Domino's Pizza ripoff treat employees like slaves Wichita Kansas

I have worked for gumbys pizza, dominos, pizza hut, Papa Johns and a few small pizza joints and believe me its how it goes. Everywhere i have worked its always like 5-8R or some put 5pm-R which is rush. Good managers usually know how to schedule and can usually get you off around the time your scheduled. 

I currently drive for Domino's, and it can be a very nerve-wracking experience. The business is customer driven, meaning you just never know how the day is going to go.

As far as an abusive manager is concerned, that's very unfortunate but hardly unique to Domino's. Ridiculously stupid people can pop up anywhere.

It is impossible to have a set schedule at Domino's or any other pizzeria that delivers. Just last week, we had a customer call in an order for delivery at 9:57pm (we close at TEN), but we delivered the goods anyway.

It's not an easy job, never will be, and not for the faint-at-heart.

I worked there as a driver (in Tyler, Texas) until I found out that the district manager was a
creep: religious bigot, age discriminator and sexual harasser (the only women who worked for 
this Jesus freak who lasted any length of time were either unattractive to him or had
boyfriends or husbands he was afraid of). You walk on eggshells around him, you live
or die there by his whim, and he'll find some underhanded way to get rid of you if he wants.
You'll leave with practically no money and a damaged work record.

First I agree that this manager sounds like a total a*s. He probably should have been more considerate.

BUT legally speaking, it doesn't sound as if your daughter was unlawfully terminated. There is no discrimination clause for parents. Employers can terminate you over child care issues. Even if she told the manager the money was in the lock box, it sounds as if the manager did not have access to it as your daughter had to come back in and open it. Since she left work before the end of her shift, and left the money where they could not access it, I don't blame the manager for getting the police involved. As far as he knew your daughter just claimed the money was in the box and took off.

As for her being terminated, she left before the end of her shift. That's the reason she was terminated. It doesn't matter that she has a small child or another job, employers are not required to take that in to account when making these decisions.

It sucks, and I wish you luck with your civil suit. Please let us know if it goes anywhere.

It is not unusual for Dominos employees to be scheduled for a time in and then no reference to when they will be off. Even worse, some of the new software forces the managers to put a time that the employee will be off, but it has nothing to do with when that person will leave. It is not unusual for the employee to be told not to punch in when they get there but have to wait until the manager needs them to sign in and get paid.

This kind of thing seems to be rather common in the U.S. As a Canadian citizen, there is something called the Employment Standards Act, and the U.S. workers should have some manner of version of this in their jurisdictions.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS AS A WORKER.

Your employer, especially in high turnover industries such as janitorial, fast food, etc. will do their best to downplay your rights in favour of high volume: the more product that goes out the door, the better for them.

If you're a delivery worker or driver of any stripe, see if there are laws regarding how many hours you are able to work before you *must* end a shift. Regulation here caps total work time at 12 hours. An employee is also entitled to what are known as "reasonable hours of work", which means that an employee should have a reasonable expectation of when a shift begins AND ENDS. A start time and end time for a shift is to be posted, and if there is a conflict and one works for a reasonable manager, the conflict should be able to be resolved via communication and a manner of bartering between the two parties.

Naturally, not every manager (or employee for that matter) is going to be reasonable, and this is the point where you have to decide that food delivery is not for you and move on with grace and dignity. I've worked food delivery, non-emergency ambulance transport and taxi service for *years*, and have never been exposed to unreasonable hours of work thanks, in great part, to the laws protecting my well-being and safety. All transport workers would be well advised to check their local laws regarding their rights in the workplace as pertains to hours of work and working conditions. YMMV.

Some regulations are quite surprising. For example it escaped my attention for years that if a place like Domino's provides you with a uniform, but no laundry service, they are required, BY LAW, to provide the employee with a laundry allowance. this is something that a LOT of people miss, and when you're doing delivery and you depend on those tips in addition to your base wage, it can make a lot of difference, even if it's just a token amount towards the cost.

Again, know your rights and don't be afraid to exercise them. Encourage your co-workers to do the same. If enough people stand up, the corporates may even begin to get the message that they're running out of people to push around and have to treat people, especially the good ones with a work ethic, with some more respect, appreciation and dignity. When they do this, they may even find that those good people are willing to help out when needed and their backs are against the wall.

Ok, I've done pizza delivery for four years and like 6 different restaurants. Pretty much every single one did not have a set time of when the shift ends. It's like a serving job, where the company really has no idea how long they need you until the time comes. So if you can't handle not knowing the exact time you will be off work, then DON'T WORK PIZZA DELIVERY!!!

Dear Wichita;
I live in Canada, and am a manager of a Domino's Pizza. I'm also a parent with three young boys. I completly understand your past dilemma. Please don't take one small-minded indivdual's behaviour as an indication of how the rest of us conduct business. There have been times when I have been stuck at work, and it seems as though all the employees are only interested in leaving early. The thing to remember is that treatment like you had received can and will be found everywhere you go, but not by the employers who value the people working for them. Good help is difficult to find. In your case it seems as though you are "good help." Had you worked in my store, there never would have been a problem. Small-minded people like your ex-boss put a real strain on the rest of us, and hurt our chances of attracting quality staff. Best of luck to you, and don't let people like that get you down. Doubtless you will, or have already, find something better. This Don guy has only succeded in showing what a pitiful person he truly is.

Davannis, Dominos, papa johns and pizza hut. Stop working for them they are all n**i like control freaks who flock to these places. for example at papa johns, about 5-6 years ago, I was working overtime late night with me and an assistant who was a nice guy. We both missed an order and I had an extra $28.00, my manager calls me and wants me to work on a day off, i go in and he has a pink slip waiting for theft, which was unintentional.

I later talk to a cook and a few drivers who say they threatened to quit on him for doing this to me because everyone knew I am not a thief and never have been. It was a simple mistake I returned the money 2 days later when I could get over there.

Then go search dominos and read the complaint from minnesota. Davannis is good food, but the place is unfortunately run by females, now I like the ladies, but these were irrational liars and opportunists. My vehicle which Im now being litigated for a repo on, the engine failed at astoplight upon acceleration, an hour early to work. i called from the road and told them it would be a week before I could return to work, the assistant said ok so I thought it was.

2 days later my manager laura said in a snide tone that I had to work or I'd be fired, well how could i work if I have no car DUH! I thought this unfair when college students go away for long periods and retain their jobs. But nope, not me a guy who did just fine and the complaints against me were started by elements which if i go into, i'll end up slandering them which would be lovely but Ill refrain.

In conclusion pizza places are not an enjoyable place to work, there is not much civility and mostly criminals or x-criminals work for many of the stores. And yes they are blatent slave drivers.

Just to add, I returned from a delivery when a van of high school girls with a camera doing an alledged video on pizza, asked me to pose for them, i had no choice really as the camera was rolling already, so I dipped and smiled questioningly. They then said this "did you know that dominos in latin means to dominate?" And I eluded to knowledge of this already and let them leave.

Most corporations do NOT have human rights in mind and if laws didnt exist this would be n**i germany, which many here are trying to bring about through this system and its weaknesses. Please beware.

Paul,

Based on the attitude of your response, I'm afraid I've got some bad news for you. If you do ever get your own store, it will not do very well if you treat your employees the way you think things should be.

Having run several fast food joints in my career (thank god I don't do that anymore!) I had always treated my employees fairly and with respect (if it was deserved). That's one reason why I always had successful stores wherever I worked.

One of the biggest problems nowadays, especially in this type of business, is that managers (and corporate) are more concerned with food cost, labor, waste, etc. than they are with the welfare of their employees. I was always an advocate of the notion that if you take care of your employees, they will take care of you.

Granted, there are employees that are nothing but a headache. One of the main reasons I don't work in the industry anymore is that I got tired of babysitting 17-year olds with no work ethic. But there are also an equal number of employees who are hard working and take pride in their job. The key is to find them and retain them. Not always an easy task.

Regarding the schedule, the shift end time should never be left open. All employees should be scheduled with a start and end time. Employees should never be required to stay longer unless they are willing to do so.

Please be sure and let us know when you do get your own store, so we can avoid it like the plague.

Learn how to read, dingbat!

Ok, dude. Did you read the report??? She didn't throw (not through) a fit and leave, she told them! And just what planet do you live on that day care providers have to take care of a child past their day care hours? You obviously don't have children, or you would know it is considered abandonment to leave a child at day care past the business hours. You can lose your child to the state and be imprisoned.

If you like being a little brown-nose goody two shoes, more power to you. Rose colored glasses make it all better, huh? Employers won't get loyal employees by treating them like this. Oh, by the way, the manager who called the police was a power freak and is being sued by another manager. Domino's apologized for treating the driver badly and calling the police on her. The errant manager was sent to another store and the driver was given her job back. Oh, and Pizza Hut sucks. Lots.

Dear Ex-Dominos Employee mother and future delivery drivers for any pizza company,

I have delivered pizzas for pizza hut, papa johns, and dominos pizza. I've been with Dominos Pizza for almost 3 years. I'm currently an Assistant Manager eager to get my own store and working very hard.

Managers usually do put down schedules for drivers like 5 to 8pm or 5-10pm, but realistically its called "labor costs". If there are no pizzas to be delivered and its a really slow day the manager will send you how 1, 2, 3 hours earlier then scheduled. If it is very busy with a large pizza rush you might have to stay longer then what was on the schedule. Most say 5 to R meaning "rush". When you become an employee for any company expecially delivery companies you sign an agreement stating if you are asked to stay longer or needed if a person does not come in you will work more.

In the womans circumstances have a child in day care the manager should of let her go home and kept someone else. That is true, but she also should of new she might had to stay later if the manager needed her. If the person was in day care they would of took care of the child until she was able to pick him up.

As for calling the cops, it quite possible she through a fit and took off without telling the manager the money was in the dropbox. Many employees can not deal with the stress or responsibility. I'm not saying she can't or she through a fit, but it's possible.

Driving can be great. I think anywhere you work for minimum wage you are like a slave. Having a job is being a slave. so stop complaining about it and start saving your money, investing to make your money grow, or buy your own business. At least that is what I'm working on.

Another thing. There isn't anything wrong with kissing some a*s and really working hard and helping out. Being better and doing more then others. It just might get you a raise and show leadership on your part.

I also wanted to say something about Pizza Hut because I see a lot of bad stuff about it. They are good people and a great company. You will find awful managers and people sometimes. It's not the company its the people there and soon the BIG company will find out and fire them and take their business away.