Is stealing time the same as stealing money?

I would say yes! Because you are stealing from the company insofar as not doing a job that the company are paying you to do.

I work with several women who think nothing of skivving. It has gotten so bad that it is now part of their shift. Rather than serve customers on a till, which is what we get paid to do, these women will do anything except sit on a till. On the rare occassions they do, they only do so for very short periods of time. And what is more annoying is that the manager knows because she has been told by lots of different people who work on different shifts that this is the case. But instead of reprimanding her she gives her more jobs to do. So this one woman milks the jobs so that she doesn't have to spend time sitting on a till.

I really don't understand supermarket managers - why are they so afraid to become unpopular. Surely, the name of the game is to promote teamwork, honesty and making profits? So who can you go to? Is there anybody who could help. Please tell me if you know of someone - I personally don't think there is anyone in the store who cares - including the managers.

ID please

A story appeared in today's tabloids that told of a Checkout Operator in Tesco's who asked for ID when a young girl was buying a quiche. I think that was a case of common sense gone wrong because I could think of nothing in a quiche that would require the buyer to be over 18 - having said that we have prompts on out tills when customers buy The Sunday Times. I don't know what that is about?

However, while age ID is an important issue it does require common sense.

I had a case a few months ago where I ID'd a young looking chap because I thought he looked young. He gave me a hard time and I called a Duty Manager who disgarded what I told him about the incident and made me look a complete idiot. Needless to say, I was so upset and would have left if I could afford to leave. It was terrible. No back-up. Never again.

I suppose I thought, for a fraction of a second, that management especially senior management would back me up - silly woman I am!

Stop! Wheelchair thief about!

I was horrified to hear that a disabled colleague has had her wheelchair stolen while she was at work.

The chair was positioned outside her pod because of its size. Someone, it is thought, probably a local kid had taken the chair valued at £1,000 and dumped it in the local woods. To date it has not been found.

The large superamaket chain has asked their employees to donate £2.50 each to buy her another chair. While I am a supporter of those in need of help, I object to paying out anything when the supermarket in question has just announded £millions in profits. Surely the company and company items are insured against theft on this level. I can't believe that the company will not pay up - they can afford it.

This issue of who pays for the replacement wheelchair has divided employees because most people think that the company, with or without insurance, should give this poor girl the £1K she needs for another wheelchair.

Just another example of what the big supermakets think of their employees i.e. not much - you are only there to make us a lot of money.

Ice is bad news for checkout operators

Just heard a report from Justin King CEO Sainsburys saying that there was no panic buying in his chain. The empty shelves are a result of customers buying extra because of the bad weather. Does he realise that extra is "extra shopping trolleys" piled to the hilt with anything that may not be available if the bad weather continues? Things like: milk, bread, tinned food, fresh food, chilled food, toilet paper, coffee, tea, cereals - basically most things that Sainsburys sell.

When he was speaking on the telly he looked quite tanned so I am assuming that he had been away to somewhere hot. Therefore, he would not know the extend of deplication in the stores coupled with the problems lorry drivers have had getting through to stores. However, it is not just the smaller stores, it is the larger ones as well.

A further problem is the lack of staff. Most staff are not able to make it in and according to Justin they have a month to make up their time or take it as holiday.

My problem is that when the government and motoring agencies advise against travelling we, the staff who serve customers, should NOT be penalised if we are unable to get to work.

As the unions have said, the problem will be that staff will not be motivated to help out ever if the bigger chains don't relent and give way. These organisations should not be allowed to have their cake and eat it too - look at the vast profits they make.

Snow Shopping

Here is my guide for shopping in the snow!

1, The best time to go out is at the sign of the first snow flakes.

2. Have a plan.

3. Think of the things you can't live without . . .
- bread
- milk
- vegetables
- fresh meat
- toilet paper
- spirits like whisky, run, volka, gin, booze

4. You should have parked as close to the store as possible.

5. Keep in minds that you may be snowed in for at least one day, so be prepared.

6. Don't worry about sliding all over the road.

7. Be prepared for hargy bargy!

8. Snow brings out the worst in people! Brilliant!

Why is Christmas so depressing?

The day after Boxing Day is always the most depressing day of the year. You spend too much on Christmas presents that no body wants, uses or is interested in then you spend the rest of the year worrying about how you are going to pay back the money you spend on presents. And if that wasn;t bad enough all those pounds in weight you put in. Everything revolves in losing those pounds and inches. Everything. When you don't loose the weight you gained in a matter of minutes you become depressed.

Gyms are crowded with people who remind you how fat you are. So do you want to lose weight or not?

January is always a "months of Mondays" - everyday is a Monday. Nothing happens. Days are long. Easter is a long way off. It's just everything.

Last minute Christmas shopping

Why is it that shops and supermarkets are heaving with customers to the point where it seems like the end of the world. Supermarkets and food shops are only closed for one day Christmas - and even then you could probably find a shop somewhere that is open.

I don't know about you but by the end of Christmas day the last thing I want is food. And the last place I want to go is a shop or supermarket. I have bought too much, feel bloated, overweight and uncomfortable. All I can think of is how much weight I put on and how long it will take me to get rid of it.

What has happened to buying one thing for each person on your list and making the most of the day rather than trying to outdo each other buying presents nobody wants and that will be forgotten about in a matter of hours.

What has happened to the our society? We have never had it so good, even in this recession but we are not happy, in fact, we are more depressed than ever.

Anyway,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - I hope that 2010 will be a happy and healtby year for you and your families.