We hope you enjoy your holidays, we'll be back next week and unveil our new 2009 plans.
Until then we hope the recent gains by BJ's [BJ's Wholesale Club - up 11.5%] are being reflected upon you, the workers who deserve the credit.
Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
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BJ's has seemed to survive the holidays and reports that sales are up. Meanwhile at their Danvers location certain potentially discriminatory practices are taking place.
ReplyDeleteBJ'S has had MANY locations with practices that DO NOT follow company policy and procedure AND
ReplyDeletepractices that border on violating
state and federal law.
"Anonymous said...
ReplyDeleteBJ'S has had MANY locations with practices that DO NOT follow company policy and procedure AND
practices that border on violating
state and federal law."
how so?
Let's see HOW SO????????
ReplyDelete1.Using the classification game to skirt the overtime issue for managers
While most SENIOR managers are exempt from FLSA overtime regulations, the rest of the management team IS NOT
2.Sexual Harassment Issues
Straight and Gay
3. Misleading injured workers about Workers Compensation
4. Wrongful Termination
Shall I Continue ?????????
"Let's see HOW SO????????
ReplyDelete1.Using the classification game to skirt the overtime issue for managers
While most SENIOR managers are exempt from FLSA overtime regulations, the rest of the management team IS NOT
2.Sexual Harassment Issues
Straight and Gay
3. Misleading injured workers about Workers Compensation
4. Wrongful Termination
Shall I Continue ?????????"
Please continue.
"Using the classification game to skirt the overtime issue for managers"
ReplyDeleteplease explain.
According to federal guidelines, the work you actually do, not the job title determines exemption. Overnight managers stock shelves, drive fork lifts, reset sections and spend very little to no time actually managing. Recently, Corporate HR told store managers to have a day manager in by 7am, this never happens. So now you are "Volunteering to Stay" in current BJ"S lingo.
ReplyDeleteRE: WORKERS COMPENSATION
ReplyDeleteThey are self insured, and actually have charts that claim a charge out for a lost work day claim is $26,000, charge out for a medical claim is $6,000. They like to keep this quiet because bad publicity is an indirect cost, and bad publicity reduces profits and ultimately sales, and regulatory violations and fines. Ask to see page 8 of the New Club Management Orientation handout, dealing with safety and sanitation. They like to play hardball, especially with workers comp cases; when I was injured on the job, I had to threaten to sue them to get me to see a specialist; their doctor said it was a contusion, the specialist said I had to learn to live with it, that arthritis and tendinitis would develop, but that there would be no true grounds for a suit because range of motion was not totally lost; the cost to sue would be more than a potential settlement.
RE: SEXUAL HARASSMENT
ReplyDeleteStraight Issues:
Senior Managers Harassing Mids
& Hourlies
Mids Harassing Mids & Hourlies
Hourlies Harassing Hourlies
Gay Issues:
A lesbian showing pictures of her and her significant other in various acts in an attempt to have straight single or married woman JOIN IN with them. When this was brought to the attention of a SENIOR who is a lesbian, her comment was " Are you sure they are targeting her because of her appearance ". Company policy DICTATES that this behavior goes to IMMEDIATE FINAL WRITE UP, no questions asked. The senior had real issues with the IMMEDIATE FINAL WRITE UP, so her hand was forced when the victim CALLED CORPORATE and explained the situation. The employee had done the picture trick to others, so she was IMMEDIATELY terminated, and the Senior took offense to that action
DESPITE it being in the company handbook.
RE: TERMINATION
ReplyDeleteMost employees in the United States are at-will employees, even though most employees are unaware of this situation. In most states, the law presumes that private sector employees are employed "at-will." The employment-at-will doctrine provides that both the employer and the employee can end the employment relationship at any time without notice or reason. This means the employer has the right to terminate your employment at any time, for any reason, or for no reason at all or for a bad reason, so long as the reason is not illegal - even if you performance has been outstanding.
MANY good employees (Hourlies and Management) have been terminated because someone had "an issue" with them. Because of this law, BJ'S does win most of the cases; but they have also lost a few.
Before you find yourself in this position, DOCUMENT everything and trust NO ONE at store or DM position. Send it right to corporate.
"Gay Issues:
ReplyDeleteA lesbian showing pictures of her and her significant other in various acts in an attempt to have straight single or married woman JOIN IN with them. When this was brought to the attention of a SENIOR who is a lesbian, her comment was " Are you sure they are targeting her because of her appearance ". Company policy DICTATES that this behavior goes to IMMEDIATE FINAL WRITE UP, no questions asked. The senior had real issues with the IMMEDIATE FINAL WRITE UP, so her hand was forced when the victim CALLED CORPORATE and explained the situation. The employee had done the picture trick to others, so she was IMMEDIATELY terminated, and the Senior took offense to that action
DESPITE it being in the company handbook."
we have all kinds of fruits at our store, no big whoop.
Perhaps you are MISSING the point
ReplyDeleteSexual harassment is NO laughing matter. What people do OUTSIDE of work is THEIR OWN BUSINESS.I don't care if you are gay or straight.In the workplace,sexual harassment is UNACCEPTABLE, AND a violation of company policy and procedure.
"Gay Issues:
ReplyDeleteA lesbian showing pictures of her and her significant other in various acts in an attempt to have straight single or married woman JOIN IN with them. "
If this happened at work, then this was appropriately handled. Pass go collect $200 & your unemployment check. Keep your crazy lesbian hijinx behind closed doors. It might suprise you that this behavior is not appropriate in the workplace.
Never said it was appropriate
ReplyDelete"Never said it was appropriate"
ReplyDeleteDid this incident happen at BJ's?
Yes it did, several years ago at a club in Central New Jersey
ReplyDelete"Yes it did, several years ago at a club in Central New Jersey"
ReplyDeleteThey should close the New Jersey stores, they are under-performing.
When they place clubs 10 miles apart, that causes clubs to under preform.
ReplyDeleteMaple Shade has
Deptford 10 miles away AND
Voorhees 10 miles away.
Wonder why clubs are hurting ?????
"When they place clubs 10 miles apart, that causes clubs to under preform.
ReplyDeleteMaple Shade has
Deptford 10 miles away AND
Voorhees 10 miles away.
Wonder why clubs are hurting ?????"
Deptford has underacheived since Mikey was crowned king. Ohh well, he'd rather sip his coffee than tend to the important stuff.
Yes it did, several years ago at a club in Central New Jersey
ReplyDelete-my question is, why did you wait so long?
Mike Waters is a good guy, he plays by the book.
ReplyDeleteHey ONROG!!!! How's it hanging?
ReplyDeleteSipping coffee, playing golf, showing up drunk seems to be the key if you are a GM.
ReplyDelete"Sipping coffee, playing golf, showing up drunk seems to be the key if you are a GM."
ReplyDeleteDon't forget, hooking yourself up with massive code 2 discounts.
Bring back William Powell club 156 needs him!!!!
ReplyDeleteA big hello to Willie Mo
ReplyDeleteThey would never close Maple Shade---its a gold mine with its liquor sales.
ReplyDeleteWhat is amazing is that the Liquor Control Board of NJ is NEVER in the parking lot to see how much liquor is going to Pennsylvania
ReplyDelete"They would never close Maple Shade---its a gold mine with its liquor sales."
ReplyDeleteWho would say Maple Shade would close? That club is the top money making store in Southern New Jersey. Even with the Costco's right around the corner, unlike Deptford, Voorhees, Mays Landing & Vineland. I hate to make it seem like our store is the best, but the other stores in Southern New Jersey lack the competition that we have to deal with. Costco's, Super Walmart's, Wegman's, Ginaurdi's, & Sam's Club's are alive & well around the Philadelpia region, but the clubs that underacheive are the clubs that exist with no competitors.
You would think that that clubs like Deptford would thrive with little competition.
"Mike Waters is a good guy that plays by the book." Do any of the GMs play by the book? I hear Mike in addition to sipping coffee all day, spends much of his day on his cell phone. How can you enforce policies when the GM doesn't follow them. The management team at Deptford needs to spend alittle more time on their sales floor. Whenever I visit that club, there are more empty boxes on the floor then full ones and the managers are always MIA.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know the status of the Cape May club? What other clubs will be opening in the near future? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteMike Waters is a good guy. Mike completed his GMIT training in our club; he exhibited leadership and earned the respect of the club. I wish him well.
ReplyDelete"Does anyone know the status of the Cape May club? What other clubs will be opening in the near future? Thank you."
ReplyDeleteI believe there be no Cape May Club.
"According to federal guidelines, the work you actually do, not the job title determines exemption. Overnight managers stock shelves, drive fork lifts, reset sections and spend very little to no time actually managing. Recently, Corporate HR told store managers to have a day manager in by 7am, this never happens. So now you are "Volunteering to Stay" in current BJ"S lingo." Didn't Personnel Managers get settlement for this a few years back? Maybe Overnight Managers need to investigate the specifics of the FLSA regualtions??
ReplyDeleteOkay - it's been long enough. Can Club 13 please have MaryBeth back now!! I think she did her time and should be parolled for good behavior. Besides we will need someone now that our Cory is being taken away too. Rafat, why are you taking all the good managers that actually do work and leaving all the trash behind?
ReplyDeleteGood luck trying to get Marybeth out of Hamilton, they HATE to return / or let transfer out QUALIFIED EXCELLENT EMPLOYEES. Where is Cory headed?
ReplyDeleteMarybeth is a very nice person when your one of her Friends.Don't blow smoke up any bodies butt,She was not a very good manager when she was at #13.I'm sorry too say but she was one of the laziest manager that we had.She has to prove herself in Hamilton and that must be very hard for someone that is not use to doing hard work at all.We need management that want to work together in the whole club.
ReplyDeleteQUOTE: "Rafat, why are you taking all the good managers that actually do work and leaving all the trash behind?"
ReplyDeleteBecause no one wants the trash. Maple Shade seems to be the "landfill" site for all the waste...
To the last blog, why don't you be more specific when your calling Maple Shade the landfill of trash,what managers are you referring too?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have to go there, they know who they are and so do you.
ReplyDeleteI see a lot of reference to "following BJ's company policies"...
ReplyDeleteIt's rather impossible when you are under staffed and over worked.
Corporate is so busy worrying about the stockholders and their options, they've lost site of the ones who are holding the clubs together with their blood.
I have the highest regard for the ones who still maintain a 100% audit rating with all the bullshit they've had to deal with from home office policies.
They add ludacris audit policies, not taking into consideration you MIGHT just need additional staff to enforce them. Uh, hello? Does your left hand know what policies your right hand is writing?
Stop screwing up a brilliant concept and face the reality that the "lowly" hourly just might have the solutions to your uncontrolled spending habits.
Too many chiefs not enough Indians.
ReplyDeleteGet rid of Rachel---does she ever do anything???
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing who gets promoted to Management. While they may have been decent as a Cashier, FLS or in Member Services, they have NO IDEA that they must act like professional adults as management. Too bad most of them DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT.
ReplyDeleteThe best management team was actually at #13.George, Gladys, Brian, Lori,
ReplyDeleteMarybeth, Mike, Cory, Curtis, Felix.
Ran the club professionally, had the employees respect and made sure the club hit all corporate goals. What a team of managers that was!!!!!
All good things must come to an end, unfortunately. They love to break up a good team. I wonder how Gladys is doing in the land of zombies. I went to the Mays Landing store, it was a ghost town, no customers or employees other than the Meat Department having the manager & a clerk/wrapper. I passed through right after New Years to buy a birthday cake for my nephew, i waited around a few minutes to get the cake decorated then had to bother the young woman working in the meat department to page this clown to decorate the dman cake. I must have had bad timing, i could smell the cigarette smoke on him a mile away. Even though i live a short drive from that store, i'd rather venture up the way to Vorhees, at least there's a pulse in that store. I was hoping to say hi to Gladys but she was off.
ReplyDeleteGood luck if your ever in Mays Landing looking to see Gladys on the floor,Just like in Voorhees, she just hangs up stairs like all the other so called managers do in all the other clubs, unless we get visitors now then their all over the place.making sure things are the way they should be,after all there is only so much the little people on the floor can do to make it look good for them.And when the visitors leave most of so called managers go right up stairs as usual.
ReplyDelete"I went to the Mays Landing store, it was a ghost town, no customers or employees"
ReplyDelete"Good luck if your ever in Mays Landing looking to see Gladys on the floor,Just like in Voorhees, she just hangs up stairs like all the other so called managers do in all the other clubs"
Not to defend the managers, but they have their jobs to do, and if a club has all of it's managers upstairs as much as you say, it would certainly show esp in the sales department. With a lack of managment on the floor, employees are prone to take it easy & get lazy, resulting in loss of efficiency.
BUT, on the other hand, it could explain the "ghosttown theory". If the managers are upstairs, outside smoking, on sick leave riding motorcycles or in the shitter, they cannot be on the sales floor. If that particular club's sales are exceding expectations then, ya have to say the managemnet knows what they are doing, even if the spend their day upstairs. If that clubs sales are not meeting expectations, then it sounds like you've hit the nail on the head.
Look at it this way,if you work at a club where management lives upstairs, you should do the same, they will never recognize hard work because they will never see it. So, just go with the flow, when management is upstairs all day/night, just get some coworkers together & bullshit in the dairy box. Management doesn't like the cold, & they will never find you in there.
When I was working at Mays Landing one day, they had a GRAND total of 6 hourly employees scheduled for THE ENTIRE DAY..... Top stock was full, shelves empty, General Manager PLAYING GOLF at Mays Landing CC, and NO CUSTOMERS. Nothing was getting done, and nobody cared.
ReplyDelete"When I was working at Mays Landing one day, they had a GRAND total of 6 hourly employees scheduled for THE ENTIRE DAY..... Top stock was full, shelves empty, General Manager PLAYING GOLF at Mays Landing CC, and NO CUSTOMERS. Nothing was getting done, and nobody cared"
ReplyDeleteLand of the Zombies.....
When I was working at Mays Landing one day, they had a GRAND total of 6 hourly employees scheduled for THE ENTIRE DAY..... Top stock was full, shelves empty, General Manager PLAYING GOLF at Mays Landing CC, and NO CUSTOMERS. Nothing was getting done, and nobody cared.
ReplyDeleteHow can the employees care when Mgmt does not?
It was great to work with / for Gladys and I hope to have the chance again sometime.
ReplyDelete"When I was working at Mays Landing one day, they had a GRAND total of 6 hourly employees scheduled for THE ENTIRE DAY..... Top stock was full, shelves empty, General Manager PLAYING GOLF at Mays Landing CC, and NO CUSTOMERS. Nothing was getting done, and nobody cared."
ReplyDeleteHow long ago was that?
"It was great to work with / for Gladys and I hope to have the chance again sometime."
ReplyDeleteGladys is a fine manager, friend & superior.
RE: How Long Ago
ReplyDeleteWhen Ray was the Manager
Mary Beth - lazy - ha! She works us hard. don't get me wrong - she is right along side of us busting her hump - but I would never use lazy to describe her. I guess she just felt she had nothing left to prove at 13.
ReplyDeleteActually, the ONLY way ( unless you are SPECIAL ) to become a SENIOR is to do your overnight PRISON SENTENCE.
ReplyDeleteJust In Rich now GM of 85 and Mike now GM of 13
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS ONROG!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteNow indeed, CHANGE has come to America, er, club #13. Let's hope it's for the better.
ReplyDeleteBe careful for what you wish for...
ReplyDeleteThe grass is not always greener on the other side....
I think both clubs are in for a very bumpy ride!!! Good luck to both clubs.
ReplyDeleteMike is a fine GM with plenty of big time retail exp. It's good to see him get a chance at a real store, regardless of the circus. Maybe he'll straighten out those clowns down there. Good luck to both Mike & Rich.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how the rest of the district shuffles around in the next few months.
WHAT TIME ZONE IS THIS SITE ON?
ReplyDeleteThere are many others who deserve to be a GM but will never get the chance because of the politics involved at BJ'S. There are many FORMER employees who deserved a chance but due to the games, NEVER had the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same with mid managers becoming senior managers. Even if they are willing to do their overnight "prison sentence", the time it takes to be promoted is discouraging. They keep the dead weight senior managers around and keep the mid managers that could make positive changes in limbo. Hopefully Rafat sees the whole picture and not only make changes with GMs, but with senior management staff as well.
ReplyDeleteHow about, you don't post and try to tell Rafat et al what to do on a website whose self-stated purpose is to keep BJ's Wholesale Club out of as many communities as possible.
ReplyDeletePositive change means you don't take cheapshots at your boss on the internet.
WE ALL KNOW the real deadweights in this company are the malcontents who trash their supervisors and their former supervisors on this blog.
ReplyDeleteRE: Cheap Shots
ReplyDeleteSome of the points ARE valid, and YES some are cheap shots.
However,until someone breaks the silence that surrounds incidents to promote open airing of employee concerns, nothing will change. CORPORATE needs to be made aware.
RE: Rafat
Do you REALLY think he cares? His ONLY concern is playing the game and keeping his job in todays job market.
Rafat is a pleasure to deal with compared to that rat-assed Adam.
ReplyDeleteAdam promised the world and delivered nothing. Rafat promises nothing and delivers nothing. At least Frank B. was a straight shooter, called it as he saw it and did not screw you, provided you were straight with him.
ReplyDeleteCreate issues with him and you had better run, or start looking for a new employer real quick.
I for one am really going to miss Rich. He tried to make everybody happy. He would always listen to whatever you had to say no matter how many things he was trying to juggle in one day. People took advantage of what a nice guy he is and thats a shame. I hope this new guy comes in and puts his foot down with those brown nosing managers that worked under Rich. They all still have their jobs because he had to bust his butt to cover up all their screw ups. And when he couldn't cover everything up he got in trouble because they are nothing but LAZY! The only time they would work is when he was there. I hated when he went on a vacation because it was like a free for all. Everybody tried to be in charge and our employee life was miserable. All they did was bad mouth everything he did while he was away and kiss his butt when he was around. Their the ones that need to be transfered. Hopefully this is just a start. Lets get a whole new management crew. As for Rich I'm greatly going to miss him and I wish him all the luck in the world because thats what he deserves after putting up with all those idiots. As for Mike I hope he can come in and see who all the fake people are and make a change for the better in 2008 ! I guess the rest remains to be seen.
ReplyDeleteBeing a "brown nosing manager" is not against corporate policy. Trashing your boss is against corporate policy. So who is wrong: them or you? And if you have specific information that one of them was badmouthing Rich, you had better report that immediately.
ReplyDeleteMaple Shade should offer a $200 reward for definitive information that anyone attacked their boss on the internet.
ReplyDeleteThink of the benefits to Club morale.
Managers CAN get WRITTEN UP,and TERMINATED just like hourly employees.
ReplyDeleteDOCUMENT EVERYTHING.... DAY,DATE,TIME,PLACE, INFRACTION, ETC.
When you can prove your point with 100% accuracy, do you honestly think most managers remember detail like that. Keep the notebook out of sight and don't tell a soul what you are writing down. The brown nosers and pets might rat you out if they knew what you were doing...
RE: Benefits to Club Morale
ReplyDeleteI guess one of the managers who has caught a lot of heat must have posted this idea. If this idea was to be approved, you ( the manager ) better be aware of what you say in front of superiors, or on line, as you would also put a bounty on YOUR HEAD.
Until BJ'S quits tolerating an atmosphere under which employees live in constant fear of losing their jobs over stupidity,things will NEVER change
"Until BJ'S quits tolerating an atmosphere under which employees live in constant fear of losing their jobs over stupidity,things will NEVER change"
ReplyDeleteAre things that bad at 13???
YES THEY ARE !!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete* Very unhappy workers
* Constant turnover of workmates
* Consistently checking managers &
co workers mood to determine what
kind of day can be expected
* Very unhappy managers-most need
some training in political
correctness and people skills
* Tolerates an atmosphere under
which employees live in constant
fear of write-up or job loss
* Merchandising standards slipping
NEED I SAY MORE !!!!!
The managers aren't the problem, except that they should have terminated you like 4 months ago.
ReplyDeleteYou're the problem. You should turn yourself in or quit. You obviously do not get along with the staff there and there is no reason to think things will be different this time in April, June, July, August etc.
People do not want to be judged, they just want to be listened to. That is the purpose of this blog. You have now turned this into YOUR personal self-centered, ignorant rant.
ReplyDeleteIgnorance means you are clueless. You DO NOT know what others believe, know, how they feel or what they have been through.
Too bad you are reactive, not proactive. Perhaps if you can learn to pause, get control and think about how you want to respond, you'll make smarter decisions.
"YES THEY ARE !!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete* Very unhappy workers
* Constant turnover of workmates
* Consistently checking managers &
co workers mood to determine what
kind of day can be expected
* Very unhappy managers-most need
some training in political
correctness and people skills
* Tolerates an atmosphere under
which employees live in constant
fear of write-up or job loss
* Merchandising standards slipping
NEED I SAY MORE !!!!!"
I'm not sure what department you work in, but if things were this bad ar my club. i'd ask for a transfer esp if i was making good money. I'd venture over to Wegman's or that nice new Costco right around the corner.
I also know employees &/or managers at each South Jersey club, and i have to say that the Maple Shade club by far has more negative stuff going on than the rest of the other clubs combined.
If things are that bad, that everyday has the potential of being a headache, then make the change yourself. Respect yourself and make the most of your exp, if you are a good employee, there are plenty of opportunities aroun the Maple Shade area outside of BJ's.
Sorry to hear you have it so bad. I'm glad my club or the 3 nearby dont have to go through this on that level.
Toodles
Thanks for the encouragement.
ReplyDeleteBE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR.
ReplyDeleteHow True !!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete"Does anyone know the status of the Cape May club? What other clubs will be opening in the near future? Thank you."
ReplyDelete"I believe there be no Cape May Club."
It's happening.
As for Mike coming to club 13,Be careful what you wish for,He seems to be a nice person.And time will tell.Everybody is on their pee's and ques right now even managers are, until they get to know him and where he's coming from.I remember when Rich came to Maple Shade the same people are watching their pee's and ques.For some reason people just like complaining about something all the time you can't please everyone all the time.I think Rafat did Rich wrong, that is my opinion. For those people that don't know Rich very well, Rich is a company man threw and threw, and he is a fair GM. Deptford is lucky to have him as long as you do your job you have nothing to worrier about, and if you don't then shame on you. He will get on you if you aren't doing what your suppose to.And that's how it should be.I for one am going to miss him as our GM. I wish him only the best....
ReplyDeleteUnfairness to BJ's Warehouse at club 138 why i feel this way is simply because the managers say on a friday meeting at the store that the club makes 4 million dollars a week and i don't understand why the store would cut hours and also they treat the workers unfair. We ask for raises and bonus and yet we can't get what the employee's ask for and we work even harder for the warehouse its bringing in money due to the workers and the customers Yet we can not get a raise go figure If you feel what am sayin post your thoughts as well! Cause as a worker there am going to vote a union in with the help of other employee's who feel the same way as i do God Bless!
ReplyDelete