Breaking news.....

[Dave1982]

.....Dave1982 is on the verge of a complete breakdown at work at this very moment. I had to take an early break to calm down. If not for the fact that I'd get arrested for it, I'd arrange an appointment with the baler for Captain Jellico. Plus i'm having a bit of an emotional crisis over my upcoming birthday which does NOt help.

GAAAAH!!!!!

[fireheart]

any details? (if you want to share?)

Nevertheless...*offers hugs, cookies and many yummy beverages*

[Dave1982]

OK......I'm still upset, but mostly just tired at this point, and drained. Being really angry does that.....

My above post was made on my iTouch from the break room, which is why I didn't post any details.

So.....this coming Monday, the 14th, is my 27th birthday. In and of itself that's an insignificant thing. It's not 21, 25, or 30. However, it is something of a milestone for me, because that's how old my parents both were when I was born. I've known that for a while, so it's not like that's some big revelation. But it struck me today that 1) I know my parents want grandchildren some day and 2) I definitely want to start a family someday, and 3) I'm about to hit that milestone age and I'm still single.

It was a fairly depressing thought, and started me into a bit of a funk.

Then, in the middle of wallowing in self-pity, the CSL came over and started talking to me.

CSL: Oh yeah, don't tell anyone I told you this, because I'm not supposed to tell you, but as of Monday, Dale is no longer our IA (inventory associate).

Me: Oh really?

CSL: Yeah.

Now, I don't know if he's stepping down or if they're stripping him of the position or what, but that's a position I've been trying to get. Captain Jellico has already had me do some training for it, as he and The Don have been trying to get me into a position where I can step into the role if and when the opportunity presented itself. So at first I thought this was good news, because IA is a full-time position and all that.

Then comes the bombshell.

CSL: California Boy is gonna be our IA.

Wait wha---? HIM?!?! Are you SHITTING ME?!?!

I've posted about California Boy before. He moved up here from San Diego a while back and took a transfer into my district. He was splitting his time between my store and our sister store to the west. After about two weeks, he essentially got kicked out of our store because he had a major attitude problem, was insubordinate, took his breaks when he wanted rather than when he was told, and took more breaks than he was entitled to. And on top of that, he did a piss poor job. Our sister store to the west was happy to have him though, since they really needed the help and apparently he did better work there anyway, and I was glad to be rid of his lazy ass.

And now he's gonna be our IA. That is just fanfuckingtastic. That means that The Don and Captain Jellico filled the position on the sly without any consideration to me or any of the other people in their own store who they KNOW are looking for advancement.

Or, to put it more simply.....I have been dicked over yet again. I was supposed to be a shoe-in for CSL but lost that because Professor X withheld the recommendation he said he would give me. Then I was supposed to be the EasyTech Expert (because our then-ETE became the CSL), and had been told I was a top candidate when in fact they knew they were going to bring BS down from sister store to the north. Then they were going to try and get me an IA slot, and here they are taking THAT away from me, too.

And because I was already upset, this news couldn't have come at a worse time.

Me (struggling not to yell and succeeding only marginally well): IS THE MANAGEMENT OF THIS STORE DELIBERATELY WASTING MY TIME?!

CSL (nervously): Ah....don't throw anything, Dave......

I actualyl don't quite remember the next few minutes. I know I went over towards register 3 after crumpling up a small box and heaved the box into the corner, then the next thing I remember was pushing the ladder around because I needed to put some stuff into top-stock. Along the way I crashed into a stack of plastic storage bins and knocked them all over. I slammed the stack back together (I found out later that I broke one because I slammed it down too hard) and stomped back over to the ladder.

And then out of nowhere Captain Jellico appeared. Just the man I DON'T want to see, since he's one of the people fucking with me.

Capt Jellico: What's going on here?!

Me: I'm UPSET! And I can't talk about it!

(because if I did, I'd have had it out with him and would probably be out of a job right now. Plus, I wasn't even supposed to know what the CSL had told me).

Capt. Jellico: Well you'd better calm down, because you're presenting an unprofessional appearance on the sales floor.

Me:

OK, seriously, that's just TERRIFIC leadership right there. Captain Jellico really overwhelms me with his sympathy <SARCASM>. No "what's the matter?" or anything like that, just "calm down, because you're presenting an unprofessional appearance."

I guess to him, being "professional" requires a Vulcan-like suppression of all emotion.

Me: I'm sorry.....can I take a 15 as soon as [FNG] comes back from his dinner?

Capt Jellico: Yes, please do.

It was during that break that I started this thread. I was still mad when I came back, and that eventually melted away into a deep physical and mental exhaustion. I could really use a drink (or something ) right about now, BUT I'm not going to do that. I'd prefer to reserve such things to have a good time, not to avoid having a bad time. That's a path I'd just as soon avoid.

Plus, I don't have anything to drink except soda anyway. (Well, actually, I do have some alcohol, but it's all stuff that is really intended for mixed drinks, and I don't feel like taking the time to mix anything right now).

[draggar]

Why would management want to ever promote a good employee? Not only are they taking a risk with the promotion but also a new employee to fill the promoted employee's old position.

Just cut the risk in half and keep the employee who does a great job in their position and only take the risk with the promotion!

(Note: Sarcasm but this is how a lot of managers look at the situation).

A friend of mine bucked the whole system when he started with my company. Policy states you have to be an employee for at least a year before being promoted. He did it perfectly.

His first few months he was phenominal, then the next month he was average, met his numbers, but that was it. When management asked him about it his response "You have seen that I can do it but I don't have any motivation since I feel like I am going no where". Within 4 months he was promoted to a lead. Rince and repeat for ast store manager. Then rince and repeat again for store manager.

4 promotions within a year. Its a crapy way to look at things in the company but I was in the same boat until I found an "outside" team to take me in.

If you're good on the floor - maybe look into comething with corporate?

[cinema guy]

Just a suggestion, maybe you should confirm that the IA is stepping down, and maybe speak to the Don and say you'd like to be considered for his job.

[fireheart]

I'm in a roughly similar situation. I've let management know several times that I want to be able to be cross-trained to work the smoke counter and/or in the perishables department with the guys. Perishables might give me a slight increase in pay depending on how long I spend in the freezer, but smokes do not. (smokeshop attendants are not supervisors)
I do a great job on the floor-my scanning rate (items per minute) is at the store requirement or just under (store requirement is 15.5 or 15 depending on who you speak to, my rate hovers between 14 and 15), I don't aimlessly wander around unless I KNOW it's quiet, I'm usually helping train the new hire in some shape or form.

[Dave1982]

I was supposed to be a shoe-in for CSL but lost that because Professor X withheld the recommendation he said he would give me.

I asked about this today.....according to Focker (and I have no reason to believe he's lying), the only thing the Professor X said about me was "he doesn't fit in here, but doesn't deserve to lose his job. You want him?"

Yeah. Thanks.

[cinema guy]

It sounds like the managers at both stores are both thoughtless asshats.

[TheSHAD0W]

Sounds like it's time to send out some resumes and see if someone bites.

[BookstoreEscapee]

Now, I don't know if he's stepping down or if they're stripping him of the position or what, but that's a position I've been trying to get. Captain Jellico has already had me do some training for it, as he and The Don have been trying to get me into a position where I can step into the role if and when the opportunity presented itself. So at first I thought this was good news, because IA is a full-time position and all that.

Then comes the bombshell.

CSL: California Boy is gonna be our IA.

Store2 did something similar to me. They had me doing morning meetings and going through the store checklist, showed me how to do the electronic shop and stuff...had everyone thinking I was next in line for the department manager position that was opening up. Then they gave it to someone else and didn't bother to tell me. I found out by accident from someone else (who didn't realize that I had been seemingly being groomed for the spot). The worst part is the person they gave it to is a good friend of mine, and he couldn't tell me.

If it makes you feel any better, I will be 34 in a few weeks, which is 3 years older than my mom was when I was born. And I am still single, and female, so my window to give them grandkids is not as open as my brother's (though I would be utterly shocked if he ever got married, let alone had kids..[he's 36]).