Girl Scout cookies are an American tradition. Girl Scouts have been selling these boxes of delectable treats for almost 100 years. Who can resist these adorable little girls with their tantalizing boxes of Thin Mints®, Peanut Butter Sandwich/Do-si-dos®, and Shortbread/Trefoils®? It's all cute on the outside, but Girl Scout cookie makers tell a very different story.
Cookie makers fed up
The popularity of Girl Scout cookies has put pressure on cookie makers who complain of forced overtime in order to meet demands for Girl Scout cookies every year, and it's getting worse. According to workers at a cookie factory in Louisville, Kentucky, the overtime is killing them. Sure, they get paid overtime as the law requires, but they are worn out from doing mandatory overtime and working 6-7 days a week in order to keep up with demand.
80 percent of the workers are women
The workforce consists of 80 percent women. Many have families to care for, but their overtime last year included working on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Day. Many have back and other health problems, too. They are told that if they refuse the mandatory overtime, they will be written up, and a total of 10 "occurrences" can result in a discharge.
The problem is that the law just requires that companies pay overtime, but they do not clearly outline what the limits on overtime can be. The company is complying with the law by paying overtime but they are pushing workers to their limit.
Bad business? You decide.
Read more at www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2015/02/22/girl-scout-cookie-makers-fear-firings-ot/23813251/
