MIL works in retail and along with her co-workers is tired of closing the store late at night and having to walk out to the car long after the store security guard has gone. These employees are afraid for their safety and hope to get the company to re-consider the closing time for the store.
I’ve been handed lovely formal letter in Spanish that describes their concerns, and have been asked to translate it into English. I can do that, but it will be a literal translation, rather than an appropriate interpretation that renders the text into the right style to get the idea across to management.
These ladies don’t have any money to pay a lawyer with, and haven’t a clue as to whether or not they need one, or if they have any rights in the workplace. I’m just the token gringa daughter-in-law - quite possibly the only gringa any of them is related to. The workplace is a national chain but by no means a luxury one. The few who are full time are making about $10/hr.
Don’t get a lawyer at this point. Do your best to translate the letter. Work with them on it to make is clear as possible to their wishes. Have them approach the manager with their concerns. I am sure the manager will be receptive. Could be just having security hang around longer, better parking spots, or hours change, etc.
What they really want is for the store to close earlier. I’m happy to translate the letter, but I don’t know if there is some special business style I should be using for this kind of thing. It is completely out of my wheelhouse as they say.
This is not a legal complaint yet, right? Just a letter to the owner to open up a dialog about store hours. Your translation should be an accurate translation of the content of the letter (taking into consideration the style, too). The writers should send the original letter, its translation, and a statement from the person providing the translation that, to the best of their knowledge, the translation is accurate. Kind of like this: https://oia.osu.edu/pdf/certificationbytranslator.pdf
No need to notarize or go to an official translator at this point.
If the workers want earlier closing times, they need to look into how this could be advantageous for both parties. Are there many customers that come right before closing? How much do they sell in the last 1/2 hour of a typical day? The owners would be less willing to close early if it would cut into their profits.
Good question. I’ll ask her about that too, although there is a reasonable chance that they may be covering for a manager who they like who tends to cut out early.
Stand alone in semi-strip-mall environment. Last store open there in the evenings, and the contracted security person leaves when the store closes which is about an hour before the workers can leave. They have to finish straightening everything and re-stocking first.
I always advocate for face to face negotiations with management as a first step. In this case, there may be concern over a language issue. Is there a local community advocacy group that would have legal knowledge that could go with them? The National Labor Relations Board will also represent and advocate for employees. I favor a friendlier, less threatening first step, but with someone knowledgeable.
@happymomof1 I would stay away from from any “activist” negotiator including the NLRB. Management will get defensive and stubborn. This isn’t a legal issue. This is an employee concern that if approached the right way, more likely than not, management will do their best to accommodate. I simple “hey boss I am scared to lock up alone at night” should get the ball rolling. Then you work from there.
@yourmomma - Thanks. None of these people can afford to lose a job or have their hours cut back. They relly just want the store to close earlier so they can feel safer when they lock up.
More likely then not, the local manager will work with him. Don’t know how it is in Miami, but here in Chicago metro if you can’t find a job you don’t have any ability whatsoever. There is “now hiring” at every business. Hopefully they realize its easier to keep them, than to find new ones.
Perhaps the employees can suggest coming in earlier to straighten and restock, so they can leave when the store closes and the security guard is still on duty.
Presenting how much store traffic happens during that last hour of work and how much revenue is generated.
They need to look at this over a period of time
What they may find out if the store is not doing enough business for them to be open an extra hour, the store may close earlie. They should also consider that closing the store earlier could result in them potentially losing $50/ week (provided they are working 5 days a week)