some of these only apply to the store in particular i was working others in general, but I include them all because if the snake bites in Texas, they probably bite in Nebraska too.
- not really one of the reasons why I quit, but one of the bigger hypocrisies. GREETING, all, and they do mean every single customer MUST be greeted, and if you get caught not greeting to a customer ( i.e secret shopper, corporate big wig, etc) you can get fired. yes you read right they take their greeting seriously. This rule even goes as far to say that it does not matter how many people you are helping at the moment, or how long the line is in front of you, you have to stop what you are do and greet the newly arrival into the store, why is this hypocrisy? because I myself have been to MANY 7-elevens in about (at least) six different states and some of those I went to quite frequently, and I NEVER GOT GREETED, ( except for that time I was visited Utah [ recent visit ] but that still only makes one time out of the hundreds I experienced) Now I can agree that it's important to make customers feel comfortable and welcomed, they are more likely to return and buy more products, but to fire an employee for not greeting? not cool.(no I was not fired for this, in fact I was not fired, i quitted)
- Responsibilities, now I am not saying I do not like responsibilities, because I actually do, it helps me keep myself busy and there always the satisfaction of the results of whatever is/was accomplished, but sometimes things get in the way of finishing them, to explain this, pretty much at any store there are duties, aside from helping customers. cleaning and stocking of products. but sometimes a store can get really busy, and it would get very easy to fall behind on such duties. I would like to consider myself as a person that likes to keep a store tidy. but if I cannot get to it then it just cannot get done. To better explain this (even deeper) 7-eleven has a store policy: Customers first. This means that if there is a customer that is ready to buy or in need of any assistance whatsoever, they come first. its just that simple. I cannot say to them "hold on I need to tidy up this counter, then I can help you" No, I must stop whatever it is I am doing and assist the customer.
whats this you're saving that man's life well stop it you have to help that customer get his cigerettesWith this in mind it would be such a shame if your boss came in RIGHT after a huge rush, because when he/she walks in, nothing matters if the place is not to their liking it is because you're being lazy. they somehow can even take the time to complain about it even as you are trying to get to everything. This was unfortunately the case for me on many occasions. I will admit that there was a couple times I could have been better, but I want to remind that I am not perfect, but do make every attempt to better my work as an employee. - Compliments. Seriously? would it have hurt that much to show gratitude for what we do get done, and not so much at every little thing you feel you have to nitpick at? I understand we have to be responsible. But we are still human and will miss one thing or another from time to time, and for a boss that is tired of terrible employees, should know if he really wanted better employees he should try complimenting them on the efforts they make, they might happen more often, and who knows they might just become a habit. This my just be me, but I love a good complement, its like my crack. if some tells me. "hey you did a great job doing ( insert responsibility), thank you" I am going to be more motivated the next time, and hey I might even be more willing to go the extra mile, and hey that soda rack that looked like crap and falling apart? no one told me to fix that, I just did it... your welcome. I do not think that anyone likes to be told (constantly) that they do a bad job. I would like to believe I tried my best each night to be a great worker, yes some nights I would slip and miss a thing or two, but still if you can take the time to text me/call me to lecture me on something I did wrong or didn't do, you could equally take the time to send me a thank you for the fifty other things I did right, or does that take up too much of you time?
- Yes theres more, this is more of a continuation of number two, but I chose to separate them. To explain this one better. I worked (primarily) the evening shift, which is typically a 4-10 sometimes to midnight if i was "lucky" enough. each shift has its duties, most of them are the same: keep the coffee hot and fresh, the floors and counters clean, the aisles tidy and customers happy. understandable. but it seems as of lately that the morning, noon, and graveyard shifts have become too burdened. Now, the morning and noon I wish not to blame too much because I have worked both of them and it can get quite hectic. however the graveyard shift, has little to no excuse. In fact its safe to say its just them. moving on. as of lately more and more duties have put upon the evening shift, which can be just as busy, if not more busy than any of the other shifts ( not combined though..you thought I was going to say that..didn't you) on average I would say there is in between 2-3 rushes. and these rushes can last hours upon hours. then there is the clean up inbetween and this is really not including the random rushes in between ( the random charter bus full of sports team) make it really difficult to get to every single duty, a really its not saying that I am not, not doing them on purpose I get caught up with all of my other duties, the smaller ones tend to slip my mind
- schedule- this was probably the final straw, the one that broke the camel's back, that and its wonderful timing with the incredibly crappy night. yeah I can find better employment elsewhere. its seems it is too much to ask for a balanced schedule. I mean its not like this job was the only thing on my plate, I am also a student, trying to make my way through college, earn a degree, you know make tomorrow a little more shiney. anyways, it seemed there was no way to balance my schedule so that I can have the time to not miss a class, have time to do my homework so I can get the good grades, on top of that spend quality time with my WONDERFUL wife. and at least a little bit of time for myself to destress from life's burdens. but this is not possible when my schedule gets beat around more than Mike Tysons Punching bag.
and the results...it just begins to affect everything around me. and that is No Bueno. So there was some research done into this and the reason my ex-employer did this was so that customers would not get too comfortable with the schedule of the workers, it makes them less likely to, say slip the bag of Peanut M&M's in their pocket or something, or say" hey I want to rob that place" ( which you wouldn't, its pretty much a block away from the Police department) all of this is partially understandable, but there is still the single truth that nothing will stop a determined person, so That only does so much, and on top of that, you can keep the patrons on their toes without swinging me around like Louisville Slugger, and remember happy "associates" mean happy patrons, happy patrons mean tons of business.
I have no complaints about customers, mainly because their purchases go to my paycheck, and I was able to meet some really neat people--even though there was a couple that I would mind seeing them take a dive with a motor, <-- thats a joke right there. anyways they are all great people and they honestly pick a great place to purchase good, to readdress my first statement I do not have anything against 7 eleven, I just recommend not working there, I wouldn't recommend working at any place close to corporate owned or a franchise of a corporate based company, but feel free to keep them in business. This is not the whole list, these are just the ones worth my time to complain about. "and that is all I have to say about that"
(note: its important to mention these were not single events, it was the continuation of these events that lead me to terminate my employment there)
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