scheduling

Joined: 13 Aug 2008 Posts: 3

hello, all Wink

everything is going fine at the moment ... no real complaints other than the elusive "corporate schedule."

can anyone define this? i'm going to talk to HR today because i'm curious as to why out of the 3 weeks i've been on a schedule (3 weeks = 15 workdays), i've been scheduled to close 13 out of those 15 days with the other two days being late mid shifts. (for the record, i'm team lead in OSLG.)

anyone higher up the food chain have any logical explanation for this? i was told open availability was a requirement but i didn't realize i was going to be the permanent closer.

thanks for any info!

Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 89 Location: Georgia

Are you full time? Do the part timers get the day shifts? If it's like my store, they are just proud to have someone show up when scheduled. Bring it to the Zone's attention, they are probably making the schedule.

Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 546

The parttimers may only be available during the morning or day shifts. The cost of being a team lead.

Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 110

You can check your corporate schedule on lowes net. check the staffing sceduling link below the list of dept. That being said, depends on the staffing in your store. I would imagine oslg is being cut to bare bones, at least it is here in my store, We are down to dm, tl, and lns. seems like someone may be screwing you over, but they will say the corporate schedule is merely a guide, which is true. But they should still be fair

Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 146 Location: Region 1

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 461

well the corporate schedualing isn't legal at least in a number of states.

No the SM can't change the schedual at whim as policy states you have to get the person to agree to the changes. I have that document if you want it.

Others have seen it and shown it to management which quivered and gave in....

Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 146 Location: Region 1

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 461

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29954672@N07/

click on "All sizes" to see it larger.

This IS policy. there's no contract or other documents signed that allow a schedual to be changed without concent.

Also check state laws because I know in MA and in NH it permits a day off in a given week.

Don't act like the company can ignore violations. When someone has a supena to appear in court and doesn't a warrent goes out for an arrest! This is why anything legal gets forwarded directly to corporate...what corporate doesn't say is if someone personally is sued it probably won't back them up so corporate gives in.

Joined: 01 Feb 2008 Posts: 546

Joined: 18 Jul 2008 Posts: 146 Location: Region 1

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 461

It actually is in lowesnet or at least it was the last time I used it in january.

There's a section about HR and I think that gets into staffworks. Staffworks is a program that is used by lowes and other companies.

There's also some other things to find like when the next time training programs come up, others might have other video.

Just like there's an old LLC version that's hidden. If you highlight everything there might still be another link. There is a video on unions but it's for the canadian stores. I found it to be pretty neutral on things.

Other information somewhat comes out like the products can be made by people 16 years old as long as it isn't jail labor (walmart is clamping down on their vendors too)

There's other things like if someone transfers technically that can be denied however if its a promotion the most is two pay periods.

For awhile actually the lowes tv channel could have been watched at home but I think its encrypted now as a satellite channel..

Trust corporate ? Well management doesn't say things that their management states...the left hand doesn't know what the right is doing

Remember the game telephone as a kid? You could have completly different messages coming out.

Unless workers share information like this or corporate hires people to be undercover as employees than not much will change

Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 98

I seem to recall signing something as a team leader stating we will work any and all hours at any given time as needed. I forgot about that until another TL was told on a Friday to work his weekend off so he could cover another associate who had a death in the family.

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 461

The company will try to say things with corporate schedualing but with this policy and some state laws it nullifies it
http://tinyurl.com/2bl2hz
"Work may be performed without a permit. Time and one-half pay and voluntariness of employment requirements do apply.

New Year's Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Columbus Day after 12:00 noon
Veterans' Day after 1:00 p.m."

and

"2. Voluntariness of Employment
Regardless of the number of employees, retailers cannot require employees to work on Sunday, and an employee's refusal to work may not be grounds for discrimination, dismissal, discharge, reduction in hours, or any other penalty."

www.foleyhoag.com/~/media/Files/Publications/eBooks/FoleyHoag_MassWageHour_newCover.ashx

"It is important that employers follow these wage
laws because of the potential for large back pay
awards. There may also be penalties for certain
violations. Under the state law, for example, any
employer or the officer or agent of any corporation
who pays or agrees to pay any employee less than
the required overtime rate of compensation “shall be
punished by a fine of not more than $25,000
or by imprisonment of not more than one year” for
a first offense, if it is willful. Even absent willful
intent, punishment shall be “a fine of not more than
$10,000 or by imprisonment for not more than six
months for a first offense.” An employee can also
bring a civil lawsuit if paid less than the required
overtime rate of compensation by an employer and
recover THREE TIMES THE FULL AMOUNT of such overtime
compensation, along with costs and attorneys’ fees"

Here's another bit
"The U.S. Supreme Court recently determined
time spent “donning and doffing” unique
protective clothing would also constitute working
time"

So when you show up you can clock in and then put your vest on...unless Lowes wants to go to federal court and lose again

Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 110

The Sunday thing applies only to your state, at least as in reference to your link.

I didn't know we counted our vests as protective clothing, generally it is more like a bull's eye on our back, isn't it?

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 461

Well with california I know it's OT if someone works more than 8 hours in a given day. Their laws go beyond mass.

In NH they have to have one day off a week and it usually has to be defined and if it's changed I think the government would actually have to know

There's plenty of state regs to look up.

Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 110

yes Matt, I know. That's what I am saying. Here in Indiana it's
anything over 40 hours in a week. So in theory, you could work 40 straight hours, and as long as you didn't work anymore the rest of the week, you would not get OT. No OT for weekends, and yes, you have to work Sunday. People that have questions should get with someone in their state for specifics rather than go by generalities posted on a forum.

Joined: 22 Dec 2007 Posts: 461

Well I just find that the chain assumes someone doesn't know. Don't assume that they know because some people had to fight to get OT on one of those holidays.

The company isn't bright....

HR was doing I-9's for people THREE years after hiring them!
I know of people that were listed as seasonal but canned because apparently they didn't know they went back to school etc