comp time...

[some guy]

So here is something else I don't like... Over time.. Doesn't exist. I work some days 10+ hours.. Some weeks 45+ hours.. Over time? Nope. Not a dime. I asked the managers. they told me my hours are moved onto the next week and the next week untill they fit in some where so it doesn't count as over time... I started working not even two months ago. I started on night shift. We have a total of 3 workers and LN that works nights. when I took the job the desperately needed me. Now they are telling me there are too many people on nights and they started scheduling me for days. (as if I didn't get paid enough... The extra 10% made a difference) So this is whats going to happen. I'm done with AAFES. I have met quite a few managers at the commensary and I'll be there at the beginning of the year. I'll be working nights and actually get to enjoy a week end or two.. (There has been people working at that shoppette for over a year and has only had 1 Saturday off. meanwhile the managers enjoy atleast 1 0r two weekends a month.) i'm not going to stick around to get anal raped any more.. Oh yeah. Next week we loose some one off morning, by the end of the year we loose 1 night shift worker, and 1 mid shift worker. the LN is married to a soldeir and is heading to the states in feb. So by February. if new people hasn't showed up they will really be hurting that would only leave 2 on mornings (one works at the shoppette at the arms most days though) they have a bunch on mids because they work in the back in the warhouse. But on mid they will on;y have 2 casheirs. and nights will on;y have 2 untill the LN heads to the states in feb.  I only make barely under $8 an hour. the commensary will pay starting at $14 plus night diferential and sunday premium. that there does it for me in my book. Also I'm starting my schooling and they wont work around my schedule.

[Quityerbitching]

Wow..... what a loss...sorry to see you go.....
There are so many ways I could go with this one ..... just gonna let it go.... best o' luck to ya..

[blndmdc]

Just wanted to say that I know what you mean with the whole not getting paid for overtime. They always say that they are going to just put it on your schedule for comp time but that never really happens does it. I mean if they constantly schedule you to work 40 hr weeks how will they ever pay you back what is owed to you. Then my favorite is when they try to bribe you to do stuff. Tell you well if you can just help us out another hour I will buy your lunch tomorrow for helping. You think well I guess I can help as long as its just another hour...so you help. And you go home feeling glad that you were able to help out. Then the "lunch" you get is a 5 dollar off coupon. What is that going to buy me? A double cheeseburger meal at the BK. Whoo Hoo!!! Anyway I still have to laugh at the fact that the people paying me to work for them are the same people I have to shop for. Cuz unlike the states we don't really have the luxury to go off post and find something for the same price or lower. We are stuck paying the exchange rate or shopping online and hoping what we order both gets to us and is what we really asked for. So the next time you bitch because your local AAFES doesn't have what you want so you just go offbase to get it...think of those who don't have that opportunity.

[Stop_Your_Crying]

My goodness, what planet are you from.......comp time, overtime, go join a union. If your working over your hours, then you chose too. No one can make you in AAFES! They cannot threaten to fire you either for not working longer and not getting paid.  If your working over hours, then you chose too out of either respect for who you work for or your co-workers. That $5 lunch was a nice offer, what you expecting, lunch at Red Lobster. Get the Number 5 Junior Whopper and be happy. Good to hear your getting a job at the commissary, which is very much subsidized by the government, that is how that can pay that amount. They know they are getting money no matter what. pus the 5% surcharge to boot.
Now a lot of facilities are cutting down due to military changing overseas. Now if you do not have that many personnel as you had a year ago, then of course jobs will have to be cut. Its fact of life, go ask those at the GM plant in Michigan. From what was stated, sounds like that post or base is closing. Question, when you applied for the job, did you read the posting?? Probably stated weekends and holidays, nights and times, this is a standard format. At that time you should bring up work schedule questions.   

[Disgruntled]

What a complete and total wanker you must be! First off, OT is covered under the Union's Master Agreement. Comp time is against federal policy for all the reasons posted above. Moving the hours is illegal and when you know it is being done, you need to find a union rep and report it. You don't have to be a union member to grieve the BS management tries to heap on you. If you just accept it, you are going to keep getting hosed.

Stop_Your_Crying is a prime example of the HQ weenie who has his and so doesn't give a good GD about what happens to the field people whose work pays his salary. Yeah, they're cutting the store personnel (but only the hourlies--NEVER management!) and then they can't figure out why no one shops in the stores. Older customers (especially retirees) are not going to patronize a place where they cannot get customer service.

Ever had to pull a full shift alone because the store manager was ordered by a GM to cut people in a department down to skeleton coverage to save a dime? Sad thing is, at the same time, they won't cut the hours a tick or go green with utilities.

[Stop_Your_Crying]

Just as I hope for, a cool reply......Thanks Disgruntled..Wanker, funny you must be British...LOL

By the way, I am about 3,000 mile away from HQ and have one of the best GM in the business who does care and well as the people who work for me. Every position we had to downsize, we have found jobs for those who wanted and did not affect their pay. I am very much in the field, largest city is over 100km away.

So post some facts like you did in the last blog and not babble. I never said OT was not authorized.

[Disgruntled]

To quote you :

"comp time, overtime, go join a union"

Sounded like you are saying "no overtime" to me.

People do not choose to stay over with a cranky customer who wants you to stay put until they decide which pair of socks to buy. In fact, if you leave that customer at the end of your shift, there is a very good chance you will be called on the carpet for "being rude". I can guarantee you that it is almost impossible to find another associate to take over because most stores (especially at night) are cutting some areas down to one body to cover huge areas. Supervisor or managers? Don't expect their help because there again might only be one on duty.

WalMart was recently sued about that supposedly "voluntary OT" you refer to and now must pay a rather large settlement for violation of labor laws. Not too many people I know go out of their way to stay over every day, but they are chastised if they don't stay when their shift is over.

Congratulations on your oh-so-fabulous GM. From years of observation, I have seen very few GMs that deserve to be called the "best" except in terms of how much money they bring in. Most are ruthless gits who would fire their own mothers if it would put one more penny in the plus column. I doubt that things are really so wonderful when you are at the lower end of the job spectrum. Those downsizings usually result in going from full-time to part-time, which may not result in a loss of one's hourly wage, but retirement goes right out the door, along with life insurance and the other benefits of being a full-time employee.

Work related accidents are increasing, along with employee theft (if you are willing to believe that nasty little man who takes great glee in writing about how many AAFES employees were busted while the customers are walking out the door with even more. I do not condone theft, but I also do not condone a work environment where you actually dare your employees to steal by assuming they already are doing so. The accidents? Well, when you rely on less people to do the same or more work, they are going to get hurt. Then AAFES will do their best to have the Workers' Comp people deny the claim on a technicality. Meanwhile, the associate is out of work and out of luck.

Just remember, you only get as much as you are willing to give.

[Here to Help...]

Comp time is a no no in AAFES.  OT is authorized with the approval of senior management.  Depending on that facility it could be the store manager to only the GM.  The last GM was a smart one and approved OT if it would save us money to allow a few hours here and there instead of hiring someone else to fill that position.  Of course you could not just go allowing OT all the time.  Smart scheduling would have solved those problems you wrote about.  I would have told you to see a higher manager all the way to the GM to get your OT paid.  If the GM wasn't willing to componsate you for you OT then I would have gone to the Union.  You do not have to pay union dues to be part of the union you just can't be part of management lol....

Good luck to you but I would at least try to get your OT paid before you leave.  You deserve that much for your time...

[Disgruntled]

Allow me to correct you there. Management can indeed join the union. They just can't have their dues withheld from their paychecks-they have to write a check directly to the union. They can also have union help in preparing their MSPB and FLRA complaints.

[BooBoo10]

I did not know a manager could join...I am surprised. 

[Here to Help...]

Allow me to correct you there. Management can indeed join the union. They just can't have their dues withheld from their paychecks-they have to write a check directly to the union. They can also have union help in preparing their MSPB and FLRA complaints.

Sorry but that in untrue with the Union that represents AAFES employee's... if you rate employee's you are unable to join the union.  If you do not rate employee's and have the status as a Manager then it is possable... but those positions are very few....

If I can find my red Union book then I can give you the exact rule...

[Disgruntled]

It isn't the Red Book that gives management the right to join. It is Title 5. Even with supervisory duties, a manager can still join.

Oh, and there are EIGHT different unions within AAFES. Which one are you referring to?

[Stop_Your_Crying]

Hi all,

Back, been gone a few weeks. Good to see we have a nice active dialogue going. On the union thing, it must all depend of the region. Here in Germany we have no union, beside the local nationals, but they have Work Council that supports them.

[Here to Help...]

It isn't the Red Book that gives management the right to join. It is Title 5. Even with supervisory duties, a manager can still join.

Oh, and there are EIGHT different unions within AAFES. Which one are you referring to?

Western Region CONUS is where I used to work....

[Disgruntled]

Um, both of you are wrong in saying there is no union representation for you.

AFGE represents worldwide, including U.S. employees working for AAFES in the EU. They also represent most CONUS people not under NAGE, the Teamsters, the Communications Workers or the others. Hawaii has a separate union because of the Islanders.

I just love it when managers like to make nasty remarks about the unions, but are more than happy to accept any benefits the unions negotiate for the members. 

As for comp time, my supervisor offers me the option of OT or taking the time off. Sometimes, I DO accept the comp time because it saves my leave.