Blog

I'm a salary based manager at the shop I run. We've been open since February of this year. I was informed a week ago that my salary is based on a 60 hour work week. I've been pulling about 98 since we've opened. The agreement I had with my immediate boss (the managing partner) was $1,800 a month after deductions. The partner who owns 51% of the business is paying me $1,536.30. I've obviously been shafted. At first, I was understanding about the whole deal because it IS a start-up and the owners have to see some profit for it to be worthwile for them not to prematurely shut down and cut their losses. But now I'm just pissed! First of all, they don't know the coffee industry. They are aware of the money making potential; but as to how they should go about making money from it - they are lost! The big boss (51%) is matching our prices with the gas stations' drip coffee prices. The managing partner doesn't want to introduce or sell what he personally doesn't like regardless of what I tell him or prove will sell. When they have conflicting ideas they don't work together to solve them. If it's not what the managing partner wants he will have nothing to do with the matter. That leaves me with the task of implementing policy and standard ( I don't mind that too much-it is my job). But when I do implement said procedure the managing partner changes things without informing me. We have a problem with foot traffic. The owners won't advertise and our location isn't as promising as they had pictured it. We have a loyal following of regulars but that isn't nearly enough. We make about $250 to about $400 a day. That's pathetic. I'm working with a skeleton crew (7 inclunding myself). We open everyday of the week (6am-midnight). At the end of every pay period someone accumulates over-time. My bosses hate that but refuse to hire more people. It's a no-brainer. If one of the baristas is sick or can't come in to work SOMEONE has to cover for him/her. Now they are making me enforce a new policy: THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE HOURS THAT ONE BARISTA COVERS FOR ANOTHER BARISTA! So if for instance, if the reliever is late by say 30min the barista on shift will not be paid the extra 30min. THE LAST TIME I CHECKED THAT SHIT WAS ILLEGAL! If I complain to the Department of Labor I'll lose my job. I have a family to provide for. At the same time I don't want to represent a company that operates in this manner. I feel badly for my staff. I feel worse for me for putting myself in this situation. If anyone reads this sympathy is welcome but not wanted. I have to either find a way to make this work better or walk out on my job and my staff and let them fend for themselves. HORRIBLE!