A horray for capitalism!!

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by MrFun
Spiffor -- Kid said that that particular employee was productive as a cashier, but she refused to listen to her boss (Kid).

You can't seriously think that employees should be retained even when they blantantly disregard their bosses.

It depends on what the boss asked.

[David Floyd]

Well from the context I don't think Kid was asking for oral sex.

If Kid was asking the cashier to do something work-related with which she was uncomfortable, then she isn't performing her job. I've held people accountable and even participated in the termination of people for the same type of thing.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by David Floyd
Well from the context I don't think Kid was asking for oral sex.

Oh, I wasn't implying that I was thinking more along the lines of cleaning toilet bowls.

Originally posted by David Floyd
If Kid was asking the cashier to do something work-related with which she was uncomfortable, then she isn't performing her job. I've held people accountable and even participated in the termination of people for the same type of thing.

Suppose Kid asked her to help restocking the shelves. Do you think it's a reasonable request?

[David Floyd]

Absolutely. She's "on the clock", meaning she has to comply with any work-related assignments. If that assignment is to help out the store by restocking shelves, then that's what she should do.

[Urban Ranger]

See, that's where the differences come in. Restocking the shelves may or may not be work related, depending on your PoV.

[David Floyd]

How not? If I hire someone, I'm hiring them to be an employee, not a cashier. Yes, running a cash register is what they typically come in and do everyday, but nowhere does it say that is the extent of their job responsibilities.

Actually, the opposite is true - they are responsible to complete the tasks assigned them. This is true at any job I've ever heard of, at least any retail job. It may be different in the corporate world, but that isn't what we're talking about.

[Az]

yeah, people should be flexible. I don't mind even ordering physical labor - as long as the manager isn't shy about the stuff themselves.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by David Floyd
How not? If I hire someone, I'm hiring them to be an employee, not a cashier.

Really? What's the position would you put on the employment contract?

Originally posted by David Floyd
Yes, running a cash register is what they typically come in and do everyday, but nowhere does it say that is the extent of their job responsibilities.

How would you define the "job responsibilties?"

Originally posted by David Floyd
Actually, the opposite is true - they are responsible to complete the tasks assigned them.

Maybe that's the way in Texas, I don't know. However the labour laws I have seen stipulates that superiors could only give "reasonable assignments" to their subordinates.

What reasonable is, is open to interpretation. Of course, there are previous cases on this as well.

[JohnT]

Really? What's the position would you put on the employment contract?

What employment contract?

Anyway, UR, employees should expect to perform any tasks within their capabilities - even restocking shelves! teh horror!

It's even a clause in the employee handbook: "...and other duties, as needed." Such a lovely clause.

[David Floyd]

Really? What's the position would you put on the employment contract?

The equivalent of "cashier", however, the job responsibilities of the cashier are not spelled out in the job offer. Essentially, the responsibilities are whatever I or other management say they are and are willing to train the employee to perform.

How would you define the "job responsibilties?"

Whatever I need them to be and am willing to train the employee to do, while the employee is on the clock.

JohnT,

It's even a clause in the employee handbook: "...and other duties, as needed." Such a lovely clause.

Yes, I believe this is a fairly common clause in most employee handbooks.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
employment contract

[David Floyd]

Yes, the correct term is really "job offer".

[KrazyHorse]

It was a real pain getting my lawyer to read over my employment contract when I started working at the warehouse over the summer 5 years ago...

[David Floyd]

UR, let me put this another way.

Do you believe that a person hired to be a cashier should ONLY have to run a cash register? In downtime, should that cashier be allowed to stand around and get paid for doing nothing, or should they be required to be productive when their primary responsibility has been taken care of?

[KrazyHorse]

There's a lot of give and take on the issue, UR

If I'm working at a factory and my normal job is to drill holes in parts as they come by, but the line stops and my supervisor tells me to sweep up then I'll do it. If he comes by and tells me to go clean the toilets then I'll probably tell him no, and he'll probably let me get away with it...