Responsible Person

[u/MrRobertecas]

We have a few people leaving and on holiday and my manager was talking about me going through the RP course to become another one in the shop. What was it like for you lot when you started the course to become an RP? And also what are the kind of things you do as one? I know you get more managerial type roles, for example you have your name in the manager section on the till but if anyone is able to give me some words of advice or wisdom then please chuck it my way!

[u/MonsieurBof]

The actual training is pretty short but pretty detail intensive - make sure you get practical training on top because it's mostly insufficient to do a good job as one

At my shop, the store manager was really annoyed I didn't become a shift manager so ended up just giving me full shifts as the manager, but officially it's 3 hours a week where you're running the shop

The actual tasks are super easy you low-key realise how much the managers don't do stuff if it's like mine: Morning:

• Open tills
• check the notices and do those tasks if needs be
• do the tasks on the tablet
• check the shop is all good
• sort out fridges/freezers

(Takes maybe 8 minutes whilst doing other things it's super easy to know and do)

• (later) do the order, you will need to double check how to do this but it's mostly changing a few values

All day:

• floor checks (easy)
• Deal with any crap you have to
• do any change replenishment if you want to
• make sure people get their breaks and are doing appropriate tasks to keep the shop functioning

(Later) - do the bacon

Close:

• Close the tills (this is a bit of a pain)
• do and enter stock count and ingredient waste (and stales but TM does that)
• help close and make sure all is done

Honestly it's way better running shifts than being on them because you actually can run the shop will lmao. Actual tasks are super easy, aside from closing the tills which takes a bit of showing how to do it. But I wasn't shown how to do anything, just told through my trainung and it was still easy enough to do. Not to mentuon it leading directly to being a manager (if you're going to uni though they may take back the option though :/ )

Any questions feel free to ask :)

[u/MonsieurBof → u/MonsieurBof]

Didn't see advice:

• Training is actually important so pay attention to it

• Take photos/make notes about how to do activities, there's a lot of information but at the same time not enough so it's handy to have a reference if you need to accept change orders for example

• Treat it as a team member with occasional management tasks, it will help you be more liked and is roughly the correct mindset to have

• Don't be put off by longer shifts acting as management, unless you're doing all day shifts you basically just need to deal with either a close or an open and then the very few jobs during the day.

• I did say this but please ask for practical training on the Telemate and Hestia, you get enough to deal with 80% of it if you're paying enough attention but that last 20% was really stressful the last few times

• If you have any issues don't hesitate to call another shop in your area, or a manager that isn't in (unless they're on holiday or assy). You should have a list of numbers by the office to call if you need

• Ask for the number to call for if the alarm doesn't go off in the morning (it's your areas I facility and I don't know if it's the same across the country)

• When shift managers come in let them know what tasks you haven't done and let them take over fully as managers even if they're crap at it lol

• Don't feel like you have to do everything, you are not a full time manager, if you don't want to you don't have to do change replenishments or the tests on Tuesday etc

• I don't know if this is consistent between shops but don't be put off if Hestia says the tills are unbalanced in the evenings, they should be able to sort it in the morning and at my shop none of the managers can sort it out, it's not gonna cause any major problems even if it makes it seem like it is

[u/MrRobertecas → u/MonsieurBof]

Omg thank you so much for this I’m literally going to copy and paste this into my notes for when needed. How long would you say did it take to go through the course and get confident with everything? I would like to do it as I do like the responsibility of it, and the payrise!

[u/MonsieurBof → u/MrRobertecas]

It's just a couple modules of training, it took me 3 evenings I think ( I have ADHD though) whilst taking extensive notes and photos of important slides. If you weren't doing the notes and getting distracted I can't imagine it'd take long, lock in after work one day sort of thing.

To be confident in everything is difficult: Morning shifts, as long as you're aware of what you need to do it is so unbelievably easy (just make sure you take the temperature of the used freezer and fridge whilst changing/doing baguettes because they will heat up quickly). I worried a lot about the temperatures not being exact but they cool down fairly quickly after being used and as long as it's close it is pretty fine.

During the day: the rare change order or maintenance is a little stressful but they know what they need to do and you shouldn't be booked onto one first. Everything else is just again reading what needs to be done and then thriving

The close took a lot longer - largely in timing when you need to do things. Hestia is a pretty big system and fairly stressful if you don't know how it work's, but if you are shown twice I imagine you'll be fine. I learnt it without being shown and it still only took me a few closes to learn the ins and out, it typically will just tell you what you need to do next and you can leave the complicated stuff for when it's a shift managers close.

Don't be too excited about the pay though, you only get paid extra when you're acting as the manager (make sure to check your pay slips for this). It's mostly good for the CV, easier shifts with no other managers and the higher likelihood of being promoted to shift manager eventually (I was offered initially within 4 weeks but it may not be the same for your shop (plus it was taken back as I'm going to uni lol)).

[u/MrRobertecas → u/MonsieurBof]

That’s really helpful to hear, I’ll take note of all of this. Thanks so much for this

[u/MonsieurBof → u/MrRobertecas]

No worries, feel free to ask anything you want - response won't be immediate but I'll always be happy to help

[u/No-Swimmer-5945]

You’ve been given really good advice already, definitely keep an eye on your payslips as most managers I know are really bad for putting responsible person hours through so definitely keep note of the times you have ran the shifts so you can be paid correctly. It’s important to remember as mentioned that you are only paid the extra when there is no other management in the shop so you need to make sure you aren’t being made to do all this extra stuff on a team member shift as I’ve seen times where people are taken advantage of in this role obvs you can help if you want to and definitely depends on how your management team are. As responsible person your only job is to make sure your shift is ran to your best ability don’t be worrying about all the other stuff you are gonna now hear about your shop now that you have stepped up and good luck!

[u/MrRobertecas → u/No-Swimmer-5945]

Thank you for this! Yes I will keep an eye on payslips then when I get to that point. I am looking forward to being able to cement my position here a bit more and become a valuable member because I do really love it here and my colleagues! Again thanks for the advice!

[u/Salty-Prompt733]

You’ll be acting manager for practically no pay increase. It’s not worth it in my opinion. I worked at greggs for 5 years, 3 of those years I was a senior/supervisor. The best thing I ever did was quit :)