Should I feel guilty?

[jedifarfy]

I'm hoping I could get some advice on some issues at work. I think I'm the favorite and I don't like it.

Last October, I got a promotion at a large bookstore chain, and now have several departments that I'm in charge of. A lot of maintenance has been needed, and a few times, I've stopped and left an entire shelf empty. One was left empty for a several days (no time and that whole shelf went on a display). The second time, someone at my same level noticed. She said she would have been talked to about leaving shelves empty if it was her.

Then, in the last couple of days, several tables of my stuff were due to come down and another's was replacing it. It took me a while to get all my product off, but nothing was said to me. The coworker worked on her display on that table for just an hour (with a break in there too), and she was bugged about getting it done and why was it taking so long.

I've also been told that several others were talked to about leaving work behind and not finishing their stuff from the back, but I have done it due to time constraints and never had anyone say a word.

Am I losing my mind? Are they playing favorites? Or are they just assuming since I'm not used to the promotion (which I am by now)?

[NightAngel]

You're in charge of several departments as you say- are they?

There is only so much any one person can do alone. Do you feel you delegate tasks well? Or do you try and do it all yourself?

Also, you need to remember that these other managers may have other issues that you do not know about. Meaning, perhaps they aren't as good at what they do as you are and the higher-ups recognize that these individuals need to be reminded to get things done.

Don't know if this helps... ?

[jedifarfy]

I'm a lead, along with the people getting bugged about their stuff taking too long, etc. The managers are the one talking to them about it. All the leads have several sections, and we're split between 2 department managers. Hours, of course, have been slashed, so we're all short on time. I don't feel or see that I'm doing any better or worse. I'm wondering if it's because I'm the newest at this position. Still, it's been 3 full months, and the last person before me was doing it for a few months before me.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I have a feeling that you work for the same Big Name Booksellers that I do. I was a lead as well, when I worked in the store. My last lead position was frontlist, which meant I did all the new release tables and stepladder changeover on Tuesday. That's a s**tload of work for one person, and usually my managers realized this. I was doing it for a while, and lucky if I finished before the end of my shift, and no one made a big deal of anything, until one of my assistant micromanagers suddenly evidently decided I should somehow be finished in the 2 hours before we opened. Never mind that I did not work on Monday night and no one saw fit to help get things started for me. Then she'd keep offering to "help" me when the best way to do that was to leave me the hell alone so I could do my work. I've known and loved her for years, but I still couldn't say that. So I'd do the stepladders first, then the front 20% off table, then the hardcover new releases and then paperpack. (Yes, folks thats 3 big tables and 3 stepladders for those who are keeping track. That's generally 60+ titles on each table.) If you have several displays to work on, do anything that's discounted first then worry about the nondiscounted stuff. That can always wait till tomorrow if absolutely necessary. The things I took off I stacked behind the register temporarily and usually had the opening cashier help take stickers off while they were slow. Then I could put them away after the table was finished.

I don't know how big your back room is, but we had shelves for the backstock of new releases, and I had a couple shelves for the mass markets, so I was able to organize things in the back as they came in and then just dump 'em on a cart and bring them out for the stepladder and new release bay. I worked out a system with the receiving manager, and the receivers (which was me quite often as well) would put them on the shelf and label them with post-its. Same thing for the overstock on the hardcovers/trade paperbacks, though obviously not as much room for that. We also had a special area for the strict on sale titles so I was able to just load up a cart and go. At some point the Monday night manager started loading up a cart and bringing it out to the info desk when they brought out the shelving for the next day. If there's room, maybe you could see if there is a system you could work out to make things as easy to get out as possible. That would help everyone.

If your manager starts getting on you, then I'd make sure they are aware of exactly what you are expected to do and ask if they have any suggestions for how to make it more efficient. But it sounds like they already know, and I wouldn't feel guilty. If your coworkers are saying anything, then just ignore them. It's not your fault--some things just take longer to do. And from experience, I can tell you that the putting up of the table takes a lot less time than the taking down and destickering and putting away, especially if the table has titles from all over the store.

As for the leaving of empty shelves, have your departments been without a lead for a while? Or was the previous lead not keeping things up as they should have been? If so they probably need more maintenance than others. If the management is paying attention, they will know how much work each section needs and allot the time accordingly. Perhaps the person saying they would be "talked to" for leaving empty shelves does not have as much maintenance needed, and/or is not keeping up with things as they should be. The management may be noticing things that you are not trained to be looking for.

The long and the short of it (and sorry I've been so long) is no, you should not feel guilty. Just do your work, and if you are still concerned, speak to your department manager. Maybe they will have some suggestions for you to streamline things, and ease your mind about what they are really expecting.

-ams-

[jedifarfy]

Yep, sounds like the same company! :P Take-down definitely does take longer. Plus, on top of our own zoning and shelving, we have to do front list. Our last front list person went back to school, and they decided not to promote or hiring anyone for it. So now a morning shelver does the stickering/destickering and we eventually get around to the tables. The kids lead usually puts up, w/o stickers or signs, the kids stepladder. We're iffy on organization, but getting better. We do have space in the back, but we can't keep up with it. :P

Thanks for your advice! It's definitely what I needed!

[BookstoreEscapee]

Yep, sounds like the same company! :P Take-down definitely does take longer. Plus, on top of our own zoning and shelving, we have to do front list. Our last front list person went back to school, and they decided not to promote or hiring anyone for it. So now a morning shelver does the stickering/destickering and we eventually get around to the tables. The kids lead usually puts up, w/o stickers or signs, the kids stepladder. We're iffy on organization, but getting better. We do have space in the back, but we can't keep up with it. :P

Thanks for your advice! It's definitely what I needed!

Not a problem. You can PM me if you want to bounce any questions off me. I can give you more details on how we organized things if you want. We had the new mass market thing down to a science! (well, sorta...)