The Woolworths Thread

[jennyfromdabloc]

I think certain traits usually assosciated with femininity make for better checkout/admin roles. When we did our phoenix meeting for our area, that was 16 stores (SSM, Office Cashier and Systems Operator from each store), take away the SSS at the time, and the area manager. I was one of only two men there, and both of us are gay. The only male CSM's i've met have been gay, the only male SSO in our area is gay, i dont know ANY male Systems people, and either gay men or women as SSM's, i'm the first male office cashier in our store, EVER, and i'm gay. And, i'll take a bet that a large part of the male, checkout/office posters in this thread are gay too.

Obviously, thats not true of everybody, everystore etc. but i think it does make it harder for Straight Male's to make it in those roles because all that stuff makes it harder to make a comparison, or to stand out.

Not disagreeing, but what are the traits associated with being a cashier that are feminine?

[jgibson0011]

I was one of only two men there, and both of us are gay. The only male CSM's i've met have been gay, the only male SSO in our area is gay, i dont know ANY male Systems people, and either gay men or women as SSM's, i'm the first male office cashier in our store, EVER, and i'm gay. And, i'll take a bet that a large part of the male, checkout/office posters in this thread are gay too.

Obviously, thats not true of everybody, everystore etc. but i think it does make it harder for Straight Male's to make it in those roles because all that stuff makes it harder to make a comparison, or to stand out.

My CSMs 2ic is gay...so is the guy that hired me from HR. I am as well.
I think its possibly an attribute that makes us suited to work in retail. But straight guys do just as well, there's just fewer of them.

Equality in the workplace FTW!

[jgibson0011]

Our registers have been really slow since the new year, some even crashing.

I'm working 1300-2200 today and 0700-1200 tomorrow...Eeek!

[Harry778]

Work just rang me and apparently they need me to swap s/vision weekends. So I have next weekend off too =D

Don't know why they're doing that for? But two weekends off in a row!! yayyyy.

[Harry778]

Our registers have been really slow since the new year, some even crashing.

I'm working 1300-2200 today and 0700-1200 tomorrow...Eeek!

NO 10 HOUR GAP BETWEEN SHIFTS!! lol..isnt people planner supposed to prevent this from happening?

[yoddle]

I think certain traits usually assosciated with femininity make for better checkout/admin roles. When we did our phoenix meeting for our area, that was 16 stores (SSM, Office Cashier and Systems Operator from each store), take away the SSS at the time, and the area manager. I was one of only two men there, and both of us are gay. The only male CSM's i've met have been gay, the only male SSO in our area is gay, i dont know ANY male Systems people, and either gay men or women as SSM's, i'm the first male office cashier in our store, EVER, and i'm gay. And, i'll take a bet that a large part of the male, checkout/office posters in this thread are gay too.

Obviously, thats not true of everybody, everystore etc. but i think it does make it harder for Straight Male's to make it in those roles because all that stuff makes it harder to make a comparison, or to stand out.

HA! Regional New years party any one?

I know very few gay Woolworthians, only one of them is a supervisor, the other ones perishables or something? But yes traditionally feminine qualities are advantageous for all customer service roles, thats why hospitality is riddled with homosexuals. GGRRR i was the subject of outright gay-hating from strangers at Falls, never really happens to me, i was so angry/disappointed.

I used an SCO for the first time on the 29th!! I think it was the first TAS store with them. They were fun as. I was also a bit drunk, which accentuated the experience.

[lordtopcat]

From what I know we have no gay employees at my store.

It's pretty funny actually, there are about 83 staff at our store and of that only 7 are guys. (SM, me, 1 super, 3 grocery, 1 baker). Our Grocery and Perishables managers are both female, and as I said only 3 of around 25 grocery staff are guys.

[babikakez]

I think certain traits usually assosciated with femininity make for better checkout/admin roles. When we did our phoenix meeting for our area, that was 16 stores (SSM, Office Cashier and Systems Operator from each store), take away the SSS at the time, and the area manager. I was one of only two men there, and both of us are gay. The only male CSM's i've met have been gay, the only male SSO in our area is gay, i dont know ANY male Systems people, and either gay men or women as SSM's, i'm the first male office cashier in our store, EVER, and i'm gay. And, i'll take a bet that a large part of the male, checkout/office posters in this thread are gay too.

Obviously, thats not true of everybody, everystore etc. but i think it does make it harder for Straight Male's to make it in those roles because all that stuff makes it harder to make a comparison, or to stand out.

Come to think of it, both those male supervisors that I've mentioned are also gay. One of my SSM's (my store unofficially has two now until March) is a very straight male who loves himself way too much, but thats more to do with climbing the ladder I guess. I just don't think its right, and in this instance the guy in question would do a brilliant job, he has natural leadership skills and is calm, but still reliable and responsive.

I mean, I don't know if there was something more to the decision than just wanting female supervisors. His sister is top dog of all casual/ppt supervisors, so I'd dare say her opinion counted A LOT. But bigger picture, I don't get it.

[bdude]

I know very few gay Woolworthians, only one of them is a supervisor, the other ones perishables or something? But yes traditionally feminine qualities are advantageous for all customer service roles, thats why hospitality is riddled with homosexuals. GGRRR i was the subject of outright gay-hating from strangers at Falls, never really happens to me, i was so angry/disappointed.

That sucks. I really think that Tassie has way more dickheads and douchebags than any other state.

Regarding gay employees, I don' think we have any (there's one guy I think might be). Most of the male employees in our store are in Grocery. I think Deli is another female-dominated department, we only have one guy in there. We have two male supervisors (one used to be 2IC at another Coles) and they do a great job.

I think males are just as suited as being supervisors as women are but I think that overall female operators are better, we had a couple of guy operators that were hopeless and left but the four ones that are left (including myself) are just as good :P

[yoddle]

Oh my god the whole time i thought you were a girl.

[iMathew]

Thats awesome! But now its so real that you're leaving

It really occurred to me on Wednesday how sexist front end can be. Seeing as our extended trading may very well become permanent (I won't admit this to anyone but I'm actually pretty happy with it), our CSM as decided to train quite a few operators as supervisors. However, I can see that she's thinking long term, and she's picked two 15 year olds. They'll be good back ups with a bit of training, but I can't keep thinking of another guy who does mostly front end and also perishables/grocery/wherever else needs somebody, who actually DOES want to be a supervisor, and I would feel comfortable training now. He mentioned this to me the other day, and all I could offer was the comment that checkouts is a sexist department in some respects, seeing as in three and a half years I've seen two male supervisors come through, one of whom was CSM. Its not like I'm the only one who sees his potential, but yeah, my opinion counts for nothing.

Everyone who I suggested straight up was rejected with some pathetic excuse Like, "Oh, we can't really take him out of bakery", "Oh, then we'd have to train another smokeshop operator", "Oh, he's in perishables now". So lets have really shy 15 year olds instead??? Is there even a point in looking long term with 15 year old casuals?

Hmm what's with your store and 15 year old supervisors, babikakez? haha.
Not to be big headed, but if any 15 year old at my store even got 'THOUGHT-OF' for supervision, i'd come close to leaving. I'm the only one who has absolutely any clue of what i'm doing (and my managers know this - csm/2ic/etc) - not to mention the only kid who puts in any effort at all.

We have male DM's, but I'd be the ONLY svr if I was made one at the moment, we have 0 currently. A guy who was fired a month or two ago was a back-up, but that's about it.

[Harry778]

Oh my god the whole time i thought you were a girl.

lol me too. There ya go!

I'm a boy supervisorr =D

[iMathew]

lol me too. There ya go!

I'm a boy supervisorr =D

Harry, if I ever go up to Sydney, you are the FIRST Woolworths I visit (A)

[Harry778]

haha how come? Its a nice store. Was shit before the refurb..but that was like a year ago =D And I make it better, just by being there lol jokes..its fairly massive too.

[iMathew]

And I make it better, just by being there

- You seem awesome at that, plus I'd like to see a male supervisor around some day, and going to Sydney may be the only fricken way, muhahaha.

[babikakez]

Hmm what's with your store and 15 year old supervisors, babikakez? haha.
Not to be big headed, but if any 15 year old at my store even got 'THOUGHT-OF' for supervision, i'd come close to leaving. I'm the only one who has absolutely any clue of what i'm doing (and my managers know this - csm/2ic/etc) - not to mention the only kid who puts in any effort at all.

We have male DM's, but I'd be the ONLY svr if I was made one at the moment, we have 0 currently. A guy who was fired a month or two ago was a back-up, but that's about it.

Haha, the original 15 year old that we had is actually the best supervisor I have ever worked with (including all previous CSM's). I'm so glad I've learnt off of her, even if she is a year younger than me (she's now 17).

The issue with my store is that last year we hired REALLY young, as in 13-14 year olds. So the kids that have proved themselves to be most trustworthy are now 15ish. Don't get me wrong, they're going to be good in the future, just not yet. The guy I was referring to before is 16, but I think he would cope with a bit of training.

The non full-time supervisors in my store are 19, 18, 18, 17, 17, 17, 15, 15. (Though the last four wouldn't be left in charge just yet). We're a really young store overall though. I actually had my SM comment the other day that my express lanes were looking "quite young" in comparison to mains, I think we were 18, 15, 15, 14, 14 and 17, while my mains were older ppt/ft staff. I never planned it that way though...

[bdude]

Oh my god the whole time i thought you were a girl.

lol me too. There ya go!

I'm a boy supervisorr =D

Again, sexist attitudes towards the service department :P

Actually, speaking of the majority of women on checkouts the other day there was this grandma and who I presumed to be her grand-daughter and she wasn't looking at me and said to her daughter "Don't worry, just give your chocolate to the nice lady and she'll scan it and give it back" and then looked up and went all red and embarrassed lol

[Harry778]

kind of the same at my store..the CSM is 28. The oldest is our night supervisor (she does mon-fri close) and shes been there foreverrr. 2IC is 25, 3IC 22.
And the back ups are between 16 and 26. The other weekend close supervisor is 16, so I am the second youngest s/visor. I hated being back up! I only did it for like..3 months when they were training me in s/vision, then the weekend supervisor that did it every second weekend left so I took her position! (so I'm only back up every wednesday) I love closes cos I'm mostly by myself..I like doing it my way. lol.

[babikakez]

kind of the same at my store..the CSM is 28. The oldest is our night supervisor (she does mon-fri close) and shes been there foreverrr. 2IC is 25, 3IC 22.
And the back ups are between 16 and 26. The other weekend close supervisor is 16, so I am the second youngest s/visor. I hated being back up! I only did it for like..3 months when they were training me in s/vision, then the weekend supervisor that did it every second weekend left so I took her position! (so I'm only back up every wednesday) I love closes cos I'm mostly by myself..I like doing it my way. lol.

I sort of agree with you. Its not that I hate being back up, its that I'm happier being backup to certain people over others. I'm pretty much third in the food chain when it comes to getting sup. shifts, with one pretty much having Thurs/Sat/Sun for the last two years, and the other being the girl doing Future 2IC, so it kind of makes sense.

But what annoys me is that I'm the one who practically has to drop everything so that they can have a sup. shift covered. eg. This week - I was rung at 12pm on Thurs saying that I could have Saturday off if I worked then (ie, get here by 12.30) because they only had one supervisor and it was really busy. A few weeks ago, I couldn't go to RSA because there were others on training/holidays. During semester, my CSM knows that I've managed to cram my timetable into 2-3 days, and even though I've given her one set of availabilities, its allright to go outside of them altogether.

So yeah, I'm always backup, and always working different shifts, so I'm never really going to get into a routine like the others do.

[wixxy2348]

Did he like it? that sounds pretty awesome. Ive seen a store that had the logo in their olive displays in the deli cabinets (surrounds was the black olives and the logo made out of the green ones.)

Yeahh he liked it heaps, he thinks he'll be introducing it to the area group (if he does, the pastrycooks will hate him so so much lol).

[Harry778]

I sort of agree with you. Its not that I hate being back up, its that I'm happier being backup to certain people over others. I'm pretty much third in the food chain when it comes to getting sup. shifts, with one pretty much having Thurs/Sat/Sun for the last two years, and the other being the girl doing Future 2IC, so it kind of makes sense.

But what annoys me is that I'm the one who practically has to drop everything so that they can have a sup. shift covered. eg. This week - I was rung at 12pm on Thurs saying that I could have Saturday off if I worked then (ie, get here by 12.30) because they only had one supervisor and it was really busy. A few weeks ago, I couldn't go to RSA because there were others on training/holidays. During semester, my CSM knows that I've managed to cram my timetable into 2-3 days, and even though I've given her one set of availabilities, its allright to go outside of them altogether.

So yeah, I'm always backup, and always working different shifts, so I'm never really going to get into a routine like the others do.

I hate when they dont look at your availabilities! I always get people saying to me..'ohh I cant work that I'm doing so and so' and I always have to replace it! Which sometimes is really hard because if I get someone older to do it, jesus christ the world will surely end! lol, nah its not that bad..I just say they were the only ones that could do it.

Are you on a contract? I thouhgt you did closes too??? Thats the good thing about being on one..you know when your working and its always set in cement (well mostly, e.g today they rang me to see if it was ok to swap weekends)

[babikakez]

I hate when they dont look at your availabilities! I always get people saying to me..'ohh I cant work that I'm doing so and so' and I always have to replace it! Which sometimes is really hard because if I get someone older to do it, jesus christ the world will surely end! lol, nah its not that bad..I just say they were the only ones that could do it.

Are you on a contract? I thouhgt you did closes too??? Thats the good thing about being on one..you know when your working and its always set in cement (well mostly, e.g today they rang me to see if it was ok to swap weekends)

I'm not on contract, I really wish I was though! Its because of my sliding availability that I'm not, they're quite happy at the moment to exploit that.

I do often do closes, but the closes I had before have gone to the supervisor doing Future 2IC. It does make sense, and I'm on some of them as an operator, but essentially I don't have my own set shifts anymore. I always did Tuesday close as sup, and have done since about August, but not anymore . Though the office cashier that I close with on weekends is now job hunting, so I may be headed up there very soon (which I'm super terrified about!)

[Harry778]

I'm not on contract, I really wish I was though! Its because of my sliding availability that I'm not, they're quite happy at the moment to exploit that.

I do often do closes, but the closes I had before have gone to the supervisor doing Future 2IC. It does make sense, and I'm on some of them as an operator, but essentially I don't have my own set shifts anymore. I always did Tuesday close as sup, and have done since about August, but not anymore . Though the office cashier that I close with on weekends is now job hunting, so I may be headed up there very soon (which I'm super terrified about!)

haha cool, its not that bad. Although I did have to be re-trained for phoenix..what a bastard that was! Well, if the other week end supervisor ever leaves, you can take her spot (shes not very good, dont know why the CSM thinks she is)haha you sound good =p

She also does smoke shop (me and her are the main ones) and whenever shes on, the smokes are an absolute mess, load is never done properly, and half put away..guess who gets their ass drilled by the SSM/STM...ME. I've even spoken to the CSM about it, she may get taken off if she doesnt improve..so you can even have her s/shop position. Lol, when she was on holidays I got everything perfect, like the Counts, cupboards in order, cleaned everything and as soon as she came back..guess what the counts for the cigars were fucked and the cupboards were a mess. I said to her do you know what to do when you open cigar packets? she was like yeahh...obvs not! Grrrr! I get mad thinking about it..I ALWAYS have to fix her fuck ups.

[babikakez]

haha cool, its not that bad. Although I did have to be re-trained for phoenix..what a bastard that was! Well, if the other week end supervisor ever leaves, you can take her spot (shes not very good, dont know why the CSM thinks she is)haha you sound good =p

She also does smoke shop (me and her are the main ones) and whenever shes on, the smokes are an absolute mess, load is never done properly, and half put away..guess who gets their ass drilled by the SSM/STM...ME. I've even spoken to the CSM about it, she may get taken off if she doesnt improve..so you can even have her s/shop position. Lol, when she was on holidays I got everything perfect, like the Counts, cupboards in order, cleaned everything and as soon as she came back..guess what the counts for the cigars were fucked and the cupboards were a mess. I said to her do you know what to do when you open cigar packets? she was like yeahh...obvs not! Grrrr! I get mad thinking about it..I ALWAYS have to fix her fuck ups.

haha, my CSM just got rid of our smokeshop backup for the same reason. But the new girl that they've got in there as backup is brilliant, she's so neat, so organised, great with customers. Such a noticable difference.

The idea of being an ACTUAL office cashier is scary. I don't know if other stores work the same, but I'm only in there about 2.5 hours on either Saturday or Sunday. All I do is take the pickups out, spot the tills, double check the envelopes, respot tills. Thats all I know how to do. The other day my SSM came down to me and was like "I'll watch front end, go and learn how to deal with a pickup". Of course, his suggestion came half an hour too late, but he knows that I'm probably going to need to learn a bit faster than I anticipated.

I'm contemplating doing my accounting unit next semester rather than putting it off until the end of my degree as I was planning on. I've been told by my SSM/SM that it might be a wise idea.

Argh, I'm just going to put my head in the sand altogether.

[BSammy]

I used an SCO for the first time on the 29th!! I think it was the first TAS store with them. They were fun as. I was also a bit drunk, which accentuated the experience.

That'd be Sorell, on your way to Falls was it?

Apparently they had plenty of eft problems when they were installed, because they shut down and moved the main computer but didn't do settlements on the registers or something. and that made their WBS the worst one i've ever seen.
poor people.

My CSM is gay and I think it's thanks to his crush on me that i've gotten so far with wollies, he fought for me to have a spot in cash office, the head cashier wanted me in there too but the SM didn't. I'm straight however.