As the fourth of July sneaks up on us, I think back to two years ago when I spent the holiday working ALL day under the hot sun. I was stuck lifeguarding by myself from 10am-8pm. Since everyone was out on vacation or they already had plans I remember feeling miserable, while all my friends were at the beach.
When I think back to that time, I can't help but feel a little angry that my boss didn’t even offer to pay me time and a half since I watched the pool all by myself, as a 15-year-old, on the fourth of July. Now that I think back, she wasn’t very nice.
Have you ever been forced to work during a holiday?
I spent 30 years in food service...I could write a book on working crap schedules. :-)
As far as working holidays, cry me a river. That said, your boss was a POS for not paying 1.5x.
I've worked most holidays, generally I want to work them because of the overtime pay. I didn't get to work it because I am currently in training and not necessary for daily operations. I wanted the money.
I agree with you David. For over 30 years I've been Scheduled to work 4th of July from night to Morning. So During a interview/Audition you need to ask about that type of thing.
I worked 4th of July every year for 10 years on night shift when I worked warehouse. Got into construction and manufacturing and haven't since. It all depends on the industry you are working in. My suggestion would be to weigh this when you are applying for the job. A good question to bring up in the interview.
I work the fourth almost every year for the 20 yrs lm a hospital health care worker. So do millions of EMTs physicians nurses pct nursing assistants police officers airport workers and hotel workers.
So sad and sorry that happened to you. Yes I have and it was miserable. It’s sad to think slavery still exists in America but sometimes it feels like it does. Forgive those who wronged you and pray for them to be nicer people. God bless you in the future.
Get over it!!! Lots of employers make their people work on the holidays! They are NOT required to pay time and a half for it, either. They just have to give you a "floating" holiday to make up for it sometime over the next week or two. And that's only if the company considers it as a "paid" holiday, and you've been working for that company long enough to actually get PAID holidays. Most companies make you work for them for a whole year before they give you PAID holidays. Retail workers almost always work every holiday. Healthcare professionals such as nurses, doctors, CNAs and PCAs also work the holidays. Restaurant cooks and waitresses also work the holidays. Firefighters, police officers, and EMTs work holidays. Even soldiers serving in the military, often don't get the holidays off. At least all you had to do was sit in a lifeguard chair. You wanna talk about being hot and miserable.... try setting up and running heavy factory machinery. It's repetitious lifting of at least 40 pounds in a 114 degree factory, with grease up to your armpits and sweating puddles. I've done it many times. It's kind of like working in a sauna!!
So agree, if you don't show appreciation of what your worker(s) are willing to do by rewarding them adequately... then don't be surprised if next time around you have no one!
I always wanted to work holidays to get the extra pay, and most times was not allowed. It seems as though some (not all) employers don't like to see their employees happy. The ones who did want their holiday off, you weren't even allowed to switch with them. It reminds me of the time I was stationed in Germany, and there was 2 of us that had the same MOS and same rank, yet they deployed my coworker who had a husband and children. I was a single soldier and volunteered to go in her place, and our Bn Cdr wouldn't allow it. Strange huh?
Try working all day Christmas at the Post Office, all by yourself, unloading semi's, dumping 70 lb bags of Publishers Clearing House for 10 straight hours! The only good thing was I got paid double time.