Seriously, how do you deal with it? I started working at Bath & Body Works late last month and I was lucky if I got hours at all (literally had all of last week off and I don't have much going on in my life :| ). I went in this past Monday and one of the three managers asked if I wanted more hours and gave me a list of days/times--Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Okay, can do.

Well, go in Thursday to get a few goodies during a sale (you, as customers can stack coupons, but we, as employees, can't stack our discount with sales so if you hate our sales, guess what, you're honestly better off than us. 😞 ). I apparently wasn't needed that day, so I checked the online schedule; I'm off till Monday... Again. Yay.

Today, I got a call from our "main" manager, asking where I was. No one said I was still going to work today, it's not on the schedule, and they didn't need me Thursday, so what am I supposed to do if management doesn't seem to know what's going on? They threw the list I had out of the window, leaving me completely at a loss and frustrated Thursday. I would have gone in, had I known at 7am that I was still expected to show up today. I can't/don't drive, and the buses run literally four time a day (twice in the early AM, twice in the very late PM--long after I need to be at work) so even if I got on one of the PM buses, I wouldn't have made it to work remotely on time. Instead I ended up crying out of frustration over being screwed out of hours I really do need (biweekly pay + limited hours = a very small check).

No, I have zero idea who does the schedule or how the schedule works, whether it's set in stone once it's posted or not. Its hard not to get upset and confused when someone completely changes your schedule without warning the day you think you work and no one informs you but instead assumes you still know what's going on.

How do you deal with management screwing up like this? I was totally ready to work yesterday, showed up in our "uniform" too. The schedule said I was off, so I stayed home because no one said I was, in fact, still needed today till 2PM when I was called. If I lose my job because of someone else, I'm going to cry. If I get yelled at tomorrow when I try to go in, I'm going to go off on someone and if they fire me for an outburst, fine. At least I'd have been fired because of my own doing.

Umpf.

Poor Management is horrible to deal with as an employee. And I'll be honest, there is little you can do. But if you need the job and want to keep it, then it's best to keep your cool. If it does get brought up, Explain yourself as calmly as possible and add in that, "I really need you guys to be more clear when you are making changes last minute to scheduling. This created quite a confusion and I would have been here had I known because I need this job. But by the time I knew, it was too late for me to arrange transportation to even get here at a reasonable time." and also ask about your list. "Also, what happened to the list you asked me about? Why is that not being followed? I need clarity on my scheduling."

Reiterate as much as possible that you need clarity, not this confusion you are receiving. Remain polite, and explain where necessary why this is so dire. Some people really just don't connect the dots when they are moving things around so much. If you still receive mixed instructions, last minute changes, etc. i.e, Nothing changes, Then consider calling the next level above management and seek another job. It's not worth your time to fight it beyond that, as corporate jobs rarely get fixed. Turnover is generally too high for them to care much, and those that have been there long are generally able to get shit done despite large flaws and so never corrected on things.

Last but not least, if your words are not heeded, or you get in trouble for them, despite being polite and working to fix things, or you get fired for the continuance of mistakes like this, it's important that you know that this is poor management on their part, not yours. Omit it from future job resumes, etc. Because it's better to not include it than to try and explain to a future employer, "Oh they had poor management and I got fired because of them not clarifying things, etc.." It looks like an excuse for your behavior rather than theirs.

Keep your head up! Work your hardest, and don't be afraid to communicate politely! It should be expected in the work place, not frowned upon. Any business that doesn't applaud communication isn't one you want to work for! They will screw you over a thousand times without care if they think you'll take it.

welp, pretty much covered this as well as I think it can be, but I just wanted to chime in and say good luck. I've worked sooo much retail and been in so many similar situations... that's just kind of par for the course in that industry, unfortunately. also it's the holidays, this time of year is just out of control for everyone, consistent hours are hard to get even if you aren't seasonal, and everyone's schedule gets messed up constantly.

for big companies like b&bw, you might have a company-wide hotline that you can call about problems you can't talk to a manager about, but it's hard to say what sort of action (if any) they'll actually take if such a line even exists.

sigh that truly is a mess, though, i'm sorry about it. :/ hang in there, and good luck!! i hope it looks up a bit and that you get some hours in soon.

I kept my cool (I usually do, even through aggravating customers/situations). My manager apologized luckily when I went in and I have extra hours to make up for what I missed due to miscommunication. I'm trying to maintain good rapport so I can get another (hopefully more permanent, lol) job when this ends, cause it's the best I can do for the holidays.XP

I'm at least (hopefully!) proving to be an asset because I have been selling stuff nonstop lately, since there's so many clueless boyfriends/husbands/dads/sons and the like coming in. Oh, when guys are confused, it's hysterical. :,D

I've noticed. First time in retail, but second time being the one interacting directly with customers. Closest we have to a hotline is HR-Direct, which is kind of a pain to get through cause it's largely automated and they make you work to talk to a person.XD But they're at least crazy nice people.

It's not your fault! I semi-expected things to be off, but not quite this off. 😅 I'm kind of afraid to see what next week holds, since I'm likely to work Christmas Eve + Semi-Annual Sale right after Christmas. Nothing is set yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if I had some hours.

That's okay, when I walk in the store it's like, "Can I get this for a guy?... Is this too girly?... What do I buy a guy? Do guys like these things too? What am I even doing?" XD But I bet the stories are great, being in a BB+BW store.

It sounds like things were handled well on Managements end. They didn't blame you, apologized, and gave you hours to make up for it. That's immaculate in this industry! I'm glad it turned around so positively.:3

Right?! Luckily, we do offers men stuff in a smaller selection but it is hell for the guys with a literal wall of fragrances.XD

So I've heard lol! A lot of stories I've read either hate their managers or their ridiculous customers, or both :,D But for me, I like them both, for the most part. Occasionally certain customers annoy me which is no shock, annoying people happen.