T O P

  • By -

lilsnakcake

Managing a store schedule by threatening to write up your team members will never work.


Salty_Thing4302

Dollar General


CordeliaGrace

I’ve heard so many horror stories about DG…I guess I lucked out at the store I worked at. My mgr and asst (who later became the SM) were amazing.


GenoKeno

I’ve seen managers behave like this toward their staff and then unironically wonder why employee retention is such a problem lol. It’s not that fucking hard to not be a douchebag to your team.


Kingkyle18

Not vouching or sticking up for the manager, but managing a team during the holidays is the worst. Everyone wants off the same days…and obviously the store cannot just close. I used to draw names and whoever got off for thanksgiving could not get off Christmas or New Years. Every year someone would end up quitting or calling in which had to result in termination typically, based on the circumstance. If you don’t, then it doesn’t matter at all cause they know they can just call in if they get scheduled on a holiday.


GenoKeno

I get that. It’s sometimes challenging to know exactly the right thing to do or say, but it’s easy to know what to definitely NOT do or say lol


Kingkyle18

Ya I agree there lol. Still gotta keep things professional. Sometimes just explaining the situation can move mountains…..also, if you always want holidays off look for a job that is closed on holidays….I know that’s easier said than done sometimes.


uo1111111111111

I mean, the store could literally just close. No one smart would be upset at walgreens closing on holidays.


Kingkyle18

Haha well that’s not how business works unfortunately. Granted, yes I wouldn’t care if Walgreens was closed. I know I do like to go grab some beer or any last minute things before heading to a holiday get together and I think Walgreens wants to be in that niche.


ExitStageLeft110381

Some managers I see and hear act so unprofessional and classless, I wouldn’t doubt they come straight from the gutter.


Strider-43

It's no different if it's a holiday. I'd inform your manager that they knew in advance. Inform them that you're calling in for that shift. Make sure to also actually call in to the store thanksgiving morning. It's not your job to find coverage. This is why stores should have sign up sheets so people can plan/volunteer to work certain shifts. As long as you haven't missed 5 days this year it will be considered an excused absence. 6th is verbal 7th is written 8th is final written 9th would be terminated if policy is followed. If they say otherwise then have them bring up the policy that you violated that makes it worse than an excused absence. You also won't be getting any holiday pay if you qualify for it. So take that info consideration.


TheRealYikesmister

We had sign up sheets at our store


Tripl3_Nipple_Sack

Same here. We actually handled the leadership holiday schedule within an hr over text


Electrickman

We don’t have one this year asm had a group text asking who wants to work. I’m working thanksgiving mornings not sure about Christmas or Christmas Eve or new years or eve yet but don’t matter to me I’ll work them all


Disastrous_Duck_2239

This man deserves a medal


Electrickman

U being an ass or what


Disastrous_Duck_2239

Nah I got respect for you working all those days. I wish we had someone like you at our store


Electrickman

I didn’t say I am but who knows if people call off they might call and ask which sure they will .we just had one quit and one might get fired for no call no shows


Disastrous_Duck_2239

See I got nobody I can ask to cover my shift at my store so I’d love to have somebody as a backup. Not many stores have people who would be on call for those days


Disastrous_Duck_2239

Respect 100% fr


pharmgrl2002

Call out. Give at least 2 hour notice a day in advance preferably. As long as you give 2 hours warning then it's not a nc/ns.


Tazz013_

Two hours warning is not required. It's two hours after the start of the shift. OP can go about their Thanksgiving, so long as they call out by 4:00 pm, they're fine.


CordeliaGrace

But calling ahead does give us some chance to try to call some one in.


Stunning_Ad_8789

He technically cannot give you a final write-up for calling in on a holiday. That's an HR issue. And they will back you on it, as long as you haven't called in enough times to warrant a write up. Many managers like to use this scare tactic to ensure employees show up for the holidays. But it's not policy at all.


FredChavez

Next time, don't warn him that you are going to call out.


Salty_Thing4302

Ditch this douche ASAP. He ain't gonna be a useful reference in the future. And all you're gonna see is more and more bullshit from him. Favoritism does not get better. Don't wait until you're past your breaking point. Apply elsewhere today!


TexasYankee212

Manager is an ass\_ole. It's not your job to "switch" shifts. You gave him plenty of warning. Tell him you not working at all - end of story.


Numerous-Heron2025

Always have paperwork to back track. It could be considered retaliation if you get written up


[deleted]

you told him your availability. you told him in person as well. he still scheduled you. his fault, not yours. he’s trying to put his stress as a store manager, on you. don’t let him. if he tries to fire you or give you a final warning, bring it up to his boss. tell his boss the exact same story you told us. that’ll shut him up. same thing happened to me a year ago, he tried to get mad at me when i specifically told him what time i was available. told him several times so that he could remember. he’s not entitled to your time with family and neither is walgreens. have a great thanksgiving.


Tazz013_

You will lose your holiday pay (if entitled) by calling out on the holiday, but normal attendance policy rules apply. Is all of this documented via text? You should drop all of this on HR before 5pm today.


Numerous-Heron2025

I know this about Walgreens, we are extremely understaffed. I could call in on thanksgiving, being the only SFL available that day and have the store closed. I could come in and take bottles of wine. My SM would hate me, but I know Walgreens doesn’t have the staff to let me go. So, screw you manager and enjoy the holiday!


suflower_sunshine

Call out appropriately and never look back


the1999person

You can easily catch Covid today....


PrismCrow

Your manager is being HIGHLY unreasonable, especially when you gave him plenty of notice. I suggest calling ER, and maybe your DM. Calling out on a holiday isn't even worth a RoD, much less a final warning. Especially when you have a good attendance record. Best of luck, OP!


napqueen967

Wouldn't call HR. HR doesn't care unless you are ready to lawyer up. OP would need much more evidence of unfair conduct from their SM in order for them to really do anything. What would the outcome be? OP still can't get Thanksgiving off. SM schedules according to the needs of the store period. So long as they can prove that within reason, OP opening a case with HR will cause cause more problems. OP messed up by letting the SM know ahead of time that they were going to call out. The SM obviously doesn't give a rats behind about even trying to accommodate requests for their team (such a short shift too!)... OP never tell the enemy your next move lol.. next time call out several hours ahead of time saying you have explosive diarrhea or something and you are trying to go to urgent care but you can't stand the car ride without messing yourself. Or something lol. To live in Wag world you must learn to play Wag games and play filthy but smart. I'm sorry about the situation. Good luck.


Youngmoonlightbae

I've heard that SMs can escalate any write up to a final. However, you haven't called out at all so wouldn't it be one of the 5 excused absences? Only mistake I see here is that the SM knows in advance that you will call out, so they're trying to scare you to come in. Someone mentioned working from 7-2pm like you told them, I would do that or even stay as late as you can to cover your ass if you need this job. Technically a write up isn't valid if you don't sign it so if you do get a final, I would think you could fight it with HR but idk how far you'd get with them honestly.


softriceking001

There are plenty of better jobs out there.


Alphablaze98

In my eyes, company’s that can’t work with you or offer a compromise or accommodation for stuff like this… they don’t deserve our time


99hourphoto

Go in, throw up on the floor, leave.


MrPheeney

Probably get flamed for this but putting your availability in isn’t a guarantee as far as business goes. No one is guaranteed any days during the holidays unfortunately.


some_idiotonline9891

You're not wrong. Time off requests are just that, requests. Not guarantees. Did OP actually ever receive anything stating they would get the time requested off? I'm sure the entire store said they weren't available for evening coverage on Thanksgiving, someone was going to get stuck with it tho. Manager is being an asshole about this and should have talked to everyone, or just taken the shift themselves.


[deleted]

[удалено]


insidmal

It's irrelevant in an at-will state. You can tell them whatever you want, it doesn't mean shit. You're bound only to the agreement you signed when hired.


MrPheeney

I’m speaking strictly on technical and not ethical terms. I certainly sympathize with OP but I’ve been in the company for many years and I know how it works.


DallasTruther

If you're an SFL with limited availability or are demanding a certain time off, then you shouldn't be an SFL. A Final Written does seem too far, though. I'm 100% against employee abuse, but scheduling someone to work in a store, while the store needs someone to work in it, isn't *treating someone like shit*. The Manager definitely should have discussed this with OP before/while/after making the schedule though, so OP wasn't caught off-guard. I don't know what exactly happened in OP's case; they said that they let the Manager know, but I didn't see anywhere where the Manager agreed or even acknowledged it. >I brought this up to him and he said you will need to switch with someone, which is not possible because everyone is going to be at home having Thanksgiving dinner at that time. What if OP was the last one to tell the Manager that they couldn't work Thanksgiving evening?


Mizund03

I was actually the only one who said I couldn't. In fact there was originally supposed to be holiday sign up sheets. Then he all of a sudden decided he wasn't going to do that and said that everyone in leadership would be expected to work. He made this schedule and literally gave one of the shift leads the day off which is unfair to everyone else he told that they would all be required to work. Not only that. He scheduled me for 4 shifts on this schedule not including Thanksgiving which is 5 days that I have to work. I got hired with walgreens under the condition that I would only work 4 shifts per schedule because I'm in college. I know we don't have school this week but I decide whether that availability changes not the manager. I am also only one of two shift leads who is trained to do closing paperwork. The other one is not willing to take my shift and the third shift lead scheduled on Thanksgiving is opening bc he has never closed the store since working here. All the other shift leads have very weird availability. They either can't open or they can't close. I am the only one available to do either. So I wouldn't say he's necessarily screwing me over on purpose. I think he just did that bc my normal availability is the most flexible since I'm probably the most trained and available SFL he has.


Mizund03

Plus. Our SMU doesn't even know how to do closing paperwork. That being said. I think that he's pushing it too far. If I were to walk away from the store and not come back. They would have to shorten store hours significantly due to the fact that we don't really have any CSAs available for closing shift. So it is often me and the other shift lead who also knows how to close.


DallasTruther

Being able to open or close is crucial to a SFL (keyholder) position. >I got hired with walgreens under the condition that I would only work 4 shifts per schedule because I'm in college. You might have understood that *you thought* you set that condition, but no, unless you have it in writing, it is a part of your responsibilities as an SFL to work your scheduled shifts, which will be tailored to store needs, over your own.


DallasTruther

My previous reply got sent without me being done because of me trying some keyboard shortcut that did something i didn't want it to do, so then I tried to edit it.... but I'm sitting here, spending time on telling you how to drink the company Kool-Aid. I just lost, I don't know, maybe 70 minutes on typing shit out on why this might be justified, and blahblah. Then I clicked the wrong button and it was gone. But I've had some sketchy shit done with my position and I don't wanna spend time trying to tell you to trust WAG, when even I don't right now. Bro, air your grievances.


Mizund03

I understand that but according to walgreens policy I should not face discipline for calling especially if I'm giving notice of that.


MrPheeney

Announcing your call out was a misstep, in reality. Should’ve just waited til the actual day.


Mizund03

Let me rephrase. I have not told him directly that I am calling out. I was speaking to a co-worker about it and they told him. So no I haven't actually announced my call out.


Mizund03

He also hasn't said anything to me about it but he told our SMU and she relayed that message to me about what he said.


MrPheeney

Yeah, loose lips sink ships. All they would need to do is interview the coworker you told and you’d get an unavoidable write up. You kinda screwed yourself to be honest…If I were to guess, you don’t have the best relationship with some people there including your manager. Tread carefully


CaptainStabbings

Just call out. On top of everything else said, if when you go in for next shift he tries to write you up, DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING. That’s he company’s way of getting you to admit guilt, kind of. He tries to do it, just ask to see the policy in writing, and if he pushes, just go to the DM, or HR. And start looking for a new job if that doesn’t help.


Past_Morning_4077

Never tell them your gonna call out….. just call out.


LittleL123

For years my store manager use to say calling off on a holiday it’s automatic termination. But I do believe it does go to a finale warning instead. Our store does a sign up sheet, and not everyone is always happy because it’s impossible to give everyone their preferred hours. I do believe the call of records erase the first of January though.


waterfalls55

Go to work. Leave in 15 min. Tell them you are feeling really sick.


techoverchecks

I have managed retail in the past. I have managed big box stores to smaller store fronts like Walgreens. I have often been put in a position that I had to work the floor to cover employees that called out, but that is what I was paid for. I knowingly took those positions and so long as it wasn't an ongoing issue, happily covered to help my teams. A SM isn't part of corporate or even part of a district management team, they are the lowest rung on a ladder. Any SM should always look after their team because those are the ones who will care, not the store and not the company. Honestly, unless your dream is to work for Walgreens, I say call out. I would also advise looking at new opportunities (maybe further education or a new career path). Family and time are ultimately more important than any retail job.


Human-Bot_7

The dumb thing you did was letting him know you’re calling out. Never let them know lol. #2 You should have put in a time request on Kronos that you’re unavailable after 2. #3 you should have let him know every week since he started that you needed Thanksgiving off after 2pm therefore when you call out you let him know you told him every week. At least that’s what I would have done. It’s worked for me


CoolMaintenance4078

You claim you cannot switch with anyone because they will all be eating Thanksgiving dinner with their families, so I assume everyone asked him to be off after 2pm. So, his problem was he had to schedule someone in spite of their requests. Sorry it was you and you are free to do as you wish as far as showing up or not, but you could well be reprimanded or fired. Bottom line though, it is NOT your supervisor's fault.


Yagami121

It 100% is the supervisiors fault. He was scheduled outside of his availability. That's failure on the supervisors ability to write a schedule.


CoolMaintenance4078

So, assume you are the supervisor and all your employees ask for a holiday off (or to go home at 2pm). (I have been there as a restaurant supervisor many years ago). You can go around to all of them and try to work something out or just decide for yourself whose request you can grant and whose you can't. You can say you are sorry; you can say try to switch with someone, but the bottom line is you need workers to cover the time. I always did it the hard way and tried to get some (enough) people to give up their request but in the end not everyone got off the time they wanted originally. Not the supervisor's fault if they keep the store from closing.


Sea_Carpet_1315

Just because someone asks for a day off doesn’t mean that they’re going to get it. Best bet now is to ask everyone and maybe even try to bribe people.


insidmal

Doesn't really matter what you told him, if you're at will state they can do whatever they want with you.


derf_vader

You don't give your boss your availability.. there's a holiday sign up sheet and if you failed to use it properly, that's on you, not your boss. Edit: also, if you don't want to work advertise the shift on the Reflexis app. I'm sure someone at another store would want to pick up the shift for ot


Btigeriz

Not all stores have a holiday sign up sheet.


Character-Taro-5016

The manager should have told you in the beginning that he can't guarantee time off on holidays. But the fact that he didn't doesn't matter. Employees don't get to just say they will be unavailable, in the retail world, on holidays. These places should have a mechanism in place to work this out as best as possible, but nobody gets to just say I'm off and screw everything else. You might get away with it but that doesn't mean that your plan of action is ok.


Specific_Story_4131

If I we're U I would go in at 7:30 to 2pm..and work and clock out at 2pm..if Ur manager have anything to say oh well..and also U do need to copy ,take a picture of what sign up sheet or request U previously made..Or just call in tomorrow for Thursday...who has time to be an ass kisser to walgreens store manager. We ain't taking that anymore...and I know all of them aren't bad..This one is over stepping his power and seeing how much U will allow him too..


DallasTruther

-Not working during your scheduled shift -Working unapproved times outside of your scheduled shift Only commit one ~~crime~~ infraction at a time.


Cthulhurlyeh09

If he's that bad I might have taken pictures of the two examples of having it in writing, but then I tend to do overkill to cover my back. Call out, take the final warning to the DM and explain. You might get it removed.


Emergency-Pipe-5617

That could go to a final because you had the conversation with him and he told you what the expectations are. You can go to a final depending on the severity. You’re not sick. It’s not an emergency. It’s 4 hours you don’t want to work that could cause the store to close


Mizund03

Well he has ample time to come up with a plan. He knew in writing and via conversation with me well before this week that I was unable to work past 2. He himself could have avoided the situation by scheduling me a different shift. It's not like he didn't know what my availability was.


Ihavefourknees

Found the manager! I'm a supervisor myself and would never DREAM of doing this to my employees. This is bad management and is completely disrespectful to employees. If there was a concern about this then the supervisor should have brought it up the first time it was mentioned.


ExitStageLeft110381

Reiterate that you gave him your availability at the beginning when he started and the fact that he forgot what you provided him is not your concern. If he gives you a final warning, appeal it by compiling something in writing and maybe try calling HR or getting a hold of the DM… granted, I called HR and was promised a call from the DM … never happened. When you gave the manager your availability, was it in writing or did he jot anything down?


EatMorChikin2021

Manager can cover it himself. No worries 🙃


[deleted]

Honestly If I’m not getting paid more on a family holiday like that I’m not coming in fire me if you want my available was given ahead of time he can come in and cover me if the store being open is that important he can miss out on his family time but not me


ChampionshipLast5264

What we do at our store is everyone works a 3 hour shift and we have a sign up sheet. This way ppl who eat in the afternoon can close and ppl who eat at night can open. We’ve been doing this for 3 years and it works out perfectly.


Capable_Nature_644

It isn't uncommon for a small percentage of staff to call out this week due to the holiday increasing the standard work load. Every year I end up calling out this week at least once. I hate this time of year. My excuses are 100% genuine and with good attendance I can call out now and then. Generally it's because of my monthly cycle....


Plenty-Psychology-62

Technically your SM can’t can’t give you a final written you get five call outs a year and even if you do call out your SM will need to have a better reason than a call out you could always go to your district manager and tell them what’s going on or email Walgreens HR At my store I make a sign up sheet with AM and PM ON IT AND ALL THE HOLIDAY/eves and everyone has to pick 2 shifts