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Whole Foods employees striking over requirements to work Thanksgiving

LaMidRighter said:
There are ways around that, an employee is likely to **** up soon enough, and the scope of forgiveness for mistakes could shrink.
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Trust me I know there is such a thing as blowback and that is why workers are risking a lot when they try to have any kind of voice without union protection.
 
Gipper said:
They have the right to a federally mandated minimum wage, to work in safe conditions, and other things as described by OSHA, FMLA, FLSA.

They don't have a right to protest without repercussion.
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KevinKohler said:
Many US workers have none of those rights.
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Lursa said:
Legal workers?
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KevinKohler said:
Yes, legal workers.
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Really? Please give some examples. And I dont necessarily mean the right to protest with out repercussions. (as you specified 'none.')
 
Helix said:
if someone wants to work on thanksgiving, cool. if someone doesn't want to work on thanksgiving, he or she should be able to stay home. in the past 517 pages of this ****ing thread, what have i posted that is even slightly unclear?
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As an employeer I don't give a **** what the employee wants.

I have to do what is best for the business and if the employee doesn't want to work they can go find another job.

Why is that so hard for you to understand.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
False. Whole food had never opened a Thanksgiving prior to this protest.
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Which doesn't change anything. Unless they have a contract stating that Whole Foods won't be open on Thanksgiving, then Whole Foods can be open that day and as an employer require Employees work that day.
 
cpgrad08 said:
Which doesn't change anything. Unless they have a contract stating that Whole Foods won't be open on Thanksgiving, then Whole Foods can be open that day and as an employer require Employees work that day.
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And they have a right to protest this new dictate.
 
Mason66 said:
As an employeer I don't give a **** what the employee wants.

I have to do what is best for the business and if the employee doesn't want to work they can go find another job.

Why is that so hard for you to understand.
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you've convinced me. back to work, Cratchit!
 
It's like some people don't even hide their hatred for poor people.
 
KevinKohler said:
Not really. They would get fired for not complying with company policy. You see, on one hand, a company has you sign and date documents stating you know and understand OSHA standards and what have you...and then, on the other hand, they cut payrolls and increase work loads which all but force you to cut corners in order to succeed. It's cut those corners, take those risks, or get less done. One of those two the employer is willing to "not see". The other...not so much. Care to venture a guess which is which? And then, should call OSHA or whoever and complain, we pull up our signed and dated documents, and ask who told them to cut corners. And then term them. I've seen it happen a couple of times now, at more than one job.
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speaking from the employers side, the employee has the protections of the law, sometimes moreso then the employer.
Documentation of changes in work procedures, times and dates, possible witnesses. Have even had false but persuasive documentation used against us. We proved out, but the time and expense of proving ourselves innocent was excessive.
Also, one well phrased phone call to the DoL fed or state and the company has to prove itself innocent of all sorts of things based on the whim of a pissed off employee.
Dont try and say employees have no rights....
 
GottaGo said:
speaking from the employers side, the employee has the protections of the law, sometimes moreso then the employer.
Documentation of changes in work procedures, times and dates, possible witnesses. Have even had false but persuasive documentation used against us. We proved out, but the time and expense of proving ourselves innocent was excessive.
Also, one well phrased phone call to the DoL fed or state and the company has to prove itself innocent of all sorts of things based on the whim of a pissed off employee.
Dont try and say employees have no rights....
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I cannot understand why government would make life difficult for people who provide jobs for others. The more people working, the more tax money flows to DC to spend as foolishly as they wish. Doesn't make sense today... At one time, it might have, but laws have been written since to curb abuses by employers, but now it just seems like plain old dislike of business. Small wonder that many flee to states that are more business friendly, or even go overseas. That doesn't help people who just want a job to support their famiiies. Everyone can't be on welfare...who's going to provide the money to take care of them?
 
Lursa said:
Really? Please give some examples. And I dont necessarily mean the right to protest with out repercussions. (as you specified 'none.')
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At BJs, employees are supposedly not required to lift more than 30 pounds without. They set it at 30 because most people can fairly safely lift 29 pounds, and that is the OSHA standard...don't lift more than you can handle. Above 29 pounds is supposed to be a team lift item. Upon getting hired, you see a training vid of this, and many other OSHA standards. Then you sign a doc stating you understand these policies, and that failure to follow them will result in disciplinary action, up to termination. Then you start work. You are told what you need to do, and how much time you have to do it in. You walk into a room full of boxes, all weighting 40+ pounds, and are told to stack them just so. You ask about team lift. No payroll for another person. At this point, you have a choice...violate policy, which the company doesn't really care if you do, or don't get the job done on account of not having help. Which the company DOES care about. Truth is, just about every box in BJs weights 30 pounds or more. The 30 pound policy is to protect the company from injury suits, and nothing else.

This happens millions of times per day, across the country, at thousands of retailers. If retailers followed every standard and practices they put in place inspired by OSHA and it's ilk to protect itself, they would all literally have to double their payroll to get the job done. They don't want to do that, and frankly, YOU don't want them to either.
 
cpgrad08 said:
Which doesn't change anything. Unless they have a contract stating that Whole Foods won't be open on Thanksgiving, then Whole Foods can be open that day and as an employer require Employees work that day.
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Incorrect. If holiday work, or anything considered "irregular" hours are required, they are required to be made known at the onset of employment.
 
GottaGo said:
speaking from the employers side, the employee has the protections of the law, sometimes moreso then the employer.
Documentation of changes in work procedures, times and dates, possible witnesses. Have even had false but persuasive documentation used against us. We proved out, but the time and expense of proving ourselves innocent was excessive.
Also, one well phrased phone call to the DoL fed or state and the company has to prove itself innocent of all sorts of things based on the whim of a pissed off employee.
Dont try and say employees have no rights....
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If you are having issues with this, it's your fault for not getting yourself a more iron clad orientation/employee contract. It's happened twice at BJs, an employee hurts their back, we review the camera to see how, see them lifting something heavy solo, (against company policy) and term them. Easy as pie. And now we have them sign away their right to litigation, opting instead for in company arbitration as a requirement of employment. BJs position is "Go ahead, call OSHA or the dept of labor. We'll just fire you."


What state you are in plays a heavy factor as well, though.
 
Perhaps there can be a mass "shopping at Whole Foods" to support them. At least some people might eat something healthy for a change.
 
Helix said:
if someone wants to work on thanksgiving, cool. if someone doesn't want to work on thanksgiving, he or she should be able to stay home. in the past 517 pages of this ****ing thread, what have i posted that is even slightly unclear?
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They are able to stay home. Its a free country.

rocket88 said:
Perhaps there can be a mass "shopping at Whole Foods" to support them. At least some people might eat something healthy for a change.
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nobody but rich people can afford that ****.
 
LaMidRighter said:
Yes, it is. My house, my rules. Don't like the rules then work somewhere else and I will replace you with someone who accepts my conditions.
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It's clear you favor a dictatorship when it comes to power/control. Not really sure why you call yourself a Libertarian since they are mainly about personal liberty for all individuals or at least that is what they claim.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
Trust me I know there is such a thing as blowback and that is why workers are risking a lot when they try to have any kind of voice without union protection.
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Like I said, if my workforce tried to unionize I would fire every last one of them and start over. My house, my rules. I would rather shutter a business and write off the loss than have people I gave a job to act like they get to call the shots.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
It's clear you favor a dictatorship when it comes to power/control. Not really sure why you call yourself a Libertarian since they are mainly about personal liberty for all individuals or at least that is what they claim.
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It's simple, you do not get to call the shots against YOUR EMPLOYER. You work for them, not the other way around, you get paid for your labor, your manager sets the rules, and the owner is the last word. Don't like it, start your own business.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
It's clear you favor a dictatorship when it comes to power/control. Not really sure why you call yourself a Libertarian since they are mainly about personal liberty for all individuals or at least that is what they claim.
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He said someone who ACCEPTS his conditions. Thats not dictatorship. He wants somek e who is WILLING to accept his conditions. He said nothing about force
 
LaMidRighter said:
Like I said, if my workforce tried to unionize I would fire every last one of them and start over. My house, my rules. I would rather shutter a business and write off the loss than have people I gave a job to act like they get to call the shots.
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Bully tactics....how surprising.
 
LaMidRighter said:
It's simple, you do not get to call the shots against YOUR EMPLOYER. You work for them, not the other way around, you get paid for your labor, your manager sets the rules, and the owner is the last word. Don't like it, start your own business.
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Should a coal miner accept working for a boss that does not give his workers the basic garentee of saftey, or compensation for becoming sick with black lung disease?
 
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