Woman allegedly fired for eating ice-cream on the job!
The woman, Agatha Myers, related to Virgin Islands News Online that her employment at a restaurant was unjustly terminated when a floor supervisor/manager reported that she was found eating ice-cream while on the job and had refused to be subjected when confronted. “She told me how the management system is set up I am not supposed to eat on the job so I said this is crazy.” The woman alleged that a report was made to higher management by the floor manager who allegedly claimed that she had responded to the floor manager saying “Who is....[name of floor manager]” and “And so?.”
The woman said that at the time she was eating ice-cream, which she had purchased from the ice-cream mobile caddy, and after being rebuked by a floor manger she had put it away in a cup.
According to the woman, some two months ago she was seen eating a corn on the outside of the restaurant. “And [same floor manager] told me I shouldn’t be eating the corn and I said this is crazy.” The woman further claimed, “You are not allowed to munch or drink anything. You are not allowed to have anything from the restaurant so what we does do is walk with our little water and so,” she said. She further alleged that there is no place for workers to sit and eat or have a break period.
Ms Myers alleged that on both occasions she had already set the tables for dinner when she decided to snack and were on all occasions rebuked for doing so. “I told her [floor manager] that this was slavery because I can’t see you can’t even eat nothing, I told her that this was slavery.”
“So you just have to stand up during the time, because I work in the evening.” She said that it was not until she went to file a complaint at the Labour Department on Tuesday March 26, 2013 that she learned that every employee is entitled by law to a break after five hours of work. “I thought that it was after eight hours so I stand up and eat the thing not knowing that I could take a break.”
It was also reported that recently three other persons who work at the restaurant in Cane Garden Bay were suspended for two weeks because they were found eating while on the job. According to one of those employees, she would be giving the management the required two weeks’ notice as she intends to resign from the entity.
The woman who filed the complaint to Labour Department claimed that on Monday March 26, 2013 management called her into a meeting and told her that her services were no longer required. She was allegedly not given a letter or an official document to that regard.
The woman claimed that she had worked with the Cane Garden Bay restaurant for over seven years, during which period herself and several other persons had cause to deal with several matters at the level of Labour Department. “But they never do anything because you would go and complain and nothing ever changed.”
The woman said that she took the matter to Labour because she wants her due payments. She said that she is not interested in returning to work with the company any longer as she would have had too much of hardship in dealing with the alleged unfair treatment.
She even alleged that on a number of occasions the female manager/owner would harass workers while in a drunken state by hurling unsavoury remarks at workers. “I telling this because I want people to know how we BVIslanders are treated by some of these employers, I tell you it is a situation that makes you feel that you are in slavery and that is not fair. We are human and not nobody slaves and I just can’t deal with that any longer.”
Company response to Allegations
Contacted by Virgin Islands News Online, one of the Mangers of the restaurant, Mrs Valerie Rymer, described the woman who filed the complaint as “aggressive”. She said the company has break periods and an area where employees are to eat during breaks as it was against the restaurant’s policy to be eating in the view of customers.
“They are many instances that we have given her warnings about it and she kept doing the same thing,” said the manager. She claimed that for the number of years that the woman had worked with the business she had accumulated approximately ten disciplinary letters in her file, coupled with a number of verbal warnings.
The manager said the complainant had accused her of being a slave master, a statement she said that made her very uncomfortable and that the woman had apologised during a meeting and promised she would adhere to the rules of the business. “We made it clear to her that if there was a recurrence (of eating on the job where she was not allowed to) that we would have to let her go and she did and so we had to let her go.”
According to the manager, the woman had in the past been very aggressive when disciplined and would behave in an inappropriate manner. “We have her signature to the company’s policy which she signed when she was hired and to say those things would be wrong because everything is clearly spelt out in the booklet.”
The restaurant manager said that they have been in business for over twenty years and are known for providing quality service to customers. She said that if contacted by the Labour Department the entity would be prepared to defend the case as they have a number of letters and other documents to prove their case.
Meanwhile, several other employees of the same restaurant have since come forward with claims of being unjustly treated. “We have absolutely no problem with the male owners it’s just this one woman harassing staff and making life difficult,” said another employee.
All the persons filing the complaints had similar stories to tell and also spoke of being denied overtime pay that are due them, being subject to statements that says the restaurant contributes a lot to the country, they are on work permits and so leaving the job leaves them no other option to work elsewhere, claims of being sent home for as much as a week unjustly and not being paid even following the interventions of Labour Department.
“[Floor manager’s name] is like a plague on her staff and so many others want to speak out but they are afraid to do so because they fear being victimised. That woman if you go there she is a lady in the day and drunken devil by night.”
Among the complaints were claims of being ill-treated in the presence of customers. “Recently this customer had to ask if that’s the boss because of how she was behaving and when I told him yes he was surprised and his words were that’s not good.” said another.
They claimed that some of them have already tendered their resignations after working at the restaurant for as long as sixteen years. “I was so surprised at the way the fired (name called). That very day I had walked with my resignation letter to give them but the whole atmosphere was so, I didn’t bother to give them it then but I have subsequently given it to them,” she said.
This matter, the workers said, must be addressed by the highest of authorities as it has been going on for much too long “and the labour laws of the country and rights of us as workers are being violated to the maximum.”
The Office of the Labour Commissioner, when contacted, said that it is against procedure to release information via the phone since they could not verify the identity of the caller. They advised that a visit to the office or emailed questions be sent to the Commissioner.
The main person who filed the complaint to this news agency provided the names of one Mr Devern Davis and a Mr Kenton Callwood as employees within the Labour Department who allegedly witnessed her making the complaints. While this news agency was unable to contact Davis via the number provided, Mr Callwood said that he was familiar with the complainant but he was not the authority to respond to disputes and as such could not answer our questions.
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44 Responses to “Woman allegedly fired for eating ice-cream on the job!”
That said there is no reason for a member of staff to be eating in front of customers.
Kar... and Sand... need to step up and take back their place instead of turning a blind eye and going planting or driving tourists around and leaving that miserable white woman to run what they built up for many years long before she ever stepped foot in the BVI. Since she gone there, she done run one of the owners sons from the business and all she employees is white people as the head of every area (gift shop, spa, restaurant, hotel, etc). It is very clear her intentions. All that is left now is for Sand... and Kar... to pass on this life and then whoa be on to man.
Also too many chiefs and not enough indians is always a problem anywhere
sand...man ..need to take over his place..u can't even treat illegal immigrants the way i see that white trash treat those employees;this young lady is sand of the soil and i think it is unfair the way she been treated..what employeer don't give employees a break after four hours..this white trash need to go back where she comes from..we as bvi islanders it is time for us to stand up and take over our country..young lady u are so right..don't be afraid to speak ur mind.. i bet a lot more of this situaton will be heard cause of ur braveness..
As a frequent visitor, I too have been stunned and amazed to see the lady on the floor, slurring her speech and at times having difficulty standing. She has an obvious alcohol problem and quite frankly, should leave the business until such time as she overcomes her problem. An alcoholic working in a bar is a recipe for disaster. Kar...and Sand... have always been gentlemen and have much to be proud of. Hopefully they will step in and correct the issue. It has been noticed "worldwide".
Treat the people good, honest and reliable workers are hard to find and the young ones them who now coming into work place, rude no hell. Rude Rude Rude, all them want is more money, they have done the work yet, and them want more money. Treat the people good man.
Dis ain nothing new going on at ........ts da woman is a beast.she bad talk all those restaurants down there
You is nothing but an @$# YOU GO IN AND WORK FOR THEM then come back and let us know how it was U STUPID FOUL they don't care about people only themself. Anyway those words don't fase me i still standing firm with the lady
Time longer than twine, every hallelujah has its amen, the time will come when v... will fall off her high chair and she and the managers and the establishment will soon get buried under the ground. RIP
I refuse to believe that you are not a part of the problem.
Don't worry, what goes around comes around. And as for that white trash, hmm..
From all of the complaints coming from that place, it should have been closed long ago. Don't expect the Labour Department to do anything to the niece of the owner of Guana Island.
That's a waste of time waiting for justice on that one!
with the owner, but, there is no reason to call her or anyone
white trash. that just makes you stupid. she has problems that
need to be addressed and maybe it is time for her to step down.
name calling is not the answer.
Hmm a lot of you come on vino talking blah blah don't know what its like to work in a restaurant with wicked managers an when they dismiss employee unfair labour don't do a thing when mrs may.... was there ayo talk how she love her belly like she not working her own money But these that ndp have there it couldn't be worst I feel personal they should be more justice in labour for employee as I see it cause most of us vi landers don't used permit we don't care much about the system we all are human an need to be treated as human but wait nxt election bye bye ndp welcome vip labour officers wicked see ndp taking out a lot of we sun of the soil from high places an using adaptors watch out do good an good shaLl follow remember your children n their children don't be selfish an live for u alone God never slomber nor sleep
at M's. there are places to eat and not in front of the
guests. I know there are problems with V but also there
are problems with staff also. some of the staff are great
and others need to be let go. there is a way to talk to your
staff and be nice. they will respect you more. it is about how
you talk to staff. i know that the other owners also have been
less than kind to their staff. that said you must know that all the
owners there have gone beyond the call of duty and in the past
have helped their staff with money and other help that not many
people know about. their hearts are in the right place. maybe they
just need a little sugar on their tongues. wish them all lots of luck.
PEACE N LOVE