PICS
I have a work problem that I need advice about.
I work at a chain drugstore and I usually work the floor which means:
I cover checkout's and photo's breaks,
I hop on the second register when it's busy up front
I take out trash and clean the bathrooms
I also have a few projects that the managers assign me, usually stocking.
In the evenings we have less people working in the store, it will usually be one manager, one photo person, one checkout, one floor, and a few people in pharmacy. It's important that we can do our own jobs and get our projects done, but can also multitask and cover the front if it needs help. For an 8 hour shift we get two 15 minute breaks (meaning your break starts as soon as you leave your post and you get back to what you were doing 15 minutes after that) and an unpaid half hour lunch (meaning you clock out and that's when your break starts and your break ends when you clock back in, then you quickly get back to your work area.
There is one girl who works checkout, she used to work floor I think but she's pregnant so they just have her at checkout now. She's really nice and the customers love her. She usually works during the morning/day but my boss apparently moves shifts around periodically so now she's working the afternoon/evening shift. In the evenings we have less people working in the store, it'll usually be one manager, one photo person, one checkout, one floor, and a few people in pharmacy. In the evening you can't have over lapping lunches or breaks with other people because there just wouldn't be enough backup help.
Well, this girl's 15 minute breaks last 20 to 25 minutes and her lunches last 40-45 minutes. Not only does this mean that I'm at the register longer and can't do my own work, but the photo person and myself have to wait on her to take our breaks. It throws the system off completely.
I've mentioned this to one manager a month ago and he said he'd keep an eye out for it but nothing's changed since he usually is working at night when she was working in the mornings they hardly worked at the same time. Easy for that to slip by. But I also happened to talk to a "shift leader" today and mentioned her long breaks and she was surprised but said, "she probably learned that from so and so (another morning photo person)" The last two nights we've had a person call in sick so I've been covering breaks and register two more often or doing floor and the photo person's job. Having this girl's breaks last longer is really affecting how much we (and I) get done in the store.
Some other things, she doesn't do tasks that other checkout people do up front, like fill the coin machine and fill cigarettes. So when I'm up there during her breaks I'm the one doing it because, well, it has to be done or I'd run out of change in the machine or can't get cigarettes to customers fast enough to keep the line moving.
So what I need advice about is, do I talk to my store manager about her breaks? I feel like this is a more delicate subject because she's pregnant but I also feel like she could be taking advantage of her pregnancy so she'll take her time getting back to work. I usually wouldn't feel the need to say anything but it's affecting how I do my job and I know it's really bothering my other co-workers. The thing is that this store has no drama it seems and I don't want to be the one to stir anything up. Any advice would be great.
MAY 13, 2011 08:59 PM
MAY 13, 2011 09:01 PM
As someone who also works for a chain pharmacy and has for 8 years yes talk to the manager. My managers have always said to please let them know if anything is wrong, no matter how small. It wouldn't be you starting the "drama" it's her taking advantage of everyones niceness and extending her breaks 
Hope this helps! Be strong, everything will work out 
MAY 13, 2011 09:02 PM
MAY 13, 2011 09:07 PM
thescarykid
USA
May 2010
MAY 13, 2011 09:21 PM
MAY 13, 2011 09:23 PM
MAY 13, 2011 11:40 PM
MAY 14, 2011 03:01 AM
MAY 14, 2011 03:02 AM
Ps I dont think confronting HER about it is a good idea either. That might cause a confrontational disagreement. Let management deal with it
If you feel you dont want to talk to your store manager yet, then when her break is up, start calling her to the front. Then if she asks why kindly say "its been 15minutes" That way she cant argue about it.
.
MAY 14, 2011 07:48 AM
MAY 14, 2011 12:21 PM
MAY 14, 2011 06:19 PM
I agree with what dorsal said!!!
and BEETLEJUICE! 
MAY 14, 2011 08:14 PM
MAY 14, 2011 08:36 PM
Think the manager should be told.
They should then do a big group meeting and go over the rules again, so they don't point out someone.
Hope everything gets better.
I quit my long time job because of junk like that!
Take care. 
