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Wife's boss is on a power trip. Is this legal? (lemmy.studio)

submitted 1 year ago by neocamel@lemmy.studio to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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My wife works in a restaurant, and the power-tripping manager has instituted a new policy where all shift changes must be approved by management. I think that is reasonable enough, but they're also asking the originally-scheduled employee why they are switching shifts, then approving or denying based on the answer.

For example, her coworker (Tom) wanted Monday afternoon off, and Harry agreed to cover the shift. The manager asked Tom why he wanted Harry to work for him, and Tom said, "I have a softball game." Manager denied the shift change because it was "unnecessary".

Is this legal? I feel like if you're able to find someone to cover your shift, you don't owe management any explanation why you need the time off. How should my wife approach this situation? Colorado, USA BTW.

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[–] dandroid@dandroid.app 96 points 1 year ago (16 children)

I would decline to answer, and if pressed, say something vague, such as, "a medical procedure". That should be enough for most people, but if it they keep pressing, I would come up with something embarrassing, such as, "I need the time off to get my anal prolapse taken care of." Then be upset that you had to disclose private medical information and ask to speak to HR.

[–] Chrisosaur@startrek.website 31 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I don’t know if you were addressing the specific case mentioned, but if someone has a softball game they want to go to, and they say they have a medical procedure to take care of, that could easily be grounds for termination.

Best answer I can think of is to unionize and negotiate a CA that includes shift trade rights. Short term, I don’t think there’s much you can do if the company wants to be a dick.

[–] DreadPirateShawn@lemmy.blahaj.zone 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Mental health is a medical issue. Ergo any vacation is medical.

[–] Chrisosaur@startrek.website 8 points 1 year ago

Points for creative thinking, but I would prefer not to get fired and have to seek redress through the courts.

[–] GBU_28@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

Ok, unemployment.

It's a restaurant, not the presidency. Get a coworker to be your reference, do well at your interview and move on.

[–] kablammy@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago

If it's a softball game, just say "I have to see someone about my balls".

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