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PDSA volunteer – Rude shop manager
Hi guys, i just wanted to run this incident by you.
This morning i received a telephone call from the manager of my local PDSA charity shop, inviting me to attend for an interview. I had recently applied to volunteer.
On calling back, i told the lady that after an interview in her shop about two years ago, i discovered that the stockroom and toilet are upstairs, therefore i couldn’t work in that particular shop, hence the reason i applied for the shop thirteen miles away.
The lady wanted to know how many hours i wanted to work, if i was only in the shop for a couple of hours at a time, there was no need for me to use the toilet! How she knew this is a mystery.
I told the woman that i wasn’t prepared to work in an environment where half the premises were inaccessible to me, and i had no access to a toilet. Why did i bother applying if i knew the place wasn’t suitable she demanded, i replied through gritted teeth that i hadn’t applied to her shop, but to the next nearest. “well the application has landed here” she countered.
I was now looking for a way to end the call without losing my temper, for a shop manager, her manner was appalling i felt.
The lady then told me to come into the shop to remove my application, so that i could post it to the correct shop, i told her that i certainly wouldn’t like to meet her in person and promptly ended the call.
After hanging up the telephone,i was extremely angry. I decided to call PDSA head office and complain about this particular manager’s attitude, that is not something i would usually do, but i was incensed that i should be expected to do without the toilet in my place of work. That was how it was as a bus driver, but i was getting well paid then, and didn’t have the urgent need to go like i do now!
The lady at head office thought that the local manager was totally out of order, i was instructed to email them all the details, and they would call her up and have a word.
I don’t know how well the shop manager gets on with animals, but her people skills are quite frankly non- existent!
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerpersonaly, id have told her “take your attitude and job and stick them up her arse” :twisted:
stefan
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerHmm .. yes indeed, her customer/employee skills leave much room for improvement.
I know you to be intelligent person so you would have sent it to the PDSA branch you were able to help or have worded it in such away that premises without toilet access would not be acceptable. How does she know better than you when you are going to need to pee, sheesh! I have enough trouble knowing my own bladder intentions, knowing someone elses is practically a super power. I do hate it when someone elses fudgeup is made out to be my mistake!
Good for you for following this through, her presentation as a PDSA representative would persuade me to go the RSPCA, lol.
I'm always the animal, my body's the cage
I blog about nothingness www.amgroves.com
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerThat would be the more direct approach then littlestef?
I applied online AMG, i stated the further away shop as my preference, i can only assume whoever read through my application, decided to send it on to my local shop. They may have thought i either didn’t know of it’s existence, or had made a mistake.
Further to my initial post, i think it should have been patently obvious, that a thirty seven year old man with a full employment record, (until December 2009 that is) was possibly willing to work for free for health reasons. Wouldn’t it be possible that i was now excluded from mainstream employment? Especially if i expressed a willingness to sort out old clothes during the day!
Btw AMG, my urgent need to use the loo, is of an entirely different function!
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop manager@ranald wrote:
Btw AMG, my urgent need to use the loo, is of an entirely different function!
Our enemy ‘Murphy’ likes to bugger about with these things, most likely you may never need to, but if there was no access to a loo it would be a safe bet you’d need to have access.
I'm always the animal, my body's the cage
I blog about nothingness www.amgroves.com
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerI’m glad you rang the PDSA head office, Ranald. People who are so offensive to others, especially when they are working in a voluntary capacity need to be taken down a peg or two. I hope that woman is reprimanded or sacked from her post, for the way she dealt with you.
Sybylla
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerI doubt very much the lady in question would be sacked, i wouldn’t derive any satisfaction from that either. All i wanted, was for her to stop and think before opening her mouth. Surely the voluntary sector is well used to applications from those less able?
As i may have mentioned, this same shop called me in for an interview about two years ago, they were quite rude then too. I am not sure if this is the same lady though. On that occasion, i turned up on crutches, and she looked me up and down and shook her head!
I’ll tell you what though, if i don’t get satisfaction from the area manager, i will be contacting the local media.
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop manager@ranald wrote:
‘ll tell you what though, if i don’t get satisfaction from the area manager, i will be contacting the local media.
Good idea. She obviously hasn’t given a thought about the following:
1. her attitude to you
2. her assumptions about your needs
3. her attitude to people with disabilities
4. the fact that she is a bad advert for the PDSA and could probably lose the goodwill of the local people who might think twice about going in to the shop if she is there.You would think that anyone who filled in a form and turned up for an interview would be welcomed and thanked, whether or not they were in the right place. It’s just good manners to say “I’m sorry, for some unknown reason your form has been sent to me by mistake, but I’ll forward it to the branch you want to volunteer for. Thanks very much for your interest.”
Sybylla
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerThe area manager has just called me, he was very apologetic. This isn’t the first complaint against the two ladies in this shop, they are well know for their bad attitude! He told me he intends to put them in their place.
Almost right after this call, i received a call from the PDSA shop i actually applied to! The lady told me that she has seen a copy of my complaint, and it doesn’t surprise her one bit, she doesn’t even talk to the two ladies in question!
I am to have an interview at her shop this coming Friday.Although i will have to drive the 75 miles each week at my own expense, (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) getting out of my flat and meeting people will be more than worth the price of two gallons of petrol. (blue badge, no parking charges)
This shop will be much better for me anyway. Although the stock room is down a steep spiral staircase, both the toilet (outside lavvy) and the staff room are on the level!
I have been told i would be welcome to stay on the shop floor all the time, i just hope the till isn’t like the one in Arkwright’s shop!
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerGlad you got that sorted – how bang out of order were those other people – deserve the sack for dreadful treatment of potential volunteers!
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerWell Louise, i certainly wouldn’t venture into their shop in the future, i just hope they care more for the animals than human volunteers!
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerGlad to hear that it all seems to have worked out in the end and I’m sure you’ll fit in very well. Surely these other ladies are putting people off going into the shop and spending money. They need a serious talking to!
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerHi Ranald,
I’m so glad things are turning out better for you and the rude ladies are going to be “spoken to”. I would have thought that if others within the organisation are already aware of their attitude, they would have been asked to leave – who wants to have nasty people like that representing their charity?
Well done for you for volunteering and being prepared to do three days a week. I hope the interview on Friday goes well.
all the best,
Sybylla
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerHi Valerie, i totally agree with you. To be the face of any organisation, carries certain responsibilities. This pair obviously consider themselves superior to other sections of society.
Thanks Sybylla, i would honestly work there full-time if i could, i have spent far too long sitting about my flat, (three years next month) it is time to get back out there! If paid work isn’t possible, then at least i can volunteer my time to help a local charity.
On another note, i am pleased to say that two of my mates have been kept on at their fruit packing job! Ok, they were on the work programme, and now they will be kept on a week at a time, but even that’s still better than existing on £71pw JSA.
Re: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerGood luck on Friday Ranald. I am sure you will be an asset to the PDSA shop, yes its more travelling but would you really want to work closer to home with those two low lifes. I do hope they get a good going over from senior management for there attitude!!
Do let us know how you get on
Cheers
GillRe: PDSA volunteer – Rude shop managerCheers Gill, i will of course let you know how it goes. If i get the nod to start, i can always give you a discount on a pre-owned cardigan! Perk of the job you see.
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