Ok... now I'm starting to get frustrated...

[Hurricane]

When I started working at this hotel there were three other people who worked front desk. One of them was in training when I started and had only been here a week. I went through a two week training session during which time I worked a split shift coming in at 3:45pm and working until 7pm and then coming back in at 3:15am and working until 9am. I worked two straight weeks of this split shift without a single day off. Once I was out of training, I had three days off. When I came back to work, both of tenured people who worked here had quit leaving me and the other girl who had only been here a week longer than me. That girl and I have been working six days a week since then (in total I've had four days off in a little over a month) while we waited for a new person to be hired. They hired a new woman who we JUST finished training this weekend and a second new person started two days ago. We were scheduled to continue on six day weeks until this guy came out of training after which, we would go to a regular four day a week/nine hour a day schedule.

About 15 minutes ago, this new guy came in and quit after only two days of working here.

Now I'm doomed to work six days a week for who knows how long until they can hire ANOTHER new person and train them.

I've been working at this place for a little over a month with only four days off. I no longer have a life. I'm tired all the time. Today, I slept until 2pm! That's TWO O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON! To make matters worse, I don't get paid overtime for working almost 55 hours a week.

I WANT MY LIFE BACK!

[Tobias March]

I worked in a hotel in Edinburgh (Albany Hotel, may its fortunes be bleak!!)

Night shifts bled into day shifts, the cleaning staff quit so I had to run the reception and clean the rooms solo, and the management were having some bizarre feud with the restaurant downstairs that was renting the property.

Never again.

[Hurricane]

I worked in a hotel in Edinburgh (Albany Hotel, may its fortunes be bleak!!)

Night shifts bled into day shifts, the cleaning staff quit so I had to run the reception and clean the rooms solo, and the management were having some bizarre feud with the restaurant downstairs that was renting the property.

Never again.

The housekeeping positions at this hotel are like a revolving door. There have been seven hired and quit since I started working here at the end of November. Luckily, I don't have to pick up the slack because I'm too busy doing the work of two front desk clerks.

[Gail Simone]

Why no overtime? That's a ridiculous schedule!

[Hurricane]

Why no overtime? That's a ridiculous schedule!

Because the owner has somehow managed to get this hotel qualified as a small business. In the state of Arkansas, small businesses are exempt from having to pay overtime (along with exemption from other labor laws). BUT, according to the poster, a small business is 4 or less employees. This hotel employs 7 people not counting the owner and his wife. I have contacted the labor board and am awaiting a response.

[Mermaid]

so have I got this correct? You're working on average a 55 hour week but only getting paid for maybe 39 hours?

If that's correct and the management are not willing to pay you extra for all this time you're covering then you need to weigh up your options.

Those options being having a one on one talk with your employer about what he's going to do to improve things. I'm sure by law you're entitled to days off, especially as you've been kind enough to pick up the slack for so long.
And also looking for alternate employment if things don't improve....you can even tell this to your manager, not as a threat but clearly state that this is now affecting your home life as well and you're not prepared to continue under such working conditions.

[Hurricane]

so have I got this correct? You're working on average a 55 hour week but only getting paid for maybe 39 hours?



I work an average of 55 hours a week. Arkansas law (not sure how it is anywhere else) states that any employee working over 40 hours per week will get overtime pay equal to your hourly wage plus half (aka Time and a half) for ever hour worked over 40. I don't get overtime pay. I only make my base rate for the full 55. I should be getting paid time and a half for 15 of those hours.

As I said, I contacted the Department of Labor and when I hear from them on this particular issue, I'll let you guys know what they say.

[Cam63]

No wonder you Yanks go off the deep end sometimes.

Good luck, Cyclone.

[Mermaid]

I work an average of 55 hours a week. Arkansas law (not sure how it is anywhere else) states that any employee working over 40 hours per week will get overtime pay equal to your hourly wage plus half (aka Time and a half) for ever hour worked over 40. I don't get overtime pay. I only make my base rate for the full 55. I should be getting paid time and a half for 15 of those hours.

As I said, I contacted the Department of Labor and when I hear from them on this particular issue, I'll let you guys know what they say.

I see. Well then you've done the right thing contacting the DoL. It'll be interesting to see what they say. Best of luck.

[Alan Lynch]

Because the owner has somehow managed to get this hotel qualified as a small business. In the state of Arkansas, small businesses are exempt from having to pay overtime (along with exemption from other labor laws). BUT, according to the poster, a small business is 4 or less employees. This hotel employs 7 people not counting the owner and his wife. I have contacted the labor board and am awaiting a response.
Good for you contacting the labor board. You're getting dicked around big time there; fingers crossed the board come back with the right answer for you.

[LewisH]

The economy is pretty bad right now . Would you rather be working long hours and at least getting paid for some of them or working no hours and spending all your time desperately trying to find a job and wondering how you are going to pay your bills?

[beetlebum]

Hurricane's getting shafted, and he has every right to complain about it.

Good luck, Hur'.

[PatrickG]

Because the owner has somehow managed to get this hotel qualified as a small business. In the state of Arkansas, small businesses are exempt from having to pay overtime (along with exemption from other labor laws). BUT, according to the poster, a small business is 4 or less employees. This hotel employs 7 people not counting the owner and his wife. I have contacted the labor board and am awaiting a response.

There are varying tiers of this type of thing, I think. My parents run a business with around 10 employees and they've noted to me once that they could possibly get an exemption from minimum wage. Although they don't because they want to attract and retain good employees.

[shrike]

Not to be a bitch but why even put up with that kind of treatment when you probably are making a horrible wage to begin with?

You obviously are unhappy... why not explore other options?

[Sally Sensational]

Not to be a bitch but why even put up with that kind of treatment when you probably are making a horrible wage to begin with?

You obviously are unhappy... why not explore other options?

Because the job market here is SHIT.

Check the paper today, Chris. Best Buy is opening in February. Applications are online.

[Hurricane]

Because the job market here is SHIT.



You are correct. It took me a month (literally) to find this job and I am really not wanting to have to start looking again. It was only yesterday that I reached the point where I am getting pissed. That guy quitting after only two days was the straw that broke the camel's back I guess.

Don't get me wrong, I went a full month without work and I am VERY grateful to have this job. I do get paid a shit wage, but so does EVERYONE around here. I'm not to the point of wanting to quit, I'm just starting to get extremely frustrated.

I wish I had the money to start my own business. I've wanted to for a while now.

[Mermaid]

what sort of business are you interested in starting?

[Hurricane]

what sort of business are you interested in starting?

A shop that sells new and used movies and games.

[Corrina]

Contacting the DOL was the right thing, Hurricane. Absolutely.

And I totally get why you wouldn't leave the job. Besides, if the place does get told "stop not paying OT", they might be quicker to hire someone and ease your schedule.

[Hurricane]

Another thing that I want to clarify. The overtime issue aside, I do not blame my boss for the current situation. This is a college town and the majority of people who apply for jobs here are college students. Unfortunately, it seems most of them in this area are extremely irresponsible and/or just flat out do not want to work. That is why the housekeeping positions are like a revolving door. My manager decided that to fill the last front desk position, he would avoid college kids and hire an older gentleman for the position. That guy quit after two days. I guess he couldn't handle the 8 hours of free time, free internet access, free food and drink, free cable, etc.

[PatrickG]

Another thing that I want to clarify. The overtime issue aside, I do not blame my boss for the current situation. This is a college town and the majority of people who apply for jobs here are college students. Unfortunately, it seems most of them in this area are extremely irresponsible and/or just flat out do not want to work. That is why the housekeeping positions are like a revolving door. My manager decided that to fill the last front desk position, he would avoid college kids and hire an older gentleman for the position. That guy quit after two days. I guess he couldn't handle the 8 hours of free time, free internet access, free food and drink, free cable, etc.

...

Let me know if you have an opening in about six months, wouldja? :biggrin:

My big struggle right now is with getting hours, period. Minimum wage will rise past my current wage in about that time. I have over a decade's experience in customer service and hospitality and I make less now than I made doing the same job I did five years ago because I quit and came back and the pay structure changed and because there are less hours to spread around.

I'm starting to get a sinking feeling about not having developed any hard skills since high school. I mean, there are things I'm good at but nothing that's entry level and definitely not anything pertaining to math, science, medicine or tech sectors.

Good luck with this stuff.

[Mermaid]

A shop that sells new and used movies and games.

sounds good...especially if there's not much of the same thing in your area.
You can get bank loans for that kind of thing.

Another thing that I want to clarify. The overtime issue aside, I do not blame my boss for the current situation. This is a college town and the majority of people who apply for jobs here are college students. Unfortunately, it seems most of them in this area are extremely irresponsible and/or just flat out do not want to work. That is why the housekeeping positions are like a revolving door. My manager decided that to fill the last front desk position, he would avoid college kids and hire an older gentleman for the position. That guy quit after two days. I guess he couldn't handle the 8 hours of free time, free internet access, free food and drink, free cable, etc.

see that's what i don't get, why quit? The job sounds ok and by the sound of the economy you'd think he needed the job....unless of course something else he applied for earlier actually came through for him....that could be it.

anyway i hope things improve for you H

[Hurricane]

sounds good...especially if there's not much of the same thing in your area.
You can get bank loans for that kind of thing.


There really isn't. Hot Springs (which is about 45 minutes from my town) has stores like this, but they're all big corporate types. FYE, EB Games, etc. They also have a few "family owned" stores that buy and sell used games (everything from the original Atari to Playstation 3 and Xbox 360), but they don't sell new games. The town I live in has a Wal-Mart for new movies and games and a Gamestop for new and used games, but nowhere that you can get all of that in one place.

[Mermaid]

There really isn't. Hot Springs (which is about 45 minutes from my town) has stores like this, but they're all big corporate types. FYE, EB Games, etc. They also have a few "family owned" stores that buy and sell used games (everything from the original Atari to Playstation 3 and Xbox 360), but they don't sell new games. The town I live in has a Wal-Mart for new movies and games and a Gamestop for new and used games, but nowhere that you can get all of that in one place.


Sounds good then from that perspective. You could always look into what you need a bit more and approach a bank outlining what your plans are. They might be able to give you some free advice on whether it's worth pursuing, especially in terms of a loan. Interest rates are low now (well they are here at least) so now's a good time to borrow.
Sounds interesting anyway.

Btw, we have EB Games here.....infact, they're everywhere. :rolleyes:

[Hurricane]

Btw, we have EB Games here.....infact, they're everywhere. :rolleyes:

It seems that for every Wal-Mart, there is either a EB Games or Gamestop right across the street or very near by.

[Mermaid]

we don't have WalMart here. (as far as I know)

[Hurricane]

we don't have WalMart here. (as far as I know)

:eek:

Say what?

[Mermaid]

We don't have Wal Mart here!

better? :wink:

[Paul McEnery]

we don't have WalMart here. (as far as I know)

Yeah, they hate setting up shop where there are labour rights.

[CutterMike]

Sounds good then from that perspective. You could always look into what you need a bit more and approach a bank outlining what your plans are. They might be able to give you some free advice on whether it's worth pursuing, especially in terms of a loan. Interest rates are low now (well they are here at least) so now's a good time to borrow.
Sounds interesting anyway.

Btw, we have EB Games here.....infact, they're everywhere. :rolleyes:

Also, see if there is a SCORE office near by.

SCORE -- the Service Corps of Retired Executives is, essentially, the Capitalist's Peace Corps: Ex-businessmen volunteer their time offering free assistance to help fledgeling businesses with writing business plans, etc.

[Hurricane]

Also, see if there is a SCORE office near by.

SCORE -- the Service Corps of Retired Executives is, essentially, the Capitalist's Peace Corps: Ex-businessmen volunteer their time offering free assistance to help fledgeling businesses with writing business plans, etc.

Thanks for that info. I looked it up and there are a few offices here in Arkansas. The closest one is about 50 miles from here. I might check into it if I get time.

[Major Comma]

Sounds like you are handling it well Hurricane!
Good Luck!