Hmmmm... off with her head?

[catnapper]

Thanks for the honest answers so far.

To clarify: we set our own schedules. Its my favorite part - the freedom to plan around events in your life, for instance, I will be having exploratory surgery sometime soon (I find out tomorrow which friday the surgery will be) so I have not scheduled any friday night classes til October.

Any class that is on the schdeule is put there by the other trainer or me.. we do not schedule classes for the other trainer. We only do our own. The managers do not get involved in class schedules unless they happen to look at the schedule and see obvious goofs like no puppy classes starting for 4 weeks in a row, but then they'd ask me to put up a puppy class on the calendar. Then I'd decide when I can squeeze in a puppy class. We both knew today was the first day of this class. One of us seriously screwed up and forgot to show up.

My son has some back to school shopping tomorrow so I'l drop him off at Walmart and run into work to do some paperwork and find out how bad this is. It should be an interesting meeting.

[Daisy and Delilah]

From a personal standpoint; I am scheduled to work every Sunday. If I didn't show up to work, I would leave a gap in on duty staff. It's my responsibility to know when I work, get ready for work, and be there on time.

I see a major problem if a trainer left a group of angry people waiting. I don't think the person should be fired, just for this incident, but a strong reprimand/punishment is in order.

This type of business practice is bad for everyone concerned. It sheds a bad light on the store in many ways. I would be hard pressed to go back for a re-schedule if I had stood there with my dog, waiting for training that never took place. Furthermore, my disdain may keep me from shopping there in the future

[moosmom]

One of us decided to start classes on Sunday and see what type of reaction might come.

My first thought was, "WHO decided to start the Sunday classes?" I always try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I can't wait to see what the reason behind the other trainer not showing was. I would think regardless of what kind of problem she had, she would've called. Now, if it were a problem getting to a phone, fine. But to not call or show up sucks.

I work in retail and we are constantly having the younger, irresponsible employees not show up or call. That puts a huge strain on the rest of us who have to carry the load.

Please keep us posted as to what happened.

[zippy-kat]

I can't understand how someone (especially someone who created the class) would "just forget" about a shift or schedule change.

Now, if there was an emergency or illness that'd be another story but it seems that the person just plain forgot.

Word of mouth spreads quickly and you can bet that these customers won't have very good things to say (which, unfortunately, will also reflect upon the company and the other trainer's abilities). I think damage control (personal apologies from the trainer AND store manager) is in order and it also might be nice if the company would throw in a coupon for ______ (x-amount off a purchase, free grooming session, whatever).

As for disciplinary action... I'm undecided. My first instinct is that, no matter how likeable, the person is dispensible; they've cost the company money and there's another to take over the classes until someone else can be hired/trained. But, past track record needs to be taken into account. So perhaps a demotion is in order. (Once word is out, will others sign up to take classes from this person?)

It's a yucky situation for all involved.

[catnapper]

Thanks so much guys!

Ok, I am NOT the bad trainer. I was out with my mom when I got a call on my cell phone by a very confused manager wondering why there were dogs and no trainer. He had no clue who was supposed to be there, and called me first since I'm lead trainer (I turned out to be a natural! Miss Nicki trained me well )

Donna knew part of the situation - I've spoken to her about this other trainer a few times... so she knew I wasn't the one who didn't show up.

Here goes: New trainer transfered from another state 3 weeks ago. I don't like her. At all. I have been stabbed in the back by her a few times already... right after she sweetly told me one thing, she did another which cost me nearly $100 in comissions (money I DO NOT have to lose right now! ). I won't really go into much about what she's done to me and the other employees, except that I don't trust her. She kisses manager butt and puts on a good old southern girl act real good for the managers, while she treats all the sales associates like idiots.

This not only was to be her first sunday afternoon class, but her first EVER class in this store. NOT GOOD! And all along she's been running around my store telling everyone THEY were doing things wrong, they didn't have a teamwork philosophy, they weren't approaching customers properly, etc. And SHE went and did this today. Oopsie?

I can't imagine not showing up for the first class, let alone my first ever class in a new store! I just wanted everyone's take on it before I went to work tomorrow to find out the manager's opinions. I am not sure how I'll talk about it tomorrow but I HAVE to. I told my manager two weeks ago that she royally screwed up the schedule and that something bad would happen.... I never expected this to be what happened! I thought she just OVER scheduled too many classes, I never ever dreamed that she scheduled in a manner that left her clueless as to what she scheduled.

PS: This is really the first sunday class in months. I took over some of the midweek classes when the other trainer left but refused to do sundays -- gotta have SOME time to myself and my family.

[Daisy and Delilah]

Kim, not for one minute did I think it was you that did this. You're too responsible to let this happen. At my job, we have someone just like this. It will be interesting to see how she squirms out of this one. I really doubt that she will, however. Most likely, she'll try to bring others down with her. With all the problems she's already caused, she probably won't be there much longer. It always seems to work out that way. Keep us posted and I hope she's out of your life soon.

[Cincy'sMom]

If this is the trainer's first offense, and has an otherwise good employment record, I do not believe they should be fired, as long as they handle the situation properly.

First, take responsibility for the screw-up. Don't make excuses for why it happened, accept that it did and do whatever can be done to fix it.
Second, go out of your way to make up for it. For example, if the store says you need to write an apology to each person in the class, take it further. Call each person individually, apoloigize and try to offer what you can to make it up to them. Then follow up witha note...a hand written note, not a form letter.

It is a big screw-up, but we are all human and mistakes happen. I think it is more important how we handle our mistakes and what we do to fix them.

[caseysmom]

I guess I differ from the crowd. If it was a true mistake so what, people make mistakes. As a customer as long as I am given proper apologies I don't think I would get all that mad, life is too short.