Tesco - despicable Christmas temp recruiting practices

PS123

I recently applied for an advertised part-time Christmas temporary position at my local Tesco as a night worker.  The whole interview process was a bit surreal and jarring to the effect that I looked for and accepted a job elsewhere.

Last week, I attended the interview process late at night.  After an hour's stint of putting out products on shelves, which I can only assume was a way of getting free labour out of candidates, even if they tried to sugar-coat it "to experience what it would be working like", I was called back to the office to be interviewed by the night team produce manager and the night team manager.

Although they mentioned that I would be contracted to work 16 hours per week, split over two nights, as advertised, the night team manager stated to me that they expected me to work all of the hours that would be offered, which upon clarification was at least 5 nights a week.  Already I was thinking what was the point of advertising a job as part-time, if in reality, they expected the employee to work full-time.

When I questioned about this practice, I was informed by the night team manager that using the part-time hours arrangement was an easy way to let go of staff who were not performing. When presented with the availability sheet for hours and being reminded that it was expected that I would be working at least 5 nights a week, I felt pressured into ticking every single box for my hourly availability.

After a few more questions, the night team manager gave me an example of where they let go of an an employee who wanted to revert to working only their contractual hours.  I could not believe what I was hearing!

To make matters worse, I am over 40 years of age, and just as I was about to leave the interview, the night team manager mentioned that they would be interviewing "the younger ones" the following morning before they would come back to me to let me know if they would offer me the position.

This interview process at Tesco really made me question what values UK's biggest supermarket really has towards its employees.  I thought readers would wish to know as I have never experienced such an interview process anywhere in my life as this.

To date, despite being told that I was offered the job, Tesco did not ask whether I have accepted or not and they have not even sent me an employment contract to sign, although I am expected to attend an induction later this morning!

It has changed my whole perspective about working for Tesco now.

On the other hand, my experience with my job interview at Sainsbury's was amazing!  I was not pressured at all, met really friendly managers who were genuine with what they said to me and was offered a job the next day where I was presented with the employment contract to sign!

Dakta

" The whole interview process was a bit surreal and jarring to the effect that I looked for and accepted a job elsewhere."

This is a help forum but it sounds like there is nothing to solve?

Your experience though doesn't surprise me that much - I worked at a firm years ago as a christmas temp, only time i've done it and I was already working full time at the time (needed the cash boost ha). Whilst it was hard work I remember it fondly, and it was quite atmospheric and christmassy for a warehouse. But it was literally a case of getting people in to do a job, and the shifts offered were the shifts offered - I suspect this was to ease the admin and operational management of it all. I think these sort of roles target those who want to rack up hours, and not really suitable to the 'i cant do this day, im on holiday on that day, id rather do earlies on these days' types

Grumpy_chap

I suspect that the exact process varies between Tesco stores - what the OP experienced is different to my experience in 2020 (and my next door neighbour's experience).

It was clear, though, from my experience, that Tesco were seeking candidates that were "hungry" to work for the store.  Quite a reasonable filter to apply.

Jillanddy

There doesn't sound anything very unusual here - the "minimum 16 hours" is actually very common in retail and elsewhere, as is the expectation that people will work more hours and be available for shifts when told. To be honest, perhaps the recruiters here were simply being more transparent that most. You may not have been able to believe what you were hearing - on this board we hear it pretty often. Hopefully your current employer will keep to what they say. But expecting and demanding more hours is so commonplace that my local Sainsbury's certainly do it - and not just to Christmas staff.

prowla

Thinking about it - if you have some staff an say "Who's available for Thursday and Friday night this week?" and one says "Me!" but another says "Nah, sorry.", which are you going to want on-board?

I think as far as seasonal work goes, a lot of folks would have the attitude of grabbing as much work as they can.

MovingForwards

My OH worked in a different supermarket, less hours than your proposed contracted ones, but it ended up being a full-time role, very last minute calls to cover absent staff and long shifts, doing earlies and covering the next rotation, or covering the middle shift and then doing his own late one. It was a relief for him when they did let him go as he was exhausted.

One of my friends works at Sainsbury's and highly rates them, so much so he left for what he thought was his dream job, but returned within 6 months; he missed the whole vibe, happy environment, team work and accepts he'll never earn loads, but he prefers being happy and on a tight budget.

Undervalued

PS123 said:

I recently applied for an advertised part-time Christmas temporary position at my local Tesco as a night worker.  The whole interview process was a bit surreal and jarring to the effect that I looked for and accepted a job elsewhere.

Last week, I attended the interview process late at night.  After an hour's stint of putting out products on shelves, which I can only assume was a way of getting free labour out of candidates, even if they tried to sugar-coat it "to experience what it would be working like", I was called back to the office to be interviewed by the night team produce manager and the night team manager.

Although they mentioned that I would be contracted to work 16 hours per week, split over two nights, as advertised, the night team manager stated to me that they expected me to work all of the hours that would be offered, which upon clarification was at least 5 nights a week.  Already I was thinking what was the point of advertising a job as part-time, if in reality, they expected the employee to work full-time.

When I questioned about this practice, I was informed by the night team manager that using the part-time hours arrangement was an easy way to let go of staff who were not performing. When presented with the availability sheet for hours and being reminded that it was expected that I would be working at least 5 nights a week, I felt pressured into ticking every single box for my hourly availability.

After a few more questions, the night team manager gave me an example of where they let go of an an employee who wanted to revert to working only their contractual hours.  I could not believe what I was hearing!

To make matters worse, I am over 40 years of age, and just as I was about to leave the interview, the night team manager mentioned that they would be interviewing "the younger ones" the following morning before they would come back to me to let me know if they would offer me the position.

This interview process at Tesco really made me question what values UK's biggest supermarket really has towards its employees.  I thought readers would wish to know as I have never experienced such an interview process anywhere in my life as this.

To date, despite being told that I was offered the job, Tesco did not ask whether I have accepted or not and they have not even sent me an employment contract to sign, although I am expected to attend an induction later this morning!

It has changed my whole perspective about working for Tesco now.

On the other hand, my experience with my job interview at Sainsbury's was amazing!  I was not pressured at all, met really friendly managers who were genuine with what they said to me and was offered a job the next day where I was presented with the employment contract to sign!

OK, that is a good rant and you are of course quite entitled not to work for them if you so choose!

I am struggling to see anything unlawful.

PS123

prowla said:

Thinking about it - if you have some staff an say "Who's available for Thursday and Friday night this week?" and one says "Me!" but another says "Nah, sorry.", which are you going to want on-board?

I think as far as seasonal work goes, a lot of folks would have the attitude of grabbing as much work as they can.

You missed the point. They are advertising a role as being part-time but yet they want someone full-time.  So why not advertise the role as full-time?  It saves the whole argument of "we expect you to work the hours that you will be given", which is their way of saying "we expect you to work full-time hours even though we advertised the job as being part-time".

PS123

Undervalued said:

PS123 said:

I recently applied for an advertised part-time Christmas temporary position at my local Tesco as a night worker.  The whole interview process was a bit surreal and jarring to the effect that I looked for and accepted a job elsewhere.

Last week, I attended the interview process late at night.  After an hour's stint of putting out products on shelves, which I can only assume was a way of getting free labour out of candidates, even if they tried to sugar-coat it "to experience what it would be working like", I was called back to the office to be interviewed by the night team produce manager and the night team manager.

Although they mentioned that I would be contracted to work 16 hours per week, split over two nights, as advertised, the night team manager stated to me that they expected me to work all of the hours that would be offered, which upon clarification was at least 5 nights a week.  Already I was thinking what was the point of advertising a job as part-time, if in reality, they expected the employee to work full-time.

When I questioned about this practice, I was informed by the night team manager that using the part-time hours arrangement was an easy way to let go of staff who were not performing. When presented with the availability sheet for hours and being reminded that it was expected that I would be working at least 5 nights a week, I felt pressured into ticking every single box for my hourly availability.

After a few more questions, the night team manager gave me an example of where they let go of an an employee who wanted to revert to working only their contractual hours.  I could not believe what I was hearing!

To make matters worse, I am over 40 years of age, and just as I was about to leave the interview, the night team manager mentioned that they would be interviewing "the younger ones" the following morning before they would come back to me to let me know if they would offer me the position.

This interview process at Tesco really made me question what values UK's biggest supermarket really has towards its employees.  I thought readers would wish to know as I have never experienced such an interview process anywhere in my life as this.

To date, despite being told that I was offered the job, Tesco did not ask whether I have accepted or not and they have not even sent me an employment contract to sign, although I am expected to attend an induction later this morning!

It has changed my whole perspective about working for Tesco now.

On the other hand, my experience with my job interview at Sainsbury's was amazing!  I was not pressured at all, met really friendly managers who were genuine with what they said to me and was offered a job the next day where I was presented with the employment contract to sign!

OK, that is a good rant and you are of course quite entitled not to work for them if you so choose!

I am struggling to see anything unlawful.

You're right but the night manager could have just said "we interviewing more candidates tomorrow"...rather than implying that I may be too old for the job.

PS123

Grumpy_chap said:

I suspect that the exact process varies between Tesco stores - what the OP experienced is different to my experience in 2020 (and my next door neighbour's experience).

It was clear, though, from my experience, that Tesco were seeking candidates that were "hungry" to work for the store.  Quite a reasonable filter to apply.

I can understand that they're looking for a full-time worker but I applied for a part-time post because I only expected and wanted to work part-time.  I have my own reasons for wanting to work part-time for the time being.

Dakta

PS123 said:

prowla said:

Thinking about it - if you have some staff an say "Who's available for Thursday and Friday night this week?" and one says "Me!" but another says "Nah, sorry.", which are you going to want on-board?

I think as far as seasonal work goes, a lot of folks would have the attitude of grabbing as much work as they can.

You missed the point. They are advertising a role as being part-time but yet they want someone full-time.  So why not advertise the role as full-time?  It saves the whole argument of "we expect you to work the hours that you will be given", which is their way of saying "we expect you to work full-time hours even though we advertised the job as being part-time".

To me it more says 'we expect you to work the hours we have' - they probably know they will require at least part time, but whether the workforce will need to work beyond that is an unknown.

the christmas period is a bit special where workload goes up exponentially for an almost nothing of time relative to the rest of the year  and its a management nightmare, especially as its hard to predict what resources will be needed. This company will be amongst hundreds or thousands looking for people to jump in and take on as much hours as they can get depending on company workload. Given the nature of christmas I don't actually think this is all that despicable, companies do have to find a way to economically cope and whilst it might seem a bit demanding, it's to deal with a demanding situation.

Ultimately you found something that suited you better so it's no deal.