My former employer has accidentally given me access to all their applicants for my former position (I am receiving all of the application emails for some reason, and have the ability to email/message the applicants back).
I would like to use this opportunity to add some “transparency” to the job listing and tell the applicants what it's like to work there. Here's what I have so far.
“Hello there!
As a former employee of *Shoe Store* as Assistant Manager, I'd like to add some much-needed transparency to this job listing.
TLDR: the pay is a lie, they lie about pay structure, the management is verbally abusive and inconsistent, they use sleazy sales tactics, they don't hold part-time employees accountable to their schedule.
1. The pay is a lie. You will rarely, if ever, make $1,000 in a week, except possibly during special sales weeks. The “minimum” on the listed range ($750) is actually a great week. And that was with working nearly 50 hours a week. You will regularly make $500-600 a week.
2. They lie about the pay structure. When I accepted the position, they did their best to make it sound like I would earn an hourly wage AND a commission. This is not true. You earn hourly OR commission, whichever is greater. As you can see on the job listing, commission is listed as “supplemental” but that is just untrue. (Definition of supplemental: provided in addition to what is already given)
3. The management is verbally abusive and inconsistent. They disguise this by saying “I'm just being honest” but honesty is not an excuse for being an asshole. They talk down on employees constantly and rarely give positive reinforcement. Also, the manager will constantly allow you to come in to work at a later time than is recommended, and then when another manager comes to visit completely change his expectations and require you to show up early.
4. They require you to use sleazy sales tactics and manipulate customer's emotions. You are “required” to sell a certain amount of specific items called “care products” (shoe cleaner, brushes, polisher, water-proofing spray). You will be told to push these items on customers at all times, and if they say they aren't interested, you are taught to manipulate the customer by saying things like “if you care about your purchase at all, you really need this water-proofer to keep them clean.” Hint: they don't need water-proofer 99% of the time.
5. Part-time employees seemingly work only when they want to. It matters very little what the schedule says for part-timers, if they don't want to come in they won't. There will be little to no punishment for this, even on the 10th, 20th, or 30th time. This will have an effect on your schedule, and make some days much harder than they need to be.
Please use this information to make a better, more informed decision.”
Any way I can get in trouble for doing this? Anything I should know/do before sending out these emails?