So I have been roughly working for Domino's for over a year, starting at the age of 16. Joining the workplace hoping to earn enough money for future funds such as a car or housing, I was determined to complete what was given to me plus more. But recently I've discovered the flaws of the workplace, and how us workers aren't getting paid enough.

I'm not quite sure on the wages of the other workers, but I currently work for $11.87 per hour as a permanent part-time employee, which is very low compared to other jobs in the fast food industry. Furthermore, the amount of effort, stress and workload each shift is not worth the pay. Let's add to the fact that we don't even get Sunday penalty rates. An average Friday or Saturday night would consist of a 3-5 hour shift, in which my main position is to make pizzas. However, each week I'm overwhelmed with so many pizzas on screen, it becomes very difficult to make pizzas in efficient times, and at a quality I would be proud to serve. Most shifts I would be standing in one spot making pizzas for 3 hours, maybe taking some steps to grab an ingredient in the cool fridge but that's all. The understaffed working environment adds more workload to those who do work, and this is due to former employees realising that their pay isn't high compared to other workforces, thus resulting in their short employment. Now people have argued that purely because I put more effort than I should during work doesn't mean I should expect a higher pay. But picture this, you're making pizzas, there are 40 on screen with wait times of approximately 10-15 and they're not even in the oven, there are customers in the front waiting to be served, pizzas that need to be served, phones on hold and on top of that phones are ringing but no one to grab them. I can't just stand there continue making pizzas ignoring the needs of the customers, it's just too much for one to handle. During work and after work, I've been stressed from how much I have done the night, and makes homework and other tasks to do very difficult. Now this is just me, but other in-store employees face such problems aswell, especially shift managers, who probably even face more work.

I work 5, maybe 6 days a week, each at least 3 hour shifts. With school finishing at 3:30, the quickest I can arrive at work is 4:30, which I usually start at 4:30 or 5. Finishing at 8 or 9, it becomes almost impossible for me to balance me social, work, and school life. Not to mention that I'm a Year 12 student completing VCE, the most important schooling year, in which I would need to focus most. I've contemplated on quitting, but I've decided to help the place because I love it so much, and it wouldn't be fair to pass the opportunity to those who already work enough.

Domino's have already proposed that they will implement Weekend penalty rates, but the date for that is yet to be announced.

What do I propose? I want to change the workplace of Domino's, for each employee to be fairly treated, by getting pay that is fair to the amount of effort and sweat they put in each night, not the minimum wage. Every person I work with have a passion for making Pizza's, and we want to make the best we can, but it's impossible if things don't change. It's not fair that dedicated, hard working staff remain underpaid, we deserve a fair go. 

With enough notice, hopefully the CEO of Domino's Don Meij will inspect on the issue and investigate it. I know this is only to the majority of Domino's workers, but as the leading Pizza franchise in Australia, I'd like to see the business excel and grow, which is built from a foundation of proud workers. 

(My name is not George Smith, I'm hiding my identity for reasons that may affect my position at work.)

Thanks