Bad Working Conditions

[TxNOd2]

I work at a Office Depot in Texas. Is it just my store or is it ALL Office Depots.The Store Mgr and Asst. think 1 or 2 associates should carry the whole store in PPP's..Worklife Rewards and sales plus do other task and NO HOURS TO DO IT IN!!! Anybody else with that crap.

[Ex-OD Employee]

It's the 20-80 rule. 20% of the workers do 80% of the work. Yeah, it sucks being part of those 20%!

[Meh]

Yeah at my old store it was do as I say not as I do. They would all say its a team effort to keep the ppp's rolling in each and everyday. But where was management everyday when the customers were around? Yep thats right in the back of the store in the managers kicking back each of them on there cell phones.

[NC_OD_Dude]

News flash....OD managers are hypocrites. They only do what they want to do. Our "front end manager" is never actually on the front end. Our cashiers wander the floor at will rather than ring up customers or answer the phone, and she doesn't even say anything about it. She also never took care of lock-up when that was her responsibility. Nor did she take care of tech when that was her responsibility. It was always delegated to the part-timers. I feel like things are simply getting worse as OD brings in more complacent managers from outside the company who only take care of the tasks they feel like taking care of. They are no better than any other lazy employee. I completely agree with Ex-OD Employee. 20% of the workers really do 80% of the work at Office Depot.

[ODnTN]

Well, the district I work for is very underhanded and I dont trust our DM at all. They dog you out for whatever you do, whether its good or bad. And when you're good, you still suck. It's gotten to the point where you hate going to work everyday. They create some of the stupidest things to do and expect you to be able to do them and run the store with 2 0r 3 people. They need to come work under the current conditions and see how they do.

[Ex Employee]

ODnTN wrote:

Well, the district I work for is very underhanded and I dont trust our DM at all. They dog you out for whatever you do, whether its good or bad. And when you're good, you still suck. It's gotten to the point where you hate going to work everyday. They create some of the stupidest things to do and expect you to be able to do them and run the store with 2 0r 3 people. They need to come work under the current conditions and see how they do.

Totally Scumbags!
I was very close to OD hq down here in S. Fla.
They would cut our hours on the floor and have Corparte people fill them on the sales floor.
My front end Mgr was always doing underhanded things to try and get PPPs.
Tech Services are just a scam!
It is a BRAND NEW PC!
You do not need to spend $100.00 to fix it!

[LoL_cry_moar]

You people just need reasons to complain right?

Managers do there jobs around here.

Tech services are there to help people who can't do that sort of thing themselves.

You need to be pushed a little at any job to keep it up, and some stores work fine with 3 people on front end.

Suck it up, OD isn't a bunch of "scum bags," you just need something to cry about until something else catches your ADD.

[LoL_cry_moar]

If you're also saying all the part timers get all the work, then that doesn't support the 20-80 theory since there are more part timers than managers on at a given time. Where do you people pull this junk out of?

[OD_Managers_Dad]

My son was a DPS manager with outstanding ratings, but was told his position was being eliminated and that he would be laid off. The day before his layoff was to take effect, he was "fired for cause." The reason given was that he "had violated the employee discount policy"--even his store manager said that he was unaware of the policy being referenced.
Does anyone have a PDF copy of the OD Employee Handbook that they could share? We need to research whether this was a published policy or not. Thanks in advance!

[LoL_cry_moar]

OD_Managers_Dad wrote:

My son was a DPS manager with outstanding ratings, but was told his position was being eliminated and that he would be laid off. The day before his layoff was to take effect, he was "fired for cause." The reason given was that he "had violated the employee discount policy"--even his store manager said that he was unaware of the policy being referenced.
Does anyone have a PDF copy of the OD Employee Handbook that they could share? We need to research whether this was a published policy or not. Thanks in advance!

The only "discount policy" I've heard of is using your own number while you're logged onto the register; one can be fired on the spot for that. Otherwise 1-800-GO-DEPOT haha

[Ex- OD Manager]

I worked in District 1 for many, many years, and I can tell you that the company’s moral standards have all but disappeared. Aside from a few good people most of them are just a bunch of hypocritical thieves. To make matters worst the company has been taken over by ex-Toy’s R’ Us employees, starting with Don, a district manager, all the way down to part-timers, these people just bring in their own employees (friends and acquaintances) from Toys and do whatever the hell they want without suffering consequences. Yeah, everyone else gets overworked and underappreciated. That was the company I left.

[Ex- OD Manager]

OD_Managers_Dad wrote:

My son was a DPS manager with outstanding ratings, but was told his position was being eliminated and that he would be laid off. The day before his layoff was to take effect, he was "fired for cause." The reason given was that he "had violated the employee discount policy"--even his store manager said that he was unaware of the policy being referenced.
Does anyone have a PDF copy of the OD Employee Handbook that they could share? We need to research whether this was a published policy or not. Thanks in advance!

Get in touch with the store manager. Office Depot needs to proof that your son violated the employee discount policy through Lost Prevention. Basically, they’re saying your son stole. That means Lost Prevention needs to be notified and approve the termination base on evidence. If this was not done and you can proof it the store manager can get into a lot of trouble by contacting the right people in HR and Lost Prevention.

[PGH Native]

Ex- OD Manager wrote:

I worked in District 1 for many, many years, and I can tell you that the company’s moral standards have all but disappeared. Aside from a few good people most of them are just a bunch of hypocritical thieves. To make matters worst the company has been taken over by ex-Toy’s R’ Us employees, starting with Don, a district manager, all the way down to part-timers, these people just bring in their own employees (friends and acquaintances) from Toys and do whatever the hell they want without suffering consequences. Yeah, everyone else gets overworked and underappreciated. That was the company I left.

"and I can tell you that the company’s moral standards have all but disappeared."
How true!
They used to talk about the "pickle video" in the context of customer service.
Now it's all about shaking any cash they can from any sucker that walks into the store.
PPPs and "Tech Service" no mater how much the customer objected.
We were made to come in Sunday at 8 am for a half hour "meeting" if we did not sell a given number of "Tech Services" during the week.
Desperate, Needy, and Greedy!
No way to run a business.

[OD_Managers_Dad]

Ex- OD Manager wrote:

<quoted text>
Get in touch with the store manager. Office Depot needs to proof that your son violated the employee discount policy through Lost Prevention. Basically, they’re saying your son stole. That means Lost Prevention needs to be notified and approve the termination base on evidence. If this was not done and you can proof it the store manager can get into a lot of trouble by contacting the right people in HR and Lost Prevention.

Thanks for that info. I should stress that my son wasn't fired by the store manager--he was totally blindsided by this too, as the order came from corporate. Not sure how much the district was involved, if at all.

[Ex- OD Manager]

OD_Mangers_Dad, Office Depot recently merged the Front End Manager position and DPS Manager as one since most DPS centers are in the front of the store. A lot of Front End and DPS Managers where terminated and now only one Department manager is responsible for both. As a former manager that has work in both management positions that’s a hell of a lot of work for one person. Your son was probably just a victim of these layoffs. I was in the company for 12 years and I can tell you corporate has a habit of calling all store managers to meetings where they basically give the names of the employees they would like to sacrifice to “company changes”.

[PGH Native]

Ex- OD Manager wrote:

OD_Mangers_Dad, Office Depot recently merged the Front End Manager position and DPS Manager as one since most DPS centers are in the front of the store. A lot of Front End and DPS Managers where terminated and now only one Department manager is responsible for both. As a former manager that has work in both management positions that’s a hell of a lot of work for one person. Your son was probably just a victim of these layoffs. I was in the company for 12 years and I can tell you corporate has a habit of calling all store managers to meetings where they basically give the names of the employees they would like to sacrifice to “company changes”.

I "knew" for about a week that I was going to be out of there, even with no hard evidence.
The ASM and another mgr. that I was friendly with started to act different around me.
It was kind of creepy.
Glad that I have moved on.
Sorry for those left behind.
The Depot has changed for the worse.

[Carl in Key Largo]

This is the saga of how I was fired for giving away my Worklife Rewards coupons.
I get those worklife reward coupons once sometimes twice a week in my E-mail. I would print them out and give them away to customers that looked like they where havig a hard time paying there bill. I gave away maybe 12 coupons at the most.
Around the end of March Richard our LP guy showed up at work. He said that he had secret hidden cameras set up and that he caught me giving away these coupons.
Apparently that was a firing offense so next thing you know I was out of a job. Keep in mind I was the last full time non-management employee left in the store.
OK that's life but then to add insult to injury they decide to appeal my unemployment compensation.
According to OD I was fired for stealing. Next thing you know I am on a conference call with the unemployment folks having a appeals hearing.
Here is the worst part. My boss Rene Chance under oath lied to the appeal judge. He told them that in the employee hand book it states that we can not give away the Worklife Reward coupons.
Talk about being a lowlife !!!
This guy commits perjury for Office Depot can you believe he would set himself up like that. All the B.S. Talk about ETHICS and this guy lies under oath.
I already posted this story a few weeks ago but it seems that someone deleted it.
The only reason that I hope they make it in Key largo is that alot of people depend on Office Depot to make a living.
Deep down inside I got a feeling that they just wanted to get rid of the last full timer. They havn't hired anyone else to fill my position, instead they hired 2 teenagers on part time hours.

[OD Manager]

OD_Managers_Dad wrote:

My son was a DPS manager with outstanding ratings, but was told his position was being eliminated and that he would be laid off. The day before his layoff was to take effect, he was "fired for cause." The reason given was that he "had violated the employee discount policy"--even his store manager said that he was unaware of the policy being referenced.
Does anyone have a PDF copy of the OD Employee Handbook that they could share? We need to research whether this was a published policy or not. Thanks in advance!

YOUR SON GOT FIRED FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH THE EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT POLICY. THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GIVE YOUR DISCOUNT TO SOMEONE OTHER THAN YOUR SPOUSE. OR IF YOU USE YOUR DISCOUNT WHILE BEING SIGNED ON TO THE REGISTER AT THE SAME TIME. JUST THE WAY IT GOES. EASIEST RULE TO FOLLOW!

[OD Manager]

Carl in Key Largo wrote:

This is the saga of how I was fired for giving away my Worklife Rewards coupons.
I get those worklife reward coupons once sometimes twice a week in my E-mail. I would print them out and give them away to customers that looked like they where havig a hard time paying there bill. I gave away maybe 12 coupons at the most.
Around the end of March Richard our LP guy showed up at work. He said that he had secret hidden cameras set up and that he caught me giving away these coupons.
Apparently that was a firing offense so next thing you know I was out of a job. Keep in mind I was the last full time non-management employee left in the store.
OK that's life but then to add insult to injury they decide to appeal my unemployment compensation.
According to OD I was fired for stealing. Next thing you know I am on a conference call with the unemployment folks having a appeals hearing.
Here is the worst part. My boss Rene Chance under oath lied to the appeal judge. He told them that in the employee hand book it states that we can not give away the Worklife Reward coupons.
Talk about being a lowlife !!!
This guy commits perjury for Office Depot can you believe he would set himself up like that. All the B.S. Talk about ETHICS and this guy lies under oath.
I already posted this story a few weeks ago but it seems that someone deleted it.
The only reason that I hope they make it in Key largo is that alot of people depend on Office Depot to make a living.
Deep down inside I got a feeling that they just wanted to get rid of the last full timer. They havn't hired anyone else to fill my position, instead they hired 2 teenagers on part time hours.

While it was wrong for your SM to lie, Loss Prevention had EVERY right to fire you for what you were doing. that is against the rules. let's say they were trying to get rid of the full timers or anyone for that matter......you should NEVER give them a reason to do so, and you might have been able to collect unemployment.(or you might still have your job) no matter what, you should always do your job and do it right. giving coupons to customers for their purchases that are not a WLR member, is indeed stealing. good luck and i hope things work out for you.

[PGH Native]

OD Manager wrote:

<quoted text>
While it was wrong for your SM to lie, Loss Prevention had EVERY right to fire you for what you were doing. that is against the rules. let's say they were trying to get rid of the full timers or anyone for that matter......you should NEVER give them a reason to do so, and you might have been able to collect unemployment.(or you might still have your job) no matter what, you should always do your job and do it right. giving coupons to customers for their purchases that are not a WLR member, is indeed stealing. good luck and i hope things work out for you.

available
"giving coupons to customers for their purchases that are not a WLR member, is indeed stealing."
Dude, you set the bar for this at GROUND level.
Office Depot spends tons of money sending out coupons by ALL means available.
Now you say it is a criminal act to give them to the public.
Are you some kind of brainwashed authoritarian victim?
Stockholm syndrome, maybe?
Office Depot used to be about "Customer Service".
They showed us the "pickle video" to drive home the point.
Take care of the customer who took the trouble to come into your store.
That is what "Carl" was doing.
That is what I did.
That is what Office Depot no longer does.
Office Depot wants to sell you a "Tech Service" on NEW PCs that does almost nothing except take your money.
It's a NEW PC!
It does not NEED TO BE FIXED!
Buying a "Tech Service" at Office Depot does guarantee that Office Depot will keep your money, because it is a "service" and a "service" cannot be returned.
Buying a "Tech Service" at Office Depot also prevents you from returning a PC to Office Depot because it has been altered.
As always if you complain loud enough you will sometimes win.
My best advice is not to buy a "Tech Service" at Office Depot.
For the record I also WON my unemployment appeals.