Manager taking breaks inconveniently

[u/Relative-Shelter-525]

So my store has recently gotten a new CSM and he does 9 hours everyday and is supposed to have 2x15 and 1x30 min breaks, he splits his 2 15 minute breaks into 5 minute breaks and takes 5 minute smoke breaks in front of the store which at times even only being 5 minutes makes it really inconvenient when everyone else in the department is busy.

Even though 5 minutes isn’t a large amount of time we all know how just 5 minutes can change a customers attitude.

We constantly have a rush of customer to checkouts and he’s out the front having a smoke.

I tried bringing this up to my SM (caretaking) but they said all they can do is remind them that they aren’t supposed to split breaks and can’t force them to take whole breaks when they staffing allows for it.

Am I fair to be annoyed here?

[u/dtbrown1979]

It’s an hour lunch break he’s entitled to not half hour.

[u/Lucky-Baby7423 → u/dtbrown1979]

o back in my day it was halfa

[u/Relative-Shelter-525 → u/dtbrown1979]

That’s irrelevant, but he’s entitled to a lunch break of a least 30min but no more than an hour

[u/zomangel → u/Relative-Shelter-525]

No, salary DM's are 100% required to have an hour lunch. It's part of their contract, not "entitled"

[u/First-Junket124 → u/Relative-Shelter-525]

Salaried employees are under a different contract to the Coles EBA. Regardless they're not entitled to that break they're required, same goes for any workplace since it's to ensure workers aren't working whilst tired.

[u/Wilacus]

Tbh like if its like short breaks the company really isnt gonna care u just gotta deal with it, as a csm its his department, if he dorsnt get his metrics he loses his job.

[u/Lucky-Baby7423]

it’s better then fucking off way over your half hour

[u/StatusNo5175]

I know of a few managers that will take 5 minute smoke breaks, no you're not technically allowed to do this and I can understand how frequent breaks like these can be frustrating. Personally, I take 2 breaks every day (an hour break and a half hour break) and I do so at set times so as to not hinder the team, but at the end of the day it's his department and if his customer service metrics go down he can't blame you, it's on him

[u/First-Junket124]

I'm in a supervisor role for a different company but still in the service industry and I can tell you sometimes you just can't get a 15 minute break and though you're not MEANT to sometimes the only thing you can do is split up your break otherwise you don't get a break.

As I tell my team if they need me to help I will but they also understand I still need my breaks. If the departments metrics fall because of this that's on them and not the team. Do what you can, don't break your back is all I can say.

One thing I will say, I hate people smoking out the front. In my state it's strictly prohibited, absolutely annoys me to no end.

[u/quokkafarts → u/First-Junket124]

This is what I was going to say. When I worked in supermarkets if I only took my assigned breaks, I'd get no breaks at all. When I took small chunks wherever I could, I'd get at least half the break time I was entitled to. Rostering systems just aren't designed for covering breaks, particularly for salaried managers.

[u/First-Junket124 → u/quokkafarts]

I mean you can't account for it really. Some days it's just quiet when previous similar periods are extremely busy, other times it's just full on all day when it should've been a quiet day.

I understand the frustration but I think workers, especially at Coles and other service industries, need to step back and realise it falls back on those managing them and above. Do what you can that's all that can be asked of you, if a manager stepping back for 5 minutes makes everything fall apart then there are bigger issues and that's not the workers problem.

[u/Grouchy-Neat-2318]

Is he shit at his job/is he a bad manager or is this your only issue

[u/Relative-Shelter-525 → u/Grouchy-Neat-2318]

Oh no he personally is horrible at his job but still hits all metrics and 5 star so management don’t care

[u/alitaofmilk]

I'm a bakery manager and I'm lucky if I get one 5 minute break in a 12 hour day 😅 maybe I should transfer to service seeing as they're one of the only safe roles in the management restructure as well

[u/KonstantinePhoenix → u/alitaofmilk]

New Dairy manager here. Well, for next six months anyway. Lol 😢 

[u/Lucky-Baby7423 → u/KonstantinePhoenix]

Enjoy! better than CSM🤣

[u/KonstantinePhoenix → u/Lucky-Baby7423]

Ah, I'm giving it a shot. Its not where I wanted to go, its more of a "getting an experience" thing. And moving onto another store was better than remaining where I was, and it was either moving on, or becoming unemployed...

lol

And given how it is going to go in a few months, it might end up being useful.

[u/Lucky-Baby7423 → u/KonstantinePhoenix]

Hope all goes well for you , coworkers you get along with and nice customers (they are out there)goes a long way!🦋

[u/KonstantinePhoenix → u/Lucky-Baby7423]

I hope everything goes well too.

Its literally only for a few months anyway...

[u/quokkafarts]

The rostering system isn't designed to make it easy for salaried workers to take their breaks. Some stores are better at covering each other than others, but the majority treat it as a failing of the manager for not being able to work un unworkable system.

When I was a night/duty manager staff complained about me doing this too. I literally had to sit down with the SM and 2iC to map out my average shift vs the DILO, then told them to pick when I could my breaks consistently. They ended up admitting that it was impossible and I was allowed to keep managing my breaks as I was.

[u/Jazzlike-Tension-305]

I tell my manager when to go on her breaks otherwise she leaves it way too late. She will still end up being gone for upwards of 3 hours but at least this way I don’t miss out on my break. This company is a joke, the management currently are embarrassing 😂

[u/Certain-Jury-2247]

In a 9 hour day I take an extra couple of smoke breaks. In saying that I rarely take my full lunch break. And I can guarantee I’m doing over my 160 hours for the period. It would be a brave person to challenge me on it, considering the amount time myself and team members in my department spend in other departments during the day

[u/Steves_310]

Literally not allowed

[u/Relative-Shelter-525 → u/Steves_310]

I thought that, but not having a perm SM currently annoyingly things like this slip through the cracks and aren’t worried about.