ximnotyourstarx

I recently quit my job at a tanning salon. For the last month, I have been "on call" every day. On call for us basically meant you had to call in at the time of your scheduled shift to see if you were needed or not, and then stay available an hour after your shift to make sure it didn't get busy in that time. Basically, if I was scheduled 3-10, they could tell me they needed me right at 3, or needed me between 8-10 or between 6-8. Or any time in between. There was no way for me to make plans (I'm a senior in high school and I go to school 7:30-2, so working 3-10 left no time to run errands on week nights). Not only this, but our shifts were somewhat ridiculous (3-10) when most other high school kids I know were working like, 4-8. I worked 4 week nights, and was on call the other 3 days of the week. The salon I had worked at was only open about 3 months, but I worked there the whole time. I am feeling guilty now, but when I talked to my manager about cutting back my hours, she freaked out saying it's busy season and if I couldn't handle it she would have to let me go. After threatening me like that, she continued to call me to try and get me to come into work.
I was just wondering if anyone else had ever had an "on call" schedule for a tanning salon. Seems a bit much too me, and like she maybe just needed to hire a few more girls to work week nights.
But I do really miss working at a salon!

JohnnyComeLately

We have set hours. You know the month before what the entire month will be. Any deviations are due to calling in sick, last minute things...so it can, but rarely, change.

sbtan

Being the salon was open for only 3 months the owners did not know how to staff it properly, if you were on call from 3-10 you need to know the state regulations for minors working on a school night or the amount of hours you are allowed to work during the school week. You can use this info to cut your hours down. Basically they were abusing your availability and you need to be upfront on how many hours you really could handle when yoi take a job on and any more than that you should be able to refuse bc it cuts into your study time.

top250tansyou

When i was a bed cleaner i remember the manager we had tryin to pull this crap. Either i am working or i am not. There is no in between. We refused and she dropped it. I would have quit also.

Neon Beach

Also, in some areas being "on-call" requires that you are paid even though you are not actually working at the salon. Check local labour laws.

top250tansyou

Whats a labour law?

Neon Beach

http://www.hresquire.com/employment-law-articles.htm

chester

Our bed cleaners are scheduled for definite hours. ie 3 - close. If they arrived to work and it was slow, they had the option of leaving (which 90% of them wanted to do) or stay and work for 2 hours. If they chose to stay for the 2 hours, they were required to clean. If business picked up over that 2 hour period, they had to stay and help until it slowed down again. They were guaranteed at least 2 hours every time they were scheduled. Once I saw that bed cleaners were going home early on a regular basis, I would schedule them for shorter shifts. ie 4 - close. Usually, I didn't have any gripes about leaving early.

I never had anyone on call though. It probably wouldn't have worked anyway. They just wouldn't answer their phones. I already have that problem when I'm trying to cover a sick employee. Caller ID stinks!

MATT A

*67

dcjjp2

They need to be careful with the "on call" terminology because technically you have to get paid for the times you are "on call". "Call in" is a completely different situation and I have used this extrememly effectively in my other business for years. The employee would have a definite schedule and a call in "opportunity" of maybe only 1 or 2 shifts per week. (based on availability). The employee would call 2 hours in advance of the "scheduled" shift to see if he/she was needed and if not they are told to have a great night or if needed we'd see them at the appropriate time. This is a great tool to combat call offs, abnormal fluxuations in business etc.... Many large retailers use this method. However it must be thoroughly explained how the procedure works at time of interview and told that requirement is that each week one or two shifts will be call ins. I have never had a problem and most are clammoring for more hours anyway.