What do you permit employees to do at the counter? I ask this today following a discussion with a colleague newsagent recently about rules for employees at the counter and the decision to let an employee go.
Here are the rules I have for employees at the counter:
- No sitting on the job.
- No reading for pleasure.
- No texting on the phone.
- No chatting with friends.
- No doing crosswords.
- No doing homework.
- No eating.
- No entering competitions.
- No browsing the Intern et.
- No using your mobile phone unless it is to report a medical emergency.
What are your rules?
Have you sacked any0one for non-compliance?
Not being drunk.
Agree with all except sitting. We provide high stools for staff. Standing for long periods is a health hazard and I don’t want a claim. We encourage staff to regularly walk the floor for service, security and health reasons.
Hi Colin
First thing i did 10 years ago was throw out a chair from behind the counter i think it is a bad look and they should be cleaning shelves or the like
Cheers
I’ve experienced staff that do some or most of the above over the years. Most comply however, some don’t and I simply haven’t given them anymore shifts.
A few years back I created a list of Do’s & Don’ts whilst on duty which is kept at the counter and I get every new staff member to initial as having read it and intending to comply with it. My biggest peev would have to be staff putting their own iphones on the shop music system to listen to what could be best described as doof doof rubbish. This usually happens when I’m away and I hear it from customers who fill me in later.
Other then the music, the list works for me.
As I cant afford staff and work 14 hours a day behind the counter. My rules are find the most comfortable chair I can on rollers. Do what I want and include my customers 🙂 As an example a couple from Sydney came into the shop whilst I was replying to emails, I asked them how could I assist, they said I could stand and to ask them again. I politely asked again, they said for me to check their lotto. I then proceeded to pretend my chair was a wheel chair and wheeled my chair across to the terminal, checked their tickets and asked if there was anything else I could do for them, they went bright red and said no thank you and left.
PeterS, I get the joke and yes it is fun to joke around with customers but not all get this type of humour. I pick where and when to place it (mainly with regulars) so it doesn’t land the wrong way. The last thing we want is more Lottoland assimilation’s. Not being drunk is also a good one …. ha ha Jeff!
IMHO – They should stick to doing one thing right not trying to branch out to gifts. This is unique to each business, location and customer…..
Sorry previous comment was meant for other feed….