Overheard in Poundworld today.

ceridwen

Poor young lad.

His is a case in point that demonstrates the fact that its wise not to give out too many facts about oneself at work - as management often "use" those facts to find a way to get to weak spots/identify who is likely to be a "soft touch".

Thus - the manager knows this young lad doesnt drink (maybe for religious reasons) and thinks "Principled young lad - not the type to fight back = soft touch".

I would make a point of visiting the shop again (on the excuse of buying something from it) and try and find that young lad and say "Poor you - I heard your manager the other day. Just you say to her next time that you've got arrangements made/appointment after work/etc and cant do the overtime if she tries that again. Just thought I'd give you a membership form for USDAW (ie the shopworkers union) in case you're interested. Good luck."

That way - you might give this young lad just the encouragement he needs to stand up for himself. At the least - you've shown him that he has a bit of "moral support" and someone is "on his side".

dickydonkin

MrRedundant;41433852]No doubt due to the person in question and other lazy members of staff not keeping the premises to the required level of cleanliness and order it should be during their paid working hours

NO DOUBT.................?

What a crass sweeping statement based on YOUR assumptions.

How do you know the staff are lazy? Perhaps the staff are so overwhelmed that they just don't have the time to get the shop in good order during 'normal' hours. Perhaps they are understaffed. It is possible/likely there is poor management.

For someone to be so critical of these shopworkers when you neither know them or their circumstances is perhaps unwise at best.

Yes, it's like a company like this thinks their workers do it for charity or something, what is it with them?

Maybe the company is buying in to Cameron's 'Big Society' - B.S. indeed!

Sadly, in times when staff and budgets in all areas of employment are being cut to the bone, we will likely see more examples of this.

dickydonkin

biggaz26 wrote: »

Thank god for the Unions???

As much as when employees do need union protection from some companies, where I work the union is destrying the company and when it goes under it will be down to overzelous union shop stewards and weak !!!! management who allowed themselves to be bullied by them.....

Unions are not always a good thing in my experience!

G

Interesting.

Just reconsider your comments when you are receiving your paid holidays, having a safe workplace, colleagues receiving a reasonable minimum wage and employment law that protects workers from 'overzelous' employers.

Maybe we should send children down the pits and chimneys again!

DVardysShadow

biggaz26 wrote: »

Thank god for the Unions???

As much as when employees do need union protection from some companies, where I work the union is destrying the company and when it goes under it will be down to overzelous union shop stewards and weak !!!! management who allowed themselves to be bullied by them.....

Unions are not always a good thing in my experience!

G

If that really is the case, you should join the union and stand as a shop steward. Otherwise, to the list of overzealous shop stewards and weak !!!! management, you can add apathetic whinging workers.

Strider590

I think some folk need to go work in Japan for a Japanese company for a while..... Totally different attitudes to work, they make the Brits look like part-time staff.

GothicStirling

That's retail for you.

I worked as a retail Assistant Manager about a year ago. After about a week the manager took several days sick which I had to cover. I ended up doing a 7 day week. Then a few days later we had some signage guys coming in. They were supposed to be there at 4pm, but HO decided to send them to Glasgow first. They didn't arrive until 10pm and I ended up spending the night [until 5am] - all for a salary that was barely covering NMW.

When I worked as a Catering Manager last year, overtime was paid at double time.

sho_me_da_money

No. That's poundworld for you.

What do you expect from a place that sells 30 out-of-date Rocky bars for a squid?

SHIPSHAPE

GothicStirling wrote: »

That's retail for you.

I worked as a retail Assistant Manager about a year ago. After about a week the manager took several days sick which I had to cover. I ended up doing a 7 day week. Then a few days later we had some signage guys coming in. They were supposed to be there at 4pm, but HO decided to send them to Glasgow first. They didn't arrive until 10pm and I ended up spending the night [until 5am] - all for a salary that was barely covering NMW.

More fool you I say.

When I had a crappy job I was looking elsewhere.

I had an interview at a big store and the interviewer said I would be expected to work beyond my hours each day to make sure the work was completed and it would be unpaid..

I asked the interviewer if they were nuts.

I suggested employing someone for 50 hours a week rather than the 40 as advertised as it obviously took that long anyway.

Oooo no! came the reply.

What planet are these clowns on?

cgk1

Many people who work for free (also known as "suckers") absolutely love the martry aspect of it "I worked ten hours for nothing last week!" like it's something to be proud about!

CallaLily

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

Yes, and they are called mugs, especially if they do not paid the hours for it.

Or just thankful to have a job rather than be unemployed!