Prior to training: I was hassled by 2 different people regarding sending in the multiple images to verify my computer system meets their requirements
Training: There is no real training because you are essentially reading a script throughout your calls. Which is fine, I’ve done previous jobs where I had a strict script to read; the fact that I had to read a script is not a problem. It’s the constant “coaching” sessions where your supervisor (or “coach”) tells you that you sound like you’re reading a script. It should, as I’m literally reading a script. So I was ‘coached’ that I need to sound more authentic so I edited the script to flow better and actually started getting donations. But then on my next coaching session, I got in trouble for … you guessed it, not sticking exactly to the script. Why does it matter if what I’m doing is getting you money--the donations that you want--at the end of the day?
Leadership: Also, what’s the point of constantly telling me to “reach out” and “email if [I] have any questions” if the coaches never respond to email. I know they get them because in the next coaching session they’ll say they saw it. Okay, so why not respond. That’s dismissive going on borderline rude to see me--a new person reaching out for HELP-- and to completely and purposely ignore me and not even give a reason why.
Communication: Constant emails are so annoying. My first-day logging in I had 400 emails. I’m serious. Apply, get hired and you’ll see exactly what I’m talking about. I’m not exaggerating. It’s THAT bad. They send endless, USELESS emails that literally say “Jane Doe $100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” What a waste of email server space and the worst part is how discouraging it is to see the same 10-15 people in the email. I’ve gotten a few $100 and $150 donations but no email. So after that, I just didn’t care anymore. I also learned that all of the reps are not on the same campaigns. During one of my ‘coaching’ sessions, my coach told me that the newbies are put on some of the harders ones and implied that it’s to show if we’re capable of handling the other ones. What? Why would you give new people the hard calls? If these other people have been working for years and are so good they should get the hard calls. Not a good way to boost morale. It finally made sense because there’s no way I’m getting the same types of call and having to practically beg people for $25 and yet others--even with years of experience--are getting $200 and even $500 calls multiple times an hour.
Hours: I have to work every other Saturday with a weekday off. Not completely terrible, but still a con nonetheless and could be a deal-breaker for some. I don’t really care that much but it is still kind of annoying not only to work on a Saturday but to be hassling people on their one of a few days of freedom from work.
Camaraderie: There is no real camaraderie among the (low-level) workers. Every single at-home job I’ve had over the past 10 years there has ALWAYS been a chat to use, whether it be Microsoft Teams, Spark, Jabber, Pidgen, Yahoo/AOL messenger, etc during work hours to ask questions or even just to say, “Good Morning” to fellow co-workers. It helps to create a sense of community. Because once you get on the Zoom video chat--a different link every day btw--the only person you can Zoom message chat is the Host (one of the supervisors) and they NEVER, if rarely look at that chat so no need in sending anything important there.
Cameras: We’re supposed to be in Zoom with our video cameras on ALL the time, Why? During training, I have NO problem being on camera, but one of the perks of working from home is so that no one has to see me and my home because honestly, it’s none of their business. Having my camera on has no positive effect on my work and not having my camera off has no negative effect on my work. It’s not like they are watching to make sure I’m not writing down people’s credit card info. I’m not a validator so I don’t even get any real information. Again, 100% camera was on during training except for during lunch and breaks.
Pay: You don’t get your pay until Friday. Most companies send theirs on Wednesday, I know because I get it early with GreenDot on my previous checks. So if they were to mess up payroll then I wouldn’t get my money until Saturday or even worse that next Monday. All of the employees don’t get the same types of calls.
Schedule: There is no way to track your hours unless you manually write them down. They send an email throughout the week stating discrepancies, but why is there no way to track hours?
