To put a complaint in about manager at sainsbury's.

[MeDadMeDad]

I was working a night shift last night at sainsbury's, the night manager walked up to me in the Isle I was working and said he is going to conduct a colleague search on me and to empty my pockets.
I said to him he will not be doing a search on me as I have never been asked to empty my pockets and be searched in all the years I've been there, I told him you haven't asked anyone else and also I haven't taken anything.
He said he wasn't accusing me of anything it's just procedure.
I told him again he will not be doing a search and I will not be emptying my pockets and if he has a problem with that to go through a disciplinary procedure. Aibu? Should I put a complaint in against him?

There are certain things you are allowed to carry on you. When I started retail, it was locker key, pen, cutter and handkerchief or tissues. If they knew you had a sore throat/cold, you were able to carry cough sweets and if purchased from the shop, receipt was required. I usually bought Superdrug's own.

Then able to carry bank card, discount card and phone. The phone was used for work purposes - helping a customer enquiry via the work apps as could check if larger stores stocked a certain line etc.

It is part of working in a retail environment that you do have searches.

The only time you could complain if you are asked every single shift to have a search, whilst your colleagues only get searched once every 3 weeks.

I know my work does this so my work bag doesn't contain private letters or a bloody dildo. It has medication but the manager barely looks at it and period products are normal.

You know they're not rummaging around in there? They're not even allowed to put their hand into your bag. I either take everything out of my pocket, generally my box cutter and my lip salve or just open my bag and they look in.

i work at Waitrose we have to have receipts for everything we buy and can get our bags searched on way out .

This was standard when I worked at Sainsburys Saturday job in the early 80s. You could be stopped at any time on the premises. You also were not supposed to carry cash on the shop floor.

Yes this.

I know searches are standard but there are strict procedures for them.

Its normal for random searches always have been.
Ive not had a problem with it they ask i just empty my pockets no big deal.

I worked in Tesco's and it was in our contract that they could check your pockets, bag or car. I worked there a year and it happened maybe twice in that time.

It's standard in supermarkets all over the country. I think you've made yourself look guilty by refusing to be honest . I'm not sure what you could complain about?

You there OP? Is this helping?

Thank you for all your responses.
I've managed to read a copy of policy and procedures and it seems that a manager can request a colleague search where I work.
The majority of you have voted iabu.
The thing that upset me was I've been there 6yrs and never had a search on me before with previous manager. This manager only started 4 weeks ago so is new to the job. I felt a bit worried like he was accusing me of theft or something.

I work in retail and random staff searches are within the company policies so I suspect it is in Sainsbury’s policy. Have a look in your employment handbook and if it’s not then escalate it

It's pretty standard for Sainsbury's. I had my pockets checked randomly.

It seems like your previous manager wasn't doing their job properly. Your manager isn't accusing you of anything, he's doing his job properly.

Indeed! I did nights for two years and was searched half a dozen times. It was no big deal.

He should have done a better job and explaining what he was asking and why but he was perfectly within reason to do so.

This is probably why you were asked. Not because you looked suspect, but because he was new and wanted to follow procedure. It’s not personal. If I were you, I’d loop back and just say ‘sorry, you caught me off guard, not used to this but since read up the policy, let’s move forward’

I have been working there for 5 years and they are (technically) supposed to do that every week but I think in the last 6 months I must have been checked twice. It is usually very straightforward, I think now that you raised the issue, they might look at you more closely, most of time they don't care they just have to do it and really don't want to find anything (loads of paperwork).
You can complain but I don't think it will lead anywhere apart from antagonising your team and it would be a shame as night shift are usually very close to eachother.

I used to get picked on at the end of the shift persistently by one manager for a bag check when I was working in retail as a student, he didn't seem to pick on the others so much, so one time I actually did put a giant floppy penis a house mate had bought me as a joke in my bag.... the look on his face was priceless.

I worked in retail for years, it’s standard practice. I’ve been asked to remove my shoes, empty my handbag - including personal items! Take all receipts out of my purse, open the back of my phone, lift my top to show I didn’t have cash stuffed in my bra (all on separate occasions of course).

Goes with the job.

Fucking brilliant!! 🤣🤣

Really common in retail we have random pocket checks, bag checks, locker checks and car checks. You've made yourself look really guilty by refusing

I’m actually quite annoyed because my standard issue work trousers doesn’t have pockets big enough for my dildo. It’s unfair that other people can take theirs to work in their pockets and I can’t.

So what do you do on your breaks 🤔

Just read my private letters, they’re the only thing that can fit, sadly