My boss is terrible. Should I do anything?

Since this isn't a union position (I gather) and no contract exists between the employer and employee, UNFORTUNATELY the revolting acts of your employer aren't illegal though there should be some kind of employee protection for those former full time employees working for a company for a certain period of time.

AS for the family workers who allegedly "work free", tread lightly on this issue unless you have actual proof of such.

In theory, you could report the company to your region's (city or states) department of labor. This act wouldn't likely give you your job back and if it somehow did, would you want to work for these low life nepotistic scums who will hold a grudge against you for turning them in and will on the constant lookout for you to make the slightest mistake to legally end your employment with the coffee house.

I hate to be the bearer of such cynical bad news BUT you'd do best to find another job. My thought is that it'd not be worth the effort even if your lawyer were free. Allow a new employer to benefit from your stellar work ethic and dedication. Chalk this one up to one of life's lesson in the workplace.

Use all the time you have not working shifts to find another place to work.
Be very up front about how you like where you work but there is enough work.
Tell the people you are interviewing with that you intend to give two weeks notices at your current place.
When you get an offer of a new job with longer hours, go to your present owner and give notice.
He will ask why, you will say not enough work.

I guarantee you he will say that he will get you more hours.
Tell him thanks very much but give your two weeks notice.

Two things will happen:
One, he'll tell his relative to not to cut your hours.
Two, he'll also offer you more money.

Joe(shake his hand and take the other job.)Nation

I hear what you're saying. Nothing I do would really help me get more hours. It's just sad that this type of thing (firing dedicated workers for free labor) isn't even worth fighting. If I were a vengeful person, I suppose I could turn them in and continue working there just out of spite, knowing that he's not saving money on labor costs... but I'm not like that.

Yep what others said - even better - get a job at a competing coffee house, and then watch the customers flock to you seeing they like you. Don't worry they keep operating this way they will get theirs.

Are you in the USA?

Joe(wondering)Nation

Canada actually

Ah, well, I know zero about Canadian labor laws.

~One thing a waiter friend of mine after she gave notice was hand-out cards to her favorite customers with the name of the restaurant she was going to.

Printed them up on her computer for next to nothing and did it very quietly for the whole two weeks.

250 cards and about half of those people showed up at the new place.

Then that guy can work for free --

Joe(in an empty coffeehouse)Nation

Thanks for the advice!

He owns the store but he can't use the "free" labor of relatives?

Is that really the law in Canada? If it is, it shouldn't be.

You don't have a natural right to work in this coffee house, no matter how long you were employed by the former owner.

If the business goes under because the owner's payroll is too high, you simply lose your job. He loses his "job" and his investment, which could be a lifetime's
savings.

I doubt he has any hope of becoming a billionaire on the back of his relatives who are not enslaved. If they can spend their days working for "free" then the owner is undoubtedly supporting them.

Odds are the new owner is an immigrant and this sort of family run business is quite common in his former home. I thought you Canadians were all avid multi-culturalists. If you can let a rapist off because his culture told him he could have sex with any woman who dresses provocatively then surely you can tolerate a business that relies upon the labor of extended family members.

If you're not happy where you work,move on. You're not chained to the place, and no matter how good a server you may be, you didn't personally build the business. If you did you should have cut a deal with the former owner.

This guy isn't taking advantage of you.

If you really are the only thing that produces a profit (which I highly doubt) then when you leave the business will fold.

Please spare me the "but I love this place!"

Obviously you don't love it enough to tolerate the situation (nor should you) and if your bitch is that he doesn't give you hours, there's nothing you can do to help the place.

Understand this...You're not the boss; you're not a partner; and you're not the heart of the business.

If you sue the new owner, what would you ask for? Hours or damages? If the latter then you really need to shelve the "I love this place!" spiel.

Think about how you can save enough money to open up your own coffee house, but if you should do so, for God's Sake don't count on free labor from your wife, girlfriend, or siblings.

Every chance he gets, Finn is there with the ignorant comment. No surprises here...I know several white guys who run their business in the same manner, usually they take advantage of their parents or kids. There are places in the states that don't pay their staff wages, they work for tips alone, but they're the vegas, upstanding homegrown business types... not those dirty immigrants.
He owns the business, he can do what he wants under the law and he's not doing anything illegal. At this rate, he'll probably alienate his customers. This is not a unionized shop, so you've no protection there.

Have you actually asked the unfortunate relative if he's working for nothing??? or is it just nasty rumours and gossip? Regardless, find a new job. Coffee shops are a dime a dozen. I'm sure you'll be fine.

I haven't asked him personally if he works for nothing, no, but he directly told my good friend, whom I've known for quite a while. An honest individual to be sure. So I choose to believe him. He has no reason to lie.

I know that coffee houses are everywhere, but this place makes the best coffee in Canada. It's actually a respectable place in terms of quality.

I'm one of those guys who generally doesn't have too much fun with a job. I had an office downtown with a view, and was making decent wage before the coffee house, but I simply didn't enjoy what I did, so I quit. This is one of those rare times that I love working. It's for that reason alone that I'm so distressed. Otherwise, ya, I wouldn't even post online about it, I'd just move on straight away and be content.

So, I'm hearing a lot of people saying that family working, as staff, for no wage, is legal? Really? Doesn't that sound extremely illegal? That's taking away job opportunities from a governmental standpoint, and worse than slave labor in other standpoints.

I doubt Harper gives a crap about anyone working for free, he's an economist. If your co-worker doesn't want to work for money, he doesn't have to - it's called volunteerism or in some circles farm work... It's only slave labour if the guy is there under duress, forced to be there against his will. Maybe they have an agreement... free rent or he's paying off a loan.
The only thing the government cares about is, if your getting paid under the table and not paying taxes. That would be illegal.
I highly doubt this is the best coffee shop or coffee in Canada. I know several places that would beg to differ. I get not wanting to leave a place you like, but sometimes life isn't fair. You never know what's around the corner and change can be scary. It all depends on your attitude.
Like Joe said, find a new job and hand out the addy to the new place to the old customers. Any monkey can pour a cup of coffee, what makes a place great or special is the staff and their personalities ( and great service). So go and make somewhere else shine or start your own place. It's only going to be difficult if you make it so. So don't. Live life and have fun and don't sweat the stuff you can't change and in this situation the only thing you can change is the scenery.

She's right you know - see

Here's how to get a job at another coffee place.
Bring a cup of the coffee served at your current place.
Ask to see the manager and order a cup of coffee.
Smile
When the manager appears, tell him or her you are doing a taste test
because where you are working now claims to have the best coffee in Canada.
Smile.
Drink from both cups. Savor.
Declare that the coffee from the new place wins hands-down and ask when you can start to work there.
Smile.

Joe(ask for more money per hour)Nation

Joe, you are either the best salesman I know (and that's saying a lot!) or you have the most experience at looking for work.

Maybe a bit of both?

Love it!

When I went from Best Hardware (Tulsa..and really, best in the world) to Vercesi's in New York City, I walked in, noted that they had a Best in New York plaque hanging up.
I asked to see the owner and while I waited for him to call me upstairs .....I began to wait on customers. The boss could see me from his upstairs office.
After ten minutes of this, one lady got the right aerator for her faucet, a guy got a set, rather than just one, of hacksaw blades, he called me up.

I said "When I left Tulsa I told everybody I was going to work in the best hardware store in New York City. So, should I start tomorrow or Sunday?"

Somehow, I lasted there for 13 years, it was a good place. Now, a shell of its former self.

Joe(curse you Home Depot)Nation

I think I will try that next time I see the "Best of.." some where. Just for fun.