Make 3 errors and you’re out during retail training/probation period??

[LuckySeventhWave]

In my probation period. Retail. Never worked in retail before mall completely new to me.

I’ve made two till errors so far during my training period in the first two weeks, I’m barely on the till during a shift anyway, about 20 minutes out of every shift, mostly I’m floor work :

not noticing an unauthorised credit card sale on the PDQ machine and signing it off (apparently till was logged onto my security code - which is on a bit of paper next to the till as I’m training) so it must have been me not other staff.

and having a special needs child (this is relevant) hitting the enter key on my till twice making an extra sale go through, so that tills didn’t balance later. The mum didn’t remove child (till is accessible to unlicensed at the side where they stood) and I was polite and friendly and firm to child but wasn’t going to swat him away or physically remove his hands as that just isn’t acceptable nowadays and probably a liability of some sort anyway)

Another staff member witnessed this incident, but I neglected to inform a manager, so an investigation has been opened.

One more mistake during this training period and I have a disciplinary manager told me.

Does that mean I will likely be dismissed after probation period if I make another mistake? probabtion ends after the busy Christmas period.

Bloody typos

I would have a conversation with your manager about the second incident and reassure them you'll let them know if something like this happens again. As a rule of thumb anything where the till/stock levels may not balance up is going to be taken seriously with management as they don't know you yet.

The first mistake is a biggie, but the type of thing I wouldn't be surprised if a new member of staff did this once during probation. I'd just be looking for them to show awareness that they need to be more careful going forward. If you can show you're keen to learn and asks for help when needed they're likely to be more willing to give you a second chance that if you don't speak up. Big stores are likely to be more rigid about a 3 strikes and you're out policy. Good luck

The second thing you need to chat with your manager about. But I’ve trained newbies in a food retail environment and some of the mistakes are totally avoidable and usually caused by people not focusing or trying to befriend other members of staff instead of really paying attention - it’s not rocket science you just need to give it 110% focus until it becomes second nature. And if you’re not sure, ask.

It probably depends on where you work. I made more than three mistakes during my probation period in retail, but only one was a significant amount (and actually wasn't me but rather a new girl who was using my code until they got her account set up). I was nowhere near a disciplinary, they were very much of the opinion that it happens and you deal with it. But if your work have a three strikes policy then you need to speak to them about what has happened so far.

And I’d approach it like ‘I’m really concerned with how accessible the tolls are to the public. I think putting a sign up saying ‘please don’t allow children to touch our tills, thank you’ would be a good idea. What do you think?’ This comes across as a person with a brain instead of ‘ughh there was nothing I could do! It’s not my fault!’ Which is true but there’s nothing more annoying than a trainee who takes zero responsibility for stuff

Tills*

@Footiefan2019 you’re absolutely right. Colleague on other till said I dealt with incident well, but I’ve already suggested about barricading till area and they’re like, ‘the company won’t do it, says it obscures shopfloor view’ (it doesn’t).

They’re happy to let hundreds of pounds of stock shoplift regularly by insisting on placing these expensive items by the front doors (almost outside) so either the stock loss is negligible or they’re blasé.

I’m quickly learning they’re not a great company to work for and I’m a lifetime customer fan!

There’s some bizarre attitudes in retail honestly especially big chains!!