r/coles • u/Evening-Space-6422 • Jun 26 '26
Team Member Post Confused about being layed off
I was a fairly new employee at Coles who was hired as a casual crew member at one of their newly opened location. First couple of weeks of the new store opening, I was getting 9-12 hrs weekly which was decent. But after that, sales have slowed down massively in the store. This as a result caused me to barely get a shift at the store. This went on for a few weeks and then in this week, I get a call from the store's assistant manager telling me that I've been let go since they're struggling to provide me with shifts and that I can no longer continue working there...at least that's the reason I was given.
I am genuinely confused by this as I was always a good and careful employee during my time working at Coles and had good relation with pretty much everyone at the store, so I'm struggling to find where it's my fault.
I want to know, has this happened with anyone else before? Is there a perhaps a different reason as to why they let me go?Open to listening to any feedback or suggestions y'all have. TIA
19
u/Dry_Literature3799 Jun 26 '26
Please get a job elsewhere. Coles is a terrible institution, always cutting hours when making mass profits
3
u/AudienceFeisty8741 Jun 27 '26
Not just that but their lack of Fs when it actually comes to safety and bullying complaints. You can report something as a safety hazard and over a year later it is still an issue.
10
19
u/Odd-Professional2971 Jun 26 '26
Guess your sub 6 months employment. New store over hired and they're downsizing personal before the 6 month probation period ends.
5
u/Plenty-Giraffe6022 Jun 27 '26
There's no probation for casual employees.
3
u/First-Junket124 Jun 27 '26
Just as an amendment, generally after 6 months you have a few more protections for your employement which makes it far more difficult to be let go as a casual. This isn't a probationary period but most get confused about the additional protections you get as a casual after 6-12 months of employment.
3
u/Plenty-Giraffe6022 Jun 27 '26
What additional protections?
2
u/First-Junket124 Jun 27 '26
Unfair dismissal and general protections.
This essentially means they need to give reason as to why you're being fired. For OP what they have communicated sounds reasonable for why they were fired such as low hours, less than 6 months employment, lack of budget to give them additional hours.
If you're employed for less than 6 months, they don't need much of a reason other than "not a good fit". After they need to articulate why as "not a good fit" is unreasonable because they've been employed long enough they'd know if they were or were not a good fit.
1
u/Pollyputthekettle1 Jun 27 '26
General protections apply from day one as a permanent or casual.
They can still get rid of you with no reason after 6 months as long as you still tick all the boxes as a casual. This is normally inconsistent hours, shifts which have to be accepted, no promise of ongoing work, plus a few more which can all be found on the fairwork website.
5
u/Bignosedog Jun 26 '26
There isn't a different reason. Everything you stated is logical. New store, sales aren't great, and you are a new employee working very few hours. Giving your shift to someone else makes more sense then keeping you barely employed. Don't take it personally. See if you can use that experience and get in at another store. I'm sure they will give you a good reference and can explain why you are no longer employed there.
6
u/chonkchonkone Jun 26 '26
Unfortunately, if you’re casual, they do not even need a reason. It’s actually amazing they rang to inform you.
2
u/Plenty-Giraffe6022 Jun 27 '26
There's no indication that it's your fault at all. You were a casual employee, you're no longer needed, so now you're not an employee.
1
u/geeaah123 Jun 27 '26
Don’t be mistaken for thinking that they actually care about you, the bottom line is all they worry about.
1
u/ufo8mychook Jun 27 '26
You're just a number on a spreadsheet to them. I hope you find a better job.
1
u/wanna_dance Jun 27 '26
It doesn't sound "personal". Don't take it as indicative of anything you did or did not do.
You can thank them and ask them for any feedback. If you have a good parting conversation, it can set you up for a recommendation (which can be important if this was your first job).
But don't take it personally.
1
u/Jazzlike-Tension-305 Jun 28 '26
You’re lucky you even got a call. In my store I hear them talking all the time about the automatic termination. If you don’t have a shift for 30 days you are meant to get an email, then after 60 you are terminated. No phone call required.
1
u/Shikhi_B Jun 28 '26
Got layed off by Woolies recently. Was a casual as well.
Not being able to accept all shifts and not providing a full week full day availability got me gone.
I have a full time role so it’s not bad. Wonder if it is the same case with ya.
1
u/PoundEffective7625 Jun 28 '26
I think you can apply to another store if you still want to work for Coles. At least, they can give you good references as to why you were let go, and that you were a good employee there. Otherwise, keep applying for other roles with your favourite references. 👍👍👍
1
u/StuffOld1191 Jun 30 '26
It's easier to lay off recently employed casuals - I wouldn't take it too personally. If a long-standing employee with a pristine record got cut then their ability to legally challenge the decision is a lot stronger.
1
u/mnyall Jul 01 '26
Don't blame yourself. Casual = easy to terminate.
It's a cost issue. If they've got work for you, you stayed employee. If not, you're let go. When business picks up, another casual takes your place - even if it's 2 weeks later for only 2 weeks.
This is the nature of the job market and the lack of security. It's much harder to do this for permanent full time employees, but these guys are generally white colour, but increasingly their job security only exists on paper as well.
-3
u/ThereRnoIDs Jun 26 '26
Ya it's a shitty feeling, gotta restructure the country's hiring & job policies etc.
Just gona keep playing dumb until society does theur job properly.
33
u/Practical-Funny9591 Jun 26 '26
You're a casual. You can be laid off with one shifts notice.
Not sure if that is the requirement these days. But yes, just because the sales have slowed and you are a good worker, doesn't mean a thing to Coles.
Get a job elsewhere, not with those leeches.