To think this manager was unprofessional and quite despicable?

[BonaDrag]

I was in a well known high street retailer today. The shop was pretty quiet. A man I presume was the area manager was shouting at the manager and young lad at the tills. He told the young lad he should forget about his university aspirations when he couldn't even arrange a window display and then laid into the manager for having a bad rota system, stock taking etc. he was not doing this discreetly, it was on the shop floor and he was very loud. The staff members had red faces from their obvious humiliation and I thought the man was taking it too far- ie: he had made his point and kept going. He went out of the shop and I approached the manager and said I thought the man was incredibly unprofessional and bullying. She apologised to me but I had to tell her she did not need to say sorry for the actions of her boss.

The whole thing was uncomfortable and I think unprofessional. WIBU to have said anything? For those of you who work in retail, please tell me this isn't accepted practice?

[Gretagumbo]

Not acceptable anywhere, if I witnessed bullying even as a customer, I'd email their head office.

[littlemog]

I would have got his name from the shop manager and emailed a very strongly worded complaint. Even if the boy was the worst employee in the world you don't treat people like this and especially not so in front of customers. You have to try and DO something about things like this or people get away with it.

[Screwfox]

Oh fgs move on

[waltzingmathilda]

Why didnt you approach the gobshite?

[littlemog]

I would have got his name from the shop manager and emailed a very strongly worded complaint. Even if the boy was the worst employee in the world you don't treat people like this and especially not so in front of customers. You have to try and DO something about things like this or people get away with it.

[CaptainKirksNipples]

I would complain to head office! Feedback both good and bad is normal, bullying is not...

[Calloh]

Oh that's horrible! I don't work in retail bit I wouldn't have thought they should be accepted practice anywhere.

Nice of you to say you thought it was out of order.

[EnglishGirlApproximately]

I'm a retail manager and have worked for someone like this. I didn't work there long. I have worked for two businesses where swearing and bullying are the norm - both high street names. Interestingly both are businesses whrich are still in the control if the founders and the culture is very much led by them.

[Gretagumbo]

I'd also recommend in the email that he needs to attend anger & stress management classes!

Love a bit of fairy godmother action x

[BonaDrag]

Hey screwfox, is that the best you can do? Ok it probably is.

I didn't approach him because he was mid rant and I usually don't interrupt that kind of thing. My concern was for the employees as I hate to see people being belittled like that.

[JamieandtheMagicTorch]

It was nice of you to approach the staff. It was unprofessional IMO

I don't see what harm an email to Head Office would do

[littlemog]

Sorry about double post! screwfox wtf?

[Gretagumbo]

Complaints are taken seriously when there is a threat to sales.....ie from a customer. Not gonna get too het up about this but don't we all have a duty to stamp out bullying?

I guess some would say not.

[LemonBreeland]

I would send an email to head office. It sounds awful behaviour.

[WafflyVersatile]

Maybe screwfox is the manager or follows this management style.


I'd also write to head office.

[BonaDrag]

Well I thought if a customer pointed out what he done was wrong, the staff may have felt a bit less shitty about the whole thing. As anyone who has been at the mercy of an arsehole boss will tell you, that shit hurts.

On reflection I SHOULD have pulled his glasses off and trod on them, before stomping on his toe and running out of the shop.

[Gretagumbo]

That would have been great to see but a letter of complaint will go on his personal file and he may be forced to change his ways

[DownstairsMixUp]

Maybe screwfox supports bullying at the workplace? Stupid comment.

I would report it to head office. After seeing my partner bullied at work and no one doing anything about it, defintely. The impact it can have on people's lives is awful and there should be tougher laws on bullying in the workplace.

[BonaDrag]

Ok ok ok ok mumsnet. I'll register my disgust with this man via email. Shall compose something now, my hyperbole lubricated by Pinot noir

[Musicaltheatremum]

You should complain. No one deserves to be treated like that. I once saw a poor girl in a supermarket reduced to tears just because she took a while to change a till roll. The complainer marched off leaving other customers to comfort her. Some people just don't get human relations.

[WafflyVersatile]

Don't go OTT or it won't be taken seriously. Tell them the facts and that he is a liability to them. Tell them you expect a response too.

[TiredDog]

I'd have tackled the bully tbh. My only hesitation might be that he'd be worse and take it out on the staff after I'd left - probably best to e-mail head office

[BonaDrag]

I'll compose something measured and factual tomorrow. Will update if:when I get a response.

[ilovesooty]

I'm glad you're going to do that. It's workplace bullying, and totally unacceptable.