So, I got fired on sunday.[Long. Cliff Notes]

[David H]

It was just a summer job, sunday was actually my last day. Basically, I worked at a pool that had [censored] pay($5.25) To compensate for the low pay, a bonus was implemented.

[Information on exactly how this bonus works isn't really necessary(IMO) to understand the post, but I'll put it here in case people don't understand my post without it]

The way the bonus works is, for every hour you work in June, you get $.25/HR. Every hour in July, $.50/HR. every hour in August was $$.75/HR, and every hour in September was $1/HR.(The exact figures may be off, but that's the gist of it)

Based on disciplinary issues and attendance issues, you can lose a portion of the bonus. If you did not work at least one day during 4th of July weekend, and Labor Day weekend, you can automatically lose the bonus(now, this is based upon the discretion of the managers, so basically, if you don't work Labor Day weekend, they can take the whole bonus, give you %75 of the bonus, the whole thing, etc. Whatever they feel appropriate.) Also, if you receive points you lose a portion of your bonus. Also, you must work until the end of the season to be eligible for the bonus. Points can be given for lots of things-an unexcused absence, tardiness, pretty much any discipline-related problem at work. At 6-7 points, you are eligible for 80% of the bonus, 8-9 points gets you 70%, 10-11 points=60%, 12+=no bonus and possible termination.

So. Getting back to the point. I'm looking at a decent bonus, probably around $300-400. The last month or so of the season, the managers REALLY hold the bonus over your head, because they know that's the only reason anyone is still working. Anytime they want you to work it's "If you don't work you're only going to get XX% of your bonus" or something along those lines.

ANYWAYS. I called into work on saturday. Saturday night my manager calls me up(I have 4 managers, 2 of which I am not huge fans. This feeling is mutual.) Now, I was scheduled for saturday, but not sunday.

My manager, Mike, says "Heyl, you called into work today. If you work tomorrow from 11:30-6, you'll get your full bonus. If not, you get no bonus at all."
I'm not stupid, so of course I want my full bonus. BUT....
I tell him "Mike, I want to watch the Bengal's game tomorrow. Can I leave at 4?"
We argue(not really arguing...more like haggling) over this for a few minutes and come to the agreement that 1)I will come into work at 11:30, 2)I will be allowed to leave at 4:30(and he knows exactly why I want to leave early), and 3)I will receive my full bonus after I do this.

So I show up Sunday morning at 11:30. Steve, the other manager of whom I am not cool with. As I am heading out to my ride(I operate the rides) we start talking about the deal Mike and I made. Steve tells me it is not guaranteed that I am going to be able to leave at 4:30, and even so, I will receive 60% of my bonus instead of the full bonus, as I was promised. I am upset(actually at one point I told him I wanted to punch him in the jaw...oops) but Steve tells me that Mike will be in later, so I decide to take it up with him when he arrives.

Fast forward to about 1 PM. I'm on break, Steve is still around, Mike is nowhere in sight. First, Steve comes into the office and tells me to tuck my shirt in. I refuse, because I am on break, and I have never ever ever ever ever been told/heard anyone being told/heard OF anyone being told to tuck their shirt in while on break, and in the office. It isn't a rule that our shirts must be tucked in while in the office, especially while on break.

The subject of me leaving early comes up again, same argumwent as before. We argue for a few minutes(the worst I did was tell Steve that "This was [censored]") and he keeps telling me the same thing "It isn't guaranteed you are going to leave early, Mike never promised you could leave at 4:30, and you are only going to get 60% of your bonus(he said Mike didn't mean that I would get 100% of my bonus, despite the fact that Mike said this very thing 3 or 4 times in our 5 minute conversation)" After about 5 minutes of arguing, Steve tells me "Go home. I'm done talking about this. Get out of here."

Sweet. I just got fired for trying to get what was promised to me. Steve tells me I was fired for "insubordination", even though I did everything he told me to, except tuck my shirt in, which was just ridiculous anyways.

SO. I stick around for a while, because I want to talk to Mike. I get kicked out of the office, I am escorted out of the employee cafeteria by security, and I just chill until Mike arrives. When I tell Mike everything that happened, he laughs in my face and says "Heyl, you are dumb for getting fired"

WTF. I just got screwed. I did everything I was told, and yet somehow, I lose out on a $300+ bonus. After this happened, I turned my shirts in and went home(The Bengals game was about to start...haha)

Is there anything I can do? Or do I just have to suck it up and go on with life? I really, honestly feel that I was treated unfairly, and that I am getting screwed out of a bonus that I would like to have. Bonii are not awarded until the end of November, so I guess I have until then to work it out. But obviously, I would like to resolve this sooner rather than later.

Any advice is appreciated.


Cliff Notes:I made a deal with one of my managers, I was to work from 11:30-4:30 and receive my full bonus. When I show up to work, a different manager tells me I might have to work later than 4:30, and that I am going to receive 60% of my bonus instead of the promised. I argue over this, get fired(for arguing), and I am stuck with no bonus. Looking for advice.

[DeuceKicker]

I would have fired you, too.

Advice?

Don't tell a manager--or anyone--you want to punch them in the jaw.

Tuck your damned shirt in! Is it THAT hard? I constantly see or hear about stupid people losing jobs or suffering other longer-term hardships because they decide to stand on some idiotic principle.

The next time a manager tells you you'll lose part of the bonus if you leave early.... don't leave early. It's as simple as that. When you said you had four frickin managers (for a $5.25/hr job?) I knew it was going to be a tale of miscommunication among the managers. Understand that one manager didn't get the memo, and work until the normal time. If he's being an ass, tough. Don't risk 40% of the bonus over something as stupid as a fricking football game.

Learn to operate a VCR or get TiVo. Record the game, and avoid all this drama

Look into anger management/impulse control classes.

[disjunction]

I read this in about 20 seconds, and I've never done this, so you get what you pay for in terms of advice... but I would try small claims court.

[DrewDevil]

You deserved to get fired. How you can think this is not your fault, and that you are somehow entitled to something, is unfathomable.

Learn how to act before you start another job.

Seriously, how old are you? If you work somewhere, you have to obey the bossman AND be courteous to the bossman. How have you lived this long without figuring this out?

Cliff notes: you didn't "get screwed," you acted like an insubordinate jackass and rightly got canned.

[NWCougar]

[ QUOTE ]
You deserved to get fired. How you can think this is not your fault, and that you are somehow entitled to something, is unfathomable.

Learn how to act before you start another job.

Seriously, how old are you? If you work somewhere, you have to obey the bossman AND be courteous to the bossman. How have you lived this long without figuring this out?

Cliff notes: you didn't "get screwed," you acted like an insubordinate jackass and rightly got canned.

[/ QUOTE ]

what he said

[disjunction]

[ QUOTE ]
You deserved to get fired. How you can think this is not your fault, and that you are somehow entitled to something, is unfathomable.

Learn how to act before you start another job.

Seriously, how old are you? If you work somewhere, you have to obey the bossman AND be courteous to the bossman. How have you lived this long without figuring this out?

Cliff notes: you didn't "get screwed," you acted like an insubordinate jackass and rightly got canned.

[/ QUOTE ]

Apparently the long story was way different than the Cliff Notes. I still think he would have a good shot in small claims court, businesses can't be in the habit of firing people on the last week of work to avoid paying bonuses. 'Course the judge will have to weigh that against the possibility that he made a physical threat.

[dknightx]

kids, this is why you don't drop out of high school to play poker.

[paperboyNC]

[ QUOTE ]
kids, this is why you don't drop out of high school to play poker.

[/ QUOTE ]

[David H]

[ QUOTE ]
Don't tell a manager--or anyone--you want to punch them in the jaw.

[/ QUOTE ]
The way I said this, and based upon my reputation, my manager knew I wasn't serious. This doesn't change the fact that I said it, but everyone knew there was no chance I was going to act upon what I said.

[ QUOTE ]
Tuck your damned shirt in! Is it THAT hard? I constantly see or hear about stupid people losing jobs or suffering other longer-term hardships because they decide to stand on some idiotic principle.

[/ QUOTE ]
Maybe I'm just stubborn, but I don't like being held to different standards than other people, especially when I am held to these standards because my manager does not like me.(This is not an opinion, this is a fact) There is no reason for me to have my shirt tucked in when on break and in the office. Steve knew this, he merely wanted to get on my ass about anything he could.

[ QUOTE ]
The next time a manager tells you you'll lose part of the bonus if you leave early.... don't leave early. It's as simple as that.

[/ QUOTE ]
I was told that I could leave at 4:30. Then I show up and my manager says I can't leave at 4:30. I'm supposed to just say "Oh well I was lied to, on two accounts, and I'm getting screwed here, but sure, I'll stay an hour and a half oastt he time I'm supposed to"?

[ QUOTE ]
Understand that one manager didn't get the memo, and work until the normal time.

[/ QUOTE ]
Steve was right next to Mike when I was on the phone with Mike. He told me this several times.

It wasn't entirely about the game. I mean, yeah, I wanted to see it, but it's the principle of the whole thing. Even if I had nothing to do but go home and watch paint dry, I would still be pissed if I was told I could leave at 4:30 and then I was forced to work until 6.

[XXXNoahXXX]

[ QUOTE ]
I read this in about 20 seconds, and I've never done this, so you get what you pay for in terms of advice... but I would try small claims court.

[/ QUOTE ]

Since the bosses said they had discretion over the bonus, it is not guaranteed whatsoever.

Trust me, employees have been screwed over for lots more money than this based on illusory bonus offers.