Errands at work

[Pacific]

MANXMAN what u did for your boss needing immediate attention to an injury is the humane thing to do for anyone in any situation employer or not, I can't see that it has any relevance to sending employees out to get your lunch for you, especially if they seem reluctant. If they are enthusiastic about it fair enough.

In his particular job an employee lunch is their own business and nothing to do with work. She's not his friend, had it been other employees or managers he actually liked and was friendly with or those less able like elderly or disabled he'd have enjoyed getting it for them work related or not, but that should be a personal choice if not in the job description and she should have at least asked if he minded doing so, he even said he didn't want to, that is somewhat bullying because as his manager was prone to firing people on a whim she should know an employee would feel pressured. He's assertive and can speak his mind but he was also initially very happy he'd gotten a job and I was happy for him, he didn't want to mess it up.

He also didn't complain to me he simply talked about his day over dinner as we do, but I'm older and can see that his boss is out of line continuing to send him out in the cold during work hours to get her lunch when he clearly doesn't want to which is his choice, he's not her errand boy he worked for the company doing jobs in the store, not for her personally. If he worked as an assistant then fair enough he wouldn't have a problem with it, either way he doesn't I do because when he describes it to me I can see as an adult what he doesn't see, that she's taking advantage and likely because of his age.

FYI this is a big city the retail park is huge and the McDonald's is 2 large car parks and several huge stores away not close to where he works, it's obvious it'd take her much longer to go get it so why doesn't she just bring her lunch with her.

My username is in reference to the Pacific ocean. I thought that would've been obvious.

[echat11]

No. You need to teach your son to be assertive when it is appropriate to behave in such a manner (ie when his manager is clearly in the wrong). To be honest, your son complaining (and you supporting him in doing so) about being sent out to get a meal for his manager is never going to end well and you are doing your son no service in supporting him - vegetarian or not.

Many years ago - when I was much older than your son is now - my boss, who had an artificial leg - sent me out to get some elastoplast to effect some much needed temporary repairs. It wasn't in the T&Cs of my employment. but I did it.

Your son is getting paid to do a job. What's the problem?Not because he was disabled, but because he was my boss and he asked me to do so.

Incidentally, your username, Pacific, sort of undermines your point, perhaps it should be Confrontational...

That's ridiculous. That's why the retail sector has a 'terrible' reputation, bad behavior only emboldens a manger to continue their bad behavior. 'Your son is getting paid to do a job', exactly this, paid to do a job, not to get lunch or anything else. The son works for the company, not the manager, the manager instructs the son to carry out tasks that are geared to enhance company profits.

[jaguarsuk]

I've decided not to do anything about it, just so much going on right now that I don't want another issue added to it. The manager is not professional but with everything else we have to deal with I don't want to make this our problem also. I do hope someone stands up to her in future and she learns to treat her staff better.

I'll also have to teach my son to say no even if the person is his boss and overbearing. They're short staffed there because she keeps hiring and firing people. Another young girl was employed same day as my son and was let go after the 3 months but his contracted was renewed. Very few people stay on as long term there if she takes a dislike to them, she always seems to be interviewing new people.

In my experience with my daughters it's not something they can really learn from you, it's a realisation they naturally come to and that'll depend on his personality when he does. Both mine took different times because one is more confident and doesn't fear confrontation as much as the other.

If you are wanting the manager to get her karma, rest assured that in the current economic climate, high turn over of staff is a key business issue and the company will be looking at retention rates and recruitment costs. Once she reaches the upper echelons of being a low retention high recruitment cost store then the eyes of the company will be on her.