Pros
I enjoy the kind of work I do. Assisting customers on the Kiosk's and teaching them how to select and order photo's is rewarding. I appreciate that even when it is slow I can always find something to do in the department such as stocking, cleaning and supplying.
Cons
I applied for a position that was advertised as part-time, first shift. In my interview I was promised that I would work part-time, first shift. However, another employee with more seniority decided that they wanted to change their availability and take my schedule. I went to the Union Rep and she informed me ten days later that I should have gotten that promise in a contract and that the company can do anything it wants to do. The only reason I joined the union was because in orientation the two reps said they could handle exactly these kinds of issues with scheduling and issues involving dignity. Another issue is employees that have been there a long time and have developed friendships that create favoritism. There are three young men that work in our department with significant substance abuse issues, to further complicate the problem they also horseplay and make purchases while on the clock. They are mean to new workers because they can be. When our department manager attempted to write them up, her manager voids the write-ups. Our department manager is not allowed to write the schedule because the manager above her schedules these young men anyway that they prefer, regardless of what other workers have been promised, hired for or their availability. As a result our department manager has been rendered powerless to change these negative dynamics created by the three favorites. The horseplay has reached a level that is dangerous and I do not feel like I am in a safe work environment , especially when one of them is obviously stoned on top of it. Yes, he actually reports to work flying high and has just finished a team leadership training. We have no one to talk to or to turn to because pretty much the rest of the management structure is all good buddies, turning a blind eye and letting all hell break loose.