I have been around a long time, worked with a lot of store managers, and you know what??!! There are a lot that have not worked so hard. If you run a store that sells basically course materials you are busy about 1/4 of the year between prep and rush. What do you do the rest of the time? Work part time in the summer, winter break, spring break, etc.
Yes, there are some stores that are busy all year selling gm, those managers work hard. The rest, they have had it easy and are now worried they are going to have to really work an 8 hour day.
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I was a Team Lead for the past 6 years at a Follett Community College. We all knew it was going to get bad once the the investment company took over. We began to see the demise when there were no payroll hours for anyone except the ASM (ours was really a Course Materials Manager). I worked a total of 6 days between November 1st and January 4th. I did everything in our store! Some days were a blur, just because of all the tasks I was trying to get done. I finally threw my hands up and called it quits the beginning of March. I hated leaving my coworkers, but the uncertainty every week was just not worth it. I hope those of you staying have great success. Do not let this company ki-l you!
GM is certainly where the money is at, but community colleges still have a place. With so many government grants covering the cost of textbooks & supplies, and an overwhelming number of students that qualify for them, they still make some money.
There’s truth in what the OP said. Follett had a lot of legacy managers making good money whose stores have decreased by millions in sales. Follett used to be a company where most profit came from used and rented textbooks, so community colleges mattered. Now with OER and digital they don’t. A lot of these stores are open 4-5 hours a day. These can be run by someone making $18/hr with proper support. The future is the 75-100 bigger stores that sell GM. That’s where the margin is. I think secretly Follett hopes some smaller colleges cancel their contract. The business shifted and this group at least tried something rather than doing the same thing and expecting different results. Time will tell if it works. No disrespect to the people impacted but in regards to business it does make some sense.
Smart companies fix those not working full time and penalize those that work 8+ hours a day to get it all done. I already decided to depart this company. Hope those that stayed are ready to work lots of hours but no ot..so good luck.
You have it backwards. Business is changing. Everywhere. Do more with less people.
Adapt or get in the unemployment line.
I have a lot of thoughts on this comment. Firstly, I don’t understand why op has a problem realizing that EVEN if someone “works hard for 1/4 of the year,” the employee is still spending their time at work. As you know, we are mortal and you don’t get that time back. Pay me to babysit your investment.
Secondly, despite Follett loosely adhering to this, store managers are supposed to have a degree to be eligible for the role. In case nobody realizes this, education makes people more (allegedly) competent for employment and it certainly costs much money. Therefore, if an employer requires a degree for a position, be ready to raise (not decrease) salary.
Your assessment of the situation is outdated and patriarchal. Of course, the patriarchy and its supporters run this corporation. Hello, corporate drone.
The workforce is changing, and people are not willing to work for peanuts. Buckle up, Follett.
The original poster was venting in a sense. Just sayin’…
Seriously! Quit complaining and either find a new job or apply for one of the open positions. Griping on here doesn’t change anything. You’re in control of your life. Either stay, or don’t and let someone else have your job! It’s a business.
This board isn’t for venting, it’s for rumors related to Layoffs…….
Glad someone else is saying what needs to be said. For too long people got by with doing the bare minimum and “delegating” what they didn’t want to do. Those are the ones complaining even though a good portion of their responsibilities have been pulled from them.
And what of the hourly employees? Or are they too far below you to matter?
From what I’ve seen, most sms and asms/team leads do a lot of work. They also work well over 40 during busy times.
Realistically, the people who chose who to keep did not choose who worked the hardest/ had the best results. They chose either the cheapest or the ones that were the “nicest” to them.
Also, instead of going on a board built for people to vent, try going on Only Fans.