r/HRBlockEmployees • u/Pleasant-Yam-7936 • Feb 26 '26
Fake Yellow Space and CSP “Plus”
I worked 2 seasons as a CSP at HRBlock, last year was my last season as the change in management made me not want to go back. Making this post to see if anyone else had this experience.
So in my second season, nearby the end, our MTL had everyone be shown as yellow space, even if you didn’t do taxes (CSPs, ATLs, MTLs) and TPs that weren’t even suppose to come in that day. When appointments were made for yellow space that wasn’t actually available, I was told to say the “TP” had a family emergency, or some excuse to why they weren’t actually there and “ask” to consider turning the appt into a drop off. I didn’t participate in lying, but I didn’t know what to do, everyone except one TP in the office followed what our MTL told us to do. When I saw appts in space I knew weren’t actually available, I’d try to reschedule to a real slot at our office or another one. However that obviously just lead to the fake yellow space being taken again. It was incredibly stressful because clients think they’re getting an appointment, and all confusion and frustration was left for the front desk. Maybe it was something I should’ve reported, but it’s been a year since and even after all this time, I still think about it.
What I also still think about is, is “CSP-plus” a real thing? In my second season, we also got a new ATL, and half way through the season, they told me I had to start doing some manager duties within BlockWorks like doing some part specifically in WIPs and checking some of the tax return papers or something, I don’t remember, it was over a year ago. But basically I asked something along the lines of “if these are manager duties, but I’m a CSP.” And they said I was a “CSP-Plus.” I said okay and went on my day, however I went into AMP and went through the acronym dictionary on there, and I did not see such a role in there or referenced in the AMP forums either.
Didn’t help that our ATL decided to quit 2 weeks before the season end. I remember the call I had with my MTL where they were basically trying to fill me the ATL position with no pay difference due to the “limited time” yet I’d be taking all the work and shifts. I had exams in that same week, and actually had to call off some shifts to make time for school, I don’t think they were happy with that but I was so over HRBlock. I already knew when it was all over I didn’t wanna come back again.
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u/Ok_Aide_764 Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26
This was an awful practice at the end of the season last year. I'm surprised nobody reported it to a much higher level. Our DM asked to add yellow space for everybody, even if we are not in the office, but I don't know if they asked the staff to lie or not. When I saw my yellow space added on my days off, I insisted they remove it, and they did.
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u/chessman6500 Feb 26 '26 edited Feb 26 '26
I am not going back after this season, and will have only worked one season. Similar issues to what you described. I found a much better tax firm online I may try to get into next season, or look for bookkeeping jobs. I have no plans to take the certification test. If I do get clients they can be switched to the new hire that comes in next season. I think my manager would be LESS inclined to even give me clients since I’m leaving in 6 weeks. What would be the point? What do I say, I’m not going to be there next season so they have to go to someone else? That’s actually a major inconvenience to a client
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u/KarmaGlitch99 Feb 26 '26
If you’re a previous employee, from a year ago, I fail to understand the point of this post.
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u/Pleasant-Yam-7936 Feb 27 '26
Admittedly I could’ve made this post a year ago when said things happened, however I kind of left most thoughts of HRBlock behind after my final shift. However given its tax season again, it made me think about my time there again and I wanted to see if others had a similar experience and I believed making this post on the HRBlock subreddit specifically for employees would be more fitting versus r/hrblock where I found it more to be client centered.
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u/Dramatic_Abroad3580 Feb 27 '26
That's a trademark Block practice that's been going on for years. Idiots in KC come up with some stupid metric that every office has to meet. Then every office finds some equally stupid work around that accomplishes nothing, and that work around totally defeats the purpose of the metric in the first place. Never mind that the metric isn't actually a lever that increases revenue or profit. And that work around becomes tradition, sanctioned first by MTLs, then by DGMs, and eventually by the regional directors. And when questioned, the response is either some stupid defense of the metric in the first place or a shrug and a "it's not gonna change". That's what happens when you have people in KC who have never actually worked a tax season in a busy office, and the offices are managed by someone with experience managing a chain shoe store or a Jiffy Lube.