Bullying/harrasment at Maccas

[anon3508]

So I have been annoyed about this for days...

I work at a Maccas store part time (I am still a High School student) and recently there is this manager who has been harrassing me.

Last shift he accused me of being gay because I was "acting shy" and I asked him (as anyone would) what's wrong with being gay?
He replied with this "because if you're gay, you're the receiver, that's why" and he continued to make a verbal, sexual sign (which I won't describe). I mean, wtf would you even tell me that? And what does my sexuality have to do with you?

Then, what pissed me more is that for my last shift, I worked for 3.5 hours. I forgot to clock off (those of you who work at Maccas know, you have to clock off via a computer system). So I went back to the store immediately after. I told him I forgot to clock off, and he appeared annoyed but implictly suggested that he will fix it up for me. (which managers are supposed to do).

When I got my payslip today, it shows that the manager clocked me off, but made it so I was only paid for 3 hours (I worked for 3.5 hours) so I was underpaid for around $7.

I am not pissed off by the $7 difference but rather, I don't like being pushed around like this. Adding to that are the racial, homophobic slurs he says to me every shift.

What should I do? He is a manager, not any other worker so I can't really complain to him. Should I directly contact the proprietor (store owner).
*NOTE: I am not actually depressed, mentally unstable, suicidal or anything. If anything, I am angry and want to get some form of compensation (apology etc.) and my $7 back to show him that I won't stand up for this.

Should I ask the head manager for my $7 back, then talk to him about it?
OR should I contact the store owner, who will probably take it more seriously? Eg. my friend wrote a letter once to him, and he was compensated no questions asked.
OR should I contact the Equal Opportunity Commission for discrimination and harassment? I mean, he is having a go at me, but he is not really bullying me emotionally. But a lot of the crap he says is defaming, harrassment etc.

I want beyond my $7 back. Preferably a just compensation for the harrassment I received from the store or Maccas. I think I deserve it for the crap (and how he has made me feel) every shift I work

What should my course of action be? Can you guys please give me advice?

[nondiscrypt]

I want beyond my $7 back. Preferably a just compensation for the harrassment I received from the store or Maccas. I think I deserve it for the crap (and how he has made me feel) every shift I work

Sorry you lost me when you said the last bit.

The harassment is a valid complaint and you should get advice from someone such as http://www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints-information.

You have to give your manager the benefit of the doubt regarding logging you off at the wrong time (it could have been a genuine mistake and had you remembered to do it, this would not have happened) but you should bring it to his attention (without suggesting it was deliberate) so it can be rectified.

[anon3508]

Sorry you lost me when you said the last bit.

The harassment is a valid complaint and you should get advice from someone such as http://www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints-information.

You have to give your manager the benefit of the doubt regarding logging you off at the wrong time (it could have been a genuine mistake and had you remembered to do it, this would not have happened) but you should bring it to his attention (without suggesting it was deliberate) so it can be rectified.

No; if you didn't know him or haven't worked with him for a year, you would give him the benefit of the doubt. But, he clearly knew what time I finished and decided to only pay me for half an hour less because... well.. who knows? Bad mood, perhaps?

Also, sorry I came through as a bit butthurt when I said I wanted compensation. I don't mean I want money as compensation or trying to gain financially out of this.  Rather, I would like a formal apology (not one where we meet face to face and he pretend to say it won't happen) so that this kind of behaviour doesn't occur to other people (as in, I am quitting next week but I don't want other people to go through this).

He will go from saying something mild like "there's too much Asians working here" to making fun of Chinese accents and occasionally  making fun of homosexuals as cocksuckers and "receivers". He is like a devil, to be honest. And I don't think I should let this rest. Am I over-reacting? Is this what I should have been expecting at Maccas)? Also, is quitting a good option at this stage - ie. have I been too weak and should I be expecting worser things further on when I enter the "real world"?

[brenden]

Hey Anon!

Man, I worked at Macca's for four years and left this January, so I can feel your pain. Your manager sounds disgusting and horrible and probably would have been bullied out of our store by senior crew. Definitely pursue this and don't let it slide.

Your first port of call is the store manager, who should rectify your .5 hours (anyone telling him/her it's their fault for not clocking off: please work for years at Macca's and never forget about it lol) as well as direct the manager to provide you with a formal apology if that's what you're looking for. If the store manager is unhelpful, proceed to your patch's/store's consultant (the person who comes in to do fake SORs), or to the store manager. That said, they might just pressure the manager to write your an apology, give you your $7 and continue on like normal (I'm just going to assume that's exactly what would happen). If you're unhappy with that I see no reason not to contact the relevant authorities from outside of your franchised store. It's unfortunate that you've never raised the issue before or haven't been documenting it in any way. If you continue to work and don't end up quitting, every time he says something, make a voice recording on your phone documenting it (assuming your phone provides dated voice recordings, which it should if it's a smart phone).


I can't really tell you whether to quit or not to be honest. I ended up doing it to spite my store manager a bit lol but just 'cause I was sick of it and realised I had a better, alternate source of income (tutoring). Definitely consider alternative sources of income and what you'll do at the end of year 12 (working in your break can be an awesome money saving time and kill the boredom that inevitably comes after studying so hard).


edit: I'm also pretty sure that the shift you were given comes up on the smart clock or the back office computer. If you stayed back half an hour he should have remembered that anyway. Doubt it was accidental unless he's severely unintelligent as well as a horrible person.

[Selcouth]

Definitely go to the store manager! Once they hear about the horrendous abuse you have received you will probably be able to count the seconds between then and the manager being fired.

Nobody deserves to be put down in such a spiteful way, don't let this just slide under the carpet. Your store manager will fret at the thought of legal action and/or public awareness if this story reaches newspapers or TV shows etc.

Keep your head high and good luck!

[anon3508]

edit: I'm also pretty sure that the shift you were given comes up on the smart clock or the back office computer. If you stayed back half an hour he should have remembered that anyway. Doubt it was accidental unless he's severely unintelligent as well as a horrible person.

Yup; funny thing is after the shift (at the tram stop) I realised I forgot to clock on. I actually ran back into the store from the tram stop and told him I forgot to clock off. So he knows what time it was when I did this.

Nobody deserves to be put down in such a spiteful way, don't let this just slide under the carpet. Your store manager will fret at the thought of legal action and/or public awareness if this story reaches newspapers or TV shows etc.

Thanks!

Hey Anon!

Man, I worked at Macca's for four years and left this January, so I can feel your pain. Your manager sounds disgusting and horrible and probably would have been bullied out of our store by senior crew. Definitely pursue this and don't let it slide.
 

We're a small store in the city so there's always only one guy working at the back and one girl working at the front. So at any instance, there is only 3 people - no one to back me up. Plus the girl is always intimidated by him anyway!


I will close my account now since I have sort of got the answer/advice I needed at first! Thanks everyone; sorry for sounding whiney and cheers for the understanding!

[Sense]

You should say you're emotionally scarred by the harassment, claim you're unhealthy to work for the rest of your life and file a $250 million dollar law suit against them.

[chasej]

You should say you're emotionally scarred by the harassment, claim you're unhealthy to work for the rest of your life and file a $250 million dollar law suit against them.

Bit of a dick move to make fun of their very serious concerns.

----
To the OP: I don't know any specific contacts as I've never worked at maccas, the posters above seemed to have given some good contacts, however I can say, what the manager said to you is completely inappropriate and is of course ground for an immediate termination of the manager's employment, in fact, I would argue the owner of the restaurant has an obligation to fire the manager if these accusations are proven true, and at least place the manager on paid leave while an investigation is taking place. Although in the world of mcdonalds with the employees being so replaceable (let's be honest, there are thousands of minimum wage type jobseekers around), they'd probably just give him the flick, what he deserves of course.

It's not even the fact they were homophobic comments, it's the fact that anyone attempts to use their power over you to imply weird sexual things which is just creepy and strange, I'd hate to think what else the guy could be capable of.