Scroby's 1st TSM Work Related Rant/Problem

[Scroby 0]

Normally I don't do this on these boards but at the moment I just have to get some things off my chest and maybe this is just the best place for a rant at the moment. So for those who pay attention here know that I work for a video game store called Gamecrazy. Not the best paying job in the world but its in a field I enjoy working in and I enjoy being there, well until recently.

 

About a month in a half ago my store got a new manager unexpectedly, and the manager has very little knowledge about the products that we have and sell and has very little knowledge about how things work on the Gamecrazy side. He came over from Hollywood Video and for those who don't know, Hollywood Video and Gamecrazy are both owned by the same people, Movie Gallary.

 

Well so with the new manager, there was 4 people working in the store altogether myself, my new manager, and two more co-workers. After my new manager got pulled from the Hollywood Video side, the Hollywood Video manager asked me if I wanted to work on the Hollywood Video side for more money and more hours. Well I did what any person with common sense would do and lept at it. Well while this happen my manager decided to look for more people as we were figuring out all the transfer stuff and I was going to wait till the new manager was settled in until I transfered over. My hours were pretty good, they were pretty much near 35 hours a week. Well one of my co-workers got fired, so I had to wait a bit longer for my transfer so the store could have enough people to work in the store.

 

So after a while, I still haven't transferred over due to unexpected things happening with the two stores and the new guy my manager got to re-place the guy who was fired is someone with once worked with my manager on the Hollywood Video side. After the new guy was hired, another person was hired making our total people working in the store, 5. Me, my manger, and 3 more co-workers, then about two weeks ago another guy was hired. So we have 6 people total working in the store. Now here is where my frustrated ties in.

 

When the new manager was brought into my store, I understood I needed to show him the ropes of the store and show him how things work. After the one guy got fired and the new guy was brought in, the new guy got the hours of the fired guy, well a bit more cause the guy who got fired basically didn't want that many hours due to having a life outside of work. So basically my manager got 40 hours, while me and the two other guys got between 30 and 38 hours a week. Well when the fifth guy was brought in myself and Pat (my co-worker who has been around a bit longer than I have) got our hours cut down to 20 to 25 a week while the two newest guys got between 28 and 35 hours. Me and Pat both gotten upset but figured this was due to training the new guys so let it sit for a week or so. After a couple of weeks of this happening, myself and Pat both got very frustrated that our hours were still being cut and the two newest guys were getting way more hours than us. Well after a bit of this, I expressed to my manager that we were both mad about our hours and we wanted something done about this. I was told something was going to happen about the hours.

 

So three weeks ago, I found out my DM (district manager) was coming down to the store. I asked my manager why and he told me that the DM hadn't been to the store in awhile. Well later that day a Hollywood video employee told me that apprently another new person was going to be put into my store and that was the reason for my DM coming down. So the next day I asked my manager about it and he told me it was true. I explained to my manager that the store didn't need 6 people and could run fine with only having 4 people. My manager told me it was to late and the new guy was going to be only getting 10 to 15 hours a week. Now even through the new guy was going to be getting only 10 to 15 hours a week, it was going to cut mine and Pat's hours again, along with the other two guys. Let me explain to you guys on how the hours work with the store.

 

Every month the store gets projected revenue totals. Each week, your suppose to take the total projected revenue by week and by the number of revenue you have is the total hours you get for your store and staff. The manager is guarnteed 40 hours a week while the staff gets the rest basically. So say we get 145 hours a week, the manager gets 40 of those hours, and the rest of the staff gets the rest, which would be 105 hours left.

 

Now ever since we got the new people in my store, myself and Pat, who have been there with the store the longest, having been getting the safft with hours. Both of our weekly hours have been cut by a whole margin. The guy who replaced the guy who got fired, his name is Nate, is still getting 30 to 35 hours a week. The 5th guy to be hired in, is getting around 25 hours a week, and even the newest guy, the guy that is suppose to be getting 10 to 15 hours a week, is getting 19 hours this week. After I was told by my manager he was suppose to only getting 10 to 15 hours a week, he got 19 hours this week. While me and Pat are now stuck at under 20 hours a week due to the new guys getting all the hours.

 

I have told my boss that I am looking for a new job because of this but even through I'm looking for a new job, I have told him I have bills to pay and I need the hours and money. I have even decided to travel to another Gamecrazy in a neighboring city and do a few shifts for that store, so I can get a few more hours. I have talked to my manager and told him its unfair that me and Pat got our hours cut due to the new guys and have expressed to him that both me and Pat feel this way. The manager told me he was going to fix this by equallying the extra hours last week but didn't do it for this week. Nate is still getting more hours than anyone except the manager and me and Pat are both getting the lesser hours. I want to make a point to him to change this but I don't know how to do it correctly. I would go to my DM about this, but he already has it in for me because I decided to jump ship over to Hollywood Video for a better oppurtunity without really asking for his permission, in which case I didn't need but I was going to ask him after I had made a find descision about it.

 

I just don't know what to do and am getting entirly fed up with the way myself and my co-worker Pat are being treated in that store. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I should get my point across to my manager? I'm thinking about filing a complint with the company but I don't know how far that would get me or if that could score me some serious heat with my manager and DM. I'm just extremely frustrated with this.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

It's called the free market. Try it out.

 

And I do feel your pain; I've had my fair share of being buttfucked by employers. It sucks when you have a job you like then a new manager arrives and ruins everything.

[The Czech Republic 0]

I do feel your pain; I've had my fair share of being buttfucked by employers.

What happens in the back room, stays in the back room, kkk.

[nl5xsk1 0]

I do feel your pain; I've had my fair share of being buttfucked by employers.

What happens in the back room, stays in the back room, kkk.

And sometimes you have to give a little head to get a little ahead.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I do feel your pain; I've had my fair share of being buttfucked by employers.

What happens in the back room, stays in the back room, kkk.

 

But what if it took place out by the register?

[The Czech Republic 0]

Hot stuff. Can't get enough.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Oh, you should not have told your boss you were looking for another job.

[Edwin MacPhisto 0]

The new guys probably make less and thus it's probably better for Mr. Manager to pump up their hours rather than yours. I don't think video game/movie rental stores are terribly famous for caring about employee complaints either, so you probably should just find something else. You're at-will; they can dock your hours or fire you for any reason they want, so I imagine you have limited recourse.

[naiwf 0]

My guess is they're screwing you in particular because you tried to take a better position elsewhere. I've seen that happen to friends and co-workers of mine at various jobs. As far as the guy who has been there the longest he likely makes the most money per hour and so it's less cost efficient to let him work the most hours, as was said by the previous poster.

[Guest Princess Leena]

Like Edwin says, they're under no obligation to give you whatever hours you want... and it's a job that anyone can do. Look at this as a better opportunity. You're 22. Getting to the age where you can find a better, stable, full-time job.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

My guess is they're screwing you in particular because you tried to take a better position elsewhere.

 

This kid I worked with at the theater (a second-run dump) tried to get a job at a near-by first-run cinema. Problem was they were both owned by National Amusements, Inc.

 

Sigh.

[Scroby 0]

I actually told my boss that I'm searching for other jobs after I explained to him that I had bills to pay and couldn't work for 20 hours a week and that if he didn't do something about the hours that I'm going to be looking for another job. He understood, so I don't believe that is to much of an issue besides even if I walked out today, everything would be covered.

 

The new guys probably make less and thus it's probably better for Mr. Manager to pump up their hours rather than yours. I don't think video game/movie rental stores are terribly famous for caring about employee complaints either, so you probably should just find something else. You're at-will; they can dock your hours or fire you for any reason they want, so I imagine you have limited recourse.

 

Actually he makes basically what I make. Here's a couple of reasons why he's getting more hours and why my hours have been cut back because of him.

 

1. He used to work with my manager on the Hollywood Video side

2. My manager before hiring the guy, promised him 30 to 40 hours a week becuase he's moving into his own place with his girlfriend.

 

Not like me and the other guy whose been there a lot longer than anyone in that store have bills to pay as well, and I've expressed this to my manager but it didn't seem to get through his head.

 

 

My guess is they're screwing you in particular because you tried to take a better position elsewhere. I've seen that happen to friends and co-workers of mine at various jobs. As far as the guy who has been there the longest he likely makes the most money per hour and so it's less cost efficient to let him work the most hours, as was said by the previous poster.

 

I actually think that as well. As soon as DM found out I was considering going over to Hollywood Video, he basically threw a fit. He called the Hollywood Video DM and told him that the manager of Hollywood was trying to take me away from Gamecrazy. The thing is, the reason why I didn't tell my DM about anything because I hadn't made a actual descision if I wanted to go over to the Hollywood Video side or not, I was sill considering it and I was going to let him know when I actually had a desicion about it, but apprently once my mananager told him he threw a fit. He complained to everyone but me about it, and now he never talks to me about anything, he relays everything through the manager.

 

 

Like Edwin says, they're under no obligation to give you whatever hours you want... and it's a job that anyone can do. Look at this as a better opportunity. You're 22. Getting to the age where you can find a better, stable, full-time job.

 

Yeah I agree, just where I live there isn't a whole lot of great paying jobs, I'd have to take some classes and get a degree but with all I'm doing with work and outside of work, its sorta hard for me to take some classes. I applyed for a job with Nintendo as a person who drives around the bay area and delivers merchindise to stores but I am waiting for that phone call still from them. But I am looking for better jobs.

[The Czech Republic 0]

The new guys probably make less and thus it's probably better for Mr. Manager

it's just manager.

[Copper Feel 0]

I'm gonna tell Mr. Manager that you said that.

[spman 0]

The key to working retail is to stick it out and outlast everyone around you, and eventually you will be on top. I've been working at the same movie theater for 4 years now. The first 3 years were pretty shitty, the pay was acceptable, but I only got about 20-25 hours a week. Last march, the theater I worked for was aquired by a much larger corporation, and in less then a year, I went from a low string supervisor, to most senior assistant manager, since everyone else above me quit or moved on, so I guess it's just a lot of luck.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I went from a low string supervisor, to most senior assistant manager, since everyone else above me quit or moved on.

 

Or weren't hired back due to their gender.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Like Edwin says, they're under no obligation to give you whatever hours you want... and it's a job that anyone can do. Look at this as a better opportunity. You're 22. Getting to the age where you can find a better, stable, full-time job.

 

Yeah I agree, just where I live there isn't a whole lot of great paying jobs, I'd have to take some classes and get a degree but with all I'm doing with work and outside of work, its sorta hard for me to take some classes. I applyed for a job with Nintendo as a person who drives around the bay area and delivers merchindise to stores but I am waiting for that phone call still from them. But I am looking for better jobs.

 

Not to get too lengthy or preachy or anything, but have you gone to college or know more or less what you want to do with yourself? I assume you don't want to work for Hollywood Video/Gamecrazy for the rest of your life, or in any such related field.

 

At any rate, the poster above me also has the right idea. Outlast everyone and eventually you'll end up on top. My job's just something to get me by while I'm in school, and between the two things it just about fills up my week (I spent 35-40 hours at school/doing school-related things last week and about 25 hours at work). Starbucks usually moves people up the ladder kind of quickly if you can last there a while, and the three other people who I started with all got promoted, but I got left behind because quite frankly, I had a real apathetic attitude and no desire to get anywhere in that job whatsoever because I knew that wasn't going to be my career or anything I'm even that passionate about. But I knew a guy who was the exact same way, and while his coworkers got promoted ahead of him, he'd been there I think for 2 1/2 years and they just gave him a promotion because hell, even though he didn't care intimately about the store, he was good at his job and was pretty dependable, like I am, so I'll probably get promoted within the next year or so as well (a whole extra dollar an hour!)

 

I mean, these types of jobs aren't really about how "skilled", qualified, or intelligent you may be; doing any of these types of jobs (whether it's retail or fast food) long enough and you'll become good at them whether you try or not. I assume you care a lot, so you're probably pretty good anyways, so just relax. I wouldn't put so much thought and stress into a job that probably can't even sustain living comfortably on your own.

[Krankor 0]

Here's some advice from someone who has worked retail all the way through college and is just about to quit in the next 2 months and get a real job....

 

Get out of retail. It's a dead end job and it pays nothing.

 

Your best course of action is to look for a new job. You might like it at Gamecrazy but you're basically done there. When the new manager started working there and started brining employees with that he's worked with in the past, that's a sign that he wants a different staff of his choosing.

 

A tactic managers use to get rid of employees when they have no grounds for firing them is to drastically cut the employees hours so that the employee will get pissed of and quit.

 

Another tactic most managers use is they avoid confrontation. Typically they are afraid to actually tell someone they don't want them working there anymore. Whenever they are questioned by an employee they are trying to get rid of they will always play it off and say things like they understand or their hands are tied.

 

Whenever you are working retail in a place that employees a small number of people, never ever tell them you are going to quit if you don't get more hours or if you don't get what you want. Managers don't care. Once you tell them you are even pondering the idea of quitting expect to get nothing in the way of help from that manager ever again.

 

Expect to get more hours cut because at that point they are probably in the process of hiring someone new because they don't like surprises.

 

Any manager I've ever worked with or dealt with in any retail store have been some of the dumbest people I've ever encountered in my life. There job takes no skill and most of the time that manager only has that job because he out lasted everyone else. The truth is most managers know nothing about actual business and human relations. They are merely the oldest person working in the store.

 

If I were you I wouldn't definitely look into trying to find a more substantial job somewhere and then look in to taking some kind of classes.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Do what Shawn Michaels did to Marty Jannetty and put the idea of quitting in your buddy-coworkers head and get him to quit and get his hours.

[Scroby 0]

Do what Shawn Michaels did to Marty Jannetty and put the idea of quitting in your buddy-coworkers head and get him to quit and get his hours.

 

Oh I have been doing that.

[Scroby 0]

So in an update, I think tomorrow I'm going to go to my manager and ask him why my hours have been cut so much and why all the new guys are getting more hours than the two experianced guys. Just every time I go back there I get so frustrated. Also the new guy who is getting the most staff hours, is looking to get another job.

[The Czech Republic 0]