Employers frown on classroom hours
Randy Cavin
Issue date: 12/9/09 Section: Campus News
For many students, the cost of going to college creates a financial strain.
Many find ways to offset the cost by accepting federal work-study while others seek employment at local businesses. Students who work at local businesses know they must schedule their classes around their employment, or ask their employer to schedule their work hours around their classes each semester.
One student, however, said she was recently fired from her local job because of her class schedule. The student, who will not be named for her protection, said she started working at this business in February 2009 and the employer knew she was a student. This business has a new manager and the previous manager had no problem with the student's class schedules.
"I was told to supply a copy of my schedule to the then-manager, which I did, and there was no conflict with it," the student said.
She said she had no problems at this business until September, when inspectors from the corporation made a visit and said the business did not pass corporate inspections. The student said the owner wanted all of the night crew to be fired.
"The owner demanded that everyone on nights get fired, including me. However, he wanted us to stay on long enough to train a new crew. After about a week, myself and one other person (non-student) were left. Everyone else had quit. The then-manager informed me that she had been told by the owners that she did not have to fire me if she did not want to, so she didn't," the student said.
She said she had no more problems until the new manager was hired. The new manager, she said, had a problem with her being 15 minutes late to work on Thursdays because of her class schedule.
"I was 15 minutes late to work due to class. I had provided both her and the former manager a written copy of this semester's schedule and had not had any problems with being a little late on Thursdays till the new manager showed up," the student said. "Then on Tuesday, Nov. 17, when I went in for my shift, I was informed that I was no longer going to be working there by the new manager. I asked why and she said that the owner had no idea I was even still working there, which I personally find odd because they have to sign our checks, and the manager said I should not even be working there at all because of my school schedule."
Attempts to reach the business owners, who do not live in Martin, have been unsuccessful.
If you have had a similar experience to this student, or know of other students who have been caught in similar situations, please e-mail The Pacer at pacer_news@ut.utm.edu.
Many find ways to offset the cost by accepting federal work-study while others seek employment at local businesses. Students who work at local businesses know they must schedule their classes around their employment, or ask their employer to schedule their work hours around their classes each semester.
One student, however, said she was recently fired from her local job because of her class schedule. The student, who will not be named for her protection, said she started working at this business in February 2009 and the employer knew she was a student. This business has a new manager and the previous manager had no problem with the student's class schedules.
"I was told to supply a copy of my schedule to the then-manager, which I did, and there was no conflict with it," the student said.
She said she had no problems at this business until September, when inspectors from the corporation made a visit and said the business did not pass corporate inspections. The student said the owner wanted all of the night crew to be fired.
"The owner demanded that everyone on nights get fired, including me. However, he wanted us to stay on long enough to train a new crew. After about a week, myself and one other person (non-student) were left. Everyone else had quit. The then-manager informed me that she had been told by the owners that she did not have to fire me if she did not want to, so she didn't," the student said.
She said she had no more problems until the new manager was hired. The new manager, she said, had a problem with her being 15 minutes late to work on Thursdays because of her class schedule.
"I was 15 minutes late to work due to class. I had provided both her and the former manager a written copy of this semester's schedule and had not had any problems with being a little late on Thursdays till the new manager showed up," the student said. "Then on Tuesday, Nov. 17, when I went in for my shift, I was informed that I was no longer going to be working there by the new manager. I asked why and she said that the owner had no idea I was even still working there, which I personally find odd because they have to sign our checks, and the manager said I should not even be working there at all because of my school schedule."
Attempts to reach the business owners, who do not live in Martin, have been unsuccessful.
If you have had a similar experience to this student, or know of other students who have been caught in similar situations, please e-mail The Pacer at pacer_news@ut.utm.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Colin
posted 12/14/09 @ 9:20 AM CST
This is shameful. Businesses (especially local ones) should support hardworking students who show the determination to both work and attend school. Boycotts of businesses who engage in such practices are a reasonable response. (Continued…)
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