verylittlehelps

Very Little Helps => Dot Com => Topic started by: Lurker21 on 15-01-20, 08:19PM

Title: Picker performance
Post by: Lurker21 on 15-01-20, 08:19PM
Is it just me or are pickers performances being reviewed so that they can get rid of people?
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: NightAndDay on 15-01-20, 08:25PM
It's a risky maneuveure, a decision where they arbitrarily performance manage pickers to avoid paying redundancy would have to be consulted with by the legal team. An employment tribunal would justifiably scrutinise the arbitrary nature of the performance reviews and most likely award the claimant for unfair dismissal, this would also likely be affected if there were grievances not only about the arbitrary nature of the performance reviews but also requests for capability assessments on the role being refused.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Miremare on 11-02-20, 08:42AM
I've found pick rates for personal shoppers to be achievable.

The figure is for the team to achieve, in the team there will be people over the target, on the line and some under.  As long as the team are trying there their best, the team manager can stand by the team figure.

however, if there is lots of talking on pick or people just don't like the dot com way of life.  This can cause problems and really annoy others in store who are working hard.

The main thing to find out if pick rates are not being met are to find out:-
What's in the way of the pick rate.
Listen to the shopper and work with them.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Ford Torino on 02-09-20, 03:24PM
As a member of backroom staff, I actually find Team 5 mostly directed to the pickers to be entertaining comedy - although I'm sure I wouldn't find it as funny if I was a picker myself. Today there was the usual rubbish. A reminder that pick rate will shortly be going up / some people can't even achieve it now / you will be managed if you don't achieve targets / this isn't me, it's the company spiel. Then a minute later, it was pointed out that there had been a few accidents in the store recently. So if you see a spillage, deal with it. They said "I know you're under pressure and you have pick rates..." and then the sentence seemed to fizzle out, almost as if they didn't have any easy solution to this anomaly.

So as things stand, if your trolley takes you to where there's been a spillage, you are potentially more likely to lose your job than if your route is spillage-free. I'd like to see how that stands up at an unfair dismissal claim.

Happy picking!
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: NightAndDay on 02-09-20, 06:17PM
This would also be counterproductive the the goals of management, managing more people out of the business by increasing an already unrealistic target will increase staff turnover, Tesco isn't the desirable place to work it once was, they will eventually face increasingly more challenging recruitment operations another consequence of this would be a drop in employee quality and retention, they have to balance needs of the business with sustainable work environment.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: grim up north on 02-09-20, 06:23PM
I think you just described distribution
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Zx81 on 03-09-20, 02:50AM
While theres a pandemic on I'm surprised there are any pick rates as social distancing needs to be adhered to, if you are being forced to break the rules for a pick rate I imagine the authorities would have something to say about it.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: kaled78 on 03-09-20, 02:56PM
the pickers in my store who blamed low pick rates on social distancing,were told they had to wear a mask and get on with it,by the .com manager
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: BarryZola on 04-09-20, 05:23AM
Obviously you'd just have a meeting and get the notes/discussion written down and then signed by the manager. Then you'd go to the local papers and explain how your store is helping to escalate the spread of Coronavirus in your area because your manager wants you to put some items in a trolley a little bit faster. Not sure why this is even a discussion, especially in the current climate. Tell 'em to jog on.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Tossgo on 02-10-20, 09:35AM
Our pick rate has now been raised back to the level it was pre covid.
During lockdown pick rate was lowered due to distancing etc,

How can the company move the pick rate back to pre covid levels when pickers still should be following pretty much the same distancing guidelines they always should have been doing during lockdown.
The company have stated themselves that wearing a mask and ppe does not mean you don’t follow distancing guidelines.
Having to wait at the end of an isle for customers to move is still a daily occurrence so how can people be disaplined regarding pick rate

Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 02-10-20, 10:20AM
Just carry on as usual...do not put yourself at risk, all the team should be sticking to the reduced picking rate. Let the manager try to discipline the whole team...for ignoring the distancing rules, refusing to put their own, and their customers wellbeing in jeopardy all to achieve a picking rate, placed by some ignorant no mark in Head Office.

Ask for a let's talk with your manager, state in that meeting you are not prepared to ignore social distancing in an effort to achieve the increased picking rate, which you feel can mostly only be met by doing so, therefore you feel it is an unreasonable request. Should the manager state it can be achieved whilst maintaining the social distancing rules, ask for that statement in writing. Openly take notes of the meeting and what was said...date, time, location and manager name clearly written at the top of the page. You cannot be denied the right to make notes during the meeting, as these are for your own future reference.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: dotnochance on 02-10-20, 05:13PM
Ours has gone back up a couple of points higher than pre Covid, and we have those shitty Tray liners and social distancing, head office are clueless
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: kaled78 on 02-10-20, 08:17PM
Do you put your own tray liners on the trays, or does the person who sets up the trolleys do it for you?, I'm curious as to what other stores do.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Siwel123 on 02-10-20, 11:39PM
We do our own tray liners. But we don't scan the trays and start the pick rate timer thing til we've done that, that way our pick rate isn't affected by having to sort them out.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: gomezz on 02-10-20, 11:47PM
I was wondering about who does the tray liners now some customers pay for them and some choose not to pay to have them.  Must be more fiddly than just doing them all by default.  Us drivers like the tray liners as do many customers and think it is reckless to go back to bagless.  Remember the pickers too may be handling trays previously handled by customers in isolation some of whom may actually be infected.  The drivers have neither the time nor the facilities to re-sanitise every tray every time.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: dotnochance on 03-10-20, 12:08PM
We put the liners into trays, but we have to scan labels and scan out, then put tray liner in!  so putting the liners in make the pick rate even worse.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Welshie on 03-10-20, 12:14PM
As a customer, I love the tray liners , it makes the doorstep delivery much quicker and simpler . I know it's not very environmentally friendly and I'm sure it's a pain for pickers .
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: spike_pkh on 03-10-20, 01:02PM
Quote from: Lurker21 on 15-01-20, 08:19PM
Is it just me or are pickers performances being reviewed so that they can get rid of people?

Its just you.

Pick rates are managed ti get you to work to the level required that you are being paid for.. it aint hard to achieve
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: NightAndDay on 03-10-20, 02:04PM
It's store dependent, some stores are easier than others, a business requirements analysis wouldn't have been done for each store and also wouldn't have taken current legislation and guidelines around Coronavirus social distancing into consideration. If an SYP plan was dished out to a colleague failing to meet the pick rate, he/she would be well within their right to grievance saying the plan is unreasonable and not feasible in light of current circumstances, remember the disciplinary process is a double edged sword, it needs to be done impartially, fairly and logically, otherwise it's the managers that will get a spanking if a judge deems that they've failed to meet ACASs minimum requirements for disciplinary and investigations and if they deem the disciplinaries not only disproportionate but illogical, it's not the first time this has happened.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: dotnochance on 03-10-20, 04:17PM
2 stores on my area same pick rate, one store is twice as big as the other
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: dotnochance on 20-10-20, 12:51PM
God Tesco head office are a joke, my store is extremely large superstore, and our pick is 163! (before Covid and bagless it was 158)  It’s way to high for the size of the store and for the numbers of customers.our manager has been practically begging head office to look at it, example last Wednesday we had 62 pickers, and only 3 managed to get pick rate. I’m sure some people on here will go “lol I get +200 on ever trolly” And I’m sure if our store had no customers/staff we could probably easily meet pick. Guy came in and looked at system and our new pick rate is now 162....... fantastic.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Biscuits on 20-10-20, 02:15PM
Before covid, and picking completely bagless we were 181. Now we’re 193, it’s impossible, most of us picking in amber, the minute we have to look up inform, or if something is mapped wrongly it sends you straight in to the red.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Paupers wage on 20-10-20, 04:39PM
Higher pick rate than pre Covid, yet “environmentally”  friendly tray liners now used and going to toilet included in pick time, how good of Tesco’s to make the working conditions ever worse, not a career for the more senior colleagues, best left to the young
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 20-10-20, 10:55PM
Unless you're desperate, can you not go to the toilet between picks, without being timed?

Are you suggesting that senior colleagues (as in age, not status) are either incontinent, or too old to keep pace ???
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: NightAndDay on 21-10-20, 12:17AM
I think there could be a legal challenge in that other roles don't have the need and human right to go to the toilet penalise their performance, at the very least as significantly as pickers are.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Katarn2000 on 21-10-20, 08:38AM
Are we seriously saying pickers need to go to the toilet mid pick? I don't buy that except in very rare circumstances.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: T.C.1 on 21-10-20, 09:12AM
So what about ladies time of the month and a very weak bladder so yes they need the loo mid pick.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: grim up north on 21-10-20, 09:58AM
Going to the toilet will be 'built in' to the times. It's what we're told in distribution
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Paupers wage on 21-10-20, 11:24AM
Colleagues have to scan on a pick then go to toilet during the pick to keep non pick time down to 11% otherwise will be “managed” over non pick time, any info on legality would be welcome
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: dotnochance on 21-10-20, 11:31AM
Quote from: grim up north on 21-10-20, 09:58AM
Going to the toilet will be 'built in' to the times. It's what we're told in distribution
That’s completely not true for stores, you take 2-3 min to go to toilet you wont pull that trolly back. today I had a pick rate in the green for the entire day, last 4 or 5 trolleys where frozen and sub 30 items and I ended up in the red for the day I dropped like 30 points, there’s definitely something off with the numbers.
Just another point about pick I saw someone mention, since Covid location on items have been a complete joke in my store most items are off by one space or at worst a few shelf’s that slows pick down more than anything, bags are also not to be placed through back you have to scan out then place bags
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Paupers wage on 31-10-20, 07:48PM
Now we’re back to 2nd lockdown will increased pick rate be reduced to maintain safe social distancing for all in store colleagues and customers  as was the case in the 1st pandemic phase
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: BarryZola on 01-11-20, 09:55AM
Social distancing should have been still in place since March. Are you telling me Tesco have become somewhat relaxed on this issue and have been compromising staff safety in return for higher pick-rates?  >:D :-X
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 01-11-20, 11:42AM
Quote from: Paupers wage on 21-10-20, 11:24AM
Colleagues have to scan on a pick then go to toilet during the pick to keep non pick time down to 11% otherwise will be “managed” over non pick time, any info on legality would be welcome

Dunno about any legality, but being managed to use the toilet at a set time, is a contravention of your human rights, never mind " dignity at work " issues should you not make it in time.
Any manager telling you that you cannot go to the toilet, due to it affecting your pick rate...ask for it in writing, meanwhile you're either going to the toilet, or you're going home as you've just soiled yourself  :(
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: siamesal on 28-12-20, 05:40PM
Hi everyone

I'm still new to the role and I've been working at my local store as a picker during the Christmas period. It's the third week in and there's so much that I still don't know about the role but I know there's a lot of emphasis on the pick rate. Our store has a target of 181; it just seems so impossible to achieve, especially with social distancing. I've been pushing myself to reach that number but nothing seems to work - I don't talk to anyone on the shopfloor unless I can't find something, I don't take any toilet breaks and I'm a fast walker too. I understand that because I'm new, it'll take some time to work out where everything is but I usually find the items listed on the pick stick within two or so minutes so I don't understand what I'm doing wrong, I still end up getting a maximum of 150 as my pick rate. Most of the other people hit between 250-300 and I don't understand how? I feel like I'm doing a bad job compared to them and my manager said she'll be watching my pick rate from now on which is so pressurising. I just want to do a good job at the end of the day.

Does anyone have any tips/tricks on how to get the pick rate higher? Could someone give me some general info about dot-com that I wouldn't find out in-store? Also, what are the specific time constraints for each pick? What things should I be wary of with this role? A brief beginner's guide would be great honestly, I didn't have any proper training either. :(

I will be extremely grateful for any advice!!
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Welshie on 28-12-20, 10:29PM
It's a really long time since I picked dotcom but 250-300 seems impossible to me . 150 for a few weeks into the job seems very good .
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: uklions on 28-12-20, 11:10PM
Been a dot com driver 17 years, did picking last week 25 items a hour they didn't ask me again!! lol
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: gomezz on 29-12-20, 12:07AM
Last pick I did was a three item frozen tray which was all that was stopping me taking my van out.  :)
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Jonathan1970 on 10-01-21, 11:59AM
A senior manager in our store told one of the pickers that to get pick rate is there job, pandemic or no pandemic. 
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Paupers wage on 10-01-21, 01:01PM
It’s a fact dot com pickers have to ignore any social distancing be it 2  or 1 metre makes no odds otherwise the high pick rate where liners have to be put in the trays and numerous date checks has to be done in the allotted time not forgetting going to the toilet, resulting in high department turnover, leaving or transferring to check outs
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Welshie on 10-01-21, 04:23PM
Wait till shortages caused by Brexit kick in , it's only going to get worse .
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Thinpatience on 26-01-21, 10:17AM
Quote from: siamesal on 28-12-20, 05:40PM
Hi everyone

I'm still new to the role and I've been working at my local store as a picker during the Christmas period. It's the third week in and there's so much that I still don't know about the role but I know there's a lot of emphasis on the pick rate. Our store has a target of 181; it just seems so impossible to achieve, especially with social distancing. I've been pushing myself to reach that number but nothing seems to work - I don't talk to anyone on the shopfloor unless I can't find something, I don't take any toilet breaks and I'm a fast walker too. I understand that because I'm new, it'll take some time to work out where everything is but I usually find the items listed on the pick stick within two or so minutes so I don't understand what I'm doing wrong, I still end up getting a maximum of 150 as my pick rate. Most of the other people hit between 250-300 and I don't understand how? I feel like I'm doing a bad job compared to them and my manager said she'll be watching my pick rate from now on which is so pressurising. I just want to do a good job at the end of the day.

Does anyone have any tips/tricks on how to get the pick rate higher? Could someone give me some general info about dot-com that I wouldn't find out in-store? Also, what are the specific time constraints for each pick? What things should I be wary of with this role? A brief beginner's guide would be great honestly, I didn't have any proper training either. :(

I will be extremely grateful for any advice!!

You have only just started so you shouldn’t be to worried about pick rates , concentrate on getting it right , don’t multi scan , look at dates , quality not quantity! Your dot com manager should be pushing you for that not pick rates , your pick rate will increase as you become more accustomed to your store , generally my pick rate is pretty much always in the amber or red lol  as I’ve told my dot com manger I will not put my self at risk so I social distance at all times & I make sure I check dates & quality of fresh produce ! Don’t be pushed by your superiors , I know a lot of dot  com pickers constantly multi scan , don’t look at dates , lazy don’t look for items other than where there supposed to be , to them pick rate is more important than getting it right !

If you look on your pick performance which should be done everyday & pinned up in dot com area ( colleague number only ) you will see the same  people with high pick rates but quality low & complaints ! 
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: forrestgimp on 08-02-21, 10:45PM
The last time I checked ( a few years ago mind) there was no legal obligation to allow you to go to the toilet the only legal obligation was to make one available.

Having said that not sure tesco would want the publicity from forcing colleagues to wear nappies to worlk to achieve unreasonable time and motion quotas.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: chris9997 on 09-02-21, 12:24AM
Didn’t sports direct distribution have some publicity regarding toilet breaks some time ago
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: londoner83 on 09-02-21, 08:54AM
If anyone tries to manage you on pick rates ask the said manager to work alongside you for a shift to coach you how to improve. They will probably do all they can to avoid having to do so, and even if they do will probably struggle also especially if you are careful around dates and Wibi.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Ford Torino on 13-02-21, 06:28PM
As a backroom staff member who does the occasional pick, my managers have long known that while I'll take whatever trolley is required and do it as quickly as I can, I have no interest in chasing some arbitrary number that supposedly defines whether I'm good or bad at my job. However, I can still see the sheer unfairness of it! I did ask the other day that as it's Head Office who are supposedly keen on every individual picker achieving the pick rate, why trolleys of anything fewer than fifty items would even exist in the first place. For instance, if the first trolley you did take out was six multipacks of water, your pick rate is going to be incredibly low. Should you then have to work much harder than your colleagues just to achieve the same target by the end of the day?

The answer was along the lines of "Err...um...I know..."
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: gomezz on 13-02-21, 08:43PM
Surely picking just six items all the same would make for a very high pick rate?  Or have I misunderstood how the pick rate is calculated?
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Ford Torino on 13-02-21, 09:32PM
I don't know if this is the case for every store but certainly in ours you have to scan each trolley in and out at a start/end barcode in the department. Getting to and from the shop floor is included in your pick rate. And in the case of the water aisle, it's pretty much at the opposite end of the building!
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Welshman381982 on 13-02-21, 10:19PM
How on earth do you start a new topic on here chaps?

[mod]Ref: starting new topic. Please read VLH Supporter Benefits (http://www.verylittlehelps.com/index.php?page=17)[/mod]
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lol its me on 27-04-21, 12:51PM
My dot com dept just changed their hours back to normal from the covid hours, and brought back second pick. though they also changed the sat hours, used to be 5am starts now its 6, everone was told they cant start at 5 even though thats our contracts, they forced everyone to go to 6 instead of 5 (well apart from me i told them where to go) headoffice didnt even tell our store about the change just forced it though. anyone else get hours changed from 5-6
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: BarryZola on 27-04-21, 02:59PM
If they really wanted to they could make you change your 5 to a 6 start time. They may have to go down the official route through consultation or whatever which would buy you a few weeks but if the business needed you to just start 1 hour later that would be a 'reasonable' change. I wouldn't get too smug about it if I were you. You have to pick your battles and a change of 1 hour is not a battle I would bother fighting unless you honestly need that extra hour for an important reason. Your life though :)
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Nomad on 27-04-21, 03:05PM
It would be "an unreasonable change" for somebody with family commitments, i.e. caring responsibilities.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lol its me on 27-04-21, 03:24PM
Well no I don't think they would be able to change my hours, (well they could after 12 weeks) But I'll just report what they did to everyone else that they  forced though contract changes without consultations or following process. so yeah I'll keep my smug face.
They literally said to everyone your contract has changed from 5-6 sign here, and you don't have a choice so do it.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Emily2010 on 07-06-21, 06:22PM
So our pick rate went up to 198 now. We have to run without stopping to achieve it. If you are stopped by a customer who needs help your pick rate is going down straight away. I find it really hard when the shop floor is busy. Is it possible that trying to do  pickrate like that isn't safe ... especially in pandemic time ,as we have to really push ourselfs while there are customers walking around?
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: uklions on 07-06-21, 06:27PM
Need to go back to TRAY LINERS,IM a driver and some customers dont like no bag option
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lol its me on 08-06-21, 01:32PM
Yeah ours went up that high as well, coincidentally the same time they froze all overtime and got rid of a lot of the temps. im just going to refuse to pick at those levels(i have done dotcom for 15 years and never fail pick rate) if they want to make an issue of it ill just ask them to show me the plans that say the pickrate can be picked at those levels, they cant, u get a small trolly, or customer asking for somthing or most importantly trying to pick instore after 11am with the ammount of staff-customers. managers are saying its possible as some people are getting over 200 pick rates, all new starts who dont check dates (was funny, the other day i picked up meat dated a day before, so picked another product, but watched a load of new pickers pick up the out of date meat) and only pick large trollies-chill to get high pick rates, its funny and strange those same new pickers spend half their time talking on shop floor (something funny going on there)
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: VladPutin on 28-07-21, 08:52PM
I'd be very impressed if pickers could improve their performance to the point where they could put the trays back how they find them!

Seriously, I spend a considerable percentage of each working day tidying up after pickers who don't leave the trays in good order after digging to the bottom for their precious customers. No matter how many times I ask them to do so, they don't do it.

[gmod]Edited to remove insulting comments.[/gmod]
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: grim up north on 31-07-21, 09:40AM
Probably because the pickers and under so much pressure for pick rate that something has to give. And that happens to be putting the trays back
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: spike_pkh on 31-07-21, 11:54AM
I passed by 3 pickers the other day on the produce department. I am guessing one had said to another that they had just increased the pick rate I heard the 2nd say they have trouble with the old pick rate so how can they expect them to work any faster. The third then asked the others how their weekends were and they had a nice littler 5min chat about it together.

I think I can see why you are having trouble achieving pick rate  :D
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Nomad on 31-07-21, 12:32PM
Nobody who is paid for x hours work a day does x hours work a day,  nobody !
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: spike_pkh on 31-07-21, 03:56PM
How much you wanna bet?
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: VladPutin on 31-07-21, 06:26PM
Quote from: grim up north on 31-07-21, 09:40AM
Probably because the pickers and under so much pressure for pick rate that something has to give. And that happens to be putting the trays back

And yet they've got time to chat about holidays, friends, show pictures to each other on their phones and, in the case of one young lad and lass, flirt so much I thought I was going to have to chuck a bucket of cold water over them. 8-)

The problem isn't pick rates. It's dot comedy being lazy because they know the fresh GA's will clear up their mess for them.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Jonathan1970 on 08-10-21, 07:40PM
Quote from: spike_pkh on 31-07-21, 11:54AM
I passed by 3 pickers the other day on the produce department. I am guessing one had said to another that they had just increased the pick rate I heard the 2nd say they have trouble with the old pick rate so how can they expect them to work any faster. The third then asked the others how their weekends were and they had a nice littler 5min chat about it together.

I think I can see why you are having trouble achieving pick rate  :D

Come on get off your high horse, I'd say everyone that works in Tesco has a chat while on duty, and the fresh team in our store are always on breaks way longer than they should, and are never about.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: NightAndDay on 09-10-21, 09:19AM
When I worked at Tesco I was 1 on 1 and the SM said night team don't get breaks or paid Sunday premium,  I did a lot more than I was paid for, but it all resolved in the end, the SM got forced to resign and I got back paid £3k.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 09-10-21, 12:10PM
Quote from: Jonathan1970 on 08-10-21, 07:40PM
Quote from: spike_pkh on 31-07-21, 11:54AM
I passed by 3 pickers the other day on the produce department. I am guessing one had said to another that they had just increased the pick rate I heard the 2nd say they have trouble with the old pick rate so how can they expect them to work any faster. The third then asked the others how their weekends were and they had a nice littler 5min chat about it together.

I think I can see why you are having trouble achieving pick rate  :D

Come on get off your high horse, I'd say everyone that works in Tesco has a chat while on duty, and the fresh team in our store are always on breaks way longer than they should, and are never about.

I think "a day in my shoes" is extremely apt here  8-)

I worked a few depts during my lengthy employment with Tesco. I started off on checkouts, it was horrendous! Having to ask to go to the toilet, always timed, never off checkout on time for either break/end of shift. Always told to wait for the relief to arrive, causing friction between the operators if the relief was running behind...that was in my naive days.
I finally managed to transfer to a new position in the office, what an eye opener that was! No constraints, no 1-1 customer contact, the environment was stress free, breaks taken whenever, no being timed either!
I went on stock control when my dept in the office ceased,  and then onto shop floor when they went shoulder 2 shoulder and the office was closed for management use only! Again, though I was on the shop floor, my time was basically my own to prioritise my workload to meet the time window constraints. Take my breaks and toilet breaks to suit myself.

Pickers and checkouts are the worst depts in the store for micro managing ...pickers faring the worse in my opinion! I seriously don't know how they push those heavy dot com trolley's for hours on end every day! For both depts the role is monotonous, shoulders and back complaints are commonplace. But colleagues on checkouts can sit or stand to rest, and chat when not busy, pickers usually do an 8 hour shift, with just one 30 min break midway.
I certainly wouldn't begrudge them a little chat at times, and the fact it's noticed by other colleagues, just shows how time restrictive their role is!
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: VladPutin on 10-10-21, 09:32PM
Most pickers are female and many of them are middle aged or older; the trollies aren't that heavy, or they wouldn't be able to push them around for a whole shift.

And yeah, I do begrudge them standing around talking when I'm trying to move something actually heavy, like a dolly of carrots, and I have to growl at them to get out of the way. 8-)
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Mark calloway on 10-10-21, 11:02PM
In our store dot comedy do like a nice chat and a few mins texting.  Their manager couldn't give a toss though.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 11-10-21, 07:56AM
Quote from: VladPutin on 10-10-21, 09:32PM
Most pickers are female and many of them are middle aged or older; the trollies aren't that heavy, or they wouldn't be able to push them around for a whole shift.

And yeah, I do begrudge them standing around talking when I'm trying to move something actually heavy, like a dolly of carrots, and I have to growl at them to get out of the way. 8-)

Vlad lad....a supermarket trolley ain't that heavy until you start to fill it  ??? have you ever covered a dot com shift?
Don't you have a chat with anyone on the shop floor or when you go into the warehouse to get your stock?

As you say, most pickers ARE middle aged, or older females, perhaps that's why you get away with growling at them to move  >:(
Do you do the same to older customers who are in your way chatting   ???  And methinks if it was two burly blokes doing the dotcom pick, (as many drivers do at times) that you tried growling at, you'd end up with those carrots shoved where the sun don't shine  :-X
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Dogsbody on 11-10-21, 07:43PM
Was just wondering whether Vladputin has done his inclusivity training yet as I  detect some misogynistic and ageist comments there. I work as a picker,  I'm 64 and female and I can tell you I can work a full shift at speed whilst pushing the trolley which does get heavy, no need for a gym membership.🤣 and no stopping to chat, I chat as I pick.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Hammer10 on 12-10-21, 07:39AM
Have you got the new trollies yet I think we are a trial store they are very heavy when full the wheels are not great either I have seen ladies in tears 😭 because of how difficult they are to push and steer they hold more trays as well.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Dogsbody on 12-10-21, 10:33AM
Hammer10 just something else to look forward to I suppose :(
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: gomezz on 12-10-21, 12:12PM
More trays?  How many more and how does that tally with unloading them six-high onto the dollies?
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: VladPutin on 25-10-21, 01:39PM
Quote from: lucgeo on 11-10-21, 07:56AM
Quote from: VladPutin on 10-10-21, 09:32PM
Most pickers are female and many of them are middle aged or older; the trollies aren't that heavy, or they wouldn't be able to push them around for a whole shift.

And yeah, I do begrudge them standing around talking when I'm trying to move something actually heavy, like a dolly of carrots, and I have to growl at them to get out of the way. 8-)

Vlad lad....a supermarket trolley ain't that heavy until you start to fill it  ??? have you ever covered a dot com shift?
Don't you have a chat with anyone on the shop floor or when you go into the warehouse to get your stock?

As you say, most pickers ARE middle aged, or older females, perhaps that's why you get away with growling at them to move  >:(
Do you do the same to older customers who are in your way chatting   ???  And methinks if it was two burly blokes doing the dotcom pick, (as many drivers do at times) that you tried growling at, you'd end up with those carrots shoved where the sun don't shine  :-X

I'm 6'3, 16 stone and have a face like five miles of bad road. And unlike drivers, I don't spend more than half of my shift sat on my fat backside in a van. So yeah, they're not doing anything with the carrots except sticking them in their trollies.  :D
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: gomezz on 25-10-21, 02:00PM
As a driver I don't spend any time sat on my fat backside in the van.  In my case the overloading is more round the front.   ;D
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 25-10-21, 03:01PM
  8-) That you bragging there gomezz  :o  :-[
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Jonathan1970 on 22-11-21, 02:42PM
Picker Performance and how its measured is really strange.

Most of the loose fruit and veg is measured strange.
If you have to pick 20 carrots its 20 items on the pick stick but for picker performance its only counted as 1 item becouse when weighed its scanned as 1 barcode,  Bizarre .

Peppers are a set price so if you pick 20 of them its measured as 20 items picked.

How can dot com managers seriously take people into the office about picker performance when they system is not fair to people who pick the loose fruit and veg.

In out store as well the mapping is horrendous and worst it as ever been, easily im misplacing 20 plus items every shift and then next shift habe to do the same items again. Shops gone to the dogs, the new pickers just set on look puzzled every time they are picking. Poor things


Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: BarryZola on 22-11-21, 04:07PM
If they take you into the office then just give them a written list of all the reasons why you can't be held fully responsible for your pick-rate. Here's some ideas. Having to stop to help customers. Mapping incorrect so it takes you a lot longer to search for many items. Time taken to walk from your initial scan near dotcom to the first item/department. Customers and or staff blocking aisles so a lot of time is not actually spent picking, but waiting around for people to move out of your way. I'm sure there are other reasons but I've not picked for a while so can't remember off the top of my head. If and when they remove those barriers to you hitting their wanted pickrate then they could potentially have a reason for giving you a talking to or taking it further. Unless they can do that, tell them it's totally unreasonable to bully you about things that are out of your control. If they're still not happy, tell them to try to take it as far as they want and you'll see Tesco at a tribunal where a sensible person can decide that Tesco are asking for something that's unreasonable to achieve consistently. You have to nip that type of c**p in the bud and then they'll try it on with someone else who they think they can get away with harassing.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 22-11-21, 06:20PM
All of the above reasons given, will be answered that the pick rate has been determined as correct and has been calculated as achievable by HO!

Any 1-1 meeting take a COPY of YOUR questions, clearly marked as COPY, and hand it to your manager, so you can both go through them together  ;) 
You too can ask a manager for a 1-1 meeting at any time to discuss concerns and issues you may have, it's a two way street.
You ask when the mapping of the store was last completed, by whom and was it signed off as fully done?
Any other questions you wish to ask, write down your managers answers, clearly in view, on your copy just "so you can refer back to them at a later date if need be".

Pointedly ask your manager if they honestly believe the pick rate, given all the distractions and obstacles faced on the shop floor, is fair and achievable, taking into account the conflicting picking ratios of the fruit and veg section in particular?

Ask if your pick rate is deemed below the section average? If yes, request support from that manager to accompany you on the next shift, to highlight where you may be below standard...you also choose the pick, not your manager!

If you honestly believe you are working to the best of your ability but feel your being fobbed off, clearly announce you'd like to request a capability study, as it's clearly a case of Conduct V's Capability.


Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Jonathan1970 on 22-11-21, 08:00PM
Also in our store we are told if a customer asks where a product is we have to take them to it and when there if the shelf is empty, scan with inform app and if there's stock go in warehouse and find it.  Which if your picking near bakery and they ask for napkins on other side of the shop it can end up being 10 mins to go find.  Try finding someone of non food or getting into the warehouse in our store.  Nightmare.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: VladPutin on 22-11-21, 09:48PM
That's why I never bothered to download the app; if a customer asks for something, I can just tell them we don't have it and apologise. ;)
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Hibobhi on 20-02-22, 03:29PM
Hi I'm a dotcom picker and today I was told in my review that the slowest pickers in the department would be disciplined and then managed out of the company if they don't meet the pick rate, I was told I'm 100% fine as my pick is fine, but surly this isn't right, for one the store is an absolute joke with miss fills and labels all over the place, they cited a ( I can't remember what it's called) that allows them to do this it's just that no one really uses it. Does anyone know more about this, can pickers be managed out of the business
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 21-02-22, 08:14AM
Err...think the manager might be telling you a porky there ???

It's just a way of getting you to keep up the pick rate..."you're fine, keep it up, others who aren't going as quick will be managed out" wonder how many others were told the same  ???

There's a very long line of procedures to follow before someone can be managed out of the business  :-X
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: NightAndDay on 21-02-22, 01:47PM
Quote from: Hibobhi on 20-02-22, 03:29PM
Hi I'm a dotcom picker and today I was told in my review that the slowest pickers in the department would be disciplined and then managed out of the company if they don't meet the pick rate, I was told I'm 100% fine as my pick is fine, but surly this isn't right, for one the store is an absolute joke with miss fills and labels all over the place, they cited a ( I can't remember what it's called) that allows them to do this it's just that no one really uses it. Does anyone know more about this, can pickers be managed out of the business

Dot com is going to be an absolute shambles when nights go, there will be substitutions all over the shop.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Hibobhi on 21-02-22, 02:24PM
What are those procedures, so I can pass it onto the others
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: horatiocain on 21-02-22, 04:27PM
It would be a matter of capability  and I've eyes to meet a teaco manager that understands it, it takes months to move through the process.
Further thing they need to do is prove their pick rate is achievable
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Hibobhi on 21-02-22, 06:30PM
They will say the pick is achievable as people do meet the pick, but last year they "unofficially" let it be known if people didn't meet the pick then they wouldn't get overtime, so a lot of people had the sign in-out scanner on their phone(those or some where caught) and people now pick and choose what trollies they go out with, fresh is an easy area to achieve pickrate. It's a mess and managers refuse to actually manage the department, and are taking the easy route by threatening people with sacking for low pick, coming from managers who spend 90% of their time in office drinking costa
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 22-02-22, 06:21AM
They may state the pick rate is achievable, but they have to prove it!
They're playing the old mind games...until they "officially" state that people are being denied overtime due to their pick rate, I'd let it be known that I had approached other departments for overtime, they'd soon be panicking about covering their own, saying you prioritise.com first!!!

I don't know about scanning in-out using your phone, but if it's against policy, you don't do it!! It seems they've got you all in fighting, for easy pick trollies etc...to achieve the pick rate, whilst they sit back and watch the show!! :-X :-X
Any idle threats about sacking, you state in a loud and clear voice, for all to hear " please stop harassing me and threatening me with dismissal!!"

The procedures for managing out of the business are long and arduous. There are several meetings, there is retraining, there is SYP meetings, each meeting has a set agreed period of timescale to be achieve  ( usually around 4 weeks?) then there's disciplinary meetings, where conduct v's capability comes into play, then there's the capability study that you request, which is rarely done, as they know what they're asking is nigh on impossible, as they're not factoring the outside influences of customer requests etc...and should all that then be done, it's about 12 months down the line, and no manager has got anywhere near that staying power!

I would suggest the whole department agree to do what they can personally achieve, DON'T cut corners or perform against policy, just work to rule. The slackers will be dealt with, but if you're all doing the best you can, then they ain't going to dismiss the whole department are they...though the managers may be in for the high jump if their department is underperforming, due to their lack of management skills!
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 22-02-22, 11:07AM
Adding to the above regarding procedure timescales...if any of the agreed timescales for next meetings are not adhered to, then it goes back to the beginning, as deemed out of process!
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Ford Torino on 24-02-22, 07:54AM
Unfortunately, "personal pick rate" comes across as an excuse to bully weaker staff, and I know some of my less assertive colleagues are told similar things. I rarely achieve the pick rate by the end of the day, but they don't come after me. Why not? Because I've told my managers on many occasions, that while I'll generally pick as fast as I can, I am not a slave to some magic number that supposedly defines whether I'm good or bad at my job. If anything, I think judging people by their personal pick rate is a huge flaw in a department like dotcom. You have a load of trolleys to be picked. Some are going to be easy, some are going to be hard - but they all need to be done. So it's frankly ridiculous that people feel they have to choose which trolleys to take, merely to have an easy life and avoid the hassle of getting told off. I know that many of my colleagues will refuse to take anything with fewer than six labels - but I found out the other day that some people even go through the numbers. And if they're the same, it means it's the same customer - which means it could merely a few items such as multipacks of water - which means they're not going to take that trolley! And it's interesting how management know this goes on, but never seem to recommend it when they have a pick rate whinge during Team 5!

If management ever had any practical advice about about picking faster, then of course I will listen. But the best they ever seem to come up with is "avoid distractions." Oh really? A child could have told me that!
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Hibobhi on 24-02-22, 01:25PM
Does anyone know if dotcom still uses the evergreen system and if not what's the new one called, I remember evergreen training was don't look for items that aren't there, miss fills-wrongly and poor mapping
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 25-02-22, 07:17AM
If you've not had any refresher update training, which would override the evergreen training, then it's status quo.
Just continue with the evergreen training you've had, and quote it if you're pulled up on any complaint from your manager.  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: madness on 02-03-22, 01:37PM
This is comical pickers complaining about their job. Literally the safest job in store from having any sort of responsibility and accoutability for anything.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: BUY TESLA STOCK on 02-03-22, 04:57PM
The pickers just walked around talking on beer token 8 hour contract who could blame them.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Hibobhi on 03-03-22, 10:45AM
Quote from: madness on 02-03-22, 01:37PM
having any sort of responsibility and accoutability for anything.
You're 100% right! Oh wait no, pickers get tracked for how many items they pick they get tracked for trolly neatness, non picking time, break times are tracked they get tracked for substitutions and many more ridiculous things, meanwhile when I worked in dairy, produce and bread and cakes u get tracked on, erm? if u turned up for a shift
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: fatlad on 03-03-22, 12:06PM
Pickers tracked on trolley neatness? You're having a laugh there mate. Most trolleys picked in our store look like everything has just been dropped in from a great height! Multipacks of crisps under bags of potatoes, bread squashed under 2 ltr bottles of pop. Tell this to the dotcom manager & you just get back 'we know which pickers are doing it' but does anything ever change  8-)
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: madness on 03-03-22, 01:15PM
Quote from: Hibobhi on 03-03-22, 10:45AM
Quote from: madness on 02-03-22, 01:37PM
having any sort of responsibility and accoutability for anything.
You're 100% right! Oh wait no, pickers get tracked for how many items they pick they get tracked for trolly neatness, non picking time, break times are tracked they get tracked for substitutions and many more ridiculous things, meanwhile when I worked in dairy, produce and bread and cakes u get tracked on, erm? if u turned up for a shift
Yes ironic that the two departments checkouts and pickers who can very easily be performance managed by the numbers are NEVER dealt with. Yet fillers get beasted for back-stock cages, missing one gap not doing xxx number of cages/cases.

I have never seen a picker pulled up for their pick rate as the just use the excuse "i was helping a customer" no way of proving otherwise. Near the end of the shift would pickers go and help the shop as the pick is ahead of schedule?? No we will double up and one pushes the trolley and the others uses the pick-stick. Its comically insulting how much dot com is the golden goose.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Hibobhi on 03-03-22, 02:41PM
I guess u two the follow pickers round the store all the time if u never see pickers getting into trouble, might want to do your own work? Maybe then you won't get beasted for the quality of your work.
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: Nomad on 03-03-22, 02:42PM
[admin]Now now, play nicely together, every one thinks they have the hardest job.[/admin]
Title: Re: Picker performance
Post by: lucgeo on 03-03-22, 03:49PM
 "A day in my shoes"  8-)