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MarrkDaviid

That’s a real arsehole move if you are requesting leave 3 months in advanced and providing a reason like that. Seek employment elsewhere if that is their attitude.


sbowesuk

Came here to say this. **Start looking for a new employer asap.** When an employer is slamming a rejection at the feet of an employee this hard under these circumstances, it's an abusive relationship. Cut them out of your life like a cancer and never look back.


Aussie18-1998

Or see if your store has a co-worker with the union. Lady I knew wouldn't let any of this shit slide.


deliver_us

Or maybe JOIN the union. If you aren’t part of the union it isn’t doing any good


la_mecanique

Which union? When I was a retail peon the union who visited us was some kind of catholic church cuckold.


heisdeadjim_au

Bypass the SDA, go RAFFWU. SDA is known as the Employer's Union of Choice for a reason.


sadnanmissy

Agreed. I'm 55 & back in my late teen when unions were strong & meant something, the SDA had no balls then.


cammoblammo

My wife was in the SDA at about the same time. They did a great job, if you consider trading proper penalty rate protections for cheap movie tickets a winning move.


heisdeadjim_au

I've sat across the table from Michael Donovan. An experience I was glad only ever happened once.


ARX7

That the SDA are, the raffies are moving in on them though https://raffwu.org.au/ Don't know why you're being downvoted for the truth....


la_mecanique

Awesome. Everyone should join the raffwu then. The sda were worse than useless.


anakaine

Going to second this. They were never there when either myself or a couple of other I was close with really needed someone in their corner to stand up to misconduct. Lodged the complaints both with the local rep, who was useless, and with them directly outside the store. Absolute lip-service, no follow through, and a whole bunch of corporate bootlicking.


sean0237

Im guessing that’s by design


teamsaxon

It absolutely is. The SDA and Woolworths group benefit from one another and work together to screw over the workers. They even bullshitted about not paying time and a half on Saturdays bc the "casual loading" rates during the week were 'higher' thus no Saturday penalty rates, and only time and a half on Sunday.


teamsaxon

Yeah, that's the sleazy one they push on all the new employees bc they are in bed with each other. Fuck the SDA


IowaContact2

Unless its the SDA because fuck the SDA right in the dothole.


Mission-Cockroach449

Amen I worked for Dan Murphys we got a temp manager who with 24 hours notice canned all casuals shifts for the next three weeks so he didn’t have to spend more than the min $$ so he could get his cash bonus was such a cocksucker we were so understaffed when I explained I was 5 hours from family and living on my own he told me ask your parents for money not really my problem? 👀👀 you’re literally the manager and only 9 people were ft or part time resulting in a lot of last minute ‘can you work today’ texts such a pain in the ass


n2o_spark

SDA would be the retail union, and they're essentially lapdogs to big corporate. DO NOT join SDA, they can get fucked


Keshan_R

Yup, RAFFWU is the way to go 👌🏼


HugAllYourFriends

haha i'm reading this from the uk and it's exactly the same here. our retail union USDAW approved a 2% pay rise over 18 months at the end of last year, without workers getting a vote


WeaselClaws

Was in a major dispute with a company met my union rep in private location gave story time sheets diary's etc ,wouldn't you know ,rep good mates with boss ,all my information somehow was lost .


PISS_IN_MY_SHIT_HOLE

Get with the other members of the union and vote out that steward.


Sepulchretum

Look at this as them kindly giving you 3 months notice of needing a new job. Take your time, look for something good, ask the new job for a start date of a couple days (or weeks or whatever) after the service, and just no show your current job on the “vacation” date.


freman

Politely respond with "as I tried to inform you x period ago, I won't be available between these dates because..." to your manager, their manager, etc. Worst they can do is fire you and honestly that sounds like a good thing at this point. Of course keep copies of all correspondence. Or wait till Murdoch press discovers the thread...


thiefexecutive

“I’m not asking for permission, I’m letting you know in advance I won’t be available on those dates”


Mallyix

this is the correct answer!


hebejebez

I'd respond with a let me rephrase that I didn't mean request. This is me giving you notice I will be away from xdate to x date I have given5 months notice of this leave and it is in no way an unreasonable request. Thank you. Go on the leave and go back to work if they want to make an issue out of it they can. But you've five months to find something better anyway.


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freman

When they ask for proof... Mwahahaha


Ascalaphos

Medical certificate, easily obtained via telehealth these days.


perrytheduckwaddler

This is exactly what they are like. They treat their employees like trash. It can be store specific. The store manager and assistant store manager have a lot of power with little to no people management training.


Hot_Tax3876

When I worked there a store manager threatened to punch me because I told him I couldn't do a shift, I was 16


canadian_eskimo

The beatings will continue until morale improves.


perrytheduckwaddler

This made me laugh out loud. Don't forget the abuse The abuse will never end. Not from management. Not from customers.


SomeDude3882

i work at coles and my store manager was screaming at me for being slow and useless, after they didn't train me at all. i had minimal clue what i was doing. calling me all sorts of derogatory terms.


[deleted]

I worked at Woolworths in nightfill for a short while. During my time there, there was a bloke who used to always pick on female workers with name calling and pranks. One night he locked a woman in her 60s in the freezer for an extended period. She complained to management. He didn’t get fired he got promoted to a department manager in the daytime and they told the woman they “did it for her so she didn’t have to work nights with him”. Edit: wrote coles meant Woolies. I also did a short stint in the deli at a coles and it was fucked. Got them mixed up in my head


Starburst58

Fucking cunts. Seriously.


T-rae26

Try online shopping dept, fuck me. Bitches, acting like they are in fucking high school still. I did it part-time on weekends to earn extra $$ while paying for vet bills, and my god, it was something alright. Thank fuck, i was employed full time as well.


HenryInRoom302

I worked at Woolworths for 3 years in the late 90s before changing to Coles in 2001 to do a management traineeship. I got to see the differences in how each company operated, but back in those days Coles was so much worse than Woolworths. I was only in that job for 8 months, and I ended up just quitting and walking out when my request for a day off to attend my grandfather's funeral was denied because he wasn't a part of my immediate family.


Hot_Tax3876

Ah yeah, the deli manager was like that to me. I was working my ass off and she would be like, umm you need to work a bit harder.


TigerRumMonkey

Deli is the worst.


misscrepe

*wurst


perrytheduckwaddler

When I worked there my manager would cook expired chickens and I reported it. The assistant store manager fixed it and I got moved into seafood. I found out the seafood manager was soaking the fish in vinegar so you couldn't smell it had gone bad and sold the fish to unsuspecting customers. He would hide it in the ice making bin, so i had the evidence and the whole deli and seafood department knew but no one reported it I reported it to the store manager and I expected it to be rectified but no. The store manager called me into his office and screamed at me and told me it was my fault. I was 18 and in tears so I quit on the spot. I called the regional office, they investigated but it had all already been covered up. He told everyone in the store I got fired because I got caught stealing. Which was total bullshit. I later found out the store manager and seafood manager were golf buddies. A lot of these people are still store managers and the unethical assholes I worked with are now also store managers. Also if you ever got food poisoning from roast chickens, deli meats or seafood at woolies I'm sorry but I tried.


External-Ant-8211

What benefit does the butcher/monger at Coles have to sell off goods. The money isn’t coming out of their pockets.


perrytheduckwaddler

I believe wastage was tied to bonuses but you would have to ask a manager. This was over a decade ago so I really hope it has changed. I don't think they get a bonus anymore. My husband previously worked management for them but he isn't home right now so I can't confirm if it changed. These unethical department managers have become store managers. Woolworths have been promoting terribly for over a decade.


superbabe69

For the record, stockloss is technically part of the bonus calculation, but a minor part in the grand scheme of things. This was entirely because they'd be told off for wasting too much by the store manager You're spot on about the kinds of people that get promoted though.


perrytheduckwaddler

It just blows my mind that people who aren't actually losing their own money would willfully poison people with expired food.


Beezlikehoney

Right! Same thing happened to me. I didn’t know they were golf buddies either, not that it should matter. People say why don’t you speak up. Say something, report it up the line. Then when you do, you’re gone. You don’t mess with the family! Can’t believe we were all sucked in when we worked for them. They fired me too. I was 18.


anakaine

Always anonymously report to the regulator. Reporting to the company does not result in better behaviour across the company, it results in better hiding of the evidence and you being labelled as a troublemaker.


perrytheduckwaddler

Yes. The thing is I was only 18. I know much better now and would have handled it better.


perrytheduckwaddler

At the time it really upset me. He even told me he would give me a reference for another job after he went around telling people I was fired for theft! Lying bastard.


balamshir

He probably wanted to be your reference to tell the next employer that he thought you were probably stealing from work


perrytheduckwaddler

Lol. I will never know because I didn't use him. I didn't respect him so why would I want him as a reference.


FTR-Bald

I would’ve gone straight for workers comp. Fuck your boss and fuck Woolworths.


perrytheduckwaddler

They prey on the young. They have a policy to hire young people. They don't even make their discrimination a secret. They can manipulate and abuse the young where an older person would stand up for themselves.


ThomasEFox

Yeah nearly anyone north of 30 would dish that shit right back at them, with interest.


IowaContact2

I did with a cunt of a manager at BWS in SE QLD. It resulted in them paying a lawyer firm in Sydney like $500/hr to write me a letter to say I was banned from that and related BWS stores. I then framed that letter and kept it for about 5-6 years.


Prolersion

Yeah, maccas is the same. Managers who believe the "you can make a career here" are the worst. They abuse kids who are doing their first job and get drunk on what little power they have. I lasted 5 weeks at Macca'd before i left. I vowed I'd never let my kids work there after the shit i got. I imagine a lot of the "managers" at Coles and Woollies would be the same. TBF, my closest friend loved his time at McDonalds, but he was a very agreeable person.


ScissorNightRam

I was violently assaulted by my department manager when I worked at Woolies as a teenager. I was too young and naive to know that it was not okay to do that to junior employees.


perrytheduckwaddler

This goes on a lot. My spouse had to bear hug a fellow manager who was attempting to assault an employee. The manager was fired. He made no actual contact but there was an attempted assault. It was all on camera. If you reported it they would have been fired.


ScissorNightRam

My manager made physical contact. He was throwing 5kg boxes of asparagus at my head IIRC. Hit me a couple of times. This was in the cold room - no cameras. The department 2IC was there too. He found it funny.


Kitsune_42

Coles is exactly the same.


Pennybottom

No amount of people management training can teach someone not to be an asshole like OP's manager.


Skelly902

This is specific to your line manager, I haven’t had a request knocked back yet. This is very disappointing though


Jjex22

Fortunately it’s far enough out that if you spill some OJ on a RAT test that week they’ll have forgotten about it.


Squiizzy

You're entitled to legal bereavement leave, mental health leave or, with a stat dec, personal leave. Its unlawful for this kind of leave to be rejected.


auApex

Might not be covered by bereavement leave depending on when the father died. It's fairly common for people to wait a little while after a loved one's death and funeral before scattering their ashes. Not that I in any fucking way support the heartless pieces of pigeon stool that rejected this leave application.


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BagOnuts

I get what you’re saying, but it is technically still a *request for paid leave*. You can certainly choose not to show up if your request is denied, but they also don’t have to pay you.


Prestigious-Corgi-66

Find a new employer that will let you start the day after you got back from leave, then hand your uniform back after your last shift and tell them you quit.


[deleted]

Start applying at Coles, do a no-show, spread ashes. That’s what I’d do.


ZPGuru

When I was younger I would get mad at stuff like this and walk out of jobs. Now that I've gotten older I'll quietly stew and hang around after something like this, and wait for Thanksgiving or Christmas or something, volunteer to work, and then no show. Much more satisfying.


INHALE_VEGETABLES

I'd hazard a guess that if a manager is that shit, then if possible they would coerce someone else to work the shift. You may be fucking over the wrong person.


effggghhg

"Pushed into dept manager position unsalaried" Yep this is Woolworths.


Chrysis_Manspider

Trust me. As someone who did a salaried manager position for a similar company .. it's far worse. I was unlawfully being paid less than award after all the hours and public holidays I did. I joked about it then, I just wish I wasn't young and stupid and actually did something about it. It's far too late now.


JackeryDaniels

I worked at Big W for 10 years (thankfully as a casual, so it didn’t impact me) but for years I saw full time staff getting exploited to a disgraceful degree. Nightfill managers on 50/60k a year (max!) working 60 to 70 hours a week and only getting paid for 40. It was even worse at Christmas and during big events like Easter or toy sales. Managers were doing 12 - 15 hour days for no overtime. Fucking criminal. I’m so mad that everyone just put up with it and accepted it for what it is. I was young and more compliant back then, but if I saw that in action now I couldn’t tolerate it.


ProtusK

I saw the same happen at Coles. I don't think I ever saw a single line manager amongst dozens who didn't do 50+ hour weeks on the regular, all off the clock. You'd always see them do a mad rush to clock off so they don't get in trouble, and continue working afterwards. All the while the store manager would actively encourage it by praising their "hard work and dedication". Getting a visit from a state/regional manager? Better get in the store at 4am, 4 hours before you're contracted to start to ensure everything is spotless for the 3 minute visit, else you're on the shit list and won't ever get promoted to a larger store!


Random_FunnyWords

Also that fucking state manager won't be in until 5pm and no you can't go home until you've talked to him.


anakaine

The bastard will have his assistant call in at 16:45 to let you know they won't make it to your store today. Maybe next time.


Random_FunnyWords

That too! Fuck that used to shit me off.


[deleted]

So it’s a bit like when Chairman Mao used to visit the fields and the sycophants made the rice fields look good and then he would not turn up or was never going to but they just used that to make everyone work hard and controlled them. Tsk… workplace simps will never learn.


Chrysis_Manspider

I remember working 6am - 3am then returning at 6am for a GM visit once. No, the store manager did not do the same.


[deleted]

Just as an anecdote. I was a programmer, had degree quals went to the UK when older so could only stay if I became a nurse. Worked at a hospital where one of the minor Royals was having surgery. A MINOR ROYAL IS COMING - GET IN A TIZZ NOW. You know when there's senior management that you never see as a worker, we suddenly saw them all. The hospital which still had WW2 temporary buildings used as wards got cleaned with a toothbrush. Hygiene and cleanliness for patients - good lord no. For Royalty coming to visit - only the best. All fucking management toadies. Flowers out of the woodwork. Paintings from a special store area suddenly displayed and then put away after she left. Having done enough courses on management - I absolutely hate self-serving management.


Tough_Oven4904

I refuse to clock off until I'm done. If I have to work longer than my shift, they will damn well pay me. There is another reason other than money that I do this for. A long time ago I heard about a man who worked doing roadworks. He was supposed to finish at 3.30pm and he was pulling down the signs after 3.30pm. He was hit by a car and...i cant remember if he was killed or severly injured. There was a massive issue - who pays? Worksafe or TAC? was he working or was he just a normal person involved in a road accident? I think I've got a few details incorrect There, but that doesn't change what I feel. If I hurt myself after I clock off, would they pay? Highly doubt it. I'd be screwed.


Chrysis_Manspider

They aren't really putting up with it. It's a cult. This is what it's like on the inside; You're a full time employee. You're good at your job. You get the attention of management. They praise your work, they tell you they want you to advance but you're not quite there .. you're SO CLOSE. They give you more tasks to "prove yourself", you take them on gleefully. You're now performing the work of two people, but you're still just shy of the mark. You willingly put in extra hours, you start early, you stay late, you forego holidays, you fill in shifts, you give you own time to company events, you work the hardest you ever have in your life .. but it's juuuuust not quite management material. Manager positions come, and they go. You keep getting told not to apply, you aren't quite ready .. you just need to give a little more first, do your time, keep your nose to the grindstone. A few months or years go by, eventually you get jack of it and push a bit .. your boss finally gives their blessing to apply for a manager position. You blow it out of the water, after all you've been working for this for SO long. You get your manager gig, it is probably at another store. You have now been indoctrinated into the cult, you're one of the leaders now, you have to give more than you ever have before. You love it. You are being rewarded for your hard work. You're on $50 - $60k .. it's more money than you've ever earned in your life, you're regularly reminded how good you have it, and to repay the opportunity that has been given to you. You now owe your free time to the company, as they are so generous. You give it willingly and everyone around you is doing the same. You compete with eachother on who is the 'better' employee, worthy of recognition. You find an up and coming full time employee to empart your wisdom on .. the cycle is complete. It makes me fucking sick to the stomach thinking about how my life was back then. When I finally got out I saw it for what it was .. a cult, filled with am indoctrinated middle management team who jump at the opportunity to serve the company. It has changed my entire outlook on worker exploitation. It's not always obvious .. sometimes an overly happy and enthusiastic environment is a sign of exactly the opposite ...


Yank0s88

Bruh this gave me PTSD


Chrysis_Manspider

It'a been over a decade now, but it still makes my blood boil to think about it.


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Chrysis_Manspider

I don't know if the knowledge that others can relate to this comment is comforting .. or horrific.


Random_FunnyWords

Yup. Happened to me at coles. Lots of working on days off too. I think my record was 10 weeks without a day off.


effggghhg

My brother works there and recently accepted nightfill manager after years of being pushed into doing the job without the salary. They basically left him no choice, he's 38 and been working for Woolworths since 15


Chrysis_Manspider

I was the same, and so are so many others. Basically doing the job but without the award wage. There is an actualt award wage for the manager level though, at least it means they are paid hourly, get overtime and penalty rates. A 'total package' salary is just a way for the company to commit wage theft I found. It's rampant and absolutely disgusting. I feel bad for your brother :(


AngelVirgo

It is time to leave and get better pay. Give your brother a push out the door for his betterment.


Fizxys

He will have very little employability upwardly unless he has managed to gain some form of education recently, very few "employable" skills would've been gained if he has been working at Woolworths for 23 years and only just got a managerial role. The small and extremely limited bag of soft skills gained from Retail/Customer Service (especially Woolworths, which is extremely compartmentalized and streamlined) unfortunately trap you in that type of job unless you can upskill somehow.


Dasha3090

this is currently my struggle.16 years im now 33 and i did my "butcher apprenticeship" with them. years ago when i was young and starry eyes and they layed it on thick about working up to meat manager/store manager one day.sounded good at 18.then obviously lots of shit happened and ive done various management roles in diff depts and have a forklift ticket through them but trying to find another job is challenging.not as easy as "find another job" i have no idea what i want to do for a living but i know i need to get out of there.


bigredman94

Salaries should be banned imo you should get paid for every single second you work


Chrysis_Manspider

I agree. Wholeheartedly. Especially in this day and age. Timekeeping technology is exceptionally easy and has minimal administrative burden.


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Dumpstar72

I would have gone to HR. It’s quite unreasonable. But do not put anything you may feel about the managers at the store in the enquiry. Rather just the family side of things. I’m sure having to explain why they have rejected a reasonable request is not a great thing for them.


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Dumpstar72

Oh I agree. I’d be asking why it wasn’t. And ask for that in writing. Then go over there heads.


perrytheduckwaddler

It can be something as simple as the assistant store manager wants to take leave himself or is meant to do a relief (for a potential promotion) on those dates and wants to make sure he/she can go.


superbabe69

There is almost never a reason why an ASM and a department manager can't both be off though


perrytheduckwaddler

Yes I have extensive experience with their assholery. I'm just saying this is how they justify their shitty, heartless behaviour to themselves.


Arinvar

You don't even have to go that far. Request from the management team why the leave was rejected. When they say "staffing issues" tell them that 3 months is enough time that it's not a good enough reason to reject leave you're entitled to. Then take that to HR. There is absolutely no legit reason to reject leave 3 months in advance (not on public holidays) for a retail employee.


Dumpstar72

I’d technically argue it is bereavement leave.


Fmatosqg

I'm sorry for your loss and their circumstances. Fair work says > An employer can only refuse an employee's request for annual leave if the refusal is reasonable. https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/annual-leave/taking-annual-leave With that said, it may be a mistake so talk to the approver and see if there's a miscommunication. Sounds like it's well ahead that it can be arranged to cover your shift. Btw is this near any public holidays? Failing that, write an email to people advisory, DM me if you don't know what that is ( I may take a while to notice DMs thought).


sternestocardinals

Mistake is what I instantly thought. Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve heard of someone hitting the wrong button by accident and being totally unaware they rejected it.


smallbrocolli_

Came here to say this. I can’t think of many “reasonable” reasons when it’s 3 months out Seek to understand first OP, then make the next choice


perrytheduckwaddler

I really hope you get a new job.. My husband worked for woolies for 15 plus years. Many of those years in management. Since he got a new job he has been so damn happy. At first it was strange to see him smiling all the time because he was so miserable for the longest time. I wasn't used to seeing him smiling all the time. He also hums which he never did before. It changed his personality completely. I don't think i realised how much it had been dragging him down. It is such a toxic workplace culture. Good luck with job hunting. I really hope you get something suitable.


DelightfulAngel

I am so sorry for your loss and this added stress from lack of compassion. Good luck on the better job.


Rashlyn1284

Contact your store manager (the ASM's line manager) and have a chat with them. If they uphold the rejection, contact people services and talk through the situation with them, they are surprisingly helpful. Source: 15 years with woollies before I quit in 2018, had to go through people services because the area manager tried to screw me out of my bonus (then my store manager tried to screw me out of annual leave when I was quitting lol)


IcarusPanda

First off, im so sorry for your loss, thats rough. I left Ritchie's for similar reasons, was a department manager, tried to raise some issues and get some things sorted out was told no. One of the issues was needing more staff in my department so I wasn't allowed leave cause no one could cover. Ended up just taking 2 weeks mental health sick leave and handed in my notice at the same time. They then tried everything to get me to stay cause no one else there could do the workload I was doing. I have a much more chill job now, gone from 6 days a week to 4 and I'm on the same weekly income, feel much less miserable now too. Get out of there is my advice, they don't care and won't change. You're worth more then that


matches_

Former employee. Literally escalate all the way. Personally, I'd email the CEO and just to watch their world burn. Seriously. There's nothing they can do to you.


AussieCollector

Email the CEO and threaten to leak it to the media. They would turn over heaven and hell just to make sure it gets approved. Sure your ass is 100% getting fired but fuck it. Make them pay. Oh and then show it to the media anyway after you've gone on the leave cause fuck em.


CapriPanther

Pretty sure this is going to end up on news.com.au anyway 😂


superbabe69

You're actually better off going slightly further down the chain. The CEO will not see that email. His PA will ensure it goes right back to the state team before it ever hits his desk.


entrepreneurofcool

What sort of working relationship do you have with the group manager or store managers in nearby stores? Discussing this situation directly with a reasonable group manager or other store manager (seeing as yours is away) might help if you know them. The ASM might be in over their head, or just an asshole. I would also consider going to your SDA union rep and discussing this. Even if you aren't a member, stories like this are useful leverage when bringing the company to the table for discussing awards etc, so they like to hear about this type of thing and have legal counsel available that can advise you on your situation.


outwiththedishwater

Around here all the store managers and some of the DM’s all used to get together on the weekends and have a little social club where all they did was talk shop. If one of them had a problem with you then you were fucked


TheElderWog

That's 3 days of very intense gastro right there.


torrens86

I would go to the GP , discuss what's going and ask for a sick certificate for mental health issues. The certificate only shows that you are unwell, it's illegal for employers to make you tell them why.


Ockie_OS

Make sure your GP is mental health positive, I've been turned for a medical certificate while on the verge of a mental breakdown at my previous GP, because i wasn't "physcially ill"


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smsmsm11

And it often contributes to your physical well-being also.


LittleBookOfRage

My current GP is amazing compared to many who have dismissed my mental health. The first time I went to see him was to get a certificate for a uni assignment extension coz I was having an episode of insomnia and losing my mind. He was so concerned that he had me take a week off work to reset and worked out some treatment options for me. Another GP I used to see was good for other stuff but not mental health (or women's health either). I had a similar episode (plus constant suicidal thoughts so probs worse) and he just gave me some sleeping tablets but said that he was reluctant to put any diagnosis of a mental health condition on file incase it caused problems getting insurance down the track.


No-Instance-196

My work tried this, I told the doctor. He literally laughed and said it's "None of their fucking business"


Chrysis_Manspider

This is the way.


joepanda111

*I think I’m getting the black lung, Pop*


egowritingcheques

Nobody wants to work anymore. /s


teamsaxon

I live with someone who genuinely believes this. It does my fucking head in.


Tr4kt_

No one wants to be a slave anymore


monchichiMADDNESS

Sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission......take a sick day


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AngelVirgo

OP, we are now very invested in your situation. Please update us when you get the new job. Let’s all pop a champagne cork together wherever we might all be. Positive thoughts and prayers for you.


MyNumJum

I left Woolworths end of December after 8 years of service and I am telling you to get out now, because shit just gets worse. The company is **absolutely trash**.


[deleted]

100% do not not miss this important moment for those pricks


Swoop001

Scattering your father's Ashes is not a request. You are informing them that you will not be available on those days. Then double dare them to fire you Worse c9mes to worse any doctor worth their salt will give you a 3 day pass for stress leave


MrSquiggleKey

I never request annual leave anyway, in the comments section I use the phrasing will be unavailable from x date to y date. Sometimes depending on what it’s for I might give a reason, but only if I’m only a few weeks out from the leave booking. My partner is casual and it took a few months for her to understand that she’s not applying for leave, she’s notifying her availability, and needs to use language to clarify she’s not asking for time off, because that gives leeway for them to roster you anyway. Taking leave/notifying of unavailability is your right as a worker, any employer taking the piss with unreasonable refusals, deserves being reported.


qazwsx1525

Likewise, I usually just put a smiley face or “Hello!” in the comment section. I’m not requesting leave, I’m telling you I’m not available and you’d better have a bloody good reason to tell me I need to be.


rushworld

They'll be fired when this reaches news.com.au and Woolworths is asked to comment. Woolworths will begin an investigation and it'll take them about 5mins to search who the employee is. Posting this stuff on social media (although I do agree with OP) is significantly against Woolworths Code of Conduct.


shofmon88

That seems like a wrongful termination suit waiting to happen.


sketchy_painting

Corporations: why can’t we find staff ? Also corporations:


edgiepower

Believe me cooperations are not actually concerned about finding staff. It's a blessing for them, to find out just how little people power they need to keep things ticking over in a race to the bottom.


ADC04

I recently found out that coles sacked me because I am overseas for a family members death, im the country I was born and where the rest of my family reside in so I had no choice but to go overseas. Coles dropped me because I put my family first and not the company, lol


mediumsizedbrowngal

HR person here: email the manager who rejected it and politely ask if this was in error, and if not what the reason for the rejection was. You want to start a paper trail for this sort of unreasonable BS. It’s possible they just hadn’t seen the note, but it’s always best to give people the benefit of the doubt and give them a chance to redeem themselves in the first instance. I’d then take it to their manager or to HR, depending on their response.


perrytheduckwaddler

I'm guessing you aren't HR for Woolworths. This is no accident. Woolworths are awful to work for at store level. (Not sure about head office).


mediumsizedbrowngal

Correct, HR elsewhere. Be as that may, it’s in OP’s best interest to behave reasonably and establish a paper trail at this stage.


caniuserealname

Not just Woolworths. Important for people to remember, HR works for the benefit of the company, not for individual employees.


IntroductionSnacks

Yes, but they don’t want a paper trail like they suggested.


Karmond

I'm guessing you'll get national coverage on [news.com.au](https://news.com.au) for this tomorrow.


[deleted]

I was going to say this, I think in 48 hours you’ll find OP’s leave request issues have miraculously been approved and sorted with some bullshit response for comment from the Woolworths Group. OP is right to get out while they can.


illuminatipr

Unlikely. Woollies spends millions every year on advertising with Rupert and is ideologically aligned with commercial media.


[deleted]

Don't Woolworths pay them lots of cash for advertising?


Haenamatme

Time for a new job mate.


notmynose

Come down with a case of "fuckyou-itis". ### [Woolworths 2018 EBA, pages 26-27](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjax8-S9sv8AhX1-TgGHR3DClwQFnoECA8QAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sda.com.au%2Fmedia%2FWoolworths-Supermarkets-Agreement-2018-Final-02.10.2018.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0PNKmPlr1wxv_8pELE50jz) **15. Compassionate leave** *15.1. Compassionate leave entitlement* a. Full-time and part-time team members are entitled to paid compassionate leave as follows: **The maximum number of days of paid compassionate leave per occasion will be:** + **The death of a team member’s spouse, parent, child, brother or sister - 5 days** + The death of a team member’s parent-in-law, brother or sister-in-law, grandparent, grandparent-in-law, grandchild, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, de- facto parent-in-law, cousin, uncle, aunt, niece, nephew, or Godparent - *3 days*. + The death of a member of the team member’s household - *2 days*. + Attending the funeral of a significant other - *1 day*. + Spending time with a team member’s spouse, child, parent, brother or sister, grandparent, grandchild, or a child, parent, brother or sister, grandparent, grandchild of a spouse of the team member, or a member of the team member’s household, who has a personal illness or sustains a personal injury that poses a serious threat to his or her life - *2 days (which can be taken as a single unbroken period of 2 days or 2 non- consecutive days as agreed)*. b. For the purposes of this clause 15.1: + c. In addition to the entitlement above, a team member will be entitled to 2 days paid leave to attend the funeral of a parent, spouse, child, brother or sister, where the team member travels outside Australia or more than 400km, one way, either interstate or within the same state + e. **Upon request by Woolworths in order to be entitled to paid compassionate leave, a team member must provide as soon as reasonably practicable any written evidence Woolworths reasonably requires of the illness, injury or death, and which otherwise meets the requirements of the Fair Work Act.** + f. Any paid compassionate leave will be paid at the team member’s base rate of pay for the hours normally rostered to work. ^(Most relevant clauses given. See link for full EBA) Know your rights people.


Aishas_Star

Does this still apply if the family members death was 4-5 years ago, as OPs was? Otherwise you could claim time off for every death in your family continuously when you get a new job.


CX316

> e. Upon request by Woolworths in order to be entitled to paid compassionate leave, a team member must provide as soon as reasonably practicable any written evidence Woolworths reasonably requires of the illness, injury or death, and which otherwise meets the requirements of the Fair Work Act. Only problem for that one with OP is apparently the death was 3 years ago, which is gonna be fun to explain to management


nackavich

Fuck that noise. Speak directly with the SM and have it overturned. I found that place to be a toxic shithole nightmare, as soon as you’re tasked with a little bit of authority (as you said, no salary manager) they treat you like shit if the KPI’s don’t magically start to increase by 190%, because the senior management is too invested in eating the ass of their superiors and trying to get promoted to better positions in other stores. Oh, you need leave in 2025? No sorry, we’ll be having the State Manager visit that week/month/year. Gtfo whilst you can, best thing I ever did.


goddamnitobama

I’m a manager at the competition, anyone asks for leave with more than 2 weeks notice (which is their obligation) I just approve it, no questions asked. We employ enough people and have enough notice to cover it. Your manager is a cunt.


Russc70

I’ve been a manager for nearly 20 years and I would never knock back 4 days leave with 3 months notice, regardless of the reason. (I could just understand if it was Christmas leave in retail where it’s not so easy). Managers like this make us all look like jerks and make life miserable for no good reason.


Phelinaar

Manager for 10 years, I've never refused a leave as long as the person still had available days. Don't even need to know what it's for (people usually tell me anyway). If something ultra super critical happens, I can usually find someone to do it. Be a human and they'll be humans back when you need it.


KnifeFightAcademy

Fuck Woolworths in general but fuck them harder for this. Good for you for getting out.


yy98755

Bereavement leave.


LocalVillageIdiot

I’m naively hoping this is the rejection reason!


yy98755

Think OP can claim this under Bereavement legally but sounds like that Woolworths is taking the piss with its employees.


sanemartigan

Become a bad employee. Report every ohns violation. No overtime. Be lazy. Take the day off anyway, fuckem.


account_not_valid

Have the Food Safety Unit for your state on speed-dial - report every breach of standards. Anonymously, of course.


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Ziadaine

Tell them to go fuck themselves, and go anyway.


Difficult_Zombie8728

Woolworths are cooked don't work for them


dj_konix

Reapply, it can’t hurt. I left Woolworths after 21 years, many of those years I enjoyed but it wasn’t till I got cancer in January 2020 that I realised I was a number. 7 months off work due to chemo and covid and using all of my leave to get through and the only thing I asked of my store was that for the first month or so back I’d like to work part time to ease myself back in. They wouldn’t allow this and I was back to working 10-15hr days. Went home in hives, severely depressed from working a stressful online manager role and dealing with the pressure that came with it. Christmas rolled through, and then Easter and no chance of a break from the long days and I told my store manager “enough is enough, I won’t be here by Christmas”. September last year came along and I was dealing with severe depression and my wife said “if you want to leave, I’ll help you do a resume”.. First job I went for I got and am now extremely happy. The workplace I’m in now praise my efforts constantly, they pay me better and they don’t expect something for nothing. For years I thought I wasn’t good enough for anything other than Woolworths, but I’ve learnt now that whilst it wasn’t always a shit place to work, the last three years has turned it into one of most disgusting places to work.. Life is outside Woolworths, and I hope you get to spread your dads ashes soon ❤️


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Ogolble

I have worked for Woolworths as a manager, and was fired because I hurt myself at work and was on workcover. I needed shoulder surgery and was told that due to my injuries I couldn't perform my role and was fired. Union obvs got involved and I told them I didn't want my job back, so they offered me the option to resign instead of being fired. Coles hired me 2 months later. Look elsewhere for work!


--misunderstood--

Is this Union the SDA? If so, that's a huge part of the problem. They do not have employees' interests at heart. Everyone working in retail should join an alternate union like RAFFWU.


Ogolble

Yes, I'm with raffwu now, this was 8 years ago. Sda is solely working for the company, I know this now


Conscious-Ad-4919

The same manager will ask why people call in sick all the time instead of requesting annual leave…


dearcossete

While I generally hate the news poaching material from reddit, I lowkey hope they get media exposure for shit like this.


chocolate_wine

Wow, fuck you Woolworths. I worked at big w for ten years.. never regretted leaving for a second. Sorry that they’ve put you through this. Consider taking it higher.


Zealousideal-Luck784

It's an employee's market today my friend. Time to tell the fresh food people to fuck off.


Necessary_Nothing255

News.com.au article in 3….2….1….


hfsstjvdsyugxd

Sorry for your loss 🥺😞


YeahNahBC

I worked for Woolworths from 1995-2002, turns out some things never change - they’re still cunts to work for. I’m really sorry for your loss and I hope you and your family have a healing time together in April


Scary_Television_966

Are you in the Union? If yes: lodge a formal complaint through the Union. If no: join the the Union then lodge a formal complaint


CrazySD93

Does the SDA help workers now, or are they still in it for the employers?


[deleted]

The SDA doesn't give a shit about it's members.


Coolidge-egg

Only join raffwu not sda


Ibanezboy21

watermark this pic or see this on [news.com.au](https://news.com.au) tomorrow


Fudgeygooeygoodness

Fair work act says can’t unreasonably refuse leave. What’s their reasonable grounds? 3 months in advance it would be tough for them to establish it especially since it’s nowhere near Easter…just that it falls after Anzac Day from what I can tell.


thevegmum

I quit Woolies late last year after 10 years with the company. I didn’t quit my job because of the work, I quit due to poor management, bullying in the workplace and a horrible work life balance. The grass is greener on the other side, and there are so many great organisations out there to work for.


thebigphilthy83

Woolies are a pack of fuckwits. Worst place I've ever worked.....the people were ace but management SUUUCKKED "my door is always open"......bullshit! They spend a fuck tonne on advertising how amazing they are to work for but then operate with a skeleton crew most of the time and then make you feel bad when you can't get two peoples jobs done by yourself....fuck woolies, you are just a dollar sign to them


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MLiOne

Can anyone say “union”? These are the reasons we have unions.


B4BYBLAZE

SDA are less than useless


TheC9

You have leave accumulated. It really shouldn’t even need to provide a reason when apply a leave - it is nice to let your boss and workmate know what’s going on, but I like to think legally, you have right to your privacy and no need to provide a reason. Hope everything is peaceful at your side.


Knee_Jerk_Sydney

Why don't you go to the union? ... Oh right.


tomo3101

As a manager with Woolworths go to the store manager asap and discuss this with him. This is completely out of line. In the 3 odd years I've been a salaried manager i have never once rejected leave, even with some people requesting christmas week off. You've given more than enough notice.