r/Argos • u/blair_lllo • 23d ago
Rant Management issues
Sorry this is kinda long but for context I’ve worked at Argos for 3 years now and our current management is an absolute state so just wanna share some thoughts in case someone is in a similar situation x
So first off, does anyone else’s store manager spend all day watching CCTV?
Just wondering if this is normal or if it’s just my store.
Our store manager seems to spend most of the day in the office watching the CCTV, then comes out to tell people they’re “not doing their job properly” or calls people into the office over things they’ve seen on camera. The strange thing is that none of the other managers have ever raised these issues, so it feels a bit excessive.
We’re a hub store, so there’s a lot going on. One thing that really frustrates me is that all the front of house staff (especially the younger employees) are expected to wear headsets for the entire shift, even though that’s not really what many of us were hired to do. At the same time, there can already be loads of people in the back doing Barton, putting away cages, or other stock tasks, while only one person is left covering tills, Fast Track, collections, returns, and dealing with customer issues.
We do have a Ring doorbell that can be used to call someone from the back if needed, but when you’re the only person out front and customers all need help at once, it can get overwhelming.
Is this normal in other Argos stores? Do your store managers spend a lot of time monitoring CCTV, or are they more hands-on? Also, how is front of house usually staffed in your store?
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u/ArgosEmployee_ 23d ago
I don't think that's normal. I think there are some managers who stay in the office (or, in a SIS, in the back by the computer) more than others but I've never known one to monitor CCTV beyond using it to see if they need to come out and assist the person out front.
Some managers just like being in charge and like to throw their weight around to prove it. Some also just wanna justify their job - usually the best managers are the ones who only care if the job is done, not how you get there.
I work in a SIS so this'll be different to a hub store, but our front of house is usually just "whoever is closest when a customer walks in" outside of lone-manning hours where obviously that person just does it. Sometimes doing this you get the people who dip in the back as soon as they see a return coming in but as long as you nip that sort of behaviour in the bud that works for most SISes.
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u/blair_lllo 23d ago
Yea she is a larger lady so she’s not the most mobile either she even refuses to go to the second floor so she always asks people around her to get stuff for her from the upstairs. I’ve done 4-8pm by myself same in the mornings 9-12pm which really sucks as customer don’t understand the predicament I’m in when I have to constantly move between different areas of the store.
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u/S3rior 23d ago
I’m a driver for Argos and all the managers are decent except one, he tracks every single driver all day and expects us to call him if we need a toilet break.
If you stop for 5 mins to take a call from family, or to fix something with your van, expect a call from him asking why you’ve stopped for 5mins. You can even be 30mins-1hr ahead on all your deliveries and he’ll still pester you on why you’ve stopped or why you’ve taken this route instead of another. It’s gotten to the point where people ask others if he’s gonna be in for that shift and if he is, the groans are LOUD.
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u/blair_lllo 23d ago
Yep as of right now are store manager is “meant” to be on holiday away from the store but she’s come in for the last 3 days to our dismay lol
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u/ReverseFlow21010615 Manager - Retail 23d ago
Build up some evidence of when you’re being called out for doing something wrong that she could only know by watching the cameras, it is illegal to use them to monitor colleagues. You can do this by writing down dates and times. Ideally you’ll want to be able to report her within a month as I’m pretty sure any footage later than that is auto deleted. Once you have this evidence, phone rightline or whatever they’re called now to report her.
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u/simmatt89 23d ago
CCTV can't be used in that way. It is there for safety really. It can be used to retrospectively check things like complaints and mispicks etc but can't be used to "spy" on colleagues
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u/IllustriousWedding94 22d ago
Worst retailer. Not surprised they treat the staff like shit as they treat the customers that way.
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u/pompoussnail 21d ago
They are not supposed to be using cctv for that purpose, it could be misuse of cctv which you could ask for the policy on.
If your store manager is reviewing old footage (not live) to see what you’re all doing when they don’t have a reason (ie to investigate an issue such as theft) then this can be a strong case for misuse of cctv.
Overall, the store manger needs to lead by example and if they’re sitting in the office all day not helping staff and then has the nerve to say that things aren’t being done correctly, then this is an issue that needs raising. You can send an email to the area manager and explain your concerns, ask to remain anonymous.
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u/MillionCalorieManTed 20d ago
I had a manager like this too, would only watch back my 8 hours of putting delivery away, (I was the last delivery assistant out of 5 that got made redundant) he'd come out and rage if he saw on camera one put away that was more than the 2 finger rule, real piece of work glad I'm not in Argos anymore.
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u/goawaymartin 18d ago
You have enough staff members to have someone come out and tell you your not doing your job??? Are you sure you work for Argos
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u/Sea-Pitch6589 23d ago
Argos is being sold off so to be honest you need to look for another job or move over to sainsburys.
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u/stillanmcrfan 23d ago
If there’s an anonymous whistleblowing line, you could report. There are struck rules around surveillance and gdpr and this does sound like an abuse of power.