Buckle up buckaroos because this is gonna be a long post. Also, using a burner account just incase.
I know there are a managers who are good leaders, I've known a lot of them in my 12+ years of working different customer service jobs, but they are truly few and far between compared to how many childish ones I've worked under.
I worked at Harris Teeter full time for 7 years. I've worked in almost every department and held a key carrier position for 3rd shift grocery. I was a trusted associate to the point where department managers and assistant managers trusted me enough to vent to me about how nasty their bosses were, and I ALWAYS kept that confidential.
During the pandemic I started taking my mental health seriously. I was near my rock bottom. I was addicted to marijuana and took leave of absence in 2020 to get myself together. When I went back to work, I was fortunate enough to drop down to part time as my husband was bringing in more income. I dropped down to part time to continue my journey to better mental health.
I eventually became a floater, where I would go to whatever department needed help that day. I was completely sober, but I still struggled with bad days with my overall mental health. I came to an agreement with two of the assistant managers that I could basically come and go as I needed for my shifts. I told them there may be times where I will not come in for a week or two, but I will show up to ensure I do not get removed from the system, and they agreed. I always provided doctors notes to ensure them I wasn't bullshitting the severity of what I was going through. I should have gotten it in writing, but alas, I did not. I guess no one informed the current store manager because one day I went in and he fired me on the spot.
I called HR to file a complaint and after the investigation they agreed with his decision, but I could reapply and be rehired if I wanted to in the future.
Well, I decided to re-apply. I could use some pocket money to spend so it won't cut into our budget. My store is DESPERATE for associates. They're drowning. I go in to talk to one of the assistants I'm close with and she told me that they will not hire me back because the store manager doesn't like me. That's it. No other reason. I only worked evenings/nights when the current store manager was gone (he refuses to close LOL). He doesn't know me or my work ethic, but decided to fire me that day regardless of the fact that I have been at that store for 7 years. He's being petty because I fought back to try and keep my job and tried to get HR involved.
This isn't the only thing that's happened in this store. We had one assistant manager (40m) who was sexually involved with a minor (16-17f) and all they did was move him to a different store. I had a past store manager who told me I was going to hell because my husband and I (at the time not married) sleep in the same bed. That same store manager told a co-worker of mine her mother got cancer because she didn't pray enough/devote herself to God. Any time I had an emergency, they gave me a hard time about leaving early. When I was physically ill from my anxiety, despite doctors notes, they still threatened to write me up. They made us stay 2, 3, 4 hours past clock out and threaten to write us up/fire us if we didn't stay. I could go on and on.
Things are gonna get interesting, however. The assistant manager that informed me of why the current store manager doesn't want to hire me back has asked me to help her get him transferred to another store. She has asked me to call in anonymously because she doesn't trust anyone else there. I do not know the story yet, as she asked me to come back in later tonight so she can tell me what happened, but whatever it is I'm gonna do it. I'm tired of seeing these store managers abuse their power over other associates. It's so ridiculous that this store is so desperate for help, and I'm willing to help ANY department, and he said no.
TLDR: Harris Teeter sucks. Retail sucks. Managers are petty. I hope I can make this store manager crash and burn.