Sainsburys - Training after induction?

BlueFlames

Hi I recently got offered a job at Sainsburys, and I have found a lot of useful information about the interview and induction but I need some information about starting the the first proper days, and the training, and procedures when you arrive for work

I have completed my 2 day induction, and even though it was helpful and insightful about the over all procedures of working in sainsburys or any super market role, it didn't really give any specifics and I'm getting worried as my first proper day is soon I know I should of asked but there was so much information it slipped my mind

All I really need to know is:

- What should you do when you arrive for your first day?
(during the 2 day induction we would have to sign in at the front desk as we didn't have uniforms and on the first day of induction we had no name badges, and a staff member would take us to the staff canteen in the back and we would wait for the trainer to come for us and lead us into the training room).

Is the procedure after induction to go into the back, clock in and then wait for your department manager to give you your instructions for the day?

and is this the same for every day after training does your department manager give you your jobs for the day?

- What happens during till training? and also what does shop floor training entail?
My role isn't on check out but all staff need to be till trained. I'm just curious as to what happens? and after you are shown how to use the till do they kind of leave you on there for the rest of the day? As for shop floor training we did do stock replenishment for 40mins during induction.

Any advice for dealing with the cold in the fresh food section?
The department I'm working on is fresh food, when I applied I didn't realize it was this department and not sure if I would have applied if I had known as I'm really bad when dealing with the cold (I can't function my hands when they get really cold as they hurt really bad). But from induction the store seems a really great place to work and I want to try my best and push forward but I'm worried that my pain threshold for cold may make it unbearable I'm hoping moving around a lot will help but 4 - 6 hours in the cold is worrying me as I'm very pron to chilblains. Any advice for this would be great, and does anyone know if you can wear like woolen gloves? and do you kind of get intervals where your not in the cold?

Sorry if these questions seem silly, I've never worked in a supermarket before and have very little experience in retail, and just like to know what to expect, as I do have a tendency to worry especially when starting something new and unfamiliar

Thanks any information would be appreciated

mumx3

My daughter started working at sainsburys last month, she is a student and has a 15hr week contract, she is really enjoying it.

When she started her shifts after the induction days she went straight to where you clock in and her department manager then pointed her in the right direction, she is quite a shy girl but found it all very easy so I wouldn't worry too much.
When she works now she knows to go into the store room and everything she needs to know is there apparently, all straight forward.
She was till trained after her first week, she worked 2 full 8 hr days and that was it she now works on the tills a lot as its so busy.
No help really for the cold but I know they were gloves and fleeces so hopefully you will be OK.

Good luck I'm sure you will be fine, they seem a good company to work for, my daughter gets a lot of opportunity to work extra hours which she is happy to do.

Ooh

After clocking in you would go report to your department and your team leader or manager would tell you what to do. Once theyre satisfied with what you can do, you might find yourself being scheduled to work that department on your own. It all depends on the size of your store i guess but at ours sometimes there might not be a manager/team leader if you start at like 9am.

They wouldn't leave you on a check out all day.

You should ask your manager / hr for free gloves. There might be discounted thermal clothing available to order if I remember correctly although I was never interested so am not 100%
Your department is fresh so you will spend most of your time there, only intervals would be calls for checkouts and if another department was desperate due to sick calls etc.

BlueFlames

@Mumx3 Thank you so much for the information, I feel more self assured about going now for my first day I'm very shy too, so knowing that your daughter is the same and still finds it very easy definitely puts my mind at ease.

@Ooh Thank you for the information Again I feel a lot better and more confident about finding my way. Also thanks for the information about the gloves, I didn't think of the work thermal gloves, I have actually ordered some thermal cold store freezer gloves of my own from ebay, it saves asking and I really want to start using them from day 1, I'll bring them to my first shift and hopefully they will let me wear them it will make my job alot easier and more comfortable

Southend1

Don't be shy about asking for equipment that will help you do your job better/more safely/more comfortably!

Be sure to join USDAW, your rep will be able to advise on what gear you are entitled to request from the company and can help you out of they are reluctant to provide it for you. They may also offer training on assertiveness for members (my union does, not sure about USDAW) which you may find helps your confidence at work.

BlueFlames

@ Southend1 Hi Thanks for the comment. Now you've put it that way they shouldn't have a problem with me wearing gloves so I do feel more confident that I will be able to wear them I will ask about getting a pair, I know I shouldn't of used my own money to purchase something that should be provided, but with having to wait for orders or if they only have like a few pairs and they are all being used, I'd rather just always know I have my own Just because I know if I went on my first day and had a bad experience with my hands getting cold I might not want to go back ^^;
They did mention about the union in the induction so I will look into that, its just my contract atm is temporary only till December, so I'm not sure if it'd be worth joining ^^; It would be great if they did do training on assertiveness I definitely have a problem with confidence and asking for things ^^;

Southend1

BlueFlames wrote: »

@ Southend1 Hi Thanks for the comment. Now you've put it that way they shouldn't have a problem with me wearing gloves so I do feel more confident that I will be able to wear them They did mention about the union in the induction so I will definitely look into that, its jut my contract atm is temporary only till December ^^; It would be great if they did do training on assertiveness I definitely have a problem with confidence and asking for things ^^;

They might have a rule about wearing certain gloves that match the uniform or something but if you need gloves to be able to work in a cold environment then they should let you without any issues.

A lot of people are shy about asking for things. But if you don't ask then generally you won't get!

You can join the union and if you aren't kept on after Christmas then just leave or become an unemployed member if planning to stay in retail.

Good luck with the new job, I'm sure you'll be fine

suki1964

Been a few years since I worked in sainsburys but till training used to be in a room and you had targets to meet- so many items a minute kind of scenario. Iirc we had six weeks probationary period to meet targets, checkouts, replenishment etc then a meeting with HR to see if we were being kept on at training wage, being let go or offered a permanent position within a dept. Myself I started in the meat room and it just didn't suit me so I went to produce and within a year I was running it and on the trainee management training programme.

Like I say that was a while ago but tbh it was one of the best companies I've ever worked for.

Enjoy and try not to worry too far ahead.

stroodes

A lot of equipment may have security coded numbers so a note book and pencil will help.

DCFC79

BlueFlames wrote: »

Hi I recently got offered a job at Sainsburys, and I have found a lot of useful information about the interview and induction but I need some information about starting the the first proper days, and the training, and procedures when you arrive for work

I have completed my 2 day induction, and even though it was helpful and insightful about the over all procedures of working in sainsburys or any super market role, it didn't really give any specifics and I'm getting worried as my first proper day is soon I know I should of asked but there was so much information it slipped my mind

All I really need to know is:

- What should you do when you arrive for your first day?
(during the 2 day induction we would have to sign in at the front desk as we didn't have uniforms and on the first day of induction we had no name badges, and a staff member would take us to the staff canteen in the back and we would wait for the trainer to come for us and lead us into the training room).

Is the procedure after induction to go into the back, clock in and then wait for your department manager to give you your instructions for the day?

Yes you put your stuff in your locker (if you have a key), clock in and find your department manager and he will either show you what to do OR ask 1 of his underlings to show you whats what.

and is this the same for every day after training does your department manager give you your jobs for the day?

Yes find your department manager if he is in or if not locate 1 of the underlings, if they are any good they should make sure a colleague from fresh food is there when you start so they can show you what to do etc.

Well speaking from experience once your shown what to do then you should know what to do when you start.

- What happens during till training? and also what does shop floor training entail?
My role isn't on check out but all staff need to be till trained. I'm just curious as to what happens? and after you are shown how to use the till do they kind of leave you on there for the rest of the day? As for shop floor training we did do stock replenishment for 40mins during induction.

It depends what time of day the checkout training is done but yes you could be left on the till ( maybe for a few hours and generally on a quiet till eg basket only and with another colleague behind you either watching what your doing or sat on the till behind you.)

Shop floor training could be how to read the sel, not to leave the roller of fresh food on the shop floor over a certain amount of time ( health and safety et all )

Any advice for dealing with the cold in the fresh food section?
The department I'm working on is fresh food, when I applied I didn't realize it was this department and not sure if I would have applied if I had known as I'm really bad when dealing with the cold (I can't function my hands when they get really cold as they hurt really bad). But from induction the store seems a really great place to work and I want to try my best and push forward but I'm worried that my pain threshold for cold may make it unbearable I'm hoping moving around a lot will help but 4 - 6 hours in the cold is worrying me as I'm very pron to chilblains. Any advice for this would be great, and does anyone know if you can wear like woolen gloves? and do you kind of get intervals where your not in the cold?

Yes you can go to HR and ask for some gloves, or you can wear your own. The only cold part is the chiller but you do get a fleece/jumper to wear and your not in that long. Its not that cold when on the shopfloor.

Sorry if these questions seem silly, I've never worked in a supermarket before and have very little experience in retail, and just like to know what to expect, as I do have a tendency to worry especially when starting something new and unfamiliar .

The questions aren't silly.



Thanks any information would be appreciated

My replies in blue.

Ok it looks like ive replicated some info thats already been mentioned.

BlueFlames

@suki1964 Thank you I found your reply very helpful, and yes from what I've experienced so far it does seem like a great place to work.

@stroodes Thanks for the tip I'll make sure to have a pad and pen with me

@DCFC79 Thank you for commenting, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions, I feel a lot better about it. The shop floor I do find quite cold but that might be just because I'm very sensitive to cold, but I do have a nice fleece in my uniform pack and I can wear layers

I was only given one of the polo shirts though. can you request another one? or do you have to be there for a certain amount of time to earn 2? as the shifts I'm working are all in one slot and it may be difficult to find time to wash until my day off, especially without a tumble dryer, also worried in case I spill something on it in the morning just before I have to go to work