The manager and her sister in law

by Janice
(Big Bear Lake, CA USA)

I have been a server for 28 years. Most recently I have served at my job for three years. 2 years into the job, my managers sister in law is brought onto the floor as a server. She had been dealing with illness and was now well enough to return to work. She has been back for 1 year. Recently, I was notified that a server who normally takes winters off has decided she wants a couple of shifts, therefore my next 2 Tuesdays she would be taking, after that she wanted to take time off. That is where this story begins to take off. That server, who is good friends with the sister in law and manager, changes her mind and now wants my shift permanently. So, she has one of my shifts plus 2 others. Every week since this happened, she has given her shifts to the sister in law. I lost a shift, which I didn't want to loose and the server who had been there less than half the time, has picked up 1 to 2 extra shifts a week. When I ask the manager if she can have the server who took my shift, call me when she needs another shift covered, I was dismissed with some ill excuse that she is being fair and the other girls are only getting 3 shifts each. This is not true. Her sister in law has had 4 to 5 shifts per week since this happened and longer shifts to boot. If it were I who were picking up all those shifts, I know for a fact that I would have been spoken to and not allowed to continue to pick up all the extra shifts. Because her sister in law ( who rents a house from her) , is the one picking up shifts, nothing is being done. I feel they have all manipulated me and the schedule to make it work out exactly the way they wanted from the beginning.

I have asked the owners if I may speak with them tomorrow. They don't know what it is I want to talk about, but I doubt they have any idea what is going on behind their backs. I hope for a positive outcome. If nothing else I will be heard.

Response from Carl: Thanks Janice. Often, when family owners or management of the company come into play, things can happen that seem to show favoritism towards some staff to the detriment of others. Hopefully your meeting goes well and you'll at least get some indication of where you stand.

Carl