Originally Posted By Dapper Mickey Westsider: I appreciate your passion for "good Show." But when I use the word "ignorant" I mean "a lack of understanding" nothing else. A lack of understanding would explain this comment, <<If there is "MORE demand" for standard sizes like S, M and Large shirts, then how about stocking "MORE" of those sizes and leave the practically nonexistent CM's who wear size XXXL or 48 inch waists just a couple options on the rack instead? >> Let's talk about how Costuming is not a department store (despite the size) and there is not an endless flow of clothes arriving daily. They have to deal with people quitting and taking all those high demand sizes with them affecting the Cast Members who remain. I agree with monorailblue that fast track is a problem, but with so many people with multiple jobs it is difficult for people to get their costumes and report to work on time. If anyone can think of a brilliant idea to keep the costumes in the Resort and protect not only the Disney brand, but also the Company's assets which would result in more sizes for everyone, please come forward. Otherwise, anything anyone says after this post is all 'sound and fury, signifying nothing.' thanks for your attention.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>They have to deal with people quitting and taking all those high demand sizes with them affecting the Cast Members who remain.<<< Whatever happened to "withholding the last paycheck until all company property is returned"? Is there no recourse? If not, then costuming will just have to cope with that and continue doing the job that they are cast for.
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>I agree with monorailblue that fast track is a problem, but with so many people with multiple jobs it is difficult for people to get their costumes and report to work on time.<<< I don't buy THAT garbage for a second. Too many lame excuses! The old way worked for decades, and still works perfectly at Tokyo Disney Resort to this day (where you will NEVER see a costumed cast member outside of the resort, EVER! HORRIBLY bad show, if you ask me).
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>If anyone can think of a brilliant idea to keep the costumes in the Resort and protect not only the Disney brand, but also the Company's assets which would result in more sizes for everyone, please come forward.<<< <--- raises hand. I have one. Keep the costumes in costuming at the end of the day, where they belong. That'd work, wouldn't it? Frankly, it sounds like costuming is full of "sound and fury" if you ask me. But the bottom line is, they made this situation. Now they should deal with it, and not CRY to other cast members about their woes. The costuming JOB is to make all the CM's look and feel great, NOT come up with excuses as to why that is impossible. Sorry, but I really believe that. I don't like excuses in any line of work, ESPECIALLY an important "support" group like Disney costuming. The costuming department is part of what makes Disney great and special, so do the job. Don't cry about why it's so impossible (you think it's easy for ANY cast member to "make the magic" day in and day out!?).
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^^re: withholding paycheck. I don't know if it's legal to do that. If it was I think they should be doing that. I have heard of people who may/may not have costumes checked out still because of whatever invalid reason (because I think it's stealing IMHO) they think that it's ok to keep their costume regardless. Before I went to talk to my Manager about needing to take time off to have my surgery and the need to quit since I saw no other way to do it without going through extra stress and worry, I brought in ALL my costume pieces and the belt and everything and turned them in. Just like I would do if I had a few days off with costuming being open the day I had to work (if I worked on a day that costuming was closed I would keep at least one so I would have something to wear that was clean to work). I'm not saying I'm better than any of these people.. I just think it's your personal responsability to turn in what you check out. Those costumes don't belong to anyone but Disney. If it *is* legal to withhold last check than perhaps that is something they should look into for the future. Disney has a lot of money it seems, but maybe they would pay better if they didn't have to replace costumes that people don't turn back in. That said, I really liked the belt they use for Store Ops. =P I was bummed when I turned it in. It fit nice, (unlike the rest of their costumes).
Originally Posted By Mr X >>>if I worked on a day that costuming was closed<<< Whoa! Costuming is CLOSED some days!!!!!!!!???????? <===faints from shock. You ARE kidding, right? And, aside from that, Smeeeko, sorry to hear you've had some health trouble! Is this something recent, or in the past? There wasn't any way to work it out and keep your job? Sorry to hear about that sad story (but appreciate the "backup" on the whole "integrity" thing! lol).
Originally Posted By imadisneygal It is legal to withhold the last paycheck for Disney property not returned. However, it's not held indefinitely because some CM's claim to have lost their costumes, etc. If this is the case then the paycheck is reissued minus the cost of the costumes and is then given to the CM. Officially it works like a suspension since you must provide a paycheck on the CM's last day of work for both involuntary and voluntary terminations. The CM remains on the official payroll until the check is reissued. If all costumes and other issued property are turned in then the CM must receive their check on their last day.
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^yes the costuming for DD is closed at least one day a week and their hours run til about 8 or 9pm most nights. Not sure what the hours are now. I quit about a year ago this month. wow. I din't work there that long either. I think DL's costume hours run different maybe than the DD costuming does. Not sure about Hotels. OT: As far as getting a gig back at DLR the hours and the standing thing, not to mention that the 'cure' was worse than the cause. My back would probably prevent me from hustling like I was used to (I lost 10+ lbs working at DLR!) and the back and hip issue got so bad I went to the hospital. It took that happening for me to agree to having some minor surgury to see what was going on..bleh. I'll be looking for a partime office gig eventually where I can control when I sit and stand & not have to do heavy lifting. The thing is I can't do either for long with out having a bolt of pain in my side and that's on the good days, which are mostly all the time now as long as I don't walk for hours on end. I loved doing inbound calls/ CSR work anyway. =)
Originally Posted By Mr X Regarding the "minus the cost of the costumes", what would happen if a Tower of Terror cast member (a recent post valued THEIR costumes at 1000 bucks a piece!) happened to "lose" their costume, and their last check was something like $388? Would the company ASK for cash? Or sue? Or what?
Originally Posted By Mr X Oh, I see (about DD, vs. DL...I thought you were talking about a park costuming department when I commented! Obviously Downtown Disney has a different system!). Glad you are on the mend, and hope you will be back to full capacity soon (office gigs are VERY good for r&r, read "Dilbert" for full details lol).
Originally Posted By imadisneygal My guess is that they'd withhold the entire paycheck and call it a wash. Not that they wouldn't have the right to sue or request a payment I guess, but I doubt that would happen. Disney might send a letter demanding payment but I doubt it would ever get to the legal action stage. The Tour Guide pins were famous for "getting lost" when a CM terminated from Guest Relations. Some costume pieces are more desirable than others...
Originally Posted By smeeeko =) yeah I like DL's system better than the counter system they have at Downtown Disney. Costuming in both places were always nice to me, but they do seem to have problems keeping stock in. As long as you are willing to work with them... don't have issue with man pants vs. girl pants and the like (and are willing to keep parts of your costuming a little longer (the outer wear is ok to wear longer) than you'd like (me I like clean shirts every day thanks!) and are willing to go a size up if they have it you'll be doing fine. I think the more emphasis they put on show & costuming practices the more willing they need to be to ensure the sizes are there.. going larger is smart but I'd like to see the guests be taken care of in the same manner. I know there were very few XXL and XXX when last I looked but don't know if it's changed in the last year for the better. Until people as a whole are making the choice to lose weight I think that it's a smarter move for more items to be made available to the guests as well as the CMs. I realize you're auditioning for a 'part' when you get a job at DLR but if the hiring vs. availability issues don't get better, they really can't discriminate based on weight or girth (unless you are as someone said going for a face character like ariel where you have to fit a certain mold or look). Asking people to lose weight I think is against your right to be supersized or something. However, having a costume that looks good on everyone is something Disney as a whole can & does seem to be doing something about. =) I think that it's a step in the right direction. I just wish the sizes didn't run contrary to real world sizes. I found Disney costuming sizes ran small. The men sizes were a little better thankfully.
Originally Posted By smeeeko ^^OT: sorry I'm so rambley.. wanted to say thank you Mr X for the kind thoughts. =)
Originally Posted By monorailblue 1. In most of the civilized world, your paycheck can be withheld until a uniform is returned. In California, it is NOT legal to withhold a paycheck until a uniform is returned. The idea behind this is that you have earned your pay by your work; any 'debt' that arises from not returning a costume is, indeed, owed by you, but an employer does not have the right to hold your eanings hostage to cover that debt. They are seen as unrelated in the eyes of the law. 2. Though it was previously stated, the solution to the costume inventory/bad show problem is the solution that was in place for 40 years: onsite lockers for everyone, including adequate space for shoes; Costuming open from 2 hours before opening to 1 hour after closing every day of the year; Costuming funded properly so it is adequately staffed; enforcement of no-Costumes-off-site policies. The Company once saw these steps as fundamental to day-to-day operations. Now, these steps are viewed as exorbitant and unnecessary. The results are obvious, and they are generally dissatisfactory.
Originally Posted By SpoonCM I don't know if the parks costuming is open 7 days, but Hotel costuming went back to 7 days. At one point, Wed it was closed. I never really understood why they were closed, because they still were staffed and they still helped CMs...whatever. If they can not withold a paycheck, or a portion of the paycheck, because of a costume...then why make each and every new CM sign a document stating they can withold their paycheck if they do not return their costumes if they are seperated? To instill fear?
Originally Posted By imadisneygal I have had CM's whose last paychecks were reissued, like I stated, when they did not return company property. We put the CM on a three day suspension and termed them on the day their check was finalized. That is the way to get around "withholding" a check. You're not technically holding a last check if it's not the CM's last day. However, as monorailblue stated, it is not legal to terminate a CM and then keep their check for ransom. The Company must issue a check for the correct amount and then give it to the CM on their last day.
Originally Posted By monorailblue <<why make each and every new CM sign a document stating they can withold their paycheck if they do not return their costumes if they are seperated? To instill fear?>> Yes. It is the same reason each admission medium states that the user assumes all risks inherent in a dynamic amusement park setting, etc. It is actually quite meaningless in the legal sense, but has a lot of *practical* bite (by reducing the number of lawsuits). I'll do some thorough research on the matter if my schedule allows, just to clear it all up.
Originally Posted By iDisney72 <<What I DON'T like about this is that it is another sign that we're collectively getting too large>> I work at a women's clothing store (aimed towards the 35+ age group), and we have Misses (regular), Petites, and Womans (plus size) departments. We have many regular customers who are size 2P, and have been shopping with us for years. Unfortunately, they can no longer shop with us because our current size 2s are more like our old size 4s. And our Petite-Petite (like x-small petites) shirts are so big, they can easily fit a size 6, maybe even an 8, when they are meant for sizes 2 and 4, and the size 2s swim in them. My point? The retail industry also recognizes that we are getting bigger, and is readjusting their sizes to accomodate it. I think its terrible, because while the health industry is saying, "This needs to stop!" it seems like retail stores (and I know mine is not the only one) are embracing it, as if it will not change and our nation's people will continue to grow.
Originally Posted By Elderp <<why make each and every new CM sign a document stating they can withold their paycheck if they do not return their costumes if they are seperated? To instill fear?>> Plus, if the law ever changes they got you.
Originally Posted By imadisneygal The last paycheck thing happens with CM's who are terminated for violating any policy - stealing, fighting, whatever...the CM is put out on suspension until their final paycheck is cut and then they are brought in to pick up their check and be officially terminated. Their costumes are turned in that night (day, whatever) and all company property is collcted. If any chargeable property isn't returned then their final check will reflect that.
