I resigned from my jon on principle

[peterAustralia]

In September of 2009 I resigned from my job at a 5 star hotel in Melbourne, without another job to go to on principle. I am proud of it, have no regrets, and am doing much better now.

Some context.

Housekeeping, or cleaning, is often done by a subtracted company. It was in this case. Thus I was employed by the cleaning company, but happened to work in the hotel. My job was afternoon houseman/cleaner. It was a difficult job and very demanding.

I had to respond to guests requests for things like cots, pillows etc. When guests wanted their rooms cleaned of an evening I would do it.

I did a very good job and had actually worked for the company twice before. I resigned both times because I was pretty sick of that sort of job. Now the afternoon shift is 5 hours a day, so I worked 25 hours a week at the Australian minimum full time wage of $13.80 an hour, approx $12 US an hour. On top of this I get sick leave and holiday pay.

My new job I now earn $23 an hour but am a contractor. At 40 hours a week, I take home almost double what I did in my previous job.


Why I quit

The other staff that cleaned rooms were allotted a set number of rooms per day to clean. The usual thing is that for 5 hours they had to clean 9 rooms in the 5 star hotel. If they did not finish their 9 rooms in 5 hours they had to stay back until they were done and not get paid for it. People would usually work 1 or 2 or sometimes 3 or even 4 hours extra to get their rooms done.

It is not easy to clean a room in a 5 star hotel. Everything has to be perfect. Rooms have to be cleaned to a very high standard. When I did it (after years of practice) I could never get it done in the time set. Which i why I cleaned public areas and not rooms

I had an argument with the hotel manager about this practice. with no resutl.

I had a talk with some higher ups in the housekeeping company where I was told that the practice did not exist (and yet I had heard it directly from supervisors and the executive housekeeper)

To get staff being treated in this way to stand up for their rights was difficult

The union was not interested (staff were not union members)

The authorities said the pracitce was illegal but I cannot complain on behalf of anyone else.

I resigned with no regrets, and am now doing much better.

Moral of the story, trust your morals, but find an alternative job first

[BrianW]

Congrats on your protest.

It takes a strong person to quit a job.

[peterAustralia]

hi

a little more background info

I wont name the company. think that is the right thing to do.

Some people could not understand why I would resign, when I was not being directly affected by the policy. I was paid by the hour. In my mind it has to do with standing up for your mates. I feel it is an inbuilt Australian characteristic of giving a fair go to everyone. I think that characteristic is dying.

Most of the people working in housekeeping are of Indian origin, I am of Australian origin (white if you like). They are scared to lose their jobs. The people working in the hotel have a legal right to work here. (not illegal workers)

The trouble is that companies that pay their housekeeping staff the award wage (minimum wage) such as the Westin, are penalized for doing the right thing, as their competitors can charge lower costs through paying reduced wages.

The main thrust of the HS company was to make and cut costs. Originally there was talk of bringing the hotel up to a higher standard, but they reduced shift hours. You would be suprised just how fine costs are cut even in a big, expensive 5 star hotel. In this hotel staff toilets were cleaned once a day, and then not very well. In some other hotels there was time to have them cleaned 3 times a day. The rear areas were grotty, because the staff were always so busy.

The housekeeping company is owned by one old person who I assume is very very rich. But he gets rich on the backs of paying his staff below the minimum wage.

It is a different psychology working in this hotel. You are a mere cog in a system, whose aim is to make money.

Next time you stay in a hotel, ask the housekeeping staff how they get paid, by the room or by the hour. If they get paid by the room, make a written complaint to the hotel and tell them you will never stay at their chain again. Also say that if the cleaner is sacked for speaking to you , you will go to the papers and tell everyone and anyone.

Only in this way can this awful practice be eliminated.

Paying cleaners minimum wage, would mean your 150 dollar a night room, may cost $151

[downthecreek]

Congrats on your protest.

It takes a strong person to quit a job.

I've had some good jobs with decent organisations before setting up my own business nearly 20 years ago. But I've also quit two on grounds of principle. Like Peter, I never regretted it.

Of course, not being shackled to a job by the health insurance gives those of us with socialized medicine a lot more freedom than has been the case in the US. Maybe that's on the change.

[PeterSibley]

I've had some good jobs with decent organisations before setting up my own business nearly 20 years ago. But I've also quit two on grounds of principle. Like Peter, I never regretted it.

Of course, not being shackled to a job by the health insurance gives those of us with socialized medicine a lot more freedom than has been the case in the US. Maybe that's on the change.

Oh cruel ! I'm sure the freedom loving will object to moral choices being made easier .

I quite once for "ethical" reasons ,the bloke replacing me performed the unnecesary duty immediately as required by management .

It was still the right choice .

[teapea]

Good on ya PeterAustralia,
all the best from Jeff.

[Phillip Allen]

I like your point creek...but I don't know where the answer is hidden

[George Ray]

Thanks for sharing a tale of 'values & principles'.

[Chris Coose]

Hotel work is and has always been cruel.
Managing companies, these days, treat their dish rags better in most cases.
I made a horrible mistake to be lured back in some years ago and I endured for a year when I knew better to get out in 2 weeks.
I mistakenly thought loyalty had value in the corporate picture.

Creek offers a very important picture.
What could happen in America to it's incredibly productive work force if the individuals were no locked in by the company supplied health insurance?
It looks like we are going opposite right now and there is nothing liberating in that senario.

[downthecreek]

Creek offers a very important picture.
What could happen in America to it's incredibly productive work force if the individuals were no locked in by the company supplied health insurance?

Certainly.

Peter has taken a bold step - good for him and good luck to him. I know from my own experience how exhilarating and liberating that can be.

The great thing is that he can take it (as I could) without having to consider irrelevant issues like health care when pondering employment options.

The employment/health insurance tie has caused some huge problems within my own family in America, including some very damaging restrictions on individual freedom.

[James McMullen]

I applaud you, Peter. Good people need to stand up and be counted.

[Ian McColgin]

I have more applause for the efforts before resigning as those are the efforts that really might have helped the others. Maybe I'm projecting having been twice in the position of leaving on principle, but I at least was unimportant enough that having fought the fight as best I could, I was left with only two forms of defeat, collaboration or resignation. Only the latter had any shred of honor.

It was not the resignation, but the fight before that counted. There is no shame in the honorable defeat on one field so long as one is prepared to soldier on somewhere else.

Congratualtions, Peter and Chris.

[htom]

Well done. It's sometimes hard to do, and it seems that the harder it is, the more necessary, for both you and those you leave behind.

[TomF]

I've left a job for ethical reasons too; it's tough, but worthwhile. You do have to be able to look yourself in the eye ni the morning, after all.

Well done. And as Ian said, often what you do before you leave is more important than the fact of leaving ... even when you feel you've no choice.

[Emma56]

Sounds like we may be brothers in any event just know that someone up here is thinking about you and loves you and your hart Charlie

[Henning 4148]

The same practice on room cleaning became public in Germany in I think 2008. Ruffled a few feathers then, got some well known hotels some bad press, but I can't say what the status today is.