Currys killed the Carphone Star
Pros
The team you work with and the customers who visit are the reason to get up in the morning. Good discounts on Accs and contracts but any additional benefits seem to be more aimed at Head Office employees. Carphone side still retains its one team ethic although slowly being eroded which is a shame
Cons
Work life balance is non existent and a 50+hr week is not unusual to get everything expected of you complete but over time is never considered. If you work extra you are told to amend your time card to stay within the 45 expectation. There is no give or take, you must complete 45 hrs to the minute! Bonus structure changes annually at least so you are always chasing your tail and adapting your approach to sales in order to achieve. Senior managers are very disconnected from reality. There is always panic when directors are on visits and a very fake picture is always given so they illusion is all is ok. It’s either this or face the wrath for not toeing the line. When directors visit all the outstanding maintenance works you have been trying to get fixed for months miraculously get done within a short space of time. Some senior managers had no people skills and would shout/swear and be very intimidating to managers if targets not reached or even for simple things like not calling him back immediately although you have a queue out the door because your team hours have been cut to the bare minimum. Some stores expected to run on 2 staff per day and are not allowed to leave the building at any point because of security reasons despite being entitled to a break which entitles them to do so. Progression is there but not based on ability only if you have an intimate or very close relationship with senior management. It doesn’t matter how good you are, how you perform or if you carry out extra unpaid work to help your region you won’t progress unless you’re cosy with your line manager. If you challenge the status quo, you go back down the pecking order. If you challenge anything to anyone above then you’re seen as disruptive. You’re lucky if you keep a regional manager for over 12 months, there is no stability and no apparent handovers when a new one manager starts so you’re always starting afresh. Mis-selling is prevalent in stores in order to achieve targets. This gets praise from above and progression is always considered first regardless of whether results have been achieved ethically. If mis selling is whistle blowed it is generally ignored as the stores figures are more important despite being legally regulated it is still ignored if the number is being achieved. If there is a quick buck to make by selling fraudulently it is acceptable because there is no challenge afterwards, as it’s never noticed or acted upon. Stores have internal theft problems but although concerns are raised are never chased if the store is achieving the numbers. I could go on.....
