Well what i'm saying is we're getting in trouble for just doing our job. It starts with just verbal warnings, then it becomes write ups then bam your out the door. I can blow off the occasional manager with an attitude but once my boss got a write up for stuff we supposedly were all doing shit just got real.
honestly my normal attitude is just do what they say. and honestly I really don't care if the freight gets done on time, that's their problem IMO, but when they aren't doing there part and then I get in trouble for it, thats when it becomes a problem.
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63 replies to this topic
cor-master
OHY
#21
Posted June 10, 2012 - 07:50PM
ndcoltsnpacers
Administrator
#22
Posted June 10, 2012 - 07:57PM
Here's my advice to for regarding retail survival:
- Don't take pride in your work. Overall results mean very little for you. No matter how stupid you think your boss is being just do what they say. Then as you say, just collect your check and go home.
- Never think of your coworkers who are working on the same project as you as being the ones who are "helping you". They aren't helping you, they're paid employees who are helping their employer. If the job doesn't get done because the job was understaffed, then the employer gets exactly what they paid for.
- Don't buy the bullshit about there being no jobs out there. Is unemployment high right now? Yes. But those folks can only be so motivated to find jobs since they're likely being paid unemployment. Right now the company I work for is hiring what amounts to untrained monkeys, starting them at 11 an hour w/ time and half on Sundays, full medical and dental benefits after 90 days, 8 paid holidays per year, paid vacation, paid sick/personal time. And that's just ONE place. There ARE jobs out there and you aren't stuck at Lowe's.
- From my experience, and from watching other people's experience, it's exceptionally difficult to get fired from a retail store if you show up on time everyday and don't steal or sexually harass anyone. You get yelled at? No big deal, just take it, say sorry and go back to work. Hell, crack a smile even. Keep doing what they say and they'll run out of stuff to yell at you for. I haven't worked for Lowe's so I have no idea what there policy is or how much they have to go through to fire a person. Be familiar with the rulebook.
-Don't get too used to a routine. Retail management seems to change often and each individual likes to change things to leave their footprint on things. Like your lunch routine, that can and sounds like has changed at any moment.
It just comes down to not worrying about the stuff that's way over your head. Leave that to the moneymakers at your store.
- Don't take pride in your work. Overall results mean very little for you. No matter how stupid you think your boss is being just do what they say. Then as you say, just collect your check and go home.
- Never think of your coworkers who are working on the same project as you as being the ones who are "helping you". They aren't helping you, they're paid employees who are helping their employer. If the job doesn't get done because the job was understaffed, then the employer gets exactly what they paid for.
- Don't buy the bullshit about there being no jobs out there. Is unemployment high right now? Yes. But those folks can only be so motivated to find jobs since they're likely being paid unemployment. Right now the company I work for is hiring what amounts to untrained monkeys, starting them at 11 an hour w/ time and half on Sundays, full medical and dental benefits after 90 days, 8 paid holidays per year, paid vacation, paid sick/personal time. And that's just ONE place. There ARE jobs out there and you aren't stuck at Lowe's.
- From my experience, and from watching other people's experience, it's exceptionally difficult to get fired from a retail store if you show up on time everyday and don't steal or sexually harass anyone. You get yelled at? No big deal, just take it, say sorry and go back to work. Hell, crack a smile even. Keep doing what they say and they'll run out of stuff to yell at you for. I haven't worked for Lowe's so I have no idea what there policy is or how much they have to go through to fire a person. Be familiar with the rulebook.
-Don't get too used to a routine. Retail management seems to change often and each individual likes to change things to leave their footprint on things. Like your lunch routine, that can and sounds like has changed at any moment.
It just comes down to not worrying about the stuff that's way over your head. Leave that to the moneymakers at your store.
PonyUp
Senior Member
#23
Posted June 10, 2012 - 08:41PM
Fired? These places don't fire anymore. They cut your hours 'till you can't survive and are forced to quit. Then they don't have to pay out unemployment.. It works since most people don't realize they can draw unemployment on a reduction of hours. The only time they are going to fire you is if you fail to show up enough that they can make a case to unemployment (Or you no-call no show three straight days. Then it's job abandonment and on the employee.), or you break a law - Since unemployment will laugh at you if you try to collect on a job you lost for committing a crime. (Ie: Theft they have on camera, alcohol or tobacco sales)
ndcoltsnpacers
Administrator
#24
Posted June 10, 2012 - 09:30PM
Fired? These places don't fire anymore. They cut your hours 'till you can't survive and are forced to quit. Then they don't have to pay out unemployment.. It works since most people don't realize they can draw unemployment on a reduction of hours. The only time they are going to fire you is if you fail to show up enough that they can make a case to unemployment (Or you no-call no show three straight days. Then it's job abandonment and on the employee.), or you break a law - Since unemployment will laugh at you if you try to collect on a job you lost for committing a crime. (Ie: Theft they have on camera, alcohol or tobacco sales)
I'll say again, I don't know Lowe's practices so I'm just going off what Cor says and what I've heard, but I would guess their ability to cut hours even is a little difficult. From what I understand it sounds like Lowe's has a pretty decent package of benefits for their employees, and because that costs the company money I'm going to guess they have a fairly generous minimum amount of hours that they're allowed to give employees which is determined by corporate. They won't have people coming in working 15 hours a week over 2 days gleaning benefits off the company. Retirees would be flocking there. Once again, just a guess. In Cor's case though it really just sounds like a case of whip cracking, and that he really is a productive employee. I don't think he's in any position to take massive hour cuts or be terminated. I was actually in that position several years ago with an employer where I'd been teetering on the edge of being fired, but kept doing just enough to stay on. After a while they pulled the maximum hour reduction they could followed by moving me to the department they knew I liked the least. I had to go pretty deep for pretty long to finally get to that point. I'm talking late several times a month, some days just not showing up and not calling, getting in my bosses face and questioning her decision one time. Deeeeep. I lasted in that department working minimum hours for about 6 weeks and they decided I'd done well enough and I got moved back to where I had been and got my hours back.
Which leads me to another Retail Survival Rule: Don't let on to your bosses the things you like or dislike, be as indifferent as possible. It may sound unfriendly, but keep details of your personal life at a bare minimum. For instance, if your mean store manager doesn't already know you're expecting a child soon, that's good, and sure as hell don't let on to that fact now!
Basically, Cor, be an emotionless machine. Or be an expert kiss ass. That's actually the other road to retail survival I just never took it. Kiss ass and snitch on coworkers. Nobody will like you for being a heartless, soulless bastard, but your job will be pretty easy. Also will have potential for promotion that way.
cor-master
OHY
#25
Posted June 11, 2012 - 02:05AM
All good tips guys thanks again. really just needed to vent. I'm going to just shut up and do my job.
cor-master
OHY
#26
Posted June 11, 2012 - 06:09AM
Half way through and thing's are better thanks to your guys advice. I'm done complaining just gonna let them run the show the way they wanna and and do what they want. They came in this morning and told us how they want us to stock, and its a lot more inefficient but fuck it not my problem.
ICG
Am I cute or what?
#27
Posted June 11, 2012 - 06:21AM
All I can say is AMEN to everything ND told you.
Double Amen.
Hell people have complained to me that I don't let anybody "get to know" me. I ask them just what is it they need to know outside of work? I don't take my breaks outside in the "smoke shack", I go to my car. I go home for lunch and I never ever ever talk about anything more personal in my life other than I have two granddaughters. A lot of people don't even know if I'm married or single or divorced. Its none of their business and the less they know the less they have to use against you eventually.
All they need to know is that I show up every day on time, do what I'm asked to do, and do my best to get along with everyone. And I don't want to hear about their personal shit either, although I won't be rude and say so.
And one more thing Cory, keep your mouth closed about anything you know or hear. The less they think you know the better off you usually are.
Double Amen.
Hell people have complained to me that I don't let anybody "get to know" me. I ask them just what is it they need to know outside of work? I don't take my breaks outside in the "smoke shack", I go to my car. I go home for lunch and I never ever ever talk about anything more personal in my life other than I have two granddaughters. A lot of people don't even know if I'm married or single or divorced. Its none of their business and the less they know the less they have to use against you eventually.
All they need to know is that I show up every day on time, do what I'm asked to do, and do my best to get along with everyone. And I don't want to hear about their personal shit either, although I won't be rude and say so.
And one more thing Cory, keep your mouth closed about anything you know or hear. The less they think you know the better off you usually are.
madman1971
Colts Fanatic
#28
Posted June 11, 2012 - 06:39AM
ND, great advice and spot on. ICG and Pony, also spot on. As ICG said, im in these meetings about employees too but im not retail. Trust me, these people above me get a grudge against someone and they will tell us to find anything to write them up for, change what they do everyday and piss them off and either get them to quit or say something to get them fired. Its a management trick and has been around for decades. Dont fall for it. Sounds like youve come to grips with it.
ICG
Am I cute or what?
#29
Posted June 11, 2012 - 08:07AM
A couple of things though. We can't cut any full time employee's hours below 36. There is a clause in unemployment where you can draw if your hours are cut for a certain amount of time...I think 3 weeks. So we really don't do that as the schedule is generated from Home Office. It would be considered retaliation and thats a pretty serious offense.
And also, I'm not a professional kissass or tattler but I've been promoted 3 times and they are pushing me for another but I'm not taking it at my choice. I don't know if you can know me well enough via the internet, but I don't kissass with anyone. And I don't snitch although I will write someone up if it is serious enough. I've just generally got the attitude that its the store managers call and do what they ask me to do. I don't bitch and complain much, so when I DO they mostly listen. I'm pretty easy going so they put me with salaried management that everybody else bitches about lmao. But when I get pushed too far I don't hesitate to speak my mind. But I also know who the asskissers and tattlers are, so I avoid them like a plague. Its a tightwire act.
I keep turning down going to salary because then you DO become the store managers bitch lol. They can keep you there as long as they want, call you in on your days off, vacations, and the store runs your life. As long as I remain hourly they can't and won't do that because they'd have to pay me overtime and THAT kills 'em. I like things just the way they are.
And also, I'm not a professional kissass or tattler but I've been promoted 3 times and they are pushing me for another but I'm not taking it at my choice. I don't know if you can know me well enough via the internet, but I don't kissass with anyone. And I don't snitch although I will write someone up if it is serious enough. I've just generally got the attitude that its the store managers call and do what they ask me to do. I don't bitch and complain much, so when I DO they mostly listen. I'm pretty easy going so they put me with salaried management that everybody else bitches about lmao. But when I get pushed too far I don't hesitate to speak my mind. But I also know who the asskissers and tattlers are, so I avoid them like a plague. Its a tightwire act.
I keep turning down going to salary because then you DO become the store managers bitch lol. They can keep you there as long as they want, call you in on your days off, vacations, and the store runs your life. As long as I remain hourly they can't and won't do that because they'd have to pay me overtime and THAT kills 'em.
I like things just the way they are.
ICG
Am I cute or what?
#30
Posted June 11, 2012 - 08:09AM
ND, great advice and spot on. ICG and Pony, also spot on. As ICG said, im in these meetings about employees too but im not retail. Trust me, these people above me get a grudge against someone and they will tell us to find anything to write them up for, change what they do everyday and piss them off and either get them to quit or say something to get them fired. Its a management trick and has been around for decades. Dont fall for it. Sounds like youve come to grips with it.
And you are 100% right.
cor-master
OHY
#31
Posted June 11, 2012 - 08:28AM
Yeah the salaried managers here, same way, they work a minimum of 52 hours, and are on call nearly at all times. fuck that shit. and Lowe's won't cut a full timers hours, they Will however cut a part timer down to as little as 10 hours a week
madman1971
Colts Fanatic
#32
Posted June 11, 2012 - 08:43AM
ICG, its pretty much the same here. We can send people home as a suspension if they are determined to be detrimental to production that day, but we also have to make sure they maintain enough scheduled hours to stay above that line. But, if they leave early or call in a lot, thats their fault and they cant claim lack of available hours. I had a guy try that. He went to the unemployment office and filed for underemployment. Well, he had called in 1 day a week for 4 weeks and had 1 day a week vacation day for 4 weeks and tried to claim he didnt have enough hours. He was fired and the state is investigating him. I am salary but after 48 hours, I earn bonus time which is just 1 1/2 times my average hourly pay breakdown. I rarely go over 44 hours but it has happened. I do get phone calls time to time from the night manager on a shipment if they have an issue, but im okay with that. Although sometimes it interrupts a good dinner out somewhere lol.
I hope it works out for you Cor, nothing worse than going to work somewhere and fricken hate it.
I hope it works out for you Cor, nothing worse than going to work somewhere and fricken hate it.
cor-master
OHY
#33
Posted June 11, 2012 - 01:47PM
Yeah today overall was better. you guys are right, regardless of how bad your boss is its all perception. Don't let it ruin your life it's just work. Even my now former bosses fabricated write up was just a scare tactic. it's what these group of managers like to do. I could have a worse job but really no task they can give me can be that bad, and if the freight flow isn't going smoothly, it's on our new boss, not me anyway. I'm just part of a machine collecting a paycheck. I could be over in Afghanistan wondering if I'll live through the night but here I am just working retail. no more corporate calls, no more bitching. Hell we had a meeting with a senior manager this morning introducing our new boss and telling us how were going to do our job. I didn't complain at all, only time I spoke was to clarify his instructions. did their method work? hell no we didn't get the freight done till 11, same time we would of using our method, but not my problem. overall I think what this was all about was thinking my boss was doing a poor job and their methods could work better. so they can have fun with that.
lol I got a heads up on who our new boss was before I got there so I wasn't surprised. another guy was however. he saw the bosses car, and I could hear him 3 cars over "You gotta be fucking kidding me!"
lol I got a heads up on who our new boss was before I got there so I wasn't surprised. another guy was however. he saw the bosses car, and I could hear him 3 cars over "You gotta be fucking kidding me!"
madman1971
Colts Fanatic
#34
Posted June 11, 2012 - 02:33PM
Cor its the same everywhere. I have a system that works very well on how I have them stage loads for the next day and how I have the warehouse organized. Every once in awhile, my boss will come to me and say, try this for a bit, see if it works better. I just say okay and after a couple of weeks of it sucking ass, he says go back to your way. I even had a guy show up for a load that I didnt have any paperwork on since I was supposed to wait for the office ladies to bring it to me instead of going and getting it myself, which meant the load wasnt even staged. What normally takes less than 30 minutes to load, took over 3 hours. I was pissed! But, I did it for a couple more days, and had a couple more loads show up with no paper work, and they changed it back. Its just stupid shit like that even management has to deal with. Some of those upper guys get itchy and throw their ideas around when they have no idea how the plant actually runs. I havent had a surprise load since I went back to my way.
And heres a funny one for ya. A guy that worked for me at another company applied at my now company. He had done his 1st interview with the human resource manager and since he was coming to my department, the 2nd interview was with me. He was in the office and I came in and said hello Mike. He looked around and said," No fucking way". LMAO. I told him I wasnt going to hire him for my department, but another area could use him. He was like thanks man LOL Just thought that was funny when you said that lol
And heres a funny one for ya. A guy that worked for me at another company applied at my now company. He had done his 1st interview with the human resource manager and since he was coming to my department, the 2nd interview was with me. He was in the office and I came in and said hello Mike. He looked around and said," No fucking way". LMAO. I told him I wasnt going to hire him for my department, but another area could use him. He was like thanks man LOL Just thought that was funny when you said that lol
ICG
Am I cute or what?
#35
Posted June 11, 2012 - 02:42PM
Yeah today overall was better. you guys are right, regardless of how bad your boss is its all perception. Don't let it ruin your life it's just work. Even my now former bosses fabricated write up was just a scare tactic. it's what these group of managers like to do. I could have a worse job but really no task they can give me can be that bad, and if the freight flow isn't going smoothly, it's on our new boss, not me anyway. I'm just part of a machine collecting a paycheck. I could be over in Afghanistan wondering if I'll live through the night but here I am just working retail. no more corporate calls, no more bitching. Hell we had a meeting with a senior manager this morning introducing our new boss and telling us how were going to do our job. I didn't complain at all, only time I spoke was to clarify his instructions. did their method work? hell no we didn't get the freight done till 11, same time we would of using our method, but not my problem. overall I think what this was all about was thinking my boss was doing a poor job and their methods could work better. so they can have fun with that.
lol I got a heads up on who our new boss was before I got there so I wasn't surprised. another guy was however. he saw the bosses car, and I could hear him 3 cars over "You gotta be fucking kidding me!"
There ya go Cory. And when the damned place is in your rearview mirror, leave it there. Go home and relax and enjoy your time away. Big corporations are not going to ever change in retail. Its always going to be the height of stupidity. Once you learn to just roll with it it will be less stressful.
Good luck hon. I wish I had associates who worked hard and gave a shit like you working for me.
cor-master
OHY
#36
Posted June 11, 2012 - 04:10PM
Thank you! Yeah I always come in ready to work at 4. I know one of the complaints that had me mad was that they told my boss we're not really getting any thing done till 8, and before then we're all still trying to wake up. Thats total BS. I'm not the type of guy who gets out of bed a quarter till 4 and hops in his car and leaves. I get up at 10 after 3, get a shower, eat breakfast, and drink some coffee, and I'm wide awake and ready to go. I also have a stereo bluetooth headset connected to my phone with pandora playing to keep me moving. Really the bottom line is no matter how early we get the freight done they want it done earlier. Honestly I don't really care about being understaffed, nor do I care if the sales associates help us. Honestly I can see where they are coming from not wanting to help us as its technically not their job to stock the freight. But if they aren't going to hire us the people we need, or get the sales associates to help us in the mornings, then they are going to eventually just have to realize its not going to get done before 11. And we've told them a million times, they help us, we'll help them with the tasks they want them to do. We all like to stay busy, and coming from nights, I'm mixed on helping customers. Its definitley less stressful when the freight's done, but its downright annoying when your trying to knock a skid out, and you keep getting people coming up with some weird shaped light bulb you've never seen before and asking you if you have a match for it, or some guy who can barely speak english practically wanting you to hold his hand through the purchase of a ladder, etc. None of the managers seem to understand that when we were on nights, this was a job that took us all night, and we had the luxury of using our power equipment all night, and not having to deal with customers. Actually we were supposedly moved to days because they couldn't keep an eye on us and thought we were slacking off, so yeah they really are that out of touch with reality. Most of these people were either hired in as mangers, or moved from head cashier - department manger - assistant store manager, etc. They really are clueless as to how long it takes, and how many people you actually need.
Anyway I'm not dwelling on it or bitching really just saying really. You guys really put it in perspective for me. You can always just do your job and go home, you never have to stress over it.
Anyway I'm not dwelling on it or bitching really just saying really. You guys really put it in perspective for me. You can always just do your job and go home, you never have to stress over it.
GoPats
Senior Member
#37
Posted June 12, 2012 - 10:42AM
You've gotten some good feedback here Cor, just one other thing if you're willing and able to do it.
I had an employee approach me once and ask me for 10 minutes of my time. That 10 minutes turned into an hour. I was kind of blown away... basically she sat me down and said, "I've been here for a little while now, and I've gotten a pretty good handle on what my responsibilities are. So my question for you, as a manager, is what do I need to do to really stand out? To be regarded as an all-star, an indispensable part of the team here?"
It really kind of knocked my socks off. I know it's a little bit of brown-nosing, but it impressed me that this woman put the ball back in my court as to how she needed to excel in her job. I don't work in a retail industry, but maybe that's the kind of thing that would get you noticed in the RIGHT ways. Especially since your boss was recently in some trouble and was reassigned.
Maybe you can speak to someone and say, "I notice there's been a lot of change lately, and I want to be a valuable member of the staff here. Can you give me some guidance on how to achieve that?"
It's always better, if you're concerned about the shit hitting the fan, to kind of align yourself with the right people, and to let them know that you care about your job, your career, and your responsibilities.
Good luck bro!
I had an employee approach me once and ask me for 10 minutes of my time. That 10 minutes turned into an hour. I was kind of blown away... basically she sat me down and said, "I've been here for a little while now, and I've gotten a pretty good handle on what my responsibilities are. So my question for you, as a manager, is what do I need to do to really stand out? To be regarded as an all-star, an indispensable part of the team here?"
It really kind of knocked my socks off. I know it's a little bit of brown-nosing, but it impressed me that this woman put the ball back in my court as to how she needed to excel in her job. I don't work in a retail industry, but maybe that's the kind of thing that would get you noticed in the RIGHT ways. Especially since your boss was recently in some trouble and was reassigned.
Maybe you can speak to someone and say, "I notice there's been a lot of change lately, and I want to be a valuable member of the staff here. Can you give me some guidance on how to achieve that?"
It's always better, if you're concerned about the shit hitting the fan, to kind of align yourself with the right people, and to let them know that you care about your job, your career, and your responsibilities.
Good luck bro!
johnlocke
I like you so i shall kill you last.
#38
Posted June 12, 2012 - 10:51AM
You've gotten some good feedback here Cor, just one other thing if you're willing and able to do it.
I had an employee approach me once and ask me for 10 minutes of my time. That 10 minutes turned into an hour. I was kind of blown away... basically she sat me down and said, "I've been here for a little while now, and I've gotten a pretty good handle on what my responsibilities are. So my question for you, as a manager, is what do I need to do to really stand out? To be regarded as an all-star, an indispensable part of the team here?"
It really kind of knocked my socks off. I know it's a little bit of brown-nosing, but it impressed me that this woman put the ball back in my court as to how she needed to excel in her job. I don't work in a retail industry, but maybe that's the kind of thing that would get you noticed in the RIGHT ways. Especially since your boss was recently in some trouble and was reassigned.
Maybe you can speak to someone and say, "I notice there's been a lot of change lately, and I want to be a valuable member of the staff here. Can you give me some guidance on how to achieve that?"
It's always better, if you're concerned about the shit hitting the fan, to kind of align yourself with the right people, and to let them know that you care about your job, your career, and your responsibilities.
Good luck bro!
Awesome. I have had similar experiences with my employees over the years.
madman1971
Colts Fanatic
#39
Posted June 12, 2012 - 11:18AM
I have never had anyone do that and im not sure what I would say if they did. After I have let someone go they ask occasionally what they could of done to stay, but never has anyone come to my office and said, hey, I want to be a better employee, what can I do? Interesting case and something I had never thought of. Most of the time with my people, its show up more often and be more efficient. Those are the biggest issues I have with people.
johnlocke
I like you so i shall kill you last.
#40
Posted June 12, 2012 - 11:51AM
I have never had anyone do that and im not sure what I would say if they did. After I have let someone go they ask occasionally what they could of done to stay, but never has anyone come to my office and said, hey, I want to be a better employee, what can I do? Interesting case and something I had never thought of. Most of the time with my people, its show up more often and be more efficient. Those are the biggest issues I have with people.
I actually had a guy see me firing a number of people cuz they weren't worth what I was paying em and he came up to me on his own and said JL, I'm not worth what your paying me but I love working for you here so why don't you give me what I'm worth and teach me the skills to make me the best painter possible. He still works for me 10 years later and is one of my highest paid at $27 an hour.
Quality individual who has become a pretty close friend. I thought that was just awesome.
