Angry at how my partner is treated at work

[Krisjongun1]

He works for minimum wage (£8.91) in retail.
The place seems to have a high staff turnover and after 6 months there he’s now the longest-serving staff member excluding the manager.

He’s also good friends with the manager who’s the same age as him.

The next step up in terms of progression is a supervisor position. My partner seems to be doing well, has never had time off except for when he tested positive for Covid, whereas some of the other staff seem to ring in sick every other week.

He would like to be a supervisor but the manager keeps overlooking him. He’s made a 20-year old part-time girl a supervisor, and someone else. My partner is the only full-time staff member who isn’t a supervisor. I know it’s upsetting him, and I advised him to speak to his manager.
They are looking at getting him a pay rise which is great, but the manager said to him he will make him a ‘sort of’ supervisor.

I think they’re just taking the piss with him, they don’t want him to be a supervisor for whatever reason. It doesn’t seem to have much more responsibility, just a slight step up.
I said to him there are places where he’d be paid £9.50+, Aldi for example, and who’d give him progression. Not sure what else can be done really, does it seem like they’re treating him unfairly? Obviously it’s his choice and he likes working there

There is very little he can do in this situation apart from tell his boss exactly how he feels and if that doesn't get him anywhere start applying for other positions.

I think it’s difficult as he’s good friends with the boss, I mean he finds it difficult but he does need to.
It just seems unfair to make much younger, inexperienced people supervisors within a month of being there, not saying they aren’t capable but he’s been there longer and is experienced.

I think that in this case, the Manager, while being good friends with your partner, is worried that he is a potential rival.
I would be gently suggesting that he looks for another job, citing his experience and reliability...

If girls only 20 they only have to pay her £6.56 an hour. She's cheaper labour

The staff turn over tells you anything you need to know about the place!
In this case, it is proper shite. If he can jump to another retailer and he wants too, I would advice him to just do it.

Maybe he’s not cut out to be a supervisor?

It could be down to the hours/shift patterns too? Not saying that it’s fair but if the manager and your husband work the same shift pattern, there’s no need for a supervisor whereas the young woman might supervise weekends?

Is a supervisor the same job as his or does it need different skills? In most jobs now you don't get promoted due to purely length of time you have to show you've got or are capable of learning the skills for the next job. Is he good at leading or giving other people direction and organising or whatever it is the supervisor role needs?

He needs to ask for a meeting with his manager to find out why he hasnt been chosen, what he needs to achieve in terms of gaps or skills to be chosen, and how he can acquire these skills (eg he needs to show organisation, he can do this by sorting out the rota, or whatever). He needs to be clear about timescales and success criteria. He needs to be proactive about taking on more responsibility temporarily eg offering to shadow or pick up certain tasks.

If they have trouble hanging onto minimum wage staff, and he's the only one willing to stay in the company as minimum wage staff, why promote him?

The 21 yo will be cheaper
Her minimum wage is less than a 25+ year old so her supervisor pay rise still makes her ‘cheaper’ than your partner

I bet they don’t want a 25+ full time member of staff as a supervisor because of pay amounts and working rights issues

He should take the pay increase without the responsibility of being a manager. Management is not an easy position. He would have to cover if people call off and things like that. if he gets the raise he gets the money without having to take on extra responsibility.

Yab a bit u as there are plenty of retail jobs around at the minute and he isn’t forced to stay somewhere he isn’t appreciated. He will easily get a better job elsewhere so he just needs to go and do it.

You're not being unreasonable- of course you want your DP to do better, and earn more, and move up the ladder. However, maybe he just isn't cut out to be a supervisor in this shop.

Has he considered looking elsewhere? There is a lot of work around at the moment. My DD has just changed jobs for a £1.50/hour pay rise, she is earning more than your DP and she's only 19. Admittedly we are in an area with a ridiculous amount of vacancies, but I bet your DP could find something else if he looked.