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I Need Advice

So this is a "what would you do in this case" kind of situation. It's a little complicated and long winded but really wanted some opinions...

Hubby is night manager and shift fill-in for a hotel. While it's run by a husband and wife it's a corporate controlled chain. The husband is a decent boss but is busy managing several hotels in the chain including this one so leaves his wife in the majority of power for the day to day decisions and running of this particular location...

This position does not have an on-call clause in the employee handbook or paperwork or anything saying that an employee has to be within contact 24/7 nor has it ever been an expectation.

He worked a double shift without time for sleep on saturday night then came home for two hour rest before we were going to leave for easter services at church. His bosswife called twice and he declined them as he was trying to get a two hour nap in between almost 19 hours of constant work. My hubby works every night, usually double shifts to cover the day manager's position until it's filled, except for bigger church holiday. any emergencies needing an employee is handled through the bosshusband, not the bosswife, so he knew she was just calling to complain about something stupid and unimportant.

It's a habit she has and has called him within minutes of clocking out to yell at him because someone complained about the coffee being too hot during the breakfast or someone's card got declined and insisted hubby run it about 8 times before paying in cash and now is demanding a free night's stay because it took too long to be declined. Literal yelling, loud enough I can hear what she's saying from across the room without speaker on. So he wasn't about to answer the phone to hear that this morning. She then tried calling my phone 7 times in about 30 minutes. She sent me a really nasty text telling me that I need to get hubby on the phone or she's going to show up at our home and talk to him in person. I replied sorry but he's sleeping and I can't wake him for we're going to be off to church in a little while and he needs rest and that he'll call her back in a couple of hours or so. She saw the message but didn't reply so no huge deal,right?

Hubby called her back as the car is warming up and she starts yelling at him because she expects him to answer his phone whenever she calls and she's switched his night shift for a day shift and he needs to come in as soon as possible. He apologized and said he couldn't. It's easter and part of his employment contract gives a full 24 hours for easter and Christmas unless he agrees to give up that time, and he hadn't heard anything asking him for a shift change. Bosswife then said that she's not asking him to come in, she's TELLING him to come in and if church is more important that his work then he needs to make decisions about his life. He asks if she's giving him an ultimatum and if he can't work there because he's going to church per a signed employee contract? She says be here and expect to work your usual hours until monday morning or you'll see what happens.

So......

Hubby isn't about to skip church for work let alone easter services. I'm not about to call or expect him to call corporate or bosshusband on a weekend, especially not sunday, even if they're hindu cause...come on, easter. Everyone should get a rest on easter even if they don't believe. We both know that while her wording may have just been bad choice, bosswife was stupid to switch over his shifts without asking which is HUGELY against company policy AND his contract. And to bring church up in the whole thing even if just in temper is a whole different sack of hammers, and she's lucky he's not the suing type.

So now the crossroads: He's wondering if he should look for another job while at the hotel and give his two weeks notice when he finds something solid and secure? Or should he just show up to work monday and do his usual schedule and see what happens? It's very decent money even with all the double shifts but it feels like bosswife is honestly overstepping her bounds. Bosses don't have to be sweet and kind but to make threats?

Of course it's his decision. I've already told him what he decides is what he decides. We can always cut our expenses and not worry about rent and basics if he gets fired. I'd rather have a happy and healthy hubby than money any day. But he hasn't decided yet.

What would you guys do?
CountScrofula · 41-45, M
Oh wow. Okay.

I'm a union exec who deals in grievances. I'll give you the steps to solving this which don't involve quitting. They may not work in your situation, but they can help.

1. Write down everything she has done with a date. Use phone logs to figure out the times. Keep all evidence.

2. Reference his contract and policy and count the number of violations. Write this all down as well.

3. Contact the bosshusband, and explain the situation nicely - ask it like a question. "I think this is against contract, the shift switching." He is fishing to see if the bosshusband will apologize, or if he will back the bosswife. If he apologizes, push and explain the abusive phone calls and how they have to stop. If he backs the wife, you're done here. Next step.

4. Start looking for a new job. See if the company has HR for policy violations, and if you want, get a free lawyer consultation. Your husband's contract and legal rights were violated and he may be able to leave the job with a settlement. Even a scary legal letter can make a lot of things happen.
@CountScrofula Thanks for this. I'll make sure he see the post.
CountScrofula · 41-45, M
@EllaDisenchanted No problem. My serious read on this is he should be looking for a new job anyways. He can't change his boss' personality and she sounds like a psychopath. But he may be able to get her to knock it off a little, and maybe there's money in the contract violation. Hard to tell. Employment law varies wildly state by state, and I'm Canadian!
Normanwestie · 61-69, M
First thing to do is write a diary of everything you feel is wrong including dates & times, any relevant details like verbal abuse etc. Confront the husband & clarify the whole work contract & also seek legal advice to find exactly where you stand. At the same time keep you eyes open for another job but stay where he is as he might have a case for "constructive dismissal" & be entitled to compensation.
UserNameSW · 46-50, M
Make an appointment with corporate. See what comes out if his next shift.
If things go well, skip the meeting with corporate. ..if not the appointment can be a place to explain everything.


In the meantime start documenting everything.
@UserNameSW Leaning more towards that. And he uses this voice recording app that documents calls so he has ALL of her calls since he started working there. And I'm archiving my texts.
bhatjc · 46-50, M
He needs to call corporate HQ,and ask for HR. Most hotel chains. Have reporting numbers to call. And also get a lawyer as well to. That is not right. Staffers can not work that many shifts. It's a safety issues as well.
Corporate needs to be informed of this. This is a hostile work environment.
@EllaDisenchanted Now that it has been a few days. I'm curious, did corporate care about this?
@nonsensiclesnail Nope. They told him to file a complaint with the state labor board. And bosswife is acting like nothing happened and being all nice and normal. He did talk with bosshubby and he apologized and siad whatever my hubby decides he understands.
@EllaDisenchanted I think your hubby needs to talk to a lawyer.
Stress from anything makes a person sick and diseased over time. You have each other's back...relieve the stress and find another job. Money can always be replaced. Your health IS your wealth!
@EllaDisenchanted good night....do what's right for the both of you! Stress kills. Slowly.
@EllaDisenchanted you're welcome.
Pill63 · 56-60, M
Look for another job..

 
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