Don’t On-Call The Goose That Lays Your Golden Eggs
COMPUTER REPAIR | WORKING | DECEMBER 4, 2012
(My boyfriend works for a local mom-and-pop computer repair business. Despite being told that his work is consistently excellent, the following takes place when he gets his third paycheck.)
Owner: “Can I talk to you in private?”
My Boyfriend: “Sure.”
Owner: *hands him his paycheck* “We’re going to have to put you on an on-call basis only. Unfortunately, we can’t afford to pay you any more for your hours in the shop.”
My Boyfriend: “…What?”
Owner: “We’re not getting the business we need right now. We had to dip into our savings to even pay your check.”
My Boyfriend: “Right. What about [front desk person]?”
Owner: “What about her?”
My Boyfriend: “I notice you’ve cut my pay and my hours, but you haven’t done anything to her.”
Owner: “But [front desk person] has been with us from the beginning!”
My Boyfriend: “I understand and respect that, but all she does is run the front desk. And as slow as we’ve been, all she’s been doing is playing on Facebook. I’m a technician. I’m doing the work that actually brings money into this place.”
Owner: *silence*
My Boyfriend: “So, let me make sure I’m getting this straight: you’re basically getting rid of me, the one person who has done everything possible to help this business. I set up a ribbon-cutting with the local chamber of commerce in an effort to help get the word out for your business, got in touch with [local TV station] to set up advertising for your business, and successfully negotiated maintenance contracts with several local businesses, including the local police department. I’ve maintained a good rapport with any customer that I have done repair work for, and you’re cutting 100% of MY hours in favor of [front desk person], who has done precisely jack s*** to help this business? And you’re basically firing me without officially firing me?”
Owner: “…Yes.”
My Boyfriend: “I’m going on break.”
(My boyfriend didn’t go back to work after his break. He called me to let me know what happened. I helped him write a scathing resignation letter that night He got another better-paying job a few days later, and is much happier! The last we saw, the owners were facing an eviction.)
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