Worst morning of work ever at Lackluster Video...advice needed

[kingnebwsu]

UPDATE: 7 weeks later, I got a job as a Store Manager at Gamestop!!! Lackluster can suck it for how poorly they've treated me in the last 3 months. I'm going out the right way, giving my 2 weeks, and doing what's right for the company and blah blah blah. I'll show them how to treat others with class...a lesson they sure could have used when dealing with me.

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So I just had an IM conversation with my buddy where I detailed how my morning at work went. Sorry for the many lines of text, but I figured to cut&paste would be easier than trying to retell the day. I'm at a really weird place right now and any serious input would be much appreciated. Thanks guys...

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KingNeb: one of the worst mornings of my life today:-P
JasonN: eh, this week has been busy. it is students back week...
JasonN: uh oh, what happened?
KingNeb: ah yeah
KingNeb: almost got fired
JasonN: ? why?
KingNeb: well, BB has lotsa rules in place on employee accounts
JasonN: you tell off your boss or something?
KingNeb: for a good reason, because things can be abused bigtime
KingNeb: apparently what happened was an item was re-rented to me when I wasn't in the store
KingNeb: what happened was, it was the day before labor day and it was real busy
KingNeb: so before I left, I forgot to get something re-rented
KingNeb: I called my coworker around close and said something like "check it in for me and I'll get it tomorrow"
KingNeb: what he actually did was check it in and check it back out to me
KingNeb: item was in the store, but I wasn't
KingNeb: not a huge deal, but probably shouldn't do it
KingNeb: honestly I didn't even think much of it
JasonN: sounds very very minor
KingNeb: so our store got audited yesterday
KingNeb: and the auditor called the regional loss prevention manager
KingNeb: she's an insane bitch who thinks everyone is a thief...which is part of her job I guess
KingNeb: so I got "interrogated"
KingNeb: she grilled me for about 10 minutes total over 3 separate interviews
KingNeb: asking me about what it was, and I couldn't remember
KingNeb: cuz it was 2 weeks ago and it wasn't a big deal
KingNeb: she laid into me from the beginning
KingNeb: she said the item was about to autosell to my acct
JasonN: autosell?
KingNeb: (at BB if you keep something 10 days late, it sells to your acct...this isn't allowed on employee accounts)
KingNeb: so her whole thing was that I had my coworker manually check it in and out while myself OR the item were not in the store
KingNeb: manually checking stuff in & out is a big no-no
KingNeb: and I'm aware of that
KingNeb: I kept repeating that to her over and over
KingNeb: she'd attack me, saying "you manually check stuff in & out...we have it on tape blah blah blah"
JasonN: jesus christ...
JasonN: what the hell is wrong with these people....
KingNeb: I'd respond by saying "I've never done that nor would I ever do that, because I've been with the company a long time and I know that it's not allowed"
KingNeb: she said "that's why it's so suprising, cuz you've been with the company a long time and you know the rules, yet you did this blah blah blah"
KingNeb: she then kicked me out of the room saying "I have to make some calls"
KingNeb: I came back in the 2nd time and I recalled the situation and I explained it to them
KingNeb: then she came at me with "see, what I'm starting to question is your HONESTY"
KingNeb: "you lied to me...blah blah blah"
KingNeb: I kept repeating myself saying I'd never do anything like that and she kept interrupting me before I could finish a sentence
JasonN: these people are beyond morons...
KingNeb: so anyway, I was in there 3 times total, and the last time they excused me and said "I have to make more calls"
KingNeb: she also said she had multiple examples or me manually checking stuff in & out, but changed the subject when I asked for proof
JasonN: This is just so stupid on multiple counts....
KingNeb: so anyway, the autosell thing...her whole thing was that the item I called to have checked in (but not out, just a good faith mistake by my coworker) was going to autosell THAT NIGHT and I asked her twice "I don't think the item was close to autoselling...I don't think it was that late"
KingNeb: but she never showed me the actual page with the ckout date
KingNeb: so anyway, after the third time I was waiting in the corner of my store for 45 MINUTES while they talked
JasonN: obviously you are like one of the ace store managers. you make bbuster lots more money than they'd make without you. You could fucking steal a game a week and it would be in their best interests to give you a raise.
KingNeb: it's like, jesus christ, either fire me or don't, but don't waste my time like this
KingNeb: so during this time I checked my account for the item in questino
KingNeb: question*

KingNeb: the item wasn't even LATE!!!
KingNeb: I still had 10 days before anything would happen to me
KingNeb: she lied to me about it twice
KingNeb: and I didn't even use my allotment of 5 free rentals/week, so it's not like I had to re-rent it that night or anything
KingNeb: so anyway, after the 45 minute wait, they both came out and she left and my boss (district mgr) talked to me in the back
JasonN: what was he doing in all this?
KingNeb: he was sitting there, but it wasn't his place to say anything
KingNeb: cuz they do this shit to catch actual thieves/people who are cheating the system
KingNeb: but this is such a small thing to go from "something that wasn't even late got checked in/out while he wasn't in the store and the item WAS in the store (that's the imp't thing...that the item is in the store)" to... "tell me about all the times you've manually checked stuff in/out you lying person who's honesty I question"
JasonN: so what did your mgr finally say?
KingNeb: anyway, he took me to the back and said "blah blah blah, due to what the auditor found we had to conduct an investigation...but obviously there's NO POLICY VIOLATION HERE and we just had to make sure nothing else was going on blah blah blah"
KingNeb: at this point I just lost it & started tearing up
KingNeb: I took a minute to semi-compose myself, I came back and he tried to talk with me some more
KingNeb: saying "she came at you pretty hard, and she probably shouldn't have come at you like that...and for that I apologize."
JasonN: that is all fucked up.
JasonN: people shouldn't treat their employees that way without a hell of a lot of probable cause....
KingNeb: he also said "you know blah blah blah this won't reflect on your reputation blah blah blah or how I feel about you blah blah blah"
JasonN: there should never be a confrontation like that unless the person is getting fired and then there should never be that confrontation anyway because that's just not the way things are done
KingNeb: that's how it's done at BB
KingNeb: I've been on the other end of it before
KingNeb: I was getting fired today
KingNeb: only because I HADN'T DONE ANYTHING is the only reason I still have a job
KingNeb: they were there to fire me
KingNeb: also there today was my coworker who was running the shift (this was my "vacation" day), the Loss Prevention mgr, the district mgr (my boss) and another random store mgr who was there I guess in case one or both of us got fired
KingNeb: anyway, with my boss I was just angry & hurt
KingNeb: I said "is there anything else?"
KingNeb: he was trying to talk with me and stuff, but I just clocked out
KingNeb: he said "is there anything you wanna talk about?" I just said "nope"
KingNeb: he said I could call him if I wanted to talk about anything
JasonN: yeah right...
KingNeb: so I semi-composed myself in the bathroom, then left
KingNeb: flipping off the cameras on my way out (instead of the "thumbs up" we're supposed to do)
KingNeb: anyway, less than two hours later, I talked with the mgr. who was working this morning and said to keep this confidential and he said something like "duh"
KingNeb: but then he got a call from my assistant mgr. who found out from his wife (who works at the BB across town) that we had "visitors" today
KingNeb: less than two fucking hours after I was almost fired, people know something's up
KingNeb: it's like, who said something
KingNeb: 5 people there: LP lady (nope), me (nope), Dist. Mgr. (nope), coworker (swears up&down he didn't), and misc. store manager (bingo)
JasonN: I think it's past time to brush up the resume...
KingNeb: yep
JasonN: it can take a while to find a job so start applying now
KingNeb: so it's like..."won't damage my reputation blah blah blah" and less than 2 hours later it's known that we had visitors today
KingNeb: they won't know the specifics, but know that the husband&wife know people were there, everyone else will know
KingNeb: my reputation will not be intact for much longer
JasonN: and even if you hate bbuster, you gotta spend the time to look for jobs you actually want otherwise you could more easily end up at another bbuster like place
KingNeb: not that I especially care what people think, but it's like...
KingNeb: yeah, you're right...I was holding out because I'm due for a $3000-$4000 bonus in february, but I don't think I can make it that long
JasonN: Well, it *might* take that long to find a good job.
KingNeb: it's like, you can question a lot of things I do...my operations, how I run things, blah blah blah...but you question MY HONESTY and call me a LIAR and I can't handle it
KingNeb: yeah I know
JasonN: Part of it depends on the kind of places your applying, how picky you are, and how lucky you are
KingNeb: yeah
KingNeb: see, I don't even know where to go
KingNeb: I applied at gamestop like 2 months ago, but nothing came of it
KingNeb: so yeah, I was already struggling at work because I didn't get that promotion in july/august
KingNeb: and I think about that all the time
KingNeb: and now this...how am I supposed to go back to work?
KingNeb: I was scheduled tomorrow but I got it covered
KingNeb: I voice mailed my boss and said I was taking an extra vacation day
KingNeb: I said "I just don't think I could work tomorrow...sorry"
KingNeb: it's like, ripped apart by the LP lady for no good reason today
JasonN: well, fuck they called you in to give you shit for nothing on your vacation.....
KingNeb: yeah exactly, I love vacation days where I'm almost fired BEFORE NOON!!!>:o>:o>:o
KingNeb: 2 months ago I got passed over for a promotion which I deserved over the other candidates
KingNeb: and 6 months ago the NATIONAL LP lady came into my store and accused me of inflating numbers
KingNeb: of course, she was dead wrong, because the reports they were using are from a DOS-based system and are so antiquated it's ridiculous
KingNeb: I've never: stolen from the company, lied about shit, given out free stuff fradulently, or done any sort of significant policy violation
KingNeb: I've been with BB for 7+ yrs and I get treated like this
KingNeb: it's like, the last 2 months have been no fun at all
KingNeb: the promotion thing should have been mine, but at least that was for something positive (a promotion)
KingNeb: today was for something super-negative (getting fired)
JasonN: There's no reason you should have to put up with this shit
KingNeb: seriously, how can I walk back in there after being called a liar and told I'm dishonest
JasonN: If I were you, I'd probably be considering quiting, but that would probably be a mistake.
KingNeb: I was thinking (in the FORTY-FIVE minute gap) how I'd have to sue them if they fired me for that
JasonN: It's always better to have that next job lined up first
KingNeb: cuz it's something so small&ridiculous
KingNeb: I know
KingNeb: the last 24 hrs I've been thinking about what I was gonna do if something happened
KingNeb: and even if something DIDN'T happen, what I was gonna do
KingNeb: thinking about going back to school full time or part time, or finding another job
KingNeb: it's just a huge f'in decision
KingNeb: cuz I've only worked at BB my whole career
KingNeb: I graduated college in '02, but only ever worked at BB
JasonN: Yeah... you could start looking for a job, and maybe simultaneously apply for an MBA program?
KingNeb: yeah, I was thinking about the MBA
JasonN: If you don't have a job, you could start the mba program in winter?
KingNeb: it's like, wish it was a month ago, then I could have enrolled for fall qtr
KingNeb: yeah
KingNeb: maybe I could apply for a leave of absence from BB for defammation of character;-)
KingNeb: so anyway, that was my day
KingNeb: this is unchartered territory, and I just don't even know where to go from here
JasonN: usajobs.gov ... I wouldn't be surprised if there were some possible accounting /management jobs out there you'd be eligible for
JasonN: hr potentially too
KingNeb: yeah, thanks dude
KingNeb: it's just, I have to do a lot of soul-searching
KingNeb: seriously ever since they gave her the promotion 6 weeks ago, work has been really tough
KingNeb: cuz I'm constantly reminded of my "failure" even though I was more qualified
KingNeb: and I just don't lose at stuff, as you know I'm very competitive;-)
KingNeb: and this shit that makes me feel like a loser
JasonN: it's out of your control...
KingNeb: I know, but it still is eating me up
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That's my day. Thoughts?

[dawgfan]

You know you didn't do anything wrong, your immediate co-workers probably know you didn't do anything wrong, and it sounds like your boss know you didn't do anything wrong. If people at other stores start questioning your integrity, fuck 'em - if they want to know the real story, they can ask around and find out you didn't do anything wrong. And if they don't care enough to find out the truth, fuck 'em.

As for the auditor, I'd look up the Blockbuster HR department and file a complaint - she can do her job without treating you like an arrested criminal suspect in a police interrogation.

And I'd agree with your buddy - start polishing the resume and seeing what other job opportunities are out there. Looking around for work doesn't mean you have to leave your current job if offered, but it's always nice to know what your options are.

Also, definitely look into further education - if getting an MBA is important to you, start figuring out how to make that happen.

I'd talk more with your boss just to get reassurance from him that he knows you didn't do anything wrong and to see how much he'll back you up regarding your integrity if others ask around about you.

[DaddyTorgo]

aaaah. passed over for promotion. sounds shockingly like my situation right now. and don't know if i want to put in the time to wait till after Xmas to wait for it. debating with self. own thread to follow at some point soon.

[Flasch186]

I worked for BBV for a long long time....best thing I ever did was leave there and go wait tables in a microbrewery, more money, better people, better connections, networking, etc.

BBV is a "dead technology". you should be looking for an out anyways.

[TroyF]

I agree 100% about filing a complaint with your HR department. I'd do that first thing tomorrow morning. Then, as others have said, polish up the resume.

[JediKooter]

HR is not your friend. HR is the company's friend and only looks out for the company's interests, not the employees. Unless you have a friend that works in HR, proceed with caution.

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

HR is not your friend. HR is the company's friend and only looks out for the company's interests, not the employees. Unless you have a friend that works in HR, proceed with caution.

This is true, but by doing so they look after your interests too.

I have no idea about workplace laws in the US, but if you lodge a complaint against a your company it can end up costing them big bucks, so HR try and prevent this happening. Sometimes this means that they'll end up assisting you.

[Groundhog]

dola

Though I'd also be dusting off the ole' resume, regardless.

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

dola

Though I'd also be dusting off the ole' resume, regardless.

I second that.

[boberot]

c*cksucker video . . .

. . . that's what we call it in our house . . .

[when the kids are out of earshot]

Time to move on, sir.

[sterlingice]

I'm with the guys who suggest filing a complaint. You sound a lot like someone who already has one foot out the door and will be gone as soon as you get a chance so better to get something done so others don't have to suffer her crap in the future.

SI

[kingnebwsu]

Thanks for all the thoughts guys. It's late-night Sunday and I have to be at work in less than nine hours, and I honestly don't know how I'm going to make it. I talked with my parents several times this weekend and I think my mom said it best in that I need to take it "one day at a time." I work Mon-Fri this week, but I can't think about that right now. I just gotta focus on making it through the first day. The good thing is that my store is usually pretty isolated so I don't have to interact with people that remind me of what happened...except we have a district conference call tomorrow. Argh. I called in my assistant manager to be on the call with me, to help keep me focused and not super-negative. Hopefully I can keep my comments in-line with him there.

Anyway, I'm at a tough spot as to what I should do next. I applied to several places online this weekend, plus I'm going to go back to Gamestop (where I applied 2 months ago but never heard anything back) and see if I can bring them a "I'm still interested" reminder letter.

I'm going to do my best to stay at Lackluster as long as I can, because it's much tougher to get a job when you're unemployed. Every day I spend at my store will be a test of willpower and mental strength. Next time I talk to my boss, I may just hang up the phone and walk out of my store. It's weird because that's not the kind of person I am, but they truly disrespected me and insulted everything I've put into the company for the last 7+ years.

So the questions I'm faced with now are...

Do I quit tomorrow? (probably won't)

Do I write a letter/file a complaint? (I'm friends with a different district manager and he said it probably wouldn't do anything)

When I find another job (hopefully VERY soon), do I give 2-week notice? (I'm leaning toward a big "no" on this one, treat them like they treated me...like shit)

When I find another job, do I type up a long letter explaining the whole situation and then fax it to the district office, regional office, and HR office? (I think I'm definitely gonna do this...it won't accomplish much but it will make me feel better plus me a "kiss my ass" kind of moment)

Finally, the most important question, WHERE THE HELL DO I GET MY NEXT JOB?!? It's the big question, and I'm exploring all of my options. I have some good experience in my field, but I may also look outside of the retail environment. I just hope I can find something soon, because I'm about at a breaking point with my current employer.

Thanks again for the posts and I appreciate any further thoughts on any of this stuff...I'm in a dark place right now and the sooner I can get out, the sooner my life won't be a living hell

[kingnebwsu]

Oh yeah, dola, do I have any legal recourse? I'm no legal expert, but is this some sort of harrassment or anything like that? I wish I had tape-recorded this conversation, because it's just my word against the LP lady and the district manager. I wish I could take some sort of action (which obviously would end my employment with them).

[st.cronin]

Definitely give 2 weeks notice, or as much as they require.

[kingnebwsu]

No notice is required since it's "at-will" employment (or something like that).

[st.cronin]

Originally Posted by kingnebwsu

No notice is required since it's "at-will" employment (or something like that).

I just mean don't burn your bridges. You never know.

[Groundhog]

On the other hand being available right away might help with you finding a new job.

If you don't want to give them 2 weeks notice, make sure your manager is aware of why you are leaving and why you can't stand working there for even 2 more weeks.

[Eaglesfan27]

Even though there is no notice required, I would give 2 weeks. It's generally standard with most jobs, and your new boss may appreciate that even though you were screwed over, you still acted professionally when leaving your old job.

[caspanky]

Absolutely give 2 weeks notice when you quit. If you just quit and walk out, most likely they will put in your record with the company that you aren't rehireable. This can come back to bite you in the ass later, with future jobs checking references. From experience, the phrase "don't burn your bridges" is good advice.

Good luck with the job hunt.

[Flasch186]

might i suggest waiting tables at a "cool" joint? When I left BBV after 5 years, it was truly and enlightening experience. I made about the same amount of money (but it felt like more), close to the same hours, if not less and met some of the coolest people including my fiancee (but I dont suggest dating restaurant girls - tis a quick way to make your life miserable, usually). I worked in a microbrewery so it was a lot of fun BUT make sure you keep your nose clean, drugs are everywhere in the H.I.P. world. If youre able to sit back and watch you'll watch people's entire life cycle with drugs from their initial dabble, to their hooking, to their fallout if youre their long enough. ALSO, while waiting tables you should be ableto find time to pick up some classes too at the local University.

[Toddzilla]

I disagree - if you walk out, make the biggest stink you possibly can. If you just tuck your tail and walk away, then they won. They beat you down and forced you out, which re-affirms their bullshit way of treating loyal employees. If you do decide to leave, make sure everyone knows what happened to you and why you are leaving and make it as hard on them as possible. You don't want anyone else to have to go through what you did, so make sure they think twice beofre pulling a stunt like this.

Write/call the President and CEO.
Write/call the corporate head of HR.
Write/call the district/region manager.
Absolutely call the boss of everyone involved.

When you walk out of there for the last time, know that you've made it better for the guy who replaces you.

Oh, and make sure you get another job first

[Flasch186]

Todd:

You have to remember the situation BBV finds itself in right now. Look at the state of disrepair you find most stores in? There are 3 around my house and all of them have the same MO. No dress code, no sense of organization, no leadership, etc. which all corresponds to the way the market is shifting and their 10 year low in stock price. In the grand scheme of things, the company wont care about the letters, the complaining, the righteousness. They have bigger fish to fry, like how they going to survive the new marketplace or who is going to absorb them. It sucks, but I have many friends who still work there or left recently and it is 100% that morale across the board is at an all time low, layoffs are commonplace, and that the ship is sinking.

[kingnebwsu]

BBV is a sinking ship right now, and they've closed 3 stores in the Dayton market in the last 6 months (with more closing in '07). That being said, I think many BBV stores will stay profitable for at least a decade. My store, for example, is only slightly profitable now. But when they close the other BBV in town next month, we will be super-profitable (and hopefully they'll have some other store manager who's not me to "lead" them).

Flasch, what you said about your local BBV's could be applied to at least half the BBV stores in the country. Thankfully, my store kicks ass so it wouldn't fall under that category. But BBV is gonna end up losing a great store manager (me) because of their utter incompetence and poor way of handing a non-existent situation.

I was seriously thinking about doing what Todd suggested and write up a letter and fax it to my boss, his boss, and HR. It'd have even more of an impact if I quit without notice, even though that may not be the right thing to do/would burn my bridges.

I applied to Verizon & Chipotle this weekend and I left a message at the district manager's office for Gamestop to reconfirm my interest for the resume I put in about seven weeks ago. I hope that's what I get because that would be exactly what I'm looking for right now. Not a super-big change, but I'd be with a growing company and would be pushing my #1 passion (video games).

I'll keep everyone posted. Any further opinions/thoughts are as always appreciated

[dawgfan]

Regardless of whether or not such an action would make much of a difference or not, I really think you need to report the actions of that auditor. It might not make any difference, but then again it might, and you can possibly spare someone else from undergoing the same kind of bullshit treatment.

Good luck with the job search.

[jeff061]

From past experience, I'd say write a letter to HR just to cover your ass, it's in your best interest to have this whole thing documented somewhere in your words. If this situation happens again or something else happens where you need to make reference to this incident, you are not going to have a leg to stand on. Send a letter and HR will file it away, in the future if you need to refer to that "meeting" to HR or to a manager you can have them dig that letter out to support your case.

[jeff061]

Dola, I think Todd's suggestion of making a big stink will only hurt you. No way you'll make a difference and you'll burn bridges and blacklist yourself in the eyes of other companies.

[Dutch]

On a side note, I don't use IM that much (rarely and not at all for a while). I'm wondering how you can go back and cut and paste an IM from months ago? Is everybody's IM conversations stored somewhere?

[Coder]

Originally Posted by Dutch

On a side note, I don't use IM that much (rarely and not at all for a while). I'm wondering how you can go back and cut and paste an IM from months ago? Is everybody's IM conversations stored somewhere?

Depends on which IM-software you're using.. Not sure AIM stores history of conversations (or if there's even an option to do so).. I remember ICQ used to save the histories by default and I know MSN has the option to do so.

[Toddzilla]

Originally Posted by Dutch

On a side note, I don't use IM that much (rarely and not at all for a while). I'm wondering how you can go back and cut and paste an IM from months ago? Is everybody's IM conversations stored somewhere?

Trillian is teh roXXor.

[Ironhead]

So I was reading this earlier and realized it was posted back in September. Any updates?

[kingnebwsu]

Yeah, I linked this in my other thread... http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/...ad.php?t=54209

If you don't wanna click, I got a new job at Gamestop!!! HOORAY!!!

7 more shifts at Lackluster then I start anew at Gamestop just after T-giving.

I just cut&pasted my IM conversation that night, I don't think it's stored anywhere on the IM software (trillian roolz dood, or so I've heard )

[Rizon]

A few things to remember:

1) I didn't read all of that
2) You didn't get chewed out for long. If you were in serious trouble you'd have been in there a long time. A short ass munching just means she was trying to get you riled up
3) You are a man who was chewed out by a woman in authority. I think you can figure that one out.
4) She's works in the most thankless field ever, doing a job where she probably busts punk ass kids for stealing PS2 games all day. She probably has no self worth. So the consolation you get from this is that she feels like shit about herself. People like her are just the biggest piles of shit, but don't let that get you down, because at the end of the day you're not the one laying in bed suffering in your own self-created pit of despair.

[dervack]

Originally Posted by kingnebwsu

If you don't wanna click, I got a new job at Gamestop!!! HOORAY!!!

Ugh. Sorry to hear that. Gamestop isn't what I would call a great place to work for. But good luck to you there.