TESCO TRUTHS

Well Tesco workers can forget going home early on Xmas eve,  Store Directors have been telling Store Managers via the Xmas Conference call today that all stores will be open until at least  7 – regardless of size or format ! !  Less than two days to go – and Tesco changes the playing field for the Line Managers and Staff – showing once again that Tesco employees really have no say in what or how they work AND that any arrangements will have to fit around the company.

For a company whom spends so much money on “living the Values” and paying lipservice to a “work-life balance”, it seems that all this can be ignored when the companies market share is in severe danger.  Most stores have not been able to recruit the “Xmas Temps” on which the store normally operate at this time – this increases the pressureon the staff and managers – with reports of Duty / Line Managers working 12 hour days (only paid for the 36.5 which is almost unheard of for a Manager to work!) with almost all managers being required to work all week without an actual day off.

Reports are also coming in of some stores (which are open Boxing and New Years Day) actively forcing managers to work – one report – verified by two managers, tells of how the Store Manager simply going round the room alternating between Boxing Day and New Years Day – giving the Managers no choice but to work one of them.

The pressures on the staff are apparent within the Tesco stores – Tesco seems to think that by having a “fun” calendar (events to dress up in etc) that staff & managers will ignore the “sweatshop style” environment and the directive management style from the Store Managers – the inevitable visit from the Stores Directors et al simply adding to the pressure . . . . . .   So if you do actually choose to shop in Tescos this year……. spare a thought for the workers and managers……..Maybe one day – the powers that be which sit in the Ivory Towers of Cheshunt will actually realise that the reason that Tescos are not seen as “warm and friendly” in comparison to the competitors is simply that they cannot be!  This is  relative to the actual number of staff on the shopfloor………………………..locking offices is not the answer – more managers is not the answer – more staff – properly trained is the answer…. but then – that would cost money – better to get some more consultants to simply tell us th be warm and friendly as we do the jobs of 2 or more people!

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