Everything is not so OK at the OK

bA very good friend of mine worked as a cashier at the OK Minimarket Hartswater Northern Cape. She worked there for close onto 6 months and got to the stage, where she could not take the abuse and ********* way in which management of OK Minimarket Hartswater treated their employees,and resigned. Here are the reason for her resignation. Keep in mind that employment in this small town is very limited (unfortunately some employers use this to the disadvantage of employees). 1. Their shifts were never less than 8 hours and sometime as long as 13+ hours – the ergonomics of their workstation was such that they had to stand behind their till for the entire shift – they could not operate their tills if they sat down. 2. As they worked on a rotational shift basis they were only paid 1.5x their normal rate for Sunday hours worked, they were paid normal pay for Saturdays worked. 3. They were given “Rest days/Days off”) in lieu of week-end worked but she were told at her initial interview that should their “days off” coincide with SASSA payout days – they have to work and they were not paid over time for these days worked. 4. To explain the last jackpot reason for her resignation I have to explain their cashing up procedure- 4.1 They counted their money in their cash drawer and took their float of R700 out of the total. They then placed the “sales money” in a sealed container. (This is the last time the cash or the sales total is seen by the cashiers) they are then informed some days after the fact of till shortages and told it is according to the “system”! The cashiers have no idea how much their Till shortages are for a shift unless they are told some days after the fact by management or see the total on their payslips. {not once was any till “overs” shown on my friend's payslip.} My friend once asked the manager if they can please explain these shortages and his answer was “ you should know we do not know!”. 5. The shortages deducted off her earnings in some months were thousand of rand. One of the cashiers told my friend that one month she only got paid R8 , after the till deductions!!! In fact when my friend resigned her payslip earnings were R6 578.83. her deductions were R65.79 (UIF) and R6 513.04 (till shortages).

6. Herewith her “Till Shortages “ deducted off her earnings: Oct 23 R2000.00 Nov 23 R990.00 Dec 23 R1300.00 Jan 24 R1500.00 and of course R6 513.04 for Feb 24 Total “Till Shortages” for period of employment = R13 303.04 7. I know anybody that reads this would by now ask themselves “ Why did she not report the management to the CCMA or labour court? The answer is easy - she has been intimidated by the manager and it was done in writing! He scribbled on her letter of resignation {translated from Afrikaans}: “Just keep in mind that according to the legal set-up I could make a theft case out of each of your till shortages” . I do however believe this was not the only threat that came from him as she is scared stiff to take action. She keeps on saying “Keep in mind work is scarce in this town – he can make my life hell!” The above mentioned deductions was ******* as per section 34(1) of the BCOE act. As there was never a contract signed by my friend while she was employed by OK Minimarket Hartswater nor did she sign any document or give any verbal permission to have any deductions made from her earning excluding of course UIF and other legal deductions. This matter was discussed by me with a representative from the OK Regional Head Office in Bloemfontein. The representative came to Hartswater and said he spent a day here investigating the issue. He did not interview my friend or any of of the cashiers. He only spoke to the Manager and accepted all his lies , he never spoke to me. He kept on saying I should have a meeting with the manager --------I DO NOT WORK FOR OK (thank God for that). I also understand that the manager of OK Minimarket is not interested in speaking to me and has apparently said that should I make any trouble for him or OK Minimarket Hartswater he will take me to the cleaners in court! IF THIS IS THE WAY THAT MANAGEMENT OF OK TREAT THEIR STAFF I FOR ONE AM NOT INTERESTED IN SPENDING MY MONEY THERE. Oh I nearly forgot , my friend also felt she did not want to be part of the ******* actions that are taken should black youngster be caught shoplifting. In some cases adults are made to pay double for whatever they “took” and all is forgiven! IF THIS IS THE WAY THAT MANAGEMENT OF OK TREAT THEIR STAFF I FOR ONE AM NOT INTERESTED IN SPENDING MY MONEY THERE.