I just quit and am glad I did. Staples takes advantage of their managers. Upper management inconsistently communicate through email laced with negativity. Reaching out for help is viewed as weak. Seven years ago this was a team environment that promoted growth. Now it's every man for themselves. They cut a manager position and let thousands of tenured employees go. The negative shrink and operational effects resulted in them bringing the position back as a supervisor role. They cut yet another position and docked their pay all because they can't figure out an operating model that works so we pay the price. I was pay cut when I stepped down from a key holder position and not even two weeks later told that they were adding responsibilities to my role so I received keys again. Do you think they gave me my compensation back? No because they lowered the pay brackets again for all positions. how can they be taken seriously when they staff most of their stores with less than 4 associates at a time? Turnover is at its highest and I have no doubt as to why.
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Removing the operations managers and replacing them with a team supervisor was a cold calculated move on Staples part. Changing the title from manager to supervisor results in about a 40% reduction in labor cost for that position. Then to reinvent the operations manager position by removing the Team supervisor and creating an Operations supervisor. Bingo... Ops manager back in position with a 40 % savings in labor costs... BTW the description of the position, duties and responsibilities are almost a carbon copy of the old Operations Manager position. But there are stupid loyal employees like me who keep working instead of doing the smart thing and find somewhere else. I'm being told even Walmart is a better retail store to work for than Staples now. It's sad when you have same duties and responsibilities and get 40% less. I guess this how women felt and feel for not getting equal pay for equal work...
It went downhill fast in the last two years. I left in 2012 after 12 years. I had a very bad manager. It still makes me shake to think about what was going on and how I felt each day I was going to get written up or fired. I was the punching bag. I was blamed for all the store's problems. Management would not own any of it. I was a third key. It was apparently my fault that we were down on rewards, ESP, turnover and sales. A lot to pin on a third key holder. I'm glad I'm out. The store was still open when I left. It closed along with 10 others a year later. I guess I did that too.
Good post!
I'm right behind you....and i have another job....not the same pay but my nerves are settled and I found out...I am a good person/employee/and I am aloud to have a life. Sorry it had to happen that way but it sounds like you have had enough of the bullshit that goes with this job...it really truly isn't worth my health any more. I hope everything works out for you. You are marketable. One thing I know..we certainly did a lot in all areas
of the store just thinking about it my mind gets in that crazy mode!! Good luck to you. go where you are appreciated you'll find out when get out and look that your better than this!!