Soldato
WARNING: Long rant with in depth background information :WARNING
Hello. I am sorry if this is a bit of a rant but it has now come to the point where I have to air my views.
I work for Morrisons PLC (Supermarket) and up to the beginning of Summer last year the store was managed by the most respected SGM`s (store general manager) in the whole company. He was VERY firm but equally VERY fair, strange one I know.
These were the good old days
"Better the Devil you know."
I started off at M as a butcher. I got made redundant from Dewhursts Butchers, had the summer off and applied at M as a packer for the Meat dept. Got a call as I was on my way home from handing in my application form. Went back for interview in my shorts and t-shirt. They didnt mind as they knew I was on my way home.
Got second interview 3 days later (in a suit) with the Meat manager and the SGM. Got a job as butcher and not a packer, "why waste my skills wrapping meat up" they said.
One and half years later I was appointed Assistant manager of the butchery. I did well, had the ups and downs as we all do. The SGM was happy with my work and having him to say that was more important than anything else work wise.
Things in store were running smoothly and efficiently. Morale was high, staff retention was supurb, over-time was widley available all in all a great company and store to work with.
After a few years as assistant manager in the butchery things started to get boring. We was fully staffed, I had a great manager and things ran smoothly, probably the best run dept in the store. It was the SGM baby after all.
The manager of the fish bar was leaving due to getting a job in the Police force and I was asked by the SDMG (store deputy general manager) if I would be interested. I declined.
The SGM called me to his office and explained the fish bar to me and what he could offer me. It was all good. I took the job.
I was in the fish bar for a good 6 months or so. When we (managers) had a meeting. The SGM announced he was leaving to open up another store. Tears flowed and we all was shocked. As you would be, having a great SGM working along side you.
A few weeks later we was all called up for another meeting. This time announcing the replacement. Only a few of us have heard of him, the others knew he was a bit of a hot head, can easily lose his temper.
Rumours went around. A few managers and ADM's (assistant general managers) started to hand in transfers to the newer store, in the vain attempt to get to work with the old SGM again.
June 2006. He arrived. Head held high. "Am am the lord God almighty" was the staffs first impression of him.
He was here,
The man with a misson from head office to completely make the our store fall flat on its face.
The first two weeks he was at the store I was off watching the world cup at home (holiday). When I started back after my break I was introduced to him by the SDGM. Shook hands and was told, "Its the first time I have seen the counters looked full", to me this immediately undermined my staff. I know my staff and I know they produce a good dept in my absence. I took this with a pinch of salt.
Now. Over the coming months of the SGM taking over the store. There were run-ins with ALL dept managers except me and my ex-butchery manager. We ran good depts. I'm not saying ther other managers didnt but we had the easiest of the pick to run. Never any problems to speak of.
It all calmed down before Christmas. Got that over and done with then came the bombshell.
Managers meeting. "Over the coming year we (Morrisons) will have a new Director (and various other top people who know bugger all about the shop floor work) who will be introducing a new make-over and outlook for the company."
All this resulted in, no over-time, staff retention went down the pan. Staff leaving every week, mostly part timers and a few full timers who have only been there a few weeks. The morale of the majority of the staff AND managers hit rock bottom. This lead to 5 managers leaving and two ADM's. £ managers stepping down to supervisors or even 39 hours FULLTIME STAFF.
Over the last few months. The SGM has sacked 5 people. Why? Becasue they stood up to him after being shouted at, mentaly abused (in a way) and because they told him how it was. "your a ******, you ****** this place up"
All staff aggreed with the members who got sacked and their thoughts on Mr Brooks.
BUT..... I never had any beef with him. We got on and still get on together, yes we do have our differences but who doesnt? He leaves me alone. If I have an issue to bring up he will listen, the same applies to the Butchery manager. He hasnt got any beef. (no pun intended).
To this day some supervisors are stepping down to fulltime hours.
Now. The last few weeks have seen the introduction of the new "M" logo
Ok it looks "fresher" than the older yellow and black one but still, is it worth the Millions they plowed into "re-designing" the whole company image?
All new packaging, cleaning up of the stores (taking down certain point of sale and other logos and advertising things eg. Fish bar, we have a net up above the serve over counter that had plastic crabs and other shell fish in it. Looked very effective. In effect it said "fresh fish". Personaly it looked cool.)
Now they get us to stick a new sticker on EVERYTHING we produce in store.
As I work in the fish dept here is a video of the "M" main man for the fish in the company.
To be honest this whole "re-branding" things has eaten into the staff's profit share and also the fact we cant have over-time. Not having the luxurey of OT means with us being VERY short staffed (due to staff leaving and not being replaced) all managers are working more hours for no pay. We are getting very annoyed at this. Now, some managers are going to sign the Opting out form, which means they cant work more than 42 hours a week. I am thinking of doing this myself.
We are constantly being told off and in some case been given warnings for bad managment of hours. This means, every Sunday the staff in Personal add up staffs hours and if it go over 39 it means the member of staff has to take it back the following week. We (managers/supervisors) are getting right tellings off because of this. Yet 90% of the time its the ADM's and SGM's who ask staff to stay over their time, thus making them go over 39 hours. We then take the crap after. We have all mentioned this to the SGM but he is certain it our fault for not setting the rotas correctly. I
If we dont have the staff and the staff are asked to work extra how can we give them time back the following week.. ???? That will make us even tighter thus resulting in us and staff working more hours over 39 etc to only have to take back the following week. Then the SGM will hold another meeting moaning about the staff hours not being managed properly.
Ok Ill have to stop or I will never end this post.
Sorry if you have found it boring and for the length but I feel people need to know what is happening at this company.
So if you are shopping im M just be aware what is happening. If you see a member of staff down in the gutter feeling fed up.. Tell them I know what you are going through..
To be honest though. The staff are still chin up to the customers. Cant fault them for that..
So as you can see. M now isnt that great a comapny to work for. I desperatly need out, BIG TIME.
Rant over.. Please feel free to ask questions.
Hello. I am sorry if this is a bit of a rant but it has now come to the point where I have to air my views.
I work for Morrisons PLC (Supermarket) and up to the beginning of Summer last year the store was managed by the most respected SGM`s (store general manager) in the whole company. He was VERY firm but equally VERY fair, strange one I know.
These were the good old days
"Better the Devil you know."
I started off at M as a butcher. I got made redundant from Dewhursts Butchers, had the summer off and applied at M as a packer for the Meat dept. Got a call as I was on my way home from handing in my application form. Went back for interview in my shorts and t-shirt. They didnt mind as they knew I was on my way home.
Got second interview 3 days later (in a suit) with the Meat manager and the SGM. Got a job as butcher and not a packer, "why waste my skills wrapping meat up" they said.
One and half years later I was appointed Assistant manager of the butchery. I did well, had the ups and downs as we all do. The SGM was happy with my work and having him to say that was more important than anything else work wise.
Things in store were running smoothly and efficiently. Morale was high, staff retention was supurb, over-time was widley available all in all a great company and store to work with.
After a few years as assistant manager in the butchery things started to get boring. We was fully staffed, I had a great manager and things ran smoothly, probably the best run dept in the store. It was the SGM baby after all.
The manager of the fish bar was leaving due to getting a job in the Police force and I was asked by the SDMG (store deputy general manager) if I would be interested. I declined.
The SGM called me to his office and explained the fish bar to me and what he could offer me. It was all good. I took the job.
I was in the fish bar for a good 6 months or so. When we (managers) had a meeting. The SGM announced he was leaving to open up another store. Tears flowed and we all was shocked. As you would be, having a great SGM working along side you.
A few weeks later we was all called up for another meeting. This time announcing the replacement. Only a few of us have heard of him, the others knew he was a bit of a hot head, can easily lose his temper.
Rumours went around. A few managers and ADM's (assistant general managers) started to hand in transfers to the newer store, in the vain attempt to get to work with the old SGM again.
June 2006. He arrived. Head held high. "Am am the lord God almighty" was the staffs first impression of him.
He was here,
The man with a misson from head office to completely make the our store fall flat on its face.
The first two weeks he was at the store I was off watching the world cup at home (holiday). When I started back after my break I was introduced to him by the SDGM. Shook hands and was told, "Its the first time I have seen the counters looked full", to me this immediately undermined my staff. I know my staff and I know they produce a good dept in my absence. I took this with a pinch of salt.
Now. Over the coming months of the SGM taking over the store. There were run-ins with ALL dept managers except me and my ex-butchery manager. We ran good depts. I'm not saying ther other managers didnt but we had the easiest of the pick to run. Never any problems to speak of.
It all calmed down before Christmas. Got that over and done with then came the bombshell.
Managers meeting. "Over the coming year we (Morrisons) will have a new Director (and various other top people who know bugger all about the shop floor work) who will be introducing a new make-over and outlook for the company."
All this resulted in, no over-time, staff retention went down the pan. Staff leaving every week, mostly part timers and a few full timers who have only been there a few weeks. The morale of the majority of the staff AND managers hit rock bottom. This lead to 5 managers leaving and two ADM's. £ managers stepping down to supervisors or even 39 hours FULLTIME STAFF.
Over the last few months. The SGM has sacked 5 people. Why? Becasue they stood up to him after being shouted at, mentaly abused (in a way) and because they told him how it was. "your a ******, you ****** this place up"
All staff aggreed with the members who got sacked and their thoughts on Mr Brooks.
BUT..... I never had any beef with him. We got on and still get on together, yes we do have our differences but who doesnt? He leaves me alone. If I have an issue to bring up he will listen, the same applies to the Butchery manager. He hasnt got any beef. (no pun intended).
To this day some supervisors are stepping down to fulltime hours.
Now. The last few weeks have seen the introduction of the new "M" logo
Ok it looks "fresher" than the older yellow and black one but still, is it worth the Millions they plowed into "re-designing" the whole company image?
All new packaging, cleaning up of the stores (taking down certain point of sale and other logos and advertising things eg. Fish bar, we have a net up above the serve over counter that had plastic crabs and other shell fish in it. Looked very effective. In effect it said "fresh fish". Personaly it looked cool.)
Now they get us to stick a new sticker on EVERYTHING we produce in store.
As I work in the fish dept here is a video of the "M" main man for the fish in the company.
To be honest this whole "re-branding" things has eaten into the staff's profit share and also the fact we cant have over-time. Not having the luxurey of OT means with us being VERY short staffed (due to staff leaving and not being replaced) all managers are working more hours for no pay. We are getting very annoyed at this. Now, some managers are going to sign the Opting out form, which means they cant work more than 42 hours a week. I am thinking of doing this myself.
We are constantly being told off and in some case been given warnings for bad managment of hours. This means, every Sunday the staff in Personal add up staffs hours and if it go over 39 it means the member of staff has to take it back the following week. We (managers/supervisors) are getting right tellings off because of this. Yet 90% of the time its the ADM's and SGM's who ask staff to stay over their time, thus making them go over 39 hours. We then take the crap after. We have all mentioned this to the SGM but he is certain it our fault for not setting the rotas correctly. I
If we dont have the staff and the staff are asked to work extra how can we give them time back the following week.. ???? That will make us even tighter thus resulting in us and staff working more hours over 39 etc to only have to take back the following week. Then the SGM will hold another meeting moaning about the staff hours not being managed properly.
Ok Ill have to stop or I will never end this post.
Sorry if you have found it boring and for the length but I feel people need to know what is happening at this company.
So if you are shopping im M just be aware what is happening. If you see a member of staff down in the gutter feeling fed up.. Tell them I know what you are going through..
To be honest though. The staff are still chin up to the customers. Cant fault them for that..
So as you can see. M now isnt that great a comapny to work for. I desperatly need out, BIG TIME.
Rant over.. Please feel free to ask questions.
Last edited:
