does anyone work for m&s? - breaks / uniform / general advise

chezybezy

im starting at m&s next week (interview was today), will be training monday / tuesday.

just wanting some advise r.e. breaks / uniform really.

can anyone advise what m&s will give for breaks on the following shifts:
06:30/12, 06:30/10.30, 06.30/17.00.

also uniform i understand it is all provided? - The polo / fleece I think ill be fine with having long arms shouldn't matter, however im a nightmare for trousers! .... it takes me weeks to find just a normal pair that fit correctly, so anyone know if you can just wear your own? and if so what colour are they? black? (funnily enough i didn't think to look at peoples trousers when i passed them!)

any other little tips to help, ya know those "once you know sort of tips then your ok" kind?

finally whats the till / task 25 stuff like? i had some real issues at my last job in that area so am rather nervous to find out that ill be doing shopfloor and that apparently will include tills.

dandelionclock30

I know people who have worked for them. 1 worked for them in an advisory capacity, they were on the board of directors of 11 wholesalers that sold to them in London. They went along to give them some advise about something and were told off for eating with the staff at lunchtimes and not being with the higher managers.
Anyway she just left and told them she wasnt being told what to do when she was there helping them out !.
Another person I know works at one of those places in a train station at the checkout. She doesnt like it either and is desperate to get out. She says that they are at you all the time and didnt even like it when she was friendly with anther person who works there.You have to stand up all day and its freezing cold in the winter.
I've known another few people in the past who have worked for them who say that they expect a right lot off you are very strict and not that brilliant to work for. Most got jobs in other shops.

dancingfairy

Legally you are only entitled to a break if your shift is over 6 hours long and I think it has to be a 20 min break which has to be taken not at the begining or end of the shift. I doubt very much you will get a break at all on the first 2 shifts.
I don't work for M and S so don't know for sure but I guess you would get 1 1/2 in total for the longer shift.
I'm not sure on the think 25 but I would think it was fairly straightforward? Anyone who appears to be 25 or under you ID. no id that proves they are over 18 then you refuse the sale (And possibly have to sign a refusal register).
Hope all goes well for you.
df

chezybezy

Thanks for the replies!

i got letter today with my hours listed (only first few weeks, but it even said my breaks on! awesome).

now just to find out if i can wear my own trousers! and what colour the normal staff wear.

the comment i made r.e. task 25 was due to my confidence being shot (for 5 years i was fine, but now i dont trust my judgement )

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine

chezybezy wrote: »

the comment i made r.e. task 25 was due to my confidence being shot (for 5 years i was fine, but now i dont trust my judgement

Just I.D. everyone who doesn't have grey hair / obvious wrinkles in that case?

chezybezy

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine wrote: »

Just I.D. everyone who doesn't have grey hair / obvious wrinkles in that case?

good point! though i think theyll think im taking the mickey when im sincerely not!

disclaimer if anyone sees me in M&S doing just that please dont hate me!

its silly it really is but its true. How you can do something VERY well for 5 years and then end up totally unable to do so is confounding! ... awh well maybe ill be fine this time around!

*Scarlett

Chez good luck with the new job.

I'm sure they will answer a lot of your questions during your training. If you are unsure about anything, ask them. There will probably be other people with the same concerns.

As regards to the trousers - they will probably want you to wear M&S ones either as part of a uniform or from the shop floor. If they have nothing that can fit you, then hopefully they can agree a suitable alternative. (Don't be worrying about this at this stage).

Best wishes and I hope everything goes well for you in your new job.

chezybezy

*Scarlett wrote: »

<snip>

Thanks, fingers crossed itll all go ok!

Mrs_Ryan

I used to work for them and they were very good with me but it went a bit sour when the boss I had got on very well with previously disclipined me for claiming I hadn't done something when a) I had and b) the customer specifically told me not to do it as I had my arm heavily bandaged at the time and they felt sorry for me!
I got another job, luckily.

saintjammyswine

Regarding trousers, they have recently changed the uniforms and prefer you to wear theirs although of there are good reasons (you are over a 12-14 for example) then providing they fit in with the rest there is generally no issue with wearing with your own. The cut of the new uniform (now black & lime green) has had a few complaints but most like it.

Try and get a fleece if you can, apparently, they are v. warm & comfy.