and.... go.
22 replies (most recent on top)
Having three of my valued, trusted and reliable employees destroyed by a phone call telling them that their jobs have been eliminated, then having to attempt to replace them with people who don't have a clue and never stay long enough to learn anything....and then being constantly told that I am not doing enough. Need I go on?
These manager concerns are known issues. Please feel free to reach out to your RM if you need help! (big smiley face)
To the person considering taking over a small store- I HIGHLY do not reccomend it. Everything is on you. It’s true about never getting a break. You better be prepared to throw up in your office when sick . Small stores see no payroll. Forget about staffing and hiring. I just got moved to a medium sized store and it’s much better. More help, less BS.
It just amazes me how quickly tools can be created to verify that we are doing our “jobs” correctly and how slow the tools are develop to help do our “jobs” more efficiently. A$$ backwards if you ask me.
Yes a job, not a career.
If you are young enough take the job, learn as much as you then move on. It’s a good learning experience.
Miss your itty bitty break - nice. Except many states legally mandate breaks based on the number of hours worked. Also, many states mandate lunch breaks based on the number of hours worked. Follett forcing associates to break state labor laws? Wow. As far as a future as a store manager and moving up you can forget that. All the actions Follett has taken speaks to a company that doesn't want long term managers. If your looking for short term employment then it's an o.k. job. Long term the future is bleak. It's a dying business.
to the person considering become a person store manager- if you turn this down, you may be driven out. They want ASMs to be open to moving and they want ASMs to work hard for promotion. If you tell them no, you may be seen as someone who won't move and someone who doesn't want to advance.
Like every other person who works for follett, it's time to freshen your resume. Take control. You're moving to a new campus, a new position, (maybe a new company). It's a matter of are you in control of your future, or are you giving control to follett.
Stagnant pay, crumbling benefits, lack of sincere appreciation, apologizing for our technology failings (includED, Discover, etc), unrealistic expectations from “superiors”, unattainable goals, etc...take your pick.
For the people that are commenting that they are a one-person store and have to lock the door to take breaks, is the school understanding about that? And what do you do when you are sick or are do vacation?
The reason I inquire, I am an ASM currently but have been asked to be a manager and one person store. It's more money than I'm making now, not that much more, but it could be a stepping stone to a larger store so I'm considering it. But, I am interested to hear from others that do the same job if it's manageable?
As a salaried person, long time employee, i made less the past 2 years than I did the years before, but my store was more successful. So, knowing that no matter how hard you work you will you will keep getting paid less, no raises( I don't consider 2%a raise), keep taking away bonus potential, lowered 401 k match, higher cost of benefits.
Endless task. Endless emails with more task. Having to wear way too many hats. If we worked directly for the schools we would be considered a dean, or at least a department chair. We would have phys. Plant or maintenance taking out the trash and putting together displays, the shipping dept Accepting the pallets of books, an admin doing paperwork, etc.
Way too many task without proper staffing, or pay, or payroll to have good help.
I just lock the doors. Take an hour lunch and maybe a little more than an hour to make up for missed breaks.
I'm pretty happy with the situation. Follett might not be. Maybe they should have thought about under staffing stores?
I second the last comment. Being alone and not being able to take lunches, work 6+ days a week-no OT is the worst.
I hate being the only person in the store. I get no lunch, have to kick everyone out and lock the doors to take a leak, and forget about the 15min breaks I am legally allowed to take. And on top, being told I am falling behind on getting “my job duties” done. See ya...
Unfortunately, the worst is starting to outway the benefits of being a store manager. I am guessing that is why we had the mass exists of store manager before fall rush. We can talk about culture all you want. However, the talk must be acted upon.
Being micro managed to the point of hurting our abilities to function as needed. Our day(s) are being directed daily by emails. Do this, do that. Or how about having to send our textbooks to fill other stores orders because they mismanaged their inventories. The not listening by higher ups is definitely an issue. There is so much that could be done to our systems that would drastically improve efficiencies. And I could go on!
The inability to make changes that are obvious and will help but no one above listens.
The ever growing job with an ever shrinking staff
I have felt lack of support and lack of recognition lots in the past. I’ve been with Follett a long time and seen good leaders but the last 2 years with JK was HORRIBLE. We now have a new regional and he appears to be changing that. He constantly recognizing us for things we do good and he offers support and I think he understands us more as store managers since he came out of stores before. I really hope he doesn’t change and that he really is different and things continue to improve.
Constantly apologizing to the school for Follett's mistakes.
Zero recognition.
Lack of support.