GLORIA JEANS- wages and training

Question

Im 15 and today i passed some test thing at gloria jeans i was wondering how much we get paid a hr during training period and how long we train for. i think the owner is trying to rip me off...

Answer 1

Can't help you with the finance side of it, but if you are serious about getting involved in the coffee industry, I wouldn't recommend. Much like the fast food of coffee. Find a cafe somewhere local to you, try the coffee there, observe the Barissta, watch what he/she does. Offer yourself for free labour in exchange for training. If you don't feel that you are being trained enough for your time and effort, then move on to somewhere else.

Don't get me wrong here, GJ is a recognised course, however, there is so much more involved in Coffee. It takes time and a s... load of coffee making to get good at this industry. Not something that you can really say that you have done a course, passed it, and now you are a Barissta.

Not trying to end your dream with this, just saying that if you really want to learn about coffee, train somewhere that is not mass produced, with someone who is obviously passionate with what they do.

Answer 2

Hi! Gloria Jeans is a franchise. This means that each franchisee is an independent business person so you have to work out your greivance with your particular employer. The whole chain of coffee houses doesn't assist you in this case if something goes wrong.

Before you started the employer is supposed to have informed you of the terms and conditions of your employment. This is not a special favour. He or she is obliged to do this by law.

Do you have a written employment contract? It doesn't sound like it. If not then the employer is operating illegally in terms of your employment. You hours, pay per hour, your entitlement in terms of holiday pay, sick pay, number of hours training, if that training is to take place on the Gloria Jeans premises or at TAFE and other allowances and conditions are supposed to set out in this contract.

You need to approach your employer about these matters and ask him/her about having a written contract with your terms and conditions layed out in it. If your employer refuses to co-operate then I suggest that you get all the information you can from the following web sites. You may consider consulting a lawyer but they are very expensive and if you are not being paid, probably out of your reach and your crook employer knows it. This is where the union comes in or is supposed to come in on your be half.

This may give you some information

http://www.workplace.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres...

Your rights at Work

http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/fairnesst...

Fairness Test - of Employment Conditions

http://www.workplaceauthority.gov.au/gra...

If you live in South Australia you are lucky. The Unions provide you with the Young Workers Legal Service.

http://www.saunions.org.au/ywls/unions.h...

I think that even though you are not unionised in your workplace the union that best matches your workplace is the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union. While you are obviously not a member or you wouldn't be being treated the way you are, if you contacted this union they may be able to give you some guidance.

Your boss may offer to sack you if you do contact a Union. Don't be bluffed. This is illegal. He/she can't sack you for consulting a union. It's your entitlement as a worker to do so.



http://www.lhmu.org.au/01_cms/details.as...

I hope that this information goes some way to helping sort out your problems. I say once again - "Your boss is obliged to set out your terms and conditions in writing" You must be free to read the contract completely before signing it. He/she can't bully you into signing it before you have read it.

If you are sacked, you can say you have had some workplace experience in the hospitality/coffee parlour industry. There are always some ethical coffee houses looking for good quality employees like yourself. I saw some coffee shop operators in Bondi Sydney complaining that they couldn't get enough good employees for their coffee operations. If you live in or around Sydney you might be interested in making enquiries there. All the best for the future.

Good Luck!!!