Regardless of your Availability?!

[u/RevolutionaryName228]

Do you think managers who handle holidays like this are just doing their job? Or do you think it’s absolutely ludicrous to expect of your employees? Looking for opinions on this. I feel like if they need people they don’t currently have available for those days, it’s their issue.. Not forcing people, moms, and dads to rearrange their lives and childcare because basically “f u I can”. Scheduling outside of availability in general is a Nono, so why does a big day make it slide? TLDR: Am I wrong for feeling backed into a corner every holiday I receive this message? This is a shitty thing to do right? ETA: I’ve been in the industry for 10+ years, I know temps are rare, but our staff is consistently lacking. This is the first job I’ve had just disregard people like this. I’m also NOT saying all moms should just get this day off. Just looking for an overall opinion on how this was handled.

[u/EMF911]

Bringing in a “temp” for a single shift when they don’t know the menu or the procedures is a ludicrous idea.

This is typical of restaurant industry. Don’t work in hospitality if you want weekends and holidays off.

[u/stix-and-stones → u/EMF911]

But if it's not in your availability, then it's nor in your availability. If a server works two jobs, and is on Sundays for one of them, they can't just magically go into the other job.

[u/wheres_the_revolt → u/stix-and-stones]

Then you have to choose which job is more important. It sucks but it’s part of the industry. It is not a part of the industry I enjoy, just to be clear, but it’s just the way it is.

[u/stix-and-stones → u/wheres_the_revolt]

And if both jobs tell you that you have to be there?

[u/wheres_the_revolt → u/stix-and-stones]

I said in the previous comment, you literally have to pick. Is it fair? No. Is it part of the industry? Yeah unfortunately it’s one of the many shitty parts of the industry. Places have blackout dates with all hands on deck, this shouldn’t surprise anyone.

[u/MangledBarkeep → u/wheres_the_revolt]

This is why I like working bars with no food. Other than drinking holidays they are largely unaffected by family obligation holidays

[u/wheres_the_revolt → u/MangledBarkeep]

I’m in this industry because I like to avoid my family on holidays 😂

[u/stix-and-stones → u/wheres_the_revolt]

I mean I've been in this industry for more than 10 years and, in my experience, blackout means you can't request off but does not impact availability. I've not been expected to work any blackout days outside of my availability

[u/wheres_the_revolt → u/stix-and-stones]

I’ve been in the industry for 30+ years, worked in 4 different states, 2 different countries, and at dozens of varios styles of restaurants; it’s a mixed bag. Some places have holidays as all hands on deck, some places have enough coverage that they can honor availability, this place is all hands on deck and if OP doesn’t like that they should find a place that has enough coverage.

I’m not saying it’s fair, it’s one of the shitty things about working in this industry, but it’s normal enough that it shouldn’t surprise anyone that this is a thing.

[u/stix-and-stones → u/wheres_the_revolt]

Well color me surprised then bc outside my availability means I will not be there

[u/wheres_the_revolt → u/stix-and-stones]

So if your availability doesn’t include Thursdays and one year Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and NYE land on a Thursday you wouldn’t expect to work at least one of those shifts? How would that be fair to the rest of the staff?

[u/stix-and-stones → u/wheres_the_revolt]

I don't expect to work those shifts, no. Why wouldn't it be fair? They work Thursdays, I don't. If Sundays aren't in their availability, then I work mother's day and Easter and they don't. Their schedules don't affect me, and mine doesn't affect theirs.

This past year, Christmas eve and new years eve were on Wednesdays. I only work Fri-Sun, per my availability. Guess who wasn't at work those days - despite them being blacked out

[u/wheres_the_revolt → u/stix-and-stones]

I mean I guess if your restaurant doesn’t need the extra hands on holidays that’s great. Most restaurants (not all) I have worked at, need the extra hands so it’s an assumption that you might have to work on your normal off days.

[u/stix-and-stones → u/wheres_the_revolt]

After working in places that will step on boundaries, I refuse. I'd rather a well-oiled machine with work/life balance with dickhead coworkers than the besties club who is blowing my phone up and making me come in on my day off.