My manager’s output barely justifies a salary at all; I believe that their presence is counter-productive, even worse than if they did not turn up at all!

I have so many reasons why I have come to this conclusion that they will have to be spread across multiple posts. Firstly, I shall outline my conception of a “normal” manager.

I have worked under a few managers, and they have all (except for the current one) had at least one thing in common; they all desire the welfare of the store and the staff. That involves at least serving the customers when it is overwhelmingly busy, addressing the concerns of the staff, and planning the development and progression of the store.

Some managers use the back office more than others. The usual and justifiable reason for this is that they can participate in region-wide activities and discussions. Vodafone store managers are required to work some weekends, and wear the correct uniform (a red shirt). All normal managers train the staff, help them with cashing up, and take responsibility for the store by covering periods of understaffing, and actively participate in developing and ultimately promoting the staff members. Normal managers keep the team informed of changes, targets and give feedback on how they are meeting challenges and progressing.

All of my previous managers satisfy the vast majority of these expectations. The current manager satisfies literally none of them. That’s right, they do not actually deserve the title “manager” at all. What the hell does they do all day? Does they even bother turning up?! Why has nobody done anything yet?

Stay tuned!

However, my experience has shown me that the retail sector has been increasingly poorly run, with awful, strange policies and unaccountable, corrupt managers. I shall state now that most store managers in my experience have been fine. I have worked properly under a few managers, and covered other stores with other managers. The only manager who I think deserves to be branded “corrupt” is the latest one, my manager at the moment. I worry that there may be other similar cases out there, as there seems to be no way to root out these individuals.

After numerous attempts to voice these opinions through the proper channels, and the fact that they are shared by almost everyone I speak to, I have come to the conclusion that we will never be listened to. Out of despair, my colleagues are leaving in droves, as the situation becomes increasingly helpless.

“If you don’t like it then leave!”, (the sort of thing you’d expect to hear from Robert Mugabe) is a silly argument that I hear a lot. It is so hard to find a job at the moment and why should it be us that leave?

I feel that this should be of interest to shareholders. A corrupt, incompetent and superfluous manager is a waste of money. Investing in a group that trains pseudo-psychological practices is about as useful as Glenn Hoddle’s employment of a faith healer to “talk to the players”. As a shareholder myself, I am worried by the inefficiency and (I’m sorry to say) stupidity of the bureaucrats that I see on a daily basis.

The customers should also be worried. When they enter a shop, do they really want their mind to be influenced, commands to be “embedded” and to be hypnotised by someone who has read one too many pop-psychology books? A mad-house, full of Don Quixotes who have traded their swords for spiral-glasses. When they ask to speak to the manager, they expect to speak to the manager, not the assistant who has been sent by the manager who cannot be bothered to put in even a fraction of the work those on a much lower salary do. When they have queued for half an hour, little do they know that beyond the back-office door sits the person who supposedly runs the place, on the phone to their mates, nonchalantly watching the patient customers on the CCTV.

Finally the bosses ought to be worried, if they give a damn about the company they work for. They should be embarassed that the staff feel that their voices are not heard. They should be anxious that some important stores are badly run. Sadly from what I have seen, it seems that the easier option for them is to turn a blind eye. I hope to be proven wrong.

Why am I doing this? What other option do I have?!

Blog also available at http://vodaclone.blogspot.com