Blockbusters - CSR or manager on duty?

superbargainhunter

I am working at Blockbusters as a Customer Services Representative on adult minimum wage. My contract is for 6hrs a wk, but there is a variable clause which means I have to work more hours if required. I haven't been given an employee handbook and my employment contract does not specify the duties of this role.

On the Blockbuster website - under the job profile for Assistant Manager it says - ensure the store's cash and banking procedures are adhered to.
Under the job profile of Customer Services Representative - it doesn't say anything about cash and bank procedures.

I have been asked to work on my own on a Sunday - one of the busiest days of the week cos all the DVDs come back then - and cash up and lock up the store - by myself. I think this means I would be a "manager on duty". Two other CSR's are also doing this on other days - by themselves.
I don't think it is fair to expect me to take on that level of responsibility while on mimimum wage. I think that cashing up and locking up should be done by a manager or assistant manager - and be paid accordingly.

I took the job - in a small store, because it is close to home and I am trying to recover from illness. I don't want to work more than 6hrs cos it messes up my benefits who cannot cope with variable hours.
Anybody else worked for Blocbusters? Any advice?

DCFC79

Just say you shouldnt be on your own, are you trained for the stuff you need to know when on your own eg the store's cash and banking procedures are adhered to(these ar enormally management tasks anyway)

are they short staffed then,

Googlewhacker

if it is a one off because someone is on holiday I would suck it up and do it.

relic

I've worked in retail for years before my current job, and I can tell you whatever you do there requires little to no responsibility compared to any other job.

If it's a one off, just deal with it, if it's a regular thing and you can't cope, then tell them that, or if you can, ask to have your role changed.

bluenoseam

your contract however WILL probably state "any other duties as per the needs of the business". So you're asked to perform SELECT parts of an Assistant Managers job description, that does not mean you are an Assistant Manager level employee, i cashed up while i was a part timer, it's part of the needs of the business so hey, guess what, i did it. The world isn't fair sometimes, we've all been asked to do things above our paygrade at times - probably more so than a close or cashing up - but ultimately that one little statement at the start of my post covers a multitude of sins!

paulwf

I hate job titles but if I was being picky I'd say what you were doing was the role of a team leader...you don't have to be a manager to do the daily admin duties, though the manager should be responsible for checking everything has been done correctly when he/she is next in.

For being a shift leader I'd expect a small premium, perhaps 50p and hour. Min wage is being very tight of them but I don't think you can claim you should be on the management pay scale when you only work 6 hours a week. Unless they pay a shift leader premium (no harm in asking) then you have a choice of accepting it or moving on. There are plenty of larger retailers out there who will always have a duty manager so you won't be given so much responsibility.

SarEl

superbargainhunter wrote: »

I am working at Blockbusters as a Customer Services Representative on adult minimum wage. My contract is for 6hrs a wk, but there is a variable clause which means I have to work more hours if required. I haven't been given an employee handbook and my employment contract does not specify the duties of this role.

On the Blockbuster website - under the job profile for Assistant Manager it says - ensure the store's cash and banking procedures are adhered to.
Under the job profile of Customer Services Representative - it doesn't say anything about cash and bank procedures.

I have been asked to work on my own on a Sunday - one of the busiest days of the week cos all the DVDs come back then - and cash up and lock up the store - by myself. I think this means I would be a "manager on duty". Two other CSR's are also doing this on other days - by themselves.
I don't think it is fair to expect me to take on that level of responsibility while on mimimum wage. I think that cashing up and locking up should be done by a manager or assistant manager - and be paid accordingly.

I took the job - in a small store, because it is close to home and I am trying to recover from illness. I don't want to work more than 6hrs cos it messes up my benefits who cannot cope with variable hours.
Anybody else worked for Blocbusters? Any advice?

You may have slightly misunderstood the employment relationship here. You work for them and what you think doesn.'t matter. As others here have pointed out, you have been asked, alongside others, to do this, in your case, on a Sunday. Whether it is a Sunday, or a regular Sunday doesn't really matter all that much - your employer has outlined your duties for that day, and that is what is expected of you.

And you may only want to work 6 hours a week - you have a variable hours contract which enables the employer to dictate the number of hours that you are working.

Refusing to do as you are asked in relation to your work or your hours will very quickly result in your not being in a position to be asked in future because you are likely not to be working for them. Particularly since, adding all of this up and the fact that you have been comparing jobs in the staff handbook, you probably have less than 12 months (and soon to be 2 years) employment, so you are disposable with relative ease.

I am sorry for your personal circumstances, but you are the one attempting to dictate "terms" here. You want / need a job near home; you don't want to work more than 6 hours a week - you are the one limiting your choices here. So you take the employment you can get, and that is likely to be minimum wage because there aren't a lot of highly paid 6 hours per week jobs.

You must therefore make a choice. Suck it up because the job suits your requirements for employment; show willing and do a great job of what you are asked to do, and as you get better able to work increased hours you may find that your approach leads to further pormotion within the company; or find another job that pays you more money for six hours a week and is near home.

sweetilemon

You could ask for a payrise worth a try but it doesnt sound likely. I used to do the same on £6ph and be responcible for all day to day runnings. It was good when changing jobs as its good experience for my CV.

bluenoseam

sweetilemon wrote: »

You could ask for a payrise worth a try but it doesnt sound likely. I used to do the same on £6ph and be responcible for all day to day runnings. It was good when changing jobs as its good experience for my CV.

No chance, Blockies have been paying nmw (or just above it) for as long as i've known them, it used to be a bit of an awkward situation where as a part timer in Gamestation i was on a better hourly wage than people who'd been 4-5 years in Blockies.

LittleVoice

superbargainhunter wrote: »

I don't want to work more than 6hrs cos it messes up my benefits who cannot cope with variable hours.

Do benefits depend on hours or on income?

If you found a job which paid double the hourly rate, would you want to work only 3 hours?

If you work more hours and hence receive more pay, does the pay increase wipe out your benefits?

DCFC79

bluenoseam wrote: »

your contract however WILL probably state "any other duties as per the needs of the business". So you're asked to perform SELECT parts of an Assistant Managers job description, that does not mean you are an Assistant Manager level employee, i cashed up while i was a part timer, it's part of the needs of the business so hey, guess what, i did it. The world isn't fair sometimes, we've all been asked to do things above our paygrade at times - probably more so than a close or cashing up - but ultimately that one little statement at the start of my post covers a multitude of sins!

ive never had to do jobs that were carried out by managaement eg opening up, closing down, to me when a contract says "any other duties as per the needs of the business" it means doing extra hours, helping out on another department.

But since i worked in larger retailers as opposed to small shops like a blockbuster it wouldnt happen where i worked previously