Dq Not For Me- Long Update
Decorating By sweetsbycheryl Updated 17 Aug 2007 , 7:22am by yummymummycakes
Here's another update on the new job- Last night I clocked in a half hour early and got started on my orders for the day- two of which needed the Kopykake projector and several colors, which I had to mix (as I am the only decorator they have right now and me only PT-20 hours/wk.) . I managed to do 27 cakes in 5.5 hours and stayed over 45 minutes past my time to get plenty ready for today. As I went to ask the manager if she needed anything else from me before I left, she said "did you get blanks done?" (meaning new ice cream cakes for tomorrow) . when I came in that afternoon, the freezer was full of blanks , with no further room for more, so I went straight to decorating, so to make a long story short, she made me stay later than I already had to get them done. 
This was at 10:00PM!! Then proceeded to ask me if I could do more hours tomorrow (my only day off from that place this week!!) She knows I can only do part time and I told her that when she hired me, I just don't think this is the place for me- I can't keep up this pace all by myself- I will keep looking for the right place for me!!
Unless you want to end up going home so stressed that you beat your kids and kick your dog, you need to learn to walk out at quitting time. Hiring someone for 20 hours a week and then expecting them to do 40 hours worth of work is nuts, but they will do it if you let them. If they have 40 hours worth of work that needs done, then they can hire a second person.
At any job I've ever had, I was more than happy to put in extra hours when it was needed ..... and I would happily put in 50-60 hours weeks. But when it became 'expected', I drew the line. (My start time was 8:00 a.m. .... I would normally get there about 7:15. Once I arrived at 7:40 and was accused of being "late".)
So with their new attitude, I then came in at starting time and left at quitting time. I stopped working thru lunch and began taking the breaks I was entitled to.
You are not going to make more profit on my back. If the work has expanded, then you hire enough people to cover the work! You are NOT going to work me to death just so you can save a few bucks!
Well said indydebi! Either let them know you can only do so much, and they better hire someone else to help out, or get out of there before you end up wasting months/years of your life on a place that doesn't appreciate you.
Indydebi you are so wise! 
I was the same way. I used to work thru breaks/lunches because I wanted to make sure I got all of MY work done...but then my supervisor started acting like I was SO far behind (mind you, everyone was behind)...they had me doing a 2 person job...actually, I think by the time I left (I'd been promoted a couple times) they had 3 ppl doing the job and it was STILL BEHIND! I stopped coming in early, staying late and/or working thru my breaks and lunches. I wasn't looking for extra recognition, but I wasn't even getting respect!!
As for DQ...that was my first job...haha. we only had one cake lady too and I think SHE is the reason I was bitten by the bug. 
I agree, if that's not the place for you, keep looking...it will only make you miserable to stay!
THere is nothing wrong with working a little overtime. Most people these days have such a negative work ethic it sickens me!!!
BUT.....Do not let them over work you. You were hired at part-time-remind your Boss of this. Let her know that while you don;t mind putting in a few extra hours here and there you can not be 'expected' to do it. Let her know that when you have the time you will give it to her. Simple as that!
Don't Quit!!!!!
Well the sad thing is I only took this job to make a little extra money to send my kid to college- the work area is no bigger than a closet, the cake tips are rusted and bent, and they have no buckets for me to store icing I color ahead of time, so I have to mix just a bit every day- I know that all bakeries are not like this!!
I won't advise quitting or not quitting (though I would, myself), but if you don't quit, you need to set some boundaries! Like the ones set when you started working there: you work part time! I looked at your cakes and your work is good enough to get you another job at a better place.
Thanks Beezaly, but I think I forgot to mention that this is a second job for me- I already work a full time job, so overtime is really not an option and my boss at DQ knows I already work another full time job, so I just don't think this is the place for me!!
Things like this are like destructive relationships. You have to stand your ground and stand up for yourself... because if you don't, they will know they can walk all over you.
Good luck!
Don't quit. The first day is always rough. Learn to say no and you will be much happier. : )
When you come in, make sure to talk to your manager to find out what absolutetly needs to get done, don't wait until you go to leave to find out you didn't do something she expected.
When time to leave be sure to let her know you got to her priority list but that you must leave now.
Thanks Beezaly, but I think I forgot to mention that this is a second job for me- I already work a full time job, so overtime is really not an option and my boss at DQ knows I already work another full time job, so I just don't think this is the place for me!!
Then stress to her that you would Love to give her more time but simply can't. Remind her (in a very polite way) that she knew this upon hiring you. Ask her when 1st arriving, what needs to be done.
Is she now promotting that they have decorated cakes? Who was doing them before you?
If you would like to keep the job it sounds like there are some changes that could be made to keep it within the parameters you originally set.
Coloring your icing every day is time consuming and slows down your progress. Getting you the proper storage items is a small investment and would allow you to do what you are paid to do, produce cakes.
Good luck, I hope you can find a job that works for you. I know how daunting those college expenses can be! You definitely need to set the boundaries.
Cheryl,
Are you my twin? I work full-time and do second job DQ--I do cakes during the week and shift lead on Sunday. Luckily there is another gal that also helps with the cakes. Before the summer time, we had to make the cakes by hand. We make the blizzard cakes by have. And now that it is the busy time, the boss is buying already made 8", 10", & sheet cakes blanks. I have been doing the cakes off and on for 3 years. I took my Wilton deco class 2 ½ - 3 yrs ago. And have been decorating for at least 1 yr. The manager that did the cakes left in May.
I kind of set my own hours on the cakes though. If there are orders I do them and if the display is low I do them. I have been there since it opened 4 yrs--mainly part-time. My husband was going through his disability mumbojumbo and it was close to home so it helped pay the bills. Now that he is getting his disability checks, I can take it or leave it. I am using it as extra mad money.
I did get burned out when the cake displays were out but I started to pace myself. I bring in my own tips in my Wilton 29 piece set. We have a kopykake projector and edible images. If we are low on the gel colors, I'll make them. The back is small but it has enough room to do stuff and there's a basin sink, cupboards and drawers for stuff. You might ask your boss to take a look at the book that DQ supplies to get hardware--it has the tips, combs and brushes etc and ask if you could have them order some replacement stuff. I did but I don't like the #18 tips. The star part is not as sharp. But Ill use them if I forget my set. Now, if I could get him to buy the already made color icingthat would be great!
Talk to your manager and just tell her that you like doing this but not to the extent where you are going to hate it. And when it comes time to leavegotta go see ya! The problem that I have is that if I have to go out front and get something and they get slammed, I jump in and help out and then go back to my cakes. Otherwise, I am in the zone. They know not to bother me unless it is a cake order or to write on a cake.
If you are the only decorator, maybe they will be flexible. You might be able to use this to your advantage. And that is silly to say, did you get blanks done for tomorrow. Lady are you gonna have cake coming out of your ears? LOL What time do they close? We close at 10pm and are out of there by 10:3011pm.
All I can say is hang in there. If it is too much for you, try another place. Like I said if you are the only decorator, play it to fit you. Keep up the great work! Let us know your status.
Thanks for all the good advice you guys!! I tried talking to the manager about it yesterday, but she wasn't very receptive to what I had to say- everyone in the store is trained to make those blanks, and I don't think it's too much to ask when the others are standing around doing nothing to do them so I can focus on the decorating as I WAS the only one doing them. I quit today- I am not going to kill myself for a manager who does not appreciate a decorator who is willing to work hard- I will keep looking for the right place for me. Thanks again you guys!!
I had a similar experience up until last year when I ended up with no choice but to quit!!
I was employed by a company to work 20 hours per week, by the end of the day the boss comes to me and asks me to work full time 48 hours per week. 
'What about my baby that I am still BF'...... not a problem bring him to work. They established a nursery area for him and all was happy for a while.
UNTIL........ the boss started sacking the dead wood and I ended up having to do their work in order to do my job!! 
Ask the CEO when are you employing more people (by this stage I was working 80-100 hours per week 
) "We are looking" was the response. 
A month later I was picking up my children to take them out to work with me and back straight into my neighbours car!!
Not much damage but the wake up call I needed, I had never had even a scratch on my car. The thought that I was so tired that I didnt even notice the car made me reaslise I was risking so many peoples lives it was not worth it. 
I quit that day despite the $15K pay rise they offered me!!
Do what feels right for you and your family.
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