Steve
Bradenton,#2Consumer Comment
Sat, October 25, 2008
If you don't like the LAWS, CHANGE THEM!! OR...Seek union representation. The OP lives in the State of Florida which is both a "right to work" state, AND and "at will employment" state. This means that you have no "right" to any job in the State of Florida unless you have an employment contract or collective bargaining agreement. In an "at will" employment state, like Florida, either party can terminate the employment arrangement at any time without cause or reason given. In plain english, they can legally just tell you "you don't work here anymore". Without a union, you have no recourse. As far as "right to work" goes, this is a misleading term and confuses many people into believing that they actually have some rights as an employee. Newflash!! You don't. What "right to work" means is that you cannot be REQUIRED to join a union or pay dues, or initiation fees in order to get the job or keep the job if there is a union in place in that workplace. It also means that the company can legally bring in replacement workers commonly known as "scabs" in the event of a strike. And, a non union dues paying employee / non union member has the same rights as the dues paying member in regards to enforcement of the collective bargaining agreement. That's it. Please know what you are talking about before spouting jibberish. You have been educated.
Tropicalchica
Orlando,#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, October 25, 2008
I was a high school student who worked at Hannaford from May 2001 to April 2002. I was never late to work, never called out sick, and was basically a model employee. I was making a decent wage for someone without any other job experience (as this was my first job), and I always did everything that was asked. People there loved and respected me, and even when I go to visit my home they still do. However, the store manager won't even look at me in the eyes when I go through her line (once a year, mind you, because I'm not home much), but she knows who I am. She was front end manager at the time, and pulled me in for a meeting in April 2002. She explained that for reasons that they couldn't disclose that I was not able to receive a raise or keep my position with the company. I was shocked, as I had never done anything to receive disciplinary action like this. When I asked why, she said she couldn't tell me. Me being a first-time job-holder, I thought this was standard for "we're firing you". My ex and I kept discussing this, and he was fired a few years after me for reasons undisclosed to me, except that it had to do with "staffing" issues...this was his 7th year with the company, and they let him go with no explanation. If you are going to work for them, don't tell them that you are going to college, changing your lifestyle, and suck up majorly to management. Do what they ask, when they ask, and be prepared to repeat the process daily. It's a great company, but I honestly think that my store asst. manager is defunct and needs to learn the laws.