Staples Advice

[AdamSavage]

So I will try to summarize this as small as possible. I wanted to work in/with computers/cell phones as I'm good with both, However I'm lacking the sales exp and this was the biggest hurdle. So I have what you would call an Employment worker, he got in touch with Staples here in Ottawa and they agreed that would start me in the Ink section and then I would work my way into other sections of the store. This started back in Dec. I even agreed to work for a month @ 6 hours a week (two 3 hours shifts) as a trial thing. If they like how I'm doing, then they would officially hire me. So at the end of Dec, they did just that. So for about 2 months I got 6 hours a week there and I figured well I can reduce a shift at my other Job as this would make up for it..Well shortly after that I started to get only 3 hours a week..That's right 3 ENTIRE hours for the week..That's not even worth going in for..So whatever I figured, spring is coming this gives me more time off to enjoy the weather etc etc..

So the 3 hours a week turned into ZERO hours for months..Then after a little bit I got the 3 hours a week BS for a couple months then back to no hours..So I'm getting annoyed at this point, my working is telling me "don't quit, don't quit"..Fine I'll hang in there. I was told back to school would give me more hours..So worker was half right, I got the 3 hours/week BS for 3-4 weeks and then back to no hours..At this point, I'm like WTF ? It's STILL back to school, your STILL busy, why am I getting shafted for hours. I even looked @ the numbers hours in total given to all the staff and it went up by 50 hours or so..Clearly they can afford to give me hours, however they simply chose not to..

I get my worker to email the manager there who hired me, because at this point I'm just livid..I want so badly to tell them to take there job and shove it up there but..So a week later he gets a reply..The reply basically said there going to set my standards so high, that it will be next to impossible to ever get out of ink and advance to another section of the store..

Here is the reply, my workers name is Steve, and the manager is also named Steve: (I put there first initial of there last name to make it less confusing)

Hi Steve S,

Nice to hear from you.

We are always looking for opportunities to help our associates to grow. I will be more than happy to discuss this with John. Unfortunately, with business the way it is, we will be going back into a labour challenge right after back to school, so resources are limited. It is important for John to really make a mark in the Ink area, and once we get past these business challenges, I should have more resources to invest in his growth. In the meantime, I will look for opportunities to offer some stretch from his routine.

Thanks for the communication.

Steve G





Thoughts ? What do you guys think I should do ?

[CrystalKitten]

It depends how much you need the money. Personally, I would suggest to start looking for something else, while keeping the shifts you already have. However, if you don't need the money, you could always inform them that unless things start to change, you're going to give your notice. But, that's just me. I'm told I sometimes over react.

It also sounds like maybe the store you're at isn't doing so well? Or.. they're diplomatically trying to say they aren't really happy with you. Either of which probably wouldn't bode well for you using it as a stepping stone for your career, which might be something to keep in mind.

That said.. I'm not really sure how someone can "make a mark" in the ink department... People go in needing a specific brand, and sometimes even a specific colour/code number.... You can't really "upsell" ink, or convince them to get a more expensive brand or something o.O Only make sure people can find the things they decided they needed when they first got into the store.. (but then.. I'm not THAT great with generic sales anyways)

[Moore]

Talk to them yourself, don't do the whole go in-between be upfront and direct and in person that way they will say whatever they have to say and to your face rather than dismiss you through an e-mail. Guy sounds like a worm imo.

[Sarayana]

CrystalKitten pretty much said everything I'd have said. I think your manager is giving you the run-around. :S

[AdamSavage]

Yah I found his email was very vague and didn't really say anything. I'm pretty sure there trying to get me to quit as they have no grounds to fire me, I don't why they don't just let me go saying they can't afford to keep me or whatever. I made an edit to my original post. I meant to say 6 hours a week not day.

[AdamSavage]

I think staples found the excuse they needed to fire me, I got call from one of the managers and she left me a message. She claimed I was supposed to work from 12-5, I'm thinking your full of ****. I was there Saturday and I looked and I had no hours. Even when I did have hours I NEVER worked @ 12pm..WTF am I going to do in INK for 5 hours.. I course didn't call her back, what am I going to say ? She is just going to argue with me..*sigh* idiots..Plus the fact the head manager said I wouldn't be getting any hours..

[CrystalKitten]

Haha.. if they actually fire you for that... I would PERSONALLY try shoving it in their face and filing a claim for compensation for wrongful dismissal <.< I mean, if you weren't scheduled, then they are just making excuses. As the labour board put it for me once, they'll ALWAYS try and claim it's a legitimate reason, doesn't mean it was though, and you can still possibly get severance pay.

[Impulse]

I'd start looking for other opportunities. I'm sure other people always say the same thing, give(open up) yourself many options as possible.

[AdamSavage]

Haha.. if they actually fire you for that... I would PERSONALLY try shoving it in their face and filing a claim for compensation for wrongful dismissal <.< I mean, if you weren't scheduled, then they are just making excuses. As the labour board put it for me once, they'll ALWAYS try and claim it's a legitimate reason, doesn't mean it was though, and you can still possibly get severance pay.

The kicker, I can't prove I wasn't supposed to work. They can lie and say I was, meanwhile they did a rogue change to the schedule. I have to go in today to collect my paystub, I want to confront them and ask them what the deal with the claim I was supposed to work on Tuesday..If it comes down to it, I will buy the paper and take a picture of the Schedule with the paper beside it to prove the date. If they ask what I'm doing, I'll just say I'm taking a picture this way if the schedule is changed then I have prove.

[TygerDarkstorm]

Welcome to Staples Adam!! No really, they're shitty like that and I quit over a similar reason you got fired for. They would swap my schedule about a lot without telling me (after the schedule was publicly released which means they're supposed to tell you if they change it) but made it my fault for not checking to see that they scheduled me on my day off. Honestly, you're definitely better off trying to get a job elsewhere. I do more as a bagger at my grocery store now than I did cashiering for Staples, make more money, and feel less stressed than I did at my Staples job.

[Dubhsidhe]

As someone that has to deal with "business people" on a daily basis I can identify a few things in that email that are entirely crap.

"Business challenges" <BUZZER> Buzz words! What challenges? How could giving you three hours a week possibly assist in meeting their goals and KPI? It doesn't. He's throwing around business terms to obfuscate the issue.

"make a mark" <BUZZER> Again, buzz words. How can you be expected to make a mark when you are in the building less than some customers are on a monthly basis. More obfuscation.

Frankly, you need to walk up to the guy and ask what his expectations are of you, and how he thinks you can meet them in the time allotted to you. Explain your qualifications and why you feel you deserve more time. Be polite, but firm.

[Anyia]

"make a mark" <BUZZER> Again, buzz words. How can you be expected to make a mark when you are in the building less than some customers are on a monthly basis.

Maybe he's expected to empty a few ink cartridges in well chosen places?

[AdamSavage]

I went in yesterday to get my paystub and it turns out the new schedule had been in place of the normally current one, with the current one behind it. I probably looked @ the one behind thinking it was the new one and not the current one, and I was able to regain that 5 hour shift that I missed for tomorrow so that's a good thing. The other manager explained to me why Ink is doesn't seem like a big deal to me but it is. I was told that the Ink accounts for 20-30% of the ENTIRE store sales. That's pretty big, so I can understand now why Ink is important. I physically talked to head manager and he was more clear this time. He said he knows I want to work in computers and that, but I need to give him time and be patience.

He doesn’t want to overwhelm me either at the same time. The other Manager also was more clear on what they wanted me to do in Ink. Keeping the Ink organized and fully stocked is very important. If I could somehow increase the sales of the Ink by having it organized and fully stocked, then I could get more hours and they could “expand my wings” as the head manager mentioned today. I forgot to mention as well the reason why they don't want to overwhelm me persay is I have a learning disability combined with ADHD. I tend to have a hard time remembering alot of information all at once. I'm more of a hands on learner and if it's something that grabs my interest I do better in that as well.

[TygerDarkstorm]

Ink accounts for a huge part of Staples' overall sales as well as their most highly stolen item.