Page 1 of Somerfield & Staff Holidays at Christmas

We are going to Florida for two weeks in the run up to Christmas :)

Our 16 year old works at the local Somerfield on Saturdays and a couple of evening during the week after school. He has worked there since February. So he tells the manager about the family holiday and is told that he cannot take the time off as it is against Store rules ("it`s in your contract son")- no body is allowed to take holidays during December.

I spoke to the manager today - he would not budge and said that we should leave him at home on his own, "he is old enough to look after himself". Yeah right, we are really going to do that.. So he has to resign before we go.. How bloody stupid..

Rant over... >:( >:(

Sam.

By the sounds of it he`s better off out of there. Supermarket work rots the brain.

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My Collection

i`m with stantz, f*** em, he`s better of somewhere else, it`s one thing to say he`s not allowed to have a holiday in december, (which tbh is pretty standard practice in retail) but even my works will honour holidays that where booked before you started (although it`s unpaid leave) & i work for a company that don`t give a s*** about it`s employee`s >:(

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general nobody @ www.dvdreviewer.co.ukformerly known as Chris Ogden

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He`s better off out of there. Somerfields` days are numbered (under current management) anyway.

J Mark Oates

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Do Not Be Afraid. That Noise Is Merely The Sound Of My Mind Boggling.
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It`s also in the Managers and Supervisors contracts at the Somerfield store my son worked at, but that didn`t stop them each having two weeks off in December.

Somerfield stick to, and break, the rules when it suites them.

In fact, the Manager spent most of his time playing golf and was never there.

Your son is better off out of there, just as mine is!!!!!

This item was edited on Saturday, 15th October 2005, 17:06

Just go sick and get a doctors note as long as you have that they cant sack you.

How daft they will spend more on recruting new staff, and they will take on specifically for Christmas anyway. Sometimes its just bonkers the way businesses are run.

And on that point why are they always stacking the shelves when the stores are really busy? >:(

I`m sure he`ll get a lot more out of the holiday but it`s a shame he will have to resign-still on the plus side he might be able to get something for when he is back, and it will prob. be better. Good luck to him and have a great holiday!


Sue Davies

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:) News Editor and Site Reviewer
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Sorry to side with the enemy here, but if it did say in his contract that no holidays were to be taken in December then its TS surely? If you work in retail then most places - supermarkets especially will always be at their busiest in the Christmas period. As has been said, hiring in more staff to manage the extra business so why would they give anyone time off over the Christmas period? It wouldn`t make any sense.

I`ve worked in retail on and off for the past 7 years and I`m resigned to the fact that November and December are a big no-no for time off. I don`t particularly like it as its a pain to get home for any length of time to see the family but thats the way it is. If you don`t like it, don`t work in retail.

One of the biggest pains I know is having Christmas temps p*** off on the 23rd (students mainly who don`t live locally so just sod off) and leave the rest of us in the poo.

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And on that point why are they always stacking the shelves when the stores are really busy?

Erm, if they didn`t then the shelves would be empty wouldn`t they? Stuff tends to sell when the shops are busy, no point waiting til closing to start putting it back out again... :)

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This item was edited on Saturday, 15th October 2005, 18:58

Its part-time work over a few nights & evenings as a student AISI, so just hand in his notice, work & quit in December, don`t put any negative comments as to the reason why he`s leaving though as it comes back & bites you later on the bum.

Theres plenty of better part time work out there for those that want it. ;)



I quite like the Helpdesk people in a benevolent (as opposed to malevolent) way as they do some valuable work in preventing us being inundated by every halfwit who can work a phone.

Working for Somerfield as a Store Manager yes it is in the T&C that no employee will be allowed holiday dates during the month of December. This is purely down to the busy trading period and if you let one person have a week or two all the staff will be wanting December dates. It just causes big operational issues. If the dates were comunicated on starting with the company, well the dates should be honoured.

I see alot of people above slating retail/supermarket work? I have been in retail for 15 years and it has given me and my family a good living. It has not rotted my brain either.

But getting back to the main subject if it was me and your son is only 16 and your off to Florida I would suggest that another member of staff covers his shifts and he takes the 2 weeks off unpaid. That way the store doesnt suffer, someone gets overtime and your son gets to go on holiday with you (as he should). You will find some Managers are not as soft as me (if you can find them on the golf course). I take it being 16 he only does a few hours per week anyway.

The main issue I have is people booking to go abroad before they know if they can have the week off!!!!! ie one person on shopfloor booked off then another books a holiday and says "boss can you authorise that week for me please" " um no sorry already one off" etc etc. It can cause problems but get your son to ask collegues if they will cover his shifts for the two weeks you are away.....

Regards
dvdhouse