Teller Job Unable to Leave on Time What Are My Options?

flatwhitepls on 07/05/2020 - 19:54
Last edited 07/05/2020 - 19:58

My partner works in a bank branch in Victoria as a teller aka Customer Representative part time 6 hours a day. Her contractual working hours is 9:30 to 4pm. The branch close at 4pm. Everyday she finishes at 4:10-4:45 and unable to leave because:

  • The last customer may come and at 4pm and the manager is busy.
  • An employee inside the bank branch had to let her out for security reasons. Because they are busy she can't leave.
  • she needs to do additional work before she can leave. E.g. atm refill. Because she is busy whole day serving customers. She needs to do these additional work before she can leave.

She already discussed with her manager 3 times that she needs to leave on time because of her commitments. But no support been given.

Additional info:

  • There are other staffs who are full-time they finish at 5pm
  • Always on time around 9:15-9:25 to start
Education & Work

Comments

  • tihir on 08/05/2020 - 19:31

    I'm sure that she will be covered by the bank's Enterprise Agreement - search for it on fwa.gov.au - what does that say on the issue?

    I'm sure she was issued with some kind of letter or agreement when she started. What does that say?

    There will be something somewhere which covers this. Usually the enterprise agreements say that the first 15 minutes of overtime after the end of the shift is unpaid.

    This doesn't mean that if she has carer's responsibilities she can't request flexible working arrangements - which cannot be unreasonably refused. The flexibility here might just be leaving bang on 4.

  • belongsinforums on 08/05/2020 - 19:44
    +5

    the amount of anti-workers' rights supporters in this topic surprises me. one hour of daily overtime is not ok. if they want her to stay till 5, then they should pay until 5, not 4. pretty simple.

  • RecklessMonkeys on 08/05/2020 - 19:45
    +2

    Become the CEO. Work for 5 minutes. Retire.

  • ozaym on 08/05/2020 - 20:22
    +1

    The naiveness of the comments here are just astonishing! My job is of a different nature and does a lot of nights and weekends, hate it but it’s the nature of the job, the customer demands quick turn arounds and the fact is if you don’t do it there will be other competitor will.

    I can only imagine that if everyone in the branch shut doors just before their shift ends and leave the last minute customer standing around that bank/branch may not be there in the long run.

    People who says hire temp or more people obviously have no concept of financial targets, revenue, and margin…

    It’s easier for the manager to replace a part timer worker than to repair damaged reputation or lower margin by over hiring.

    • Vote for Pedro on 08/05/2020 - 23:18
      +6

      So because the manager can’t ‘manage’ their branch, let’s make workers work for free?

      • ozaym on 12/05/2020 - 11:00
        -1

        And the managers can manage customers habits? What about P&L, revenue/profit target?

        Anyway, saw a comment earlier, if you want to job leave, if you want a career stay.

        • Vote for Pedro on 12/05/2020 - 14:17
          +2

          That’s their job. Balance service offering with the demand in line with budgetary targets. Note the title “Manager”.

          And yes, it is hard being a manager. But that’s the role. It’s not to shaft staff because they can’t manage.

          • ozaym on 15/05/2020 - 13:02

            @Vote for Pedro: Right… so in an ideal world you just go and hire someone for a hour extra each day?

            In this particular instead I would expect the manager to understand the value of the role, and the cost stretching someone, if the cost of stretching someone means they are dissatisfied its up to the manager to make the call if that person is here for a hourly wage or his a contributor to the team, and whether they should be retained or let go.

            And if the person is not asking for TOIL or a new process to be put in to combat her specific issue then as a manager (with no disrespect to the OP) I would say that staff is expandable but happy to keep her around as long as she does add any overhead.

            I know it's a crappy reality but there are people who would step into that role right now in hopping to get a reference or land a more perm role.

            • Vote for Pedro on 15/05/2020 - 17:21

              @ozaym: And this right here is why we have workplace laws. Use and abuse until they break and then kick them on the scrap heap and get another sucker.

              You are the most disgusting type of human.

  • CalmLemons on 08/05/2020 - 20:30

    If you're there for a job, leave. Find another 'job'.

    If you're there for a career, suck it in.

    Think about all the time you waste during the day.

  • TimboAus1234 on 08/05/2020 - 20:47

    if its everyday that's not on, once in a blue moon is fair enough. Ive seen a lot of posts state the "Reasonable overtime", to me that's 5 - 10 mins every now and again but over that and up-to 45 minutes i would deem that to be unreasonable especially if it is a common occurrence.

    Personally i would look for a career change.

  • ge on 08/05/2020 - 22:10
    +2

    You’ve got to hold on to what you’ve got. It doesn't make a difference if you make it or not. You’ve got each other and that's a lot for love.

  • Punda on 08/05/2020 - 22:18
    +2

    Well my son has to work 9-2. He needs to get there early to sign in and he never walks out at 2. Always finishes off what’s he’s doing then knocks off. At least 10 mins per shift. We don’t see it as a big deal.

    • wtfnodeal on 10/05/2020 - 05:56

      Because OP here said it is not 10 mins but 10-45 mins.

  • CoreJava on 08/05/2020 - 22:49

    OP with that kind of attitude will never get ahead in life. Maybe better off go on the dole.

  • Vote for Pedro on 08/05/2020 - 23:16
    +1

    Get your partner to ask their union

  • Ziaina on 08/05/2020 - 23:54

    I used to work at one of big4s, yes the contract says you are 'expected to work more hours' and I used to work from 8:30am-8pm as a manager. Talk to Union, they will love to hear you.

  • Petya on 09/05/2020 - 09:17

    Start your own bank = profit

  • Geryatric on 09/05/2020 - 17:38

    Plenty of people do 50+ hour weeks get paid for 37.5

    • ozbjunkie on 09/05/2020 - 21:24
      +3

      Some people work against their will, for free, as slaves. What is your point?

      Some people have helicopters.

      This statement above is called a premise. You have also stated a premise. What is your argument? I'll think you'll find your conclusion is not valid.

      • Geryatric on 10/05/2020 - 10:25

        That this is normal for salaried roles as many people have commented here.

        • ozbjunkie on 10/05/2020 - 12:37
          +3

          Then your argument would be

          What is normal is legal.
          It is normal to work up to 12.5 hours unpaid overtime per week.

          You work up to 12.5 hours unpaid overtime per week.

          Conclusion: it is legal to have to work up to 12.5 hours overtime per week.

          The problem with your argument is the idea that what is normal is legal. This is not necessarily true, as per comments above, contractual obligations include stipulations that overtime may be required occasionally - every single day is not really occasional. Also, where overtime leaves a salaried worker being paid below the hourly award.

          By really, you were just arguing that

          If others have it worse, you should STFU

          Others have it worse

          Conclusion: you should STFU

          Which is whataboutery and should generally be ignored.

          • Geryatric on 11/05/2020 - 08:52

            @ozbjunkie: Yes correct unpaid OT is normal for office jobs.

            • ozbjunkie on 12/05/2020 - 04:49

              @Geryatric: While it may or may not be the norm, my comment above demonstrates that normal is not necessarily tantamount to legal, or acceptable.

              Indeed, what is legal and what is acceptable are not necessarily equivalent either. That's one of the reasons laws change over time.

  • dontboopthesnoot on 09/05/2020 - 17:48
    +1

    unfortunately this is the norm for most jobs

  • Hugh G Rection on 09/05/2020 - 18:07

    Switch to hourly because as a salaried employee they are going to take advantage of that.
    You can always quit, no one is forcing you to stay. Especially with a lot of people laid off, she is easily replaceable.

    • wtfnodeal on 10/05/2020 - 06:03

      Relaced by a full time employee? OP mentioned she worked part time because of other commitments after 4pm so what is the point of wanting to get paid until 4pm and not being able to meet the other commitments she might as well switch to full time and get paid until 5pm?

  • Baghern on 10/05/2020 - 11:59
    +1

    This is a branch manager issue not the bank.

    I use to work for a big bank, and head office is much more flexible. head office use to be bad.

    I also know former bank managers, they feel they had to rule their branches like a mini kingdom.

    The bank manager, or more likely the Assistant manager either has something against your partner, or in some way actually believes they need your partner to stay behind.

    One of the former bank managers I know, said because most of the staff were young, she would pressure some of them to come in when they called in sick, if they were sick when they came in she would send them home, most of the time they weren't

    • wtfnodeal on 10/05/2020 - 12:32
      -1

      So the actual sick staff could pass on the virus to other staff before she sent them home? Ain't there only certain number of paid sick days in place to stop staff from faking sick and needing a medical certificate for being sick 2 or more days consecutively? I had one employer actually did ask me to come work when I was sick and I worked until midday couldn't stand the illness got worse and I left and resigned not long after. Good luck to those managers trying to find out every time when the staff is actually sick or fakes sick.

      • Baghern on 11/05/2020 - 02:29

        If you had difficulty reading, I was describing a situation not something we can change

        I think you need to get of that High chair the air is pretty thin up there

        • wtfnodeal on 11/05/2020 - 08:44

          You didn't disagree with the act of the bank manager too and regardless of they are doing this simply because they want to or under the instructions or strategies given by the headoffice it is just bad for the bqnk itself. My comment is for those managers have been doing this policing whether staff is faking sick and have something against young staff to let them know it doesn't help because it will simply drive away both staff with good and bad working attitudes.

  • chudson on 10/05/2020 - 15:42

    Ask for your hours to be changed to 5pm.. Considering you're there for much of that, everyday anyway..

  • jlogic on 10/05/2020 - 22:32

    Check your Enterprise Agreement or Contract. Most salaried agreements have an overtime portion bought out every week by the employer. Generally between 2 to 3 hours.

    Some weeks you have to do it and some weeks you go home on time with two hours extra.

  • Jumpup on 11/05/2020 - 08:31
    +2

    Teller are on the minimum wage, I would not be working more than an extra 10 minutes. I would call the union and start looking for another job.

  • popsiee on 11/05/2020 - 09:00

    What Are My Options?
    Leave seeming she is so unhappy with it . Understand wages are extremely high in this country and even without the pandemic plenty of people can fill this non skilled based job .

  • sarahlump on 11/05/2020 - 10:05
    +3

    4pm comes around, your shift ends, "can you see my associate at the next desk my shift is over." and leave.

  • suchislife12 on 11/05/2020 - 10:20
    +2

    I don't really understand the pride or arrogance some people seem to feel about staying back at their job for 1-2 hours everyday or sleeping on the floor in midst of projects. Perhaps it's a generational difference?

    I've learnt to appreciate my job (especially in the current climate) but I also realise that there is value to my time and if I'm not being paid for that time there's no point wasting it. Life itself is short and when you start to get a little older you soon realise the times you appreciate are not the ones you spent sleeping on the floor of your office but rather the ones you spend with friends/family or achieving personal goals. I've been promoted numerous times as well and I believe my employers have valued the quality of the work I produce rather than the times I start and finish. As a manager I encourage my employee's to arrive on time and leave on time especially as many of them have young families or different sporting commitments. I truly don't understand why people would look down on people who do what they're paid for and go home. The reason why this culture of people staying back exists in some workplaces is because people make the conscious decision to stay back instead of making the company understand that perhaps more resources are needed to complete jobs. I view it as a toxic approach but each to their own.

    My advice to the OP would be for your wife to consider leaving the job. It's obvious this won't be resolved anytime soon and the manager in this case doesn't seem to value the service being provided if he/she can't make those adjustments. If it is 10 minutes everyday on a consistent basis then she should be compensated for it, banks earn more than enough money to pay their staff properly.

    • phrank on 11/05/2020 - 17:31
      +2

      You sound like a great manager with a great outlook on life! I'm sure that your employees appreciate that you value their personal time and are more productive and engaged in their work in return. It's a win-win situation.

      From my experience, I sense that the pride/arrogance comes from people who are either (1) dissatisfied with other areas of their life, (2) have low self-esteem, or (3) have been belittled by people with that same attitude in the past.

      To make themselves feel better, it's simple, just work 1-2 hours extra a day (bonus if it lets you avoid something like an unhappy spouse etc.) and then you can tell yourself that you're an awesome super hard-working manager/employee.

      If that's not enough, you can compare yourself to your colleagues and feel even better about yourself. "I am awesome, this person is lazy." And bonus self-esteem points for saying it to the person's face.

      • ozbjunkie on 12/05/2020 - 04:53

        I think you've hit the nail on the head.

        While I'd love to work for an employer that valued my time, and frankly my humanity in general (I know, grandiose and melodramatic…) I have not personally experienced this, and I believe it is a rare thing indeed.

        I'll stay back hours after work every day to help you build a business, in the knowledge that you will always find a place for me, here or elsewhere. And when I become ill, you'll find a way to make sure my family does not starve. Alas, self interest rules in business, and those putting in the extra effort are usually simply rewarded with more work and greater expectations without commensurate appreciation.

      • ozaym on 12/05/2020 - 13:47

        Or they get compensated and enjoy the comradery of working in a team during tough times to get the outcome, thus increasing company moral, creating jobs etc etc…

        Maybe I am product of the environment, but seems a very simplistic way to just say "the company needs to do xxxx" or the manager needs to do abcde" the dynamics is far more complex and inter-dependent than just a few people with titles.

  • Ti94 on 11/05/2020 - 16:06
    +1

    I used to be in the same boat where old job would not let me leave on time and kept me till 5pm for the sake of it (start work everyday at 7am). On top of that is 2-3 hrs travel to and from job site (it's construction work) everyday. I used to do passive-agressive, showed frustration, etc and ended up leaving for a new and better job. Thinking about it now, best way to solve this is: suck it up, work and pretend to smile and be supper happy at work, quietly applying for a better/new job, then bam! change your job and tell your boss the day you quit that this is unfair and you are leaving for a better job. Good luck!

    • wtfnodeal on 12/05/2020 - 14:28
      +1

      Lol exactly what I did. Found another job told my ex-boss had enough of demanding me to work on weekends for free and made my woke up at 5am to travel to client sites to work until 8pm but only get paid 7.5 hours plus not getting reimbursed for travelling costs. Funny after I told him that he said it would not happen again and I told him too late and after that he started to treat other staff better than before.

      • Ti94 on 13/05/2020 - 07:23
        +1

        Yes they gotta learn the hard way I guess

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join