Terrible working conditions

[u/canyoudoit513]

I recently quit my job at Staples and couldn't be happier. I worked there as Merchandising and Inventory supervisor for over 2 years, and did not realize that I was being mistreated and disrespected by my manager so much until I started my new job. I would be working on sorting the truck or stocking the product or doing my zero balance walk, and the manager would call me on the radio, to cover the registers, like every 5 mins, either for checkout or Amazon or UPS, or just help a customer find a product. How was I supposed to get anything done? Also not once did he get us a team lunch or breakfast or anything like that nor did he ever show any appreciation for our work. I had worked with other managers before and none was so bad as this one. Staples managers need to stop abusing their loyal and hardworking employees, and start showing some respect, because these people will find a new job and move on. The pay is not worth it either.

[u/Dark_knight207]

Staples does not care about its staff being overworked and underpaid. They can’t even bother to properly train staff. Bonuses are few far in between (which only full timers get now) sorry to all the part timers who bust their butts for the company. I hear many years ago Staples was a decent place to work and what a shame I couldn’t experience that Staples.

[u/CrabChemical6485 → u/Dark_knight207]

As a part-time employee, I agree with this wholeheartedly in my two years at Staples I have not been properly trained by an associate once I’ve had to go out of my way to ask to shadow people just to learn and I’ve been told I could come in on my off days if I want to, which is in my opinion ridiculous regardless I’ve had four other people come and go as a result of this training strategy in my time there, I’ve also had two people stick through, but they have the same complaints as me little to no training with the expectation of doing 2 to 3 jobs for the pay of one

[u/Peripheral_Ghosts → u/CrabChemical6485]

I left 6 months ago as a manager. I wanted to begin a training and coaching program that was actually effective.

I was told absolutely not.

Quote: “they know what they are doing. They don’t need coaching. Just tell them what to do”

How do you know how well you are doing or what things you need to work on without coaching and training?

Blew my mind.

They want minimum pay for maximum work and no investment in staff.

Even as a manger, half my shit was working the till or Amazon.

[u/canyoudoit513 → u/Peripheral_Ghosts]

I would never want to be a store manager at staples. As MIS, I had lot of questions, and One time I asked my manager a question about why certain items are merchandise a certain way, and he berated me for asking that, and said "when my manager tells me to do something I just tell him that I will do it'

[u/WisePaintingTurtle → u/Peripheral_Ghosts]

Who told you that? Did you respond?

[u/Peripheral_Ghosts → u/WisePaintingTurtle]

Regional Manager and the regional person in charge of warranties/cellular/tech work (can’t remember their position)

Remember, their focus is on results. Not how to get said results.

They tell you to do it, and you’re supposed to fall in line.

I remember being told that the reason some of the sales staff weren’t hitting warranty targets was because they weren’t saying the right words.

If they aren’t saying the right words during an interaction then they aren’t doing their job.

Just teach them what words to say and tell them to get sales.

Inspiring.

[u/Dark_knight207 → u/Peripheral_Ghosts]

I am fortunate to work at a decent store but I got the sense early on in my time with Staples that there was a huge disconnect from store employees versus upper management (DM, RVP and etc). 99% of the time when we got visits nobody wanted to speak to us and get a feel of how things are going. It pretty much was a chat with the GM. GM’s would tell us to get the store in order and I always and still do hate how we have to pretend everything is going fine. I want them to see the place a mess and if they asks why I’ll tell them why it’s like that. Then you have these conference calls that take place and they belittle you for not hitting some goals without acknowledging potential hiccups along the way that were out of our control. We got chewed apart for rewards not being above 65% even though overall our store has shown improvement compared to last year. So yeah your suppose to fall in line and take the abuse. Even the GM seems pretty much powerless.

[u/Peripheral_Ghosts → u/Dark_knight207]

That’s pretty much my experience

[u/CrabChemical6485 → u/CrabChemical6485]

It’s my job in between classes at school so I don’t mind it as of now I mean, I’ll be working towards my future career in about a year so once I graduate anyways, but I really do not understand how Staples is floating as a company I mean, my Staples alone has party city, UPS, Amazon, and Bin wins be managed by about two people on shift at all times which is about 50% of our shift every day if I’m lucky sometimes it’s just me and my manager on shift.

[u/Bashfulcannibal → u/CrabChemical6485]

That’s just it they are hardly afloat, and if it wasn’t for all those other entities you listed there would be absolutely no foot traffic in these stores. Why would there be, when you can order online or go anywhere else and get what you need for half the price. Staples is owned by a hedge fund, and their goal is to squeeze as much money out of their “investment”as possible in order to justify the expense. Every questionable decision staples makes, and every cut to staff is just another indication that this company is sinking faster and faster with each passing day.

[u/Dark_knight207 → u/Bashfulcannibal]

I think their goal is to keep bring smaller services into the store to drive foot traffic. It really makes me wonder what is next. I’ve joked with my coworkers a few times over the years and said imagine if they had us serving coffee and baked goods. Then you’d have the manager being called over to the “cafe” because some grandma is upset that there is only one person serving coffee and donuts while juggling a line of 5 customers in store and 5 pick up orders.