out. Hopefully this doesn't count as a declination.

edited 29th Sep '15 2:06:45 PM by Leradny

Had our table reset today. The department looks much nicer. But Sundays will be hell.

This has been a strange few days at work. I took off last Friday and Monday to avoid the traffic from the Papal Visit. After spending my Monday off taking my mother grocery shopping, I came home to a message from my manager. There was a water main break that left the building without running water, so they sent everyone home early anyway. They had it fixed by the time I had to go in today, but between the people who took off for the Papal Visit and the water main break, we had quite a backlog to deal with. And the water in the restroom sinks was tinted white. Probably something to do with the main break.

I'd also heard a rumor that an employee died in the entrance hall to the building today. Apparently she sat down on one of the benches, had a heart attack, and never got up. I don't know the person who died or any of the specifics, though.

I’m a little bit scared right now.

I went back home and looked at the original ad, and saw that they’d stated people would get paid between $12.25-14.50. Which is much higher than the $10.25-11 I heard in the interview.

I asked the manager about it, and they said “Only cooks with 2 years of experience will get $14.″ Except the ad stated that people of all experience levels were encouraged to apply and the minimum is nowhere near $10.25! Also, I have a year and a half of experience. I asked if I could speak to whoever posted the ad and the manager said, “You can only speak to me, I’m the manager of this location, and this wage is the only offer I’ll make.”

That was when my instincts started screaming for me to drop the job. But if I refuse, I might not get my unemployment. I looked up the website and sent an extremely polite email, asking about a possible discrepancy in the classified ad vs. the interview.

Honestly, what’s the worst that can happen? That person isn’t my boss yet, I haven’t filled out the papers. I’m not obligated to follow orders from them. And it’s not illegal to ask questions, right?

Best thing that can happen? The higher-ups apologize for giving me the runaround, offer to pay me like $13 an hour, and the manager suffers consequences for doing shady business.

Worst that can happen: they decide not to hire you, you keep your unemployment eligibility without having to do further business with this shady company.

Sounds like they were trying to shyster you for cheaper pay and lower costs. You are likely not the first one they have suckered. It really isn't uncommon unfortunately for some companies to post higher offerings then what they will pay you at the interview. They are either hoping you will go away or take the sucker offer. Personally I wouldn't work for someone so overtly dishonest.

I asked to reschedule the trial day until everything was straightened out. And what benefits were offered. No answer. Going to say I can't confidently agree to anything until I know what I'm working for. I think I'll just put "no response" if I file it on unemployment.

edited 29th Sep '15 8:05:15 PM by Leradny

I need to be making more money than I am.

I only have one full day a week to give another job.

I really like not working evenings. Especially when my day job starts between 8 and 9 AM.

I don't want to leave my day job so soon.

I'm not crafty enough to run an Etsy shop.

I can't sell plasma forever.

I'm thinking about inquiring at the sex shop that laid me off about seasonal help (explicitly seasonal this time). The hours I was working near the end were roughly what I have time for. But considering how abruptly I was dumped I'm not sure how well coming back asking for a job would go. They did say it was entirely because of slow business but I'm worried I'd force them into admitting they were just letting me save face.

I'm considering starting a business doing light computer help or copying home movies to updated media, but I'm not sure how I'd go about getting clients (and I don't have any equipment to copy from tapes or film).

You could moonlight as security check around. Some have part time positions that are easier to get into.

So, a question about references...

One of my coworkers who quit like a month ago (who was kiiind of the senior person in the practice, just not actually in charge) asked me to write a reference for her on work letterhead.

Is it... normal... for the most junior person to be a referee for the most senior person? This seems backwards. I have no idea what I would even put on a reference? I'm practically a new grad...

Taste of Italy has started. "That's Amore" is playing five times an hour, approximately, interspersed with random opera. Our promo aprons have no pockets.

I am officially sick of the Coastguard and have applied for a job as a train driver. For twice as much money as I could make in SAR. It's nuts.

I have 2 interviews scheduled with unemployment. I just had one interview and asked if I could answer the other questions. Even though THEY KNEW WHAT THE QUESTIONS WERE, I still have to wait a week and HAVE THE SECOND INTERVIEW!!!

I have an interview with one of the Chipotles, but honestly I've heard bad things about the way they treat employees. If I get a whiff of anything not-right I hope they turn me down.

The other job said they hired 2 other people, and I feel relieved but also a bit guilty.

This city is awful for jobs. Ridiculous rent, rarely a job above minimum wage, and they ask for ludicrous amounts of experience.

Jonesy: Good on ya. More money is nice and at least in the US some of the rail roads are pretty decent to work for. My father in law worked for UP designing the cross guard signals. Chances are good if you see one in the UK it is using one of his designs.

That is pretty much the US job market in a nutshell even out here in Omaha, NE. I am sorry you are having a tough time finding work. Just hang in there.

edited 2nd Oct '15 1:56:42 PM by TuefelHundenIV

Jesus fuck I hate commuting an hour and a half one way. I can't wait til my lease expires so I can cut off that "half" part

The owner has been on a "send everybody home except the closers" binge. Today he sent home three people at 11am. Sales were higher than Mon-Thur combined.

For the record, on the first cold rainy Saturday of Autumn, people want to make chili, beef stew, roast and spaghetti.

If there are no conflicts with classes or interviews, I am going to an audition for a recreation of a BBC Sherlock scene. The director is kind enough to 1) actually pay the actors for the single scene as well as give them copies of the footage, and 2) open the casting to non gender/race/age specific. Since I started binging on Elementary a few days ago, I feel honor bound to audition for Watson.

edited 4th Oct '15 11:35:12 AM by Leradny

The Cowboys game today doesn't kick off till 7:30. This is gonna suck.

Break a leg Lerad.

Hokage: Why is that?

Because the store is a disaster from the rush of customers until shortly before the Cowboys start playing. And 7:30 is just a little over halfway through my shift.

At least I'm not on front end. The check lanes were backed up real bad when I walked in.

Gotcha. Hang in there.

I think the audition went well. I showed up a bit early, but the person before me was late, so we spent about twenty minutes on the Sherlock scene and then the director asked me to read for a scene from Six Feet Under. I complied, and I can do the drama if I'm cast there, but the Sherlock scene would be more fun.

I sent headshots to an extra gig where I'd basically get paid to dance/stand around for 4 hours. Plus a short film where a couple of actors reenact breakup texts. These all pay about $50-75 each, so even if I get all of them the money will rapidly vanish. But I also get copies of the footage for a demo reel, and at least I'd get paid something.

Sniff not at Six Feet Under. It beats some things you could get thrown at... like, say, the American version of Life on Mars.

Christ on a crutch.

Twofer today at work. First I am just now informed that not only will we be seeing nearly 300 people wandering around for a pseudo open house and dinner, booze drinking implied, I need my monkey suit. Add in tonight there was cleaning crew drama with one of the troublesome cleaning crew members mouthing off to her boss again and said boss saying she was going to be done in short order. She bitched back she was going to complains about "unfair treatment" and how dare she this just what she did to the other girl.

The thing is she is problematic, mouthy, and a bit of a bully. She also fights with her boss, doesn't take directions or instructions well, refuses to follow her companies policies, and her friend was a colossal lazy problem.

I have to roll out of bed earlier then usual tomorrow to find a new tie because my issue tie on looks shitty and I need a new white shirt.

I also managed to inflame the scar tissue that when it is agitated pinches a nerve in my back over my hip. Booz thanks for taking the nerve pain edge off long enough for it to stop being mad at me.

Rum Chata and I are having a few meetings mostly while I was cooking supper.

edited 7th Oct '15 10:59:21 PM by TuefelHundenIV

You need some oil on that scar every day. Might limber the little blighter up. <hugs>

Sweet almond oil, coconut oil and/or avocado oil with mainly lavender cut with rosmary and bergamot to disguise the lavender a bit. Sounds happy-clappy, but lavender does seem to have more effects than a placebo would.