More Staff Turnover Means Less Apple Turnovers

I manage a bakery. The owner is mostly hands-off and leaves me to run the show. After years of only taking a day off here and there, I’ve finally secured for myself a two-week vacation. 

The owner is going over the staffing spreadsheet, specifically the dates I am gone.

Owner: “Why have you booked all these people over the next two weeks?”

Me: “Because I’m on vacation.”

Owner: “Yes, but the place can be run by three people on the weekdays; you have four.”

Me: “What happens if someone calls out?”

Owner: “It’s their responsibility to find cover if—”

Me: “—Nope. Not their job. That’s my job, and I’ll be d***ed if I’m hunting for cover when I should be sipping long islands in the Bahamas. Unless… you’d like to find cover?”

Owner: “And why do you have five at the weekend? We can run the place with four!”

Me: “Have you not been listening?”

Owner: “I just don’t see why they can’t manage themselves better.”

Me: “[Owner], you pay them minimum wage, right? What do you expect?”

Owner: “I expect work ethic.”

Me: “[Owner], have you noticed how our staff turnover is quite low?”

Owner: “No?”

Me: “Trust me, it’s low. Do you know why that is?”

Owner: “…No.”

Me: “It’s because I make sure they don’t have to deal with mismanaged scheduling. The place can run on three people? Great. That means we need four. You’ve never noticed it before because I’ve always been here. Don’t rock the boat while I’m gone or you’ll ruin a good thing.”

He harrumphed but walked away.

I went on my two-week break. I came back, and the owner had ruined a good thing.

He’d sent someone home, figuring they were not needed. 

Two days later, a worker’s grandma died and they needed time off. [Owner] said no, and they upped and quit. [Owner] then had to cover, didn’t know what he was doing, shouted at everyone else, and they all quit too.

A year of zero staff turnover. He’s in charge one week, and I have to rehire EVERYBODY.