Nicely said.

Unfortunately, most people are too self-centered and tend to over-value their needs and contributions. Definitely not a Loblaws issue; read the reviews of Sears, Hudson's Bay, and most of all, Shopper's Drug Mart. Angry, bitter people, wallowing in self-pity and resentment. I've worked with too many people like this - they don't understand their employer isn't responsible to make you feel appreciated, valued, special, or needed. Very few employers are like that, actually - and, if people were more objective, they'd see that lots of these "all my hard work and contributions - they don't even appreciate it" people leave companies all the time, and not a single one of those companies has been negatively impacted by their departure.

You have a (very rare) healthy, positive attitude - you are taking responsibility for your feelings and behaviour. Most ranters usually play victim - blaming someone else. It's a very sad way to live.

Yes, retail is a very challenging type of work - and everyone who can cut it deserves to feel proud of the fact they can - but at the end of the day, we are all responsible for what we get from it.

I enjoy my job at Loblaw. I like my coworkers. I just want to be paid a living wage. Maybe a sick day now and then, and some benefits would be nice too. Other than that, I'm happy.

I'm also happy at Loblaws and have worked there since 1984 and have seen the changes. The work environment today forces retailers to change to stay competitive and in business. But I can honestly tell you that Loblaws has made some really "bad" decisions that will push away a lot of good potential help . My plan was to retire at 55 and go part time for 3 or 4 days a week and with my experience and good attitude I would have been a positive asset to the company. But with the "new" rules pertaining to work availability ,wage structure, seniority has flushed those plans down the toilet. With so many people in this city carrying more than 1 part time job and trying to juggle schedules to pay the bills and then you have your employer call you and cancel your shifts.........what kind of respect is that? But when there is a unscheduled "walk" by head office big wigs, immediately everyone is called in to fill the shelf , lets make it look pretty and full for Galen, but screw the customer and hand out rain checks.

Yes,some people are self centered and you make your job what you want it to be, you make it as fun and enjoyable

I'm just glad I took my buy down money and am counting the days when I turn 55, if the company is still in operation.

Rater 317, I don't believe you actually "work" for Loblaws. If you do it's for a store that hasn't flipped and you are a new hire. Because there is absolutely no way you can have the opinion you do otherwise. Life before the flip and after the flip is entirely different. I understand that a company needs to evolve to stay competitive in today's market. But to treat their long time loyal employees the way they have is extremely disappointing.

The company use to be a great company to work for but not now. They have refer a friend forms in the lunch room. They are used as scrap paper because if you were to give this form to "a friend" after working there they would cease being your friend.

Working for a flipped store is entirely different then working for one that hasn't. I've been with this company 24 years.

It almost makes me go ....hmmm is rater 317 really Galen?

Obviously Rater 317 is a "yes man". I just left Loblaws after 23 years. All the customers loved me and a lot of them came in on my last day to congratulate me and say good-bye. Customers are not dumb and they soon realize what it is that's truely going on inside these flipped stores. Less workers, more empty shelves, too many new faces. We're upset because the "suits" show no respect to any other workers when they show up. My last week, the President, the Regional Manager and the District Manager were all in my store, walking past me at least a dozen times and you think one of them could at least acknowledge that I was working. Just a hello would be nice. This is the attitude that upsets everyone. Look at me, I'm a big shot, a "yes man", you're just a clerk, the help, don't talk to me. I'll have you know, I work as a "suit" as well in a non-union, full time position and chances are I'm making the same money as these "yes men", but yet I treat people with respect and as an equal.

If Loblaws (Great Foods) wants to fix their business, start by treating the employees like human beings and not as slaves or workers circa 1908.

I'm glad I'm out!!! Good Luck to everyone else who is stuck in a lose-lose situation

Yeah, because it's people's fault for not being happy little drones while being mis-treated by management, having hours slashed and having higher and higher workloads piled onto them. You may be "ashammed" of people who don't lie down and take it, but I'm ashamed of people like you who do.

I am so sick of hearing from those who think its the employees fault also. All you hear from this place is reduce shrink reduce shrink. Only to have management of departments not care, to do so. When the employee tries to change that, making sure packages get the right amount of product, they are not praised for their efforts, but suspended. The union or head office do nothing, to help. They commend the management for yelling on floor to this person, Management of department talks about employee, to customers, about the suspension. Nothing is personal or private. So now we should give this person a last chance agreement, or better yet terminate them. The employee just wants to be treated fairly not be harassed, and have their personal information personal. Also have both management held liable for their treatment of this employee. Shame on management for not having zero tolerance on this behavior by the department management and manager of this store. Shrink whats that!

Harassment whats that, Yelling or disciplined on floor level that's unacceptable behavior. Shame shame,

I have a little 'Insiders' tip (notice the pun to the Insiders report? Haha! Anyway...) for anyone that may be a Front-End clerk/Cashier.

You know that IPM chart, which ranks your items per minute (scanning rate)? The entire system is a sham set up by head office. Your front-end manager may or may not be aware of the scope of it, but here it is:

The IPM tracking system is set up and monitored by Head Office. All the data is passed down to the department managers. Once a store reaches and maintains the store target IPM for 2 to 3 weeks, head office increases it by X amount above your highest weeks IPM average.

How do I know this? Because I used to deal with IPM at the store level, and when things got fishy I started asking questions. Our average at christmas one year was ~21.5IPM, because we had all the top cashiers on. Head office then said, "new IPM goal, 21.74!" Being the second fastest store in the district, we contacted H.O. asking why our IPM was increased and no one else's was. The response paraphrased was "IPM goals are based on previous rates for each store. Once a rate is maintained, we set a new goal." Basically meaning, no matter how fast you are, it will never be fast enough.

Now answer me this H.O. How fast do you expect an employee to work, while following your stupid acronyms?

ACE

BOB

MITCH

LISA

STAR

THIS is where my resentment for Corporate Loblaws is from.

As far as the rater and the first commentor go, you sound like you are in the Brampton crystal palace rather than a store. When the melding of head offices went down a lot of good people were ushered out in favour of the Loblaws gang. Where has the stock price gone since? Head office is going back to the 60's way of the big stick method. Galen, a dog can only be beat so much.

Let's face it folks stores like Loblaws and most retail outlets are now placing the employee at the bottom of the list. It's all about maximizing profit for shareholds and the company.

Cutting hours, offering poverty wages etc. are things done on a regular basis and I am certain management could careless. It is not managements concern that you have to juggle your two other jobs just to get by. If you don't show up for that six hour shift, that wasn't previously scheduled, at a moments notice the shit will generally hit the fan.

Many managers are power tripping over employees and unsympathetic to their situation. It's all about how they look. I truly believe this is the situation in many many places and quite frankly it is disgusting and almost a crime how people are treated.

As someone noted, provide a living wage. That is a wage where you can pay the rent, bills , buy food and maybe have just a little left over at the end of the day.

This is the internet, this is where people often come to complain and try prove each other wrong. Oh well.

I'll keep my post short: I work in Loblaws Great Food as a bakery clerk. Most people there are nice, the managers are fairly competent and understanding. I'm nice to others and do my job properly, and I reveive friendliness and trust in return and we all get along.

I wouldn't be looking for a different part-time job if my current one wasn't located so far from my home.