Best & Worst
Best part of my job is the variety of things I can work on during any given day, the customers (even the pissed off ones). The worst part? My boss. Case in point, and why I shouldn't check my work email in the mornings:
"Hi Grant - I don’t remember if you said you have additional window decorations for St. Patrick’s Day or not, but I do recall you mentioning that the displays in the windows would be changed this week - I think you mentioned Wednesday. I’m wondering if this is something S could have worked on today - even if she didn’t finish it - since she didn’t appear to be busy in the store when not helping customers.
You may have had a plan for her to help customers today so you could work on your projects - I don’t know what you worked out for the day. However, it is important to “rally the troops,” so to speak … to give the student employees tasks each time they work in the store … or to be sure they check the “to do” list and follow through with projects. I can’t imagine some shelves don’t need dusting, that the coffee cart doesn’t need a bit of restocking/cleaning … and the clothing items ALWAYS need to be tidied up - especially after shoppers check sizes and undo nicely stacked or hung apparel.
While I’m not against “down time” for anyone (and realize this is often the nature of working in the store as we chat with students, vendors, staff, etc.), I do expect each student shift to make a positive impact on the store. I realize sometimes that simply means waiting on customers and that’s certainly fine. Even while doing that, though, students can still tidy up the counter and office area, disinfect/wash the area around the register, clean out the cubby holes under the register, add price tags to all the new merchandise, etc. There is always something to do - however small - to constantly improve the Bookstore.
I’m not upset with any student employees or with you - but wanted to bring this to your attention. Let’s talk more about it on Thursday and we can brainstorm some techniques for moving forward. The team approach since last May has made the Bookstore what it is today and I know that team effort will continue and only get better as each person brings his/her talents to the table - or in this case, to the Bookstore. "
Now, I've got just a few issues with this. First, she says she's not mad. Bullshit. She sent this at 7:45 last night. I've noticed that she handles personal conflict poorly, and so wanted to defer this as long as possible, or at least ensure I'm not present when its brought up for the first time. Secondly, she's upset that there's too much "down time" and wants something done about it. Well, I've got a binder with a list of daily and weekly tasks in it. Are they checking them? Not really, no. Do I have a way to make them check the tasks? Not really. Because if I do start getting after them at all about this, that could be seen as a "lack of trust" which she got after me about oh-so-many times last semester. So, I'm caught in a bind on that one. I've got lists for them to do. I just don't have any way to make them actually check and follow through. One last thing, she's getting after about this now, which is quite ironic. Sent last night, when she has time set aside on her calendar to work on my contribution review for my first 6 months today. Handy coincidence. Lastly, I've gotten more compliments from students and other staff about how the Bookstore's been run in the past 2 months than I did at all last semester. So, what am I to believe? The population as a whole I serve or the one person that can jack up everything about my job?
Fuck, some days things are so freaking complicated...