Lighting a fire under the bosses...

[GoodDaughter]

>:(

How is it that the 'bosses', the people in 'HR' who are responsible for taking care of getting new employees into the payroll system, can't be bothered to do the jobs they were hired to do?

I took a job away from home 3 weeks ago. Filled out all applicable paperwork and it was faxed to the HR dept. I saw it get faxed myself. 3 weeks later, as the paychecks were being handed out today, I found out I didn't get one because no one had processed my paperwork!! NOT a happy camper. Let my boss know it was not acceptable, and someone needed to overnight me a paycheck. My boss was on the phone several times today with the HR people, and my boss re-faxed all my paperwork again. Then called, and there were still problems. My boss was on the phone with the HR person and I piped up in the background that it was not acceptable to me for them to not do the job they were hired to do, when I was doing the job I was hired to do, and that someone needed to cut me a check and overnight it because it was absolutely unacceptable for me to go 2 more weeks without being compensated for my labor, and further it showed that the HR people do not care about the employess of said company >:(

We shall see. Tomorrow may be my last day. >:(

[flatwater]

It sounds like your boss was going to bat for you but the HR person screwed up and didn't want to accept respocibility which is one of the biggest problems we have today in the work place

[pcrowder]

Gooddaughter - I agree with flat - sounds like the boss was trying his best. I don't know what kind of a job you have, but I'll be honest - I sure wouldn't give up a job in this economy for anything....you never know how long it will be until you can get another one.
jmho

[MNMOM]

The people in HR, need to get jacked up for not doing their job.

Sounds like the boss was doing his best, but it also should be his job to go over the head's in HR and report them.

[Suzy]

one of my good "news" friends needed to take off occassionally because his wife has had surgery for lung cancer and is now set to start chemo...

He hand delivered all the info they needed for his Family Leave Time (this man has not missed a day at the radio station for years and never ever takes vacation) and then emailed them, the HR people, the same info and they "lost" it both times....

They didn't get it all straightened out until the day he had to take off!

And this man is a radio personality and well thought of by everyone, and like I said, never ever has missed work in the past....but it seems so many people in management or the HR folks just don't CARE.

[jeep4x4greg]

find out who thier boss is..and who the bosses boss is.

if you company is wired and usues a lot of email...CC both of them in a complaint to the HR person thats lacking....that worked well for me in the past.

short of that call the bosses and complain in a calm and collected manner.....

keep going up until the crap storm rains on the slackers....

that should do it :)

[Buck]

Your boss should have the ablitity to pay from petty cash in this
case. Most state laws require pay on time so ask about petty cash
advance.

[maineyankee]

It appears your boss may be trying to help, Willing but lacking leadership skills.

I would suggest your boss arrange a conferance call with the head of HR. At the beginning of the meeting ask the HR people for 'the complete legal name of the company and where it is registered'. Secondly ask for the name of chief financial officer and the name of the law firm which represents the company. If thaey ask why you need this info, just tell them you've advised by legal council to have it before speaking with them. If they balk, say thankyou for your time, and hang up. Tell your boss you're going back to your job.

I've done this in the past. It's amzing what a little fear and uncertainty will do for motivating pencil pushers.

Don't quit, don't threaten to quit. But talk to your state's attorney's office.

[Anon001]

I will add that by federal law, they are required to pay within a certain amount of time which means they will have to cut a check or pay from petty cash as someone else suggested. Some states also have laws that are actually more stringent than federal law.... your state may be one which would put them in even more of a bind.

PaulNKS

[GoodDaughter]

Update today... LLLOOOOOOONNGG story. Read at your own risk.

My head was smoking yesterday afternoon about 3 pm. in case anyone saw a mushroom cloud just north of Houston.... >:(

Yes, my 'boss' (it's at Tractor Supply Co. and they have a strange chain of seniority there, where my 'boss' is not *quite* my boss but still responsible for doing certain things that I have to deferr to her about which is fine, I have my plate over-full as it is. Anyway, yes, she was going to bat for me because it was not her fault--she had faxed and refaxed and it was the people in HR who kept coming back with problems, in essence putting the blame back on her which shows exactly what they think of the rest of us >:(

As it happened, the lady who is the regional manager for this part of Texas just happened to be there yesterday (Friday). I met with her for some other issues, and while doing this (I know it's a bit complicated) I kept bringing up issues I had with our store manager (who is a man, and is not the same person who kept faxing my paperwork). I have addressed several things to this man, and he puts me off and palms things off on the other manager and just plain ignores me, to the point I have things backing up in recieving and I am making several phone calls a day to the company help desk or to other recievers who have been kind enough to help me. It's ridiculous. The store mgr. should be adressing these things but he will not. Ok, so I tried to bring this up with the regional manager, who is the next person 'up the ladder' from our store manager, and as I understood it, the one to go to when employees 'feel they are not being heard' as she put it. And I brought up the paycheck issue, how someone else had dropped the ball and I was not getting a check until who knows when. But she kept shutting me down, saying 'that is really something you need to adress with the store manager'. Whereupon I kept telling her he was not listening or following through. She was just not listening to me, but was intent on telling me that my job ALSO included cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping the warehouse, and sweeping the entire parking lot and fenced in areas where tractor implements are kept. :o I was not aware that I was hired to be recieving manager AND janitor. She kept on in this hectoring tone of voice, and finally, I laid my pen down and told her "I need a break for a few minutes" and simply walked away from her. I walked around outside with a cup of coffee for about 5 min., and made up my mind to quit. I mean, why stay somewhere that I am not taken seriously after being hired into a management position, where I am expected to be recieving mgr. AND head 'commodian', all for the same pay? Took off my pretty red Tractor Supply Co. vest and went back in, laid the vest down and told her 'this is just not going to work for me, I'm sorry'.

THAT got her attention.

She said 'What's wrong?" And I just repeated "This just is not the right place for me, sorry" and walked over to the locker to get my purse. She said "Oh, don't go, let's talk, just give me 10 min of your time' blah blah.

Well, like a freaking FOOL I gave her the time. BUT, I DID tell her I resented being shut down every time I kept trying to bring up valid issues that were not being resolved by the store mgr. And I resented running around like a chicken with it's head chopped off doing my job while others in the TSC company obviously couldn't be bothered to do theirs. That it was not equitable etc. She got on the phone and got the paycheck thing straightened out (overnighted Friday evening= Monday morning) and she actually shut up and listened to me.

I have agreed to keep working there, on the caveat that the store manager is going to start taking on HIS responsibilities and that I will NOT be the commodian.

I'll give it a while to see how things go.

[Anon001]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!! Don't you feel better?

PaulNKS

[GoodDaughter]

Rufus is awfully cute! That's a good picture!

But to be frank, no, I really don't feel better. *I do feel like someone actually gave some creedence to my concerns, but was she (the regional mgr.) sincere? *I can't tell. I would like to think she was, but then sometimes I'm not good at spotting the phoney-baloney types.

Also, the store manager (the man) will have to do some serious changing to begin to actually 'follow through' (regional mgr's words, not mine) with the things he is supposed to 'follow through' with. Put it this way... he is the store mgr but scheduled everyone to work this weekend except himself because he needed BOTH today AND tomorrow off for his Super Bowl party. He has absolutely no concern for anyone else, and my boss (the lady who did the faxing) has not had a day off for over 3 weeks. Talk about a slap in the face, she is furious, and I don't blame her.

So let's just say I'll believe the change when I see it. *I'll give it a little more time, and if things don't change I will find something else, somewhere.

[Wyobuckaroo]

Some times a well placed statement that starts with

"Kiss my ____ "

With the guts to back it up is the best thing to do.
Sometimes, HR doesn't understand we all have to work, but not there.

Good luck
Wyo

[GoodDaughter]

Believe me, I was having a hard time to keep from saying something along those lines!

And yeah, I could probably get a job anywhere. I sometimes wonder if a simple cashiering job somewhere would be preferrable...

[maineyankee]

I'm glad you're supposed to get your paycheck.

You keep pointing out that the 'boss' is a man. Is this an issue ? If it is , start job hunting(unless you're willing to pay for the surgery) , because no matter how long you work there, he's still going to be a man.

If you choose to stay, I'll make a couple suggestions;

Establish a line of communication with the regional person. Whenever possible, speak with her. The better the relationship, the more she'll take you seriousley.

Start a journal. Document in this journal every interaction you have with your local boss-good or bad. The more 'honest' the documentation, the better it serves you in future dealings (state labor board,etc.)

When possible, communicate with your local boss via memo or e-mail. E-mail can't be "miss-placed" or "not seen". If you do have e-mail, cc your regional mgr.

I spent many years in the bussiness world. I was constantly amazed by how many jerks were out there. However, the majority of them were too lazy or too stupid to protect themselves from a well thought-out plan of attack.

P.S. At one of the big outfits I worked at, I was nick-name "ambush".

[GoodDaughter]

Quote "You keep pointing out that the 'boss' is a man. *Is this an issue"

WHAT?? ???

I referred to him as a man in order to avoid confusion between which 'boss' I was talking about!! If you took it some other way, that's your problem.

Jeeze louise!! >:(

[Anon001]

GoodDaughter,
He wasn't the only one that took it that way... Go back and read how many times you referred to the store manager as a man and how FEW times you referred to the sex of the regional manager.
You did come across as sounding like you had a chip on your shoulder because the store manager is a man. However, I am certain you didn't mean it that way. That is one of the problems with "written" words... we sometimes don't come across the way we intend.. Goodness knows that I am the world's worst at it.... lol

But.. on another note. I don't know what federal law is now but, but I do know that in cases of termination the federal law use to state that if it was a voluntary termination (you quit) they are required to pay you on the next pay day. However, if it is a involuntary termination (you get fired) they are required to pay you within 72 hours or 3 business days. Some state laws are even more stringent. So, if they give you any more trouble, go to the Federal Department of Labor and Standards and file a complaint. I guarantee that no large employer wants to get a call from the Department of Labor. lol And I would bet this isn't the first time this type incident has happened and it probably won't be the last and they may even be on a "watch list" already... lol who knows....

But, It looks like you are getting it worked out in your favor. Do as he suggested and keep notes on EVERYTHING with the store employees and any others up the chain. And always take your notes with you when you go home.

Good Luck, it sounds like it's working out.
PaulNKS