verylittlehelps

Does anyone have any advice about applying to the retail graduate programme? Application, Interview etc

So much has fallen by the wayside over the years, for example rumble, strict standards of dress (although I have no issue with that one, im all for self expression) stock control being done correctly, general store standards, proper training, decent canteens and hardly a word said by most of the older staff in the stores I worked at and I joined back in 05 so witnessed the decline myself, yet the second anyone dared to ask a question around the checkout rule and it was like a nuke going off in the store such were the arguments that would follow.

From the guide to the colleague contract:

8. If someone does not want to work on a checkout because of the 2005 Checkout Agreement, what is the position?
In such a situation, we should seek to see if we can agree a solution that works for the colleague whilst still meeting the business need. The manager should use the 'Supporting colleagues with Serve, Pick & Fill training' to help guide these conversations.

As a last resort, the manager can agree the alternative Serve options of training on Scan As You Shop or Self-Serve, if that meets the needs of your store. It is expected that in most cases this will solve the skills need in store, as it is unlikely that every single colleague needs to be trained on a checkout, in line with the 'Supporting Colleagues with Serve, Pick and Fill' guide

Also from "Supporting Colleagues with Serve, Pick and Fill"

What is the 2005 Checkout Agreement?
In July 2005, it was jointly agreed that B and C Grade roles should be paid the same hourly rate, in recognition that all jobs are customer facing. B grade colleagues subsequently received an increased pay award to bring them in line with our C grade colleagues.

 

Part of the agreement was that existing colleagues employed on a B grade before the change would be encouraged to take on checkout duties to support the store when required. However, if a colleague decided they did not want to be checkout trained they would still be required to work in other areas of the store operation, providing they were trained equipped and able to.

 

The agreement covers main bank checkouts and does not include self-service, or scan as you shop.

Colleagues not covered by the agreement are as follows:

Colleagues who joined after the 3rd July 2005.
Colleagues who were C grade or above in July 2005
Managers
Colleagues who were employed in a B grade role in July 2005 who have subsequently moved to a checkout role (this includes temporary changes where the colleague agreed to work on checkouts as part of a return to work support plan).
Where there is a need for colleagues to support checkouts, in the first instance, stores should train all colleagues employed after the 3rd July 2005. Following this, if the store reaches a point where there are insufficient colleagues trained to support checkouts, then it will be appropriate to have a conversation with colleagues who are covered by the 2005 agreement. This conversation should include:

Explaining to the colleagues the challenges the store has when they do not have enough colleagues to support checkouts when required, and the impact that this has on their colleagues and customer service.
Explore the reasons they are reluctant to be checkout trained. For example, it could be one or more of the reasons outlined in section 2.
Discuss what we could do to help and support them overcome their anxiety or reluctance to go on the checkouts.
Ask them if they would be willing to at least give it a go and see how they get on.
This should be an open and honest discussion where you work together to find a solution that suits both the individual and the store.   Where the colleague is still not wishing to work on a checkout and they are covered by the agreement you may consider other options to solve the situation, such as:

Training the colleague to work on self-service/scan as you shop.
Training the colleague to work in another area of the store to release another colleague who has been trained on checkouts.


So hope that helps.

you can't be made to do normal checkouts unless you do agree to do it once, cause then you've mainly forfeit it really seems to be the thing for it.

Whilst if you don't agree, you aren't exempt from self serve and SAYS so you'll be told you have to do that instead,

the usual way they get you is they say you do SAYS and self serve a d that means your not exempt from checkout now - snide tricks.

We have had a new manager arrive instore and he is saying staff that were excempt from checkouts due to the 2005 ruling,are no longer excempt due to an update to the current scan,pick,fill contract.Im pretty sure it still exists and stands.can anyone else clarify please

Colleagues have 5 Super Colleague Deals and 10 standard 10% Deals

How long does the company have to meet with employee do discuss the appeal, is there a time limit after which the appeal would automatically be won if no meeting gets held ?

Appeal is now in

I have the 'i' and the Mail, both on prepay coupon.

Recently the local Express store has started getting error messages on one of them - not the same one every time.

Even more recently they've had a till update and now can't put through as plain 'manufacturer's coupon' - if it won't scan they reject it.  Which means I either have to pay twice, or go to another shop - further away.

Anyone come across this and any ideas?  I am getting rather fed up of it, and I suspect, they of me.

Thanks!

Fairly sure it's sopp & sopp, seen them handling non dotcom related claims in the past

Is sopp & sopp not just the repairers as opposed to the actual underwriter for the van insurance