Q: I applied to several stores for part-time seasonal work and was hired at a highly prestigious retail store. Four of us had a group interview and were told by a manager she was going on vacation and would let us know if we were hired when she returned. She called us the third week to say we were hired, but we had to wait a fourth week to be trained. After two training hours, we still couldn’t work and had to wait another week to complete two more hours. Finally, we could work.

I had told her in the interview that I wanted at least 20 hours a week, so I was happy when I saw my name on the schedule for the whole week, but I noticed an “O” next to certain names, mine included. A full-time employee told me it meant “on-call” and I was scheduled for four hours only.

A salesperson from a neighbouring store said she used to work for this retailer and they don’t tell the whole story to employees, which I call lying. I called the manager several times to tell her I was quitting, but she would never return my calls. How can this known company get away with such unprofessional hiring and working procedures?

A: It gets away with it because the part-time, seasonal employees tolerate it. The minute employees discover they cannot not receive their desired hours, they should quit and seek employment elsewhere.

Working for a prestigious retailer for minimum wage for four hours a week isn’t very prestigious. You could file a charge against the state Labour Department, which may help future employees, but it is likely not worth your time.

— Creators News Service