To think it’s ignorant to say “I’ll just work in Tesco”

[atmylowest34]

So I went to dinner with a friend who has according to her a demanding job (not saying she doesn’t but I don’t work in that field and have no experience of it).

And she’s said well I’ve considered quitting and just getting a job in Tesco instead but then I’d just get bored.

Aibu to think that it’s ignorant to think working in a supermarket is an easy and relaxing job? I did it as a student and it was horrible, people shouting at you, complaining, having personal comments said about my looks (both negative and positive), hours weren’t great. And that was all before covid and cost of living crisis.

I think you are over-analysing this.

It is simply a common way to express that you wish you had different job with less responsibilities.

It doesn't mean looking down on people who work in retail.

I have heard friends say that in the past ''I would rather work at M&S, Tesco or whatever''.

I am also fed up with office work and all the nonsense that comes with it (unrealistic targets, constant changes of priorities, endless meetings) and the idea of instead doing a shift where you know exactly what is expected of you and then just go home can be quite appealing.

I worked in retail for 2 years when I was a student and I have good memories of it.

I've got to say, that wasn't at all clear to me either.

I thought you were saying that higher pay correlates with greater responsibility, which it obviously doesn't particularly.

I think she just doesn't know what it's like, that's it. I wouldn't sweat it too much. I agree, work in retail is horrible though.

I think people are just overthinking and looking for offence in some cases here.
I worked in tesco even and I still moaned at one job that I might bloody well go back because I didn't have to worry that much

I work in tesco and I hate it when all
My high flyer friends say this! My job can be so demanding, rude customers, not great pay and working all the holidays and times when others are off. It makes me feel so worthless

Never feel worthless working in retail
If nobody did these jobs then nobody would be able to shop and it wouldn't open
Hold your head up high

I worked at Asda stacking shelves. It's physically demanding but it is mentally boring.

My first job after school was a Management Trainee with Sainsburys. I only took it as the pay was good and they offered cheap accommodation in London and I wanted to get away from the boring little town I grew up in. I loved it. The hours were long but it was a hands on practical job with fast promotion. I was responsible for a department with a team of staff, i was moved to several different shops with each promotion and by the age of 23 was the deputy manager of a medium sized supermarket. But, stress free? It was constant pressure to increase sales, reduce wastage, maintain store appearance and the 101 things that happen everyday. All the things that made it interesting also made it stressful. The more senior management managed by fear, and the last straw was when my store manager got such a bollocking, in front of staff and customers, from the area manager that he collapsed with a suspected heart attack. I left within a month. Never regretted leaving but what I learnt stayed with me all my working life, including 30 years running my own business.

I'm in my 50s and worked in Tesco as a student. It was one of the most challenging jobs I've ever had. Physically exhausting, even though I was young. Colleagues great, customers mostly nice, although I imagine that's changed. I've huge admiration for anyone who works in retail.

But, stress free? It was constant pressure to increase sales, reduce wastage, maintain store appearance and the 101 things that happen everyday. All the things that made it interesting also made it stressful.

I think it's pretty clear when people say this, they don't mean management roles.

Shelve stacking is in stress free compared to management. If your store is not hitting targets, you are not the one getting chewed up, you don't have to worry if another employee breaks something or god forbod injures themselves etc. You come in, do your job, leave.
While rude customers are not easy, they fuck off in 10 min. Not like higher management chewing your arse off when your shop isn't preforming as well as their targets.

I worked in Tesco as a student. It was fucking awful. Rude people, aggressive people, it taught me that I have no interest in any kind of customer service.

It sounds more as though she's using Tesco as an example of a 9-5 type job where you can do your hours then leave it behind you when you go home.

I used to work in a role where taking work home was expected, doing unpaid overtime was the norm and taking a full lunch break was frowned upon. I sometimes thought I'd like to swap it for a retail job or similar where when your shift ends, so does your working day.

Personally that's what I would assume she meant.

I think you are over thinking it and being disingenuous to your 'friend'

it's horses for courses. She probably referring to doing a shift and leaving all pressure and annoyances at the door when you walk out, and not being the one responsible if something goes wrong.

I work for one of the big 4, picking peoples online shops, and it is exactly what I wanted and needed.

Previous jobs were physically and mentally challenging, plus so much responsibility, the constant deadlines which couldn't be missed because it had such an impact. some days just finding time to go for piss was almost impossible.

Now I have set hours which are the same days every week, I can add extra days or more hours on the days I work when I want, I have never had a bad reaction if I've been asked for overtime and I haven't wanted to do it. You get set amount of time for breaks and everyone takes them, when convenient for them, want your half an hour break after only working and hour? sure go for it.....

Yes I start work 4am, but have been offered a change to my contract to later starts if I want it, but I actually like my 4am start! less customers about and I can put my earphones in and listen yo music for a few hours of my shift.

There is a pick speed target which for the first 2 weeks I thought was impossible to hit and hated it, but now actually I pick way over the target. So much so I occasionally do stop for a short catch up with a other staff and still be well over target. unfortunately not everyone is as fast and has that luxury.

I deliberately will not take interest in how things are organised or run, as I know I'd get frustrated and start sticking my oar in and piss people off. 😆 There is plenty of scope for promotion and proper careers within the company. I would never look at becoming a line manager or anything else though, because that's were the pressure and stress starts, and it looks ugly.

Application process means they actually have no idea what your work history is, after 30+ years of working I could have easily applied for a management or admin role there. They had no clue so there was never a "oh she's over qualified to pick peoples shopping"

My managers are lovely, although really really stressed and one gets grumpy through stress but it's not personal and I usually just invite them to have moan and off load then give them a sympathetic smile, and go back to my picking.

The wage is low but above minimum wage, so if you can manage with a pay cut for less stress, then yes it can be as your friend thinks.

But it's not for everyone, there is a high turn over of new starters probably because of the pick speed and the being on your feet all day, the ones that stick around and manage to hit the target will then stay for quite a while some will train in other departments.