Where to start....
Assistant Manager is just a higher paid stocker and this is pretty much what the day consist of instead of training and developing associates, mentoring, and customer service. I was only given one day to take test on the computer and wasn't able to finish though that seem to be the most efficient learning tool because the training store manager is too scattered and overwhelmed to do much else. Among not being trained and developed, I was informed that I would start opening and closing store by myself the following week...after one week and very little training.
The freight flow process is a nightmare. The process is a joke. Inventory control makes no sense which is mainly controlled through a corporate office with people who don't seem to have any floor experience. The stores can damage product but if sellable products counts are off, inventory can't be adjusted through the store..... Although its the store's responsibility to physically manage the inventory.
One location had an off site for overstock and had to rent a uhual truck after unloading to take product because the stockroom has no space. This is double working the associates. They then turn around and pick up merchandise on another day of the week to prepare for the sales weekend. You don't get paid enough as it is and then adding this to demands is very insulting.
Payroll and scheduling is challenging considering it includes merchandising and freight truck delivery and unloading hours. All of the truck day is spent trying to figure out where to put all of the unneccesary new product and there is no direct game plan per store to get rid of existing overstock or clearance.
The stockroom is a safety hazard and using household ladders to stock inventory and manage the stockroom is a safety concern especially when the aisles are so congested that you can't organize or maintain anything.
The same ladders are used on the salesfloor around customers to hang decor which by the way is too heavy for one person to carry up the ladder and the store sets doesn't allow for the space to have 2 ladders at once or a platform ladder for safety or better yet, a lift so what you are carrying stays secure. The mirror set behind the cashwrap is a absolute death trap. Customers purchase mirrors that you almost risk your life trying to hang but they are terrified watching you attempt to take them back down...
The system always seems to go down on the busiest days of the week and it inconveniences the customers and the assocates.
I was told that the company frowns on consecutive days off outside of paid time off. There are only 30 minute lunch breaks...not enough time to recoop from a strenuous morning of stocking. No 15 minute breaks although its manual labor,,, No work-life balance even though I was told the opposite when I interviewed and that the company prides itself on such.
This one week was a horrible experience and I've worked in retail over 16 years. Coming from a bigger chain, I never thought I would witness such mess in one setting. I've already given my notice
