The working world is not what it used to be

As most of you know, about a month ago I finally got a job after almost 5.5 years of unemployment at 7-11 and the first couple of weeks were enjoyable. I am on time, or 10 minutes early and offer stay later to help cover until the next shift comes in and many of them are tardy quite tardy. A few people who started the same time I did have called in sick and even took off without calling. And many take cig breaks every hour and I smoke I admit, take one after 6 hours of work. Some even take a lunch break--very rare for a convenience store--

I've received compliments for my work, how fast I move--even though in the beginning the legs were very sore for a while--and how well I worked. I was always receiving praise--which may or may not be a good thing.

Suddenly, I"m the culprit, I'm no longer doing a good job even though I have not changed-still on time, still keep moving etc--, I was chewed out by an assistant manager and was even told that sales associates don't matter that only assistant managers and managers matter. The others who are tardy and take multiple breaks are ok, I'm the bad guy. I so wanted to walk out yesterday but didn't. But looks like things will be going down hill.

Dang.  What's up with employers rewarding the irresponsible and picking on the responsible?  My husband runs into the very same thing.  He took 1 sick day in 3 years and 1 day off with notice.  Then he asked for our 35th Anniversary off 6 weeks in advance.  They waited until 2 days before to say "No!"  Many of the others do not even call in.  They just don't show up!  BTW, my husband has no sick days or vacation days or benefits.  We "eat" any days off...

The world has gone insane. I did get a call from the recruiter who recruited me today, I have been deputized assistant recruiter for this area as they are having trouble finding people in the stores that need help. Funny thing, with all the unemployed, I would think they would be inundated with applications. I told him about my recent experiences and he said I shouldn't tolerate it and go to the field rep if things don't change. We'll see.

"I was chewed out by an assistant manager and was even told that sales associates don't matter that only assistant managers and managers matter."

sounds like "age discrimination" to me, i have a friend who is 50ish and she has 5 years at the same convienience store and goes through the same thing,

all the other employees are quite abit younger

The assistant manager that targets me is around late 40s and there are a few people there in the 50s and 60s and also in their late teens early 20s.

is it possible that you are too GOOD and anoy the manager because of that......perhaps he see's you as a threat?

people can do and think peculiar things!

Not the manager but the assistant manager and could very well be since I get lots of praise from the manager and territory director because I do my job that I'm supposed to do and others but I approached the same manager who praised me with the problem and his comment was, well he's your assistant manager and you have to listen. So I've decided to be less ambitious and do just my job. While being unemployed I forgot about the drama and backstabbing. Who knows, maybe I'll go in tomorrow and be fired or given humiliating tasks to complete. If so I'll complain to a higher up. I don't want to get migraines over a convenience store. I already had those working for another one before the unemployment fiasco, as a manager trainee. Working under managers who were stealing from the company and trying pin it on me, but came out lovely and ran so far away after the third one. However, I will think about being an unintentional threat and maybe after being UE for so long there are wrinkles to work out.

you reminded me of a pizza delivery job i had years ago, there were three asst managers, two i worked under both stole from the company....
 
the top manager would count boxes and get stressed by details, while missing the big picture.
 
finally corporate brought in their "store saver", got new asst managers and evertyhing ran smooth as silk..
 
the new manager used common sense and took care of important stuff, skip the details...
 
one of the best stress free jobs i ever had, the manager would back you up as long as you used a common sense approach with customers

Hunter,

Sounds like the ass. manager just doesn't like you. Happens all the time. A recent study showed that over 60% of workers who hate their jobs do so because of, you guessed it, their boss! Number 1 answer. And the vast majority of people hate their jobs.

Hopefully, they'll can this evil SOB before you're forced to quit or you get fired yourself over some bulls**t reason he makes up in his negative little head.

Maybe you can dig up some dirt on this sicko. Shouldn't be too hard to do, and wave it in front of his brown nose if he tries something. Hate to say it, but that's what it's coming down to in today's toxic and hostile work environment.

It was better today, he was rather nice, and cooperative, and everything ran smoothly, I was off yesterday so maybe they had a talking to. The manager himself is out with food poisoning or a stomach virus so he'll be out for a few days and the district manager was there. So maybe like I said, being unemployed for so long, there are wrinkles to iron out. Lets see and thanks for all the support.

Glad to hear it Hunter. Just stick to your guns and continue to show them what a good work ethic is.

jmainframe wrote:Glad to hear it Hunter. Just stick to your guns and continue to show them what a good work ethic is.

X2

Well an update.
Both the manager and the assistant manager have left. They left and never came back. Don't know why because they left without a word.

Wow, Hunter.  What a saga you've been through!  I wonder if you'll ever really find out the details.

I left my job 6 weeks ago and the I've kept in contact with two co-workers from two other regions.  Both said that my phone still has my greeting on it but my email is disconnected.  I was the main contact for all regions and our corporate office and yet, no email or notification of any sort was ever give about my departure from the company.  One co-worker point blank asked the boss about me and he dodged the question saying, "we'll handle any issues".  

I hope you find out Hunter, and let us know.

This situation doesn't surprise me one bit. This seems to happen so often now. I have no idea who these ****ers are that run these companies now, but they're all sneaky, life-ruining people! It seems to happen in almost every industry now. This is beyond office politics now, this is people's livelihood.

My friend suggested the cutbacks in middle management over the last few years are to blame for a lot of it- no one to step in and tell the idiots to take care of their worker bees instead of feeling threatened by them.

This exact same thing has happened at my roommate's job as well. They brought in some people to do an evaluation, probably because of the issues, and they've already fired two people. What they really need is an actual office manager- someone who can handle work schedules to make sure my roommate isn't working overtime every day to finish everyone else's work and also someone who people can go to with complaints. There are some days when my roommate gets yelled at for the same mistake by 6 different people, even after it has been fixed. This is unacceptable! Who is in charge over there?!