First appraisal in new job... was this fair & reasonable? Or petty?

[alltoomuchrightnow]

Am in my probation period for new job (retail) started end of May, and had my first appraisal early
I co run a shop... it's a job share, part time
I have fixed days but last week worked different day at very short notice

I stayed behind after shop shut, as i always do to have a tidy up, sweep floor etc
I ummed and ahhed re four cups left in the staff kitchen sink and seeing the clock, left them ( I don't drink hot drinks and use cups myself, but will often wash up any left ones) It's not like they were out in the shop, this never happens. Sods law one of the trustees (it's a charity shop) brought in some other trustees for a visit that night after I'd left.
A few days later I had my appraisal. This trustee was one of the three people doing it. I have been warned she is OCD (colleagues words) re tidiness. I'm very big on cleanliness (they don't even have a hoover! I often lug my one in from home!) and keep the shop very tidy , as I said, stayed behind for a tidy up. I do tidy up the back rooms too but not as fussy as the front that customers see..it's a busy working shop. I've worked in several charity shops and it's by far the tidiest I've ever worked in so I have strived to keep it that way
Anyway, this trustee had been offhand with me on the phone every time we'd spoke prior to appraisal so i knew something was up. In the appraisal the others said the shop looked beautiful, its best ever. Clean, well organised, lovely displays etc.... they'd had great feedback from customers and staff about me. Also that even though lately they've had to shut on two days a week , the figures had been up since I started, as if we were still on a full week.
Then this trustee laid into me for a full five minutes (at least) over these cups in the sink and one single (unused) tissue left under the till (where customers couldn't see). She was actually angry with me (I do mean furious!) and said she was so embarrassed when arrived with these visitors, re the cups in the sink ( I had no idea they were coming). She said I would have to have my probation period extended if this kind of behaviour carried on.
My branch manager actually looked embarrassed by all this but didnt say anything.
After the appraisal, branch manager said 'don't think, that we don't think that you are not doing an amazing job'. But I felt completely poo, as I'd had a proper school girl telling off from the trustee re tissue and cups. This trustee left without saying bye to me whereas in past we've got on well.
I've never an appraisal where someone actually laid into me so i found it really unsettling. I'm used to goals and targets being set ie for weak areas, but never had actual criticism. Yet they couldn't criticise anything with the actual shop, takings, management of staff etc etc. Branch manager said I had a flair and was an asset and listed the reasons why they had taken me on
Apparently this woman does have a real, serious problem with tidiness. I realise this now. I am not being overdefensive, the shop and back areas really were tidy apart from the two things mentioned, and it is a busy shop with donations constantly being dropped off, lots of rubbish etc. I actually take all the rubbish home with me too as to give the charity more money we don't pay anyone to deal with it.
Colleague said , 'ah but they have to find at least one neg'. Do they though? I 've had constructive criticism in appraisals from other jobs, and never been called untidy. And although i'm not ocd re tidiness i'm close to it re dust, dirt etc. If an appraisal is good, why do they have to search for a negative and then make that the biggest feature of the appraisal?

Because she's not professional. Have a word with your branch manager. Explain your side of things, partic with using your own Hoover etc, and ask her for guidance on what to do with that diatribe of shite feedback.

Even if they have to find one negative, there are different ways of presenting it than totally laying into someone - that's just unprofessional, and poor people management. It is quite common, though (see also: some of my managers.) Try not to take it to heart - it's clear the branch manager and others are really pleased with how you're doing, and they presumably see more of what you do. It sounds like it's generally going really well, so focus on that, and as has been suggested above, talk it over with your branch manager.

That's really crap. A performance appraisal is not the appropriate place to bring up single issues like that.

That sounds out of order. Since they think you are such an asset, maybe you should suggest that this criticism is making you feel you need to look elsewhere. And watch them fall over themselves to keep you, hopefully!
You have done nothing wrong.

It is really crap of the woman. And also your boss for letting her go on about it. I had something similar with a volunteer in my appraisal criticising me for something unfairly. 15 years later I'm still working there and everyone knows the volunteer is 'one of those people' but it didn't help at the time!!

Probably not helpful but if it were me I'd stop bringing my own Hoover in and taking the rubbish home, you on the other hand are not a charity!

The woman is a bitch and really quite unreasonable.

Ask them to get a hoover for the shop and mention that yours hasn't been PAT tested.
They won't be buying you a new one when you've worn yours out will they?

Also ask them what they would like you to do with future rubbish.

Good luck.

Make a sign for the hot beverage drinkers "please wash and tidy your cup away, xxx doesn't like them being left over night"

An appraisal isn't the time to bring something up that you haven't been informed about previously and of course a negative doesn't need to be found, if someone is doing well praise them!

I had no idea charity shop staff had to go through appraisals and the such.

What a cow!!

I'd be tempted to write it up in the form of...

"Dear branch manager and trustee

Thank you for my recent appraisal, during which, branch manager, you said blah blah blah (add all the stuff about the shop bring clean, tidy, takings up, etc), and trustee, you said blah blah blah (and note exactly the detail about four cups in a sink and a tissue behind the counter) and said that due to this, my probation period may need to be extended.

Thank you both for this feedback. I'd be grateful if, when you have come to a decision about my probation period being extended, you notify me in writing, clarifying the reasons behind your decision.

With regards to continuing the upkeep of the appearance and cleanliness of the shop that you, branch manager, were so happy with, I've regularly been bringing in my own hoover from home, and have also been taking rubbish home to dispose of. I am now unable to continue to do this and would be grateful if appropriate provisions could be made.

Kind regards".

Then start looking for another job. Your branch manager clearly has no backbone.

Is cleaning part of your job description? If it isn't then don't touch it again- if asked why say that you have no intention of being treated like this again.

yes Dragon, this is the second charity shop I've managed (last one was a different charity and way way stricter in all ways except the appraisals.. yet never did I have a neg appraisal with them..that was saved for the shop audits and mystery shopping!) Retail is retail, charity or not. It's treated the same as a normal shop/business. except in a normal shop you don't get donations of crusty undies and used sex toys
Cleaning and tidying is definitely part of the job description in terms of keeping the shop looking good (it always does apart from like now, school hols and it becomes a bit of a 'creche' as toys get thrown over every inch of floor! but yes we do clear these up all day long!) and yes we have to keep 'back of house' as clean and tidy as we can but obviously we have donations coming in, then being sorted and going back out. However, I would be allowed to ask volunteers to do ALL the cleaning and tidying. We all tidy, but it's rare I'll ask them to clean as don't think it's fair (view i share with my job share colleague) as they're not getting paid for it. They are all pretty good at washing up their own cups so this was not the norm and just sod's law! Myself and colleague do the cleaning but often a volunteer will pass a duster around. But we do mopping, toilet etc.
This woman's standards are obsessive and unrealistic. Back of house is like Buckingham Palace compared to all the shops I've worked in. Also compared to the charity shop next door to ours. I was warned about her so I guess I'll never win.
I don't feel I can bring it up privately with branch manager now as would feel i was making an issue of it. But it does niggle me, as you can imagine. In less than three months since I started, their takings are way above target despite having lost an extra day of business each week. BM says shop never looked better but she won't say a word to this trustee. BM is paid staff and trustee is not but trustee is like BM's boss too, she is guarantor to the shop
What upsets me is that it could mean probation period is extended. If that is the case, I will definitely speak up.
I just wish she'd brought the visitors in when the shop was open so could see us all working hard, front and back, and could see what tight ship we run . Going late on a Monday night is no true picture of the place. A few cups left in sink is massively embarrassing for her, wish i had that little to worry about! I had stayed behind to tidy up so I'm sure would have been sacked on spot if I 'd left it as it was! Even then, it was v v tidy compared to any charity shop i've ever been in (i've worked in loads as used to be a cover manager)
Re rubbish, paid staff deal with all that, that's in job description, that's why have to have cars, we take it home or to dump

I've worked in so many office (contracting) where a tidy kitchen is a 'thing' for someone management level that I automatically tidy it now , sigh, even tho the cleaners also do it daily: but I wouldnt bring my own hoover in, thats above and beyond! Also, under Elf n Safety its not been tested so doesnt have safety sticker required! Yes, its mean spirited IMO, but 'there is always one' like that wherever i have worked and I try to identify them quickly and not give them ammunition. She should give heads up re visitors tho, courtesy and only professional to do so.