Work for Sainsbury's - part of the family :)

MusicalLawyer

I used to think that working for a big company, such as Sainsbury's, would be I'd be undervalued and overlooked due to the high levels of staff... boy was I proved wrong!

I work on the in a small store and, as part of my job, I occasionally have to leave my area unattended in order to pop to the chiller to grab some more stock...

Anyway this one customer gets so mad about it, if he turns up to my counter and I am not there - like he is God or something and must be served straight away. The first few times it happened I apologised and said that I was sorry but I am permitted to leave unattended for thing alike toilet, or to get stock. (By the way I don't do it on purpose to this particular customer as he comes in at different times of the day, I often leave the area to stock up etc).

Yesterday - Oh my life. Worst day ever!
He comes in - I've gone to the chiller. He comes behind my counter and in to the warehouse bit, moaning that I'm not there - causes a scene, shouting etc at me!

The point of this post, is to say that - whilst I went to get a manager (which he requested as i refused to serve him at this point) I started to cry a little. I suffer with depression and try so hard to be good at my job. Someone saw me crying, and took me to the Store Manager, who pretty much just had a go at this customer and told him to leave. My Store Manager consistently asked if I was OK etc. As did my Team Leader and managers. And it really makes me feel like I matter and that we're friends rather than just colleagues, and that makes me feel good about the place I work in.

(The customer came back today. I was out the back just come off my break so there was someone else on the counter - I heard his voice and got a little scared. I've now been told that whenever he comes in, I'm to call security and tell the customer I'm not serving him).

Sorry if this bored some of you!

MoneySavingUser

Nope not bored, infact quite happy to read such a nice story.

I was actually in Tesco one day waiting for them to bring my clothing order from the back of the store and watched some of the staff and tbh they all seemed quite happy and I was thinking they have reasonable opportunities for doing more/less hours and promotion etc. so working in a supermarket isn't necessarily what people think it is (though on the other side of the coin the companies do employ people for "free" from the jobcentre and squeeze suppliers like dairy farmers)

amazingcookie

It's no 'family' if you're paid so little. Even team leaders aren't paid a lot, and department managers only earn the same amount as someone starting on a graduate scheme. Your manager was doing his job. It's got nothing to do with favouring you over that customer.

Do you really want to spend 10-20 years working for Sainsburys to get promoted to team leader, to trainee department manager, to department manager, to store manager, and only then earn less than £25k pa? The number of times you need to be promoted just to earn that salary is insane.

MusicalLawyer

I think I'm paid quite well, as just an assistant. I'm on £7.05 an hour (Approx £14,300 pro rata). My OH is a Team Leader and is on £16,350. (So not much difference, I agree). There is nothing stopping people from finding work in other companies, with higher wages after working within Management - unless you're constantly rejected from companies because there is something wrong with you.

I don't get how it's "no family if we're paid so little" though.
I don't understand what my pay has to do with how my Managers and Colleagues treat me?

wapow

Youre a girl. Theyre a bunch of guys. Simple as.
Someone also hit the nail on the head. Manager was doing their job. Staright up.

Good thing about working in a place close to home is you have no travelling costs or food costs because you can go home for that and walk back and forth from work.

So for someone who works in a store close to home as opposed to travelling in the city, you'd be surprised at the saving!

MusicalLawyer

wapow wrote: »

Youre a girl. Theyre a bunch of guys. Simple as.
Someone also hit the nail on the head. Manager was doing their job. Staright up.

Yes I am a girl.

My line managers (both men and women) have all told me to call Security etc when he comes near my department again.

I understand my Store Manager was just doing his job in so far that the customer requested a manager, a manager was presented. My Store Manager had told him to leave etc. But I don't believe he was 'just doing his job' when he was asking me, many times, during the course of the day if I am OK - considering he doesn't even need to come anywhere near my department during the course of the day, as I'm tucked away in a corner.

I've received a lot of support from my colleagues over this matter, and, especially as I haven't been at this store that long, feel like a part of the family. It isn't like I'm going to be working there forever, but whilst I am there, I am happy with the way I'm being treated.

Annisele

KellyKing - I think that what you discovered is that most of your colleagues are human beings :-) Working for a big company, or a little company, or a medium-sized company, doesn't knock that out of them!

lollipopsarah

nice post and thankyou for pointing out that some people do care,
retail work is not the best job in the world, but hey ho any job is better than none.
As I understand it sainsbugs are very strict with rules and regs etc but will back up their staff and good for them.
Keep yer chin up love and don't let the ** customers get you down.
xx

fashionlover10

Why are people trying to knock the niceness in this thread?

I work for Sainsbury's too and whilst I was using the bailer last night I had a lovely conversation with a colleague I've never spoken to before (but do see around) and it certainly made the last hour of my shift that little bit more cheerful!

shop-to-drop

amazingcookie wrote: »

It's no 'family' if you're paid so little. Even team leaders aren't paid a lot, and department managers only earn the same amount as someone starting on a graduate scheme. Your manager was doing his job. It's got nothing to do with favouring you over that customer.

Do you really want to spend 10-20 years working for Sainsburys to get promoted to team leader, to trainee department manager, to department manager, to store manager, and only then earn less than £25k pa? The number of times you need to be promoted just to earn that salary is insane.

Supermarket Store Managers earn way more than 25K!

caeler

Lovely. Not many of us can expect this kind of care but I am pleased you have found it. It is so easy to side with the customer it is nice that they trust your word.