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I worked at a Walmart 20 years ago that would lock employees in at night-- even when their shifts were over, in an attempt to get them to work extra hours. My
by oceanghost 5y ago
I worked at a Walmart 20 years ago that would lock employees in at night-- even when their shifts were over, in an attempt to get them to work extra hours.
My first gig out of college-- the company said they didn't pay vacations or holidays for the first 6 months. I had no idea this was illegal in California, but one of the other hires did and got them in some major amount of trouble for it. They also asked me to sign a non-compete, I knew that was illegal and told them "I'll sign if you want, but these are illegal in California so its unenforceable." And they also forbade me from talking about my compensation, which is illegal. I later found out some people were making half what I was, and some people were making significantly more than I was. During the negotiations they told me they absolutely couldn't go over number X, when in fact that was not true. Of course they didn't want people comparing salaries.
Employment is the wild west. A law just means you have some recourse when they do a thing, not that they won't do it.
- BenjiWiebe 5y agoApparently Walmart has made some changes for the better then. I worked there for a 2ish years, right up to COVID. You'd get in trouble (and your boss too!) for working very much overtime. Also you'd get in trouble if you didn't take at least a 30 minute lunch break, and you'd get in serious trouble for working off the clock. Walmart probably got too many lawsuits or something.
- oceanghost 5y agoTwo things happened in California (I don't know if you're in CA of course) started cracking down on employers making employees work through their breaks--and-- forcing employers to actually pay for hours worked with severe penalties. This is why they're so strict now, at least in CA. Then they got walloped with a lawsuit about it. I actually used the situation to my advantage. Once I realized what was going on-- I snuck out the loading dock which was never closed and took leisurely lunches. It was assumed you couldn't get out, so you hadn't. I can't have been the only Walmart rogue who realized this, but I never saw anyone else do it. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/wal-mart-attacked-for-locking-in-overnight-workers-at-its-stores-74288.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/wal-mart-a...
- BenjiWiebe 5y agoThis was in Kansas. Apparently they became strict elsewhere besides CA.
- oceanghost 5y agoHere's a better link. I can't edit my post anymore. The whole thing was really greasy. They'd say they had to lock the doors for safety, but could only open them at certain times, which was absolute nonsense. And it wasn't just janitors. I was a stock boy. Most big box stores even if they aren't open, restock at night. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4146540 https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna4146540
- lotsofpulp 5y agoI think smartphones are helping change the game a little. With instant video streaming and ease of providing proof, I predict employers will be more wary of trying to get away with nonsense like locking people in, especially big employers. One big change that needs to happen, especially in the labor “friendly” states of CA/WA/NY/MA is modifying the all party consent recording laws to one party consent. Employers (and people in power) should be afraid their audio is being recorded so they cannot claim he said she said when they try to get away with something illegal verbally. Edit: my list of states should be CA/WA/CT/MA. NY is already one party consent.
- oceanghost 5y agoI agree with this completely. I've been in situations where proof of what happened was badly needed.
- couchand 5y agoNY is already one party consent.
- lotsofpulp 5y agoOops! I meant CT. I misremembered the map I had memorized.