To the next step...
Today was my final day of Blockbuster. I've been there since April of 05. It was kind of bittersweet. I really was happy to finally put to death this shit business-ship with this store manager Eddie, but Im going to miss alot of the people I had conversations with while working there. I meet a lot of interesting people, and it sucks cuz I realize after I won't be working there anymore I probably won't be able to walk up to them in the store and say "how is everything" without getting a blank stare. But like I said, today was nice. Many regulars came in to wish me the best at bank of america and said they'll miss me terribly since I was so nice, had such a great personality and was always a cool guy to talk to. It was a nice egoboost I need since lately I've been just extremely lonely. I know many people that are carrying on these relationships with people and I have no one. I could have some people, but sometimes I don't even know if its right or even worth it. I don't to think it, but my gut instincts tell me its just not going to work.
Like I said, today was my last day. But there is shit going down with the store manager that sort of makes me feel good. In case your someone who doesn't talk to me much, which I'm sure is true, here's whats been going on.
When I first got hired at Blockbuster, the store manager was Eddie. He'd continuely fuck up my schedule and never keep me informed about promotions and other things going on at the store. He left after I was there for a few months, probably 4. A woman named Jannelle came in and she was magic. She was super sweet, very nice, very caring to her employees, like I had a friend in a boss. She got transfered back to her old store after being with us for like maybe 4 or 5 months. Then a woman named Andrea came in. I was lukewarm to her, cuz I was afraid of losing such a good boss. She turned out to be cool too though. Somethings she did I didn't like, but it was still cool. Well, in at the beginning of June we found out they were moving store managers around again, and well, Eddie is back. This time though, thank god since I have a very limited availability, he hasn't been fucking up my schedule. But, he still isn't keep me informed, he puts up multiple schedules and their all different, and he is leaving bank deposits in the safe. Also, one Sunday morning Eddie gave me tons of shit for not wanting to work a double (on fathers day, what am I thinking huh?) and he put me into a position of closing the store until he got there. I called the district leader on multiple occasions and never got in contact with her. It sucked...Well, this has become such a problem that I and the other managers have reported it.
Fast forward to this past Friday: Lost Prevention came in to investigate the situation, and as he was leaving this kid Chris said to him "Well, good luck with your investigation.." and the guy said "O, well, sometimes their no brains, and this one is one of them"...Chris says "o really?" ..."Yeah, this one seems pretty cut and dry" Now, to me, that sounds like Eddie might be F-I-R-E-D. Now, yesterday, i was warned Kerry, the district leader would be coming in. Well, she came in with this guy Brent (or Brett?) from Human Resources. First thing they said was
"aren't you supposed to have someone with you?"
my reply:
"yeah, but he called out. He had family issues."
Eventually the guy starts to ask me about the store, what I like about it, about the new job I have, etc. After he sees how much work I was doing, and the fact I had movies to put back, he offered to put them back, which shocked the shit out of me. Even Kerry, who is a massive b-i-t-c-h helped. So, he asked me other things and as much as I hate Eddie, I tried to keep my comments as un-personal as I could, but I did lay into him a couple times. I mentioned the schedules being off. The district leader, Kerry, chimes in:
"I have the s.m.'s do that so the managers know what hours they could have and do get"
my response:
"well, thats all well and good, but when you have csr's looking at it, with the different days and times, they never know what schedule is correct, they assume one is, and when its wrong, nothing changes"
There came other questions and discussions, especially reguarding the last night I worked and had to close the store by myself. Brent said
"That never happens, when it gets dark, there needs to be another person working with you. I appreciate your dedication, but if you ever work here again, it doesn't happen."
He came to what I thought of the management. I told them how I like Stan, he's always been great to work with, Chris I didnt know real well, but he's become cool, and when I came to Eddie, well...he's terrible. I talked about he doesn't keep anyone informed, its like he doesn't care about his employee's, blahblahblah. Mentioned how I've had other managers that were great. He asked me what I would like to see changed, besides money. I said we need more reliable employees, since we have so many that call out and not show up. I didn't say anything about maybe we should get rid of Eddie because, again, i didnt want to make it look personal. Before they left, he said to me "You know, I know we can't change pay or anything, but if you reconsider, we'd love to keep you. You seem great with customers, you do a good job. Are you sure you want to leave?" I said to him "well, with the bank job and school, its going to be hard to try and stay"...."even if its one day a week?">..."well, yeah, I mean, being a manager here is pretty stressing, maybe if I step down, but thats it."..."well, if you want to come back, just let us know"....
It made me feel good to know this...that they see how hard I work, how I am. I just dont know if I could see myself doing this work anymore. I have more input for the company that I could see in a bigger role, like a corporate role. I have great ideas, but I know I'd never get a job like that....
Anyways, so, that was my last day at blockbuster. sort of. who knows, maybe I'll go back, but its doubtful. atleast I know if I need something to fall back on, I've got it.
Like I said, today was my last day. But there is shit going down with the store manager that sort of makes me feel good. In case your someone who doesn't talk to me much, which I'm sure is true, here's whats been going on.
When I first got hired at Blockbuster, the store manager was Eddie. He'd continuely fuck up my schedule and never keep me informed about promotions and other things going on at the store. He left after I was there for a few months, probably 4. A woman named Jannelle came in and she was magic. She was super sweet, very nice, very caring to her employees, like I had a friend in a boss. She got transfered back to her old store after being with us for like maybe 4 or 5 months. Then a woman named Andrea came in. I was lukewarm to her, cuz I was afraid of losing such a good boss. She turned out to be cool too though. Somethings she did I didn't like, but it was still cool. Well, in at the beginning of June we found out they were moving store managers around again, and well, Eddie is back. This time though, thank god since I have a very limited availability, he hasn't been fucking up my schedule. But, he still isn't keep me informed, he puts up multiple schedules and their all different, and he is leaving bank deposits in the safe. Also, one Sunday morning Eddie gave me tons of shit for not wanting to work a double (on fathers day, what am I thinking huh?) and he put me into a position of closing the store until he got there. I called the district leader on multiple occasions and never got in contact with her. It sucked...Well, this has become such a problem that I and the other managers have reported it.
Fast forward to this past Friday: Lost Prevention came in to investigate the situation, and as he was leaving this kid Chris said to him "Well, good luck with your investigation.." and the guy said "O, well, sometimes their no brains, and this one is one of them"...Chris says "o really?" ..."Yeah, this one seems pretty cut and dry" Now, to me, that sounds like Eddie might be F-I-R-E-D. Now, yesterday, i was warned Kerry, the district leader would be coming in. Well, she came in with this guy Brent (or Brett?) from Human Resources. First thing they said was
"aren't you supposed to have someone with you?"
my reply:
"yeah, but he called out. He had family issues."
Eventually the guy starts to ask me about the store, what I like about it, about the new job I have, etc. After he sees how much work I was doing, and the fact I had movies to put back, he offered to put them back, which shocked the shit out of me. Even Kerry, who is a massive b-i-t-c-h helped. So, he asked me other things and as much as I hate Eddie, I tried to keep my comments as un-personal as I could, but I did lay into him a couple times. I mentioned the schedules being off. The district leader, Kerry, chimes in:
"I have the s.m.'s do that so the managers know what hours they could have and do get"
my response:
"well, thats all well and good, but when you have csr's looking at it, with the different days and times, they never know what schedule is correct, they assume one is, and when its wrong, nothing changes"
There came other questions and discussions, especially reguarding the last night I worked and had to close the store by myself. Brent said
"That never happens, when it gets dark, there needs to be another person working with you. I appreciate your dedication, but if you ever work here again, it doesn't happen."
He came to what I thought of the management. I told them how I like Stan, he's always been great to work with, Chris I didnt know real well, but he's become cool, and when I came to Eddie, well...he's terrible. I talked about he doesn't keep anyone informed, its like he doesn't care about his employee's, blahblahblah. Mentioned how I've had other managers that were great. He asked me what I would like to see changed, besides money. I said we need more reliable employees, since we have so many that call out and not show up. I didn't say anything about maybe we should get rid of Eddie because, again, i didnt want to make it look personal. Before they left, he said to me "You know, I know we can't change pay or anything, but if you reconsider, we'd love to keep you. You seem great with customers, you do a good job. Are you sure you want to leave?" I said to him "well, with the bank job and school, its going to be hard to try and stay"...."even if its one day a week?">..."well, yeah, I mean, being a manager here is pretty stressing, maybe if I step down, but thats it."..."well, if you want to come back, just let us know"....
It made me feel good to know this...that they see how hard I work, how I am. I just dont know if I could see myself doing this work anymore. I have more input for the company that I could see in a bigger role, like a corporate role. I have great ideas, but I know I'd never get a job like that....
Anyways, so, that was my last day at blockbuster. sort of. who knows, maybe I'll go back, but its doubtful. atleast I know if I need something to fall back on, I've got it.