Supermarkets discussion

[takno]

My local Sainsbury’s has had a layout change. Rather bizarrely they have moved the clothes and home items to by the main entrance, meaning that the fruit and veg has been relocated to two aisles back.

My local Sainsbury's (which is a former SavaCentre) has always had the homewares as the first thing you get to, with clothes to the right and the actual supermarket well off to the left. Now I come to think of it my parents Tesco is the same. I guess they have a higher margin, and depend more on impulse purchases for the non-food stuff. You aren't going to poke your head around the door, notice they sell vegetables and think "Oh, I only came in for pants - I never knew Saisbury's sold salad, I think I'll do my weekly shop", whereas you might do the opposite.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

My local Sainsbury's (which is a former SavaCentre) has always had the homewares as the first thing you get to, with clothes to the right and the actual supermarket well off to the left. Now I come to think of it my parents Tesco is the same. I guess they have a higher margin, and depend more on impulse purchases for the non-food stuff. You aren't going to poke your head around the door, notice they sell vegetables and think "Oh, I only came in for pants - I never knew Saisbury's sold salad, I think I'll do my weekly shop", whereas you might do the opposite.

I think the idea used to be, as soon as you walk through the door, ooh look at all that lovely fresh fruit and veg, everything in this store must be just as good, this is a shop I want to buy everything from.
Perhaps pots and pants (yes pants not pans) are now the thing to tempt people in.

 

[londonbridge]

I don’t know what happened to uniform standards but when I first did supermarket work the dress code for women was plain black company skirt or trousers, black or nude/natural tights/stockings, and flat shoes-no heels, knee highs or fashion boots. Today I’ve seen a female colleague wearing black jeans and Ugg boots…..

 

[takno]

I don’t know what happened to uniform standards but when I first did supermarket work the dress code for women was plain black company skirt or trousers, black or nude/natural tights/stockings, and flat shoes-no heels, knee highs or fashion boots. Today I’ve seen a female colleague wearing black jeans and Ugg boots…..

Virtually everywhere which mandates black trousers will be okay with black jeans these days. They are employing people on zero hours contracts and don't want to supply a full uniform, so it isn't particularly reasonable to mandate that the employee provides trousers which they don't have any use for elsewhere.

The Uggs are a bit extreme, but honestly if people are going to be on their feet all day it's probably best that they do so in their most comfortable shoes.

 

[jon81uk]

Virtually everywhere which mandates black trousers will be okay with black jeans these days. They are employing people on zero hours contracts and don't want to supply a full uniform, so it isn't particularly reasonable to mandate that the employee provides trousers which they don't have any use for elsewhere.

The Uggs are a bit extreme, but honestly if people are going to be on their feet all day it's probably best that they do so in their most comfortable shoes.

There are also issues on mandatory uniform, tax and minimum wage. If they state a specific style needs to be worn, the cost of buying that item can't then reduce their pay to below minimum wage.

 

[Hadders]

I don’t know what happened to uniform standards but when I first did supermarket work the dress code for women was plain black company skirt or trousers, black or nude/natural tights/stockings, and flat shoes-no heels, knee highs or fashion boots. Today I’ve seen a female colleague wearing black jeans and Ugg boots…..

Standards of dress in the workplace in general, not just in retail, have declined significantly over the last 20 years or so.

It's rare to see anyone wearing suits on my rail commute into London these days.

 

[birchesgreen]

Standards of dress in the workplace in general, not just in retail, have declined significantly over the last 20 years or so.

It's rare to see anyone wearing suits on my rail commute into London these days.

I wouldn't say "declined", just changed.

 

[Busaholic]

Standards of dress in the workplace in general, not just in retail, have declined significantly over the last 20 years or so.

It's rare to see anyone wearing suits on my rail commute into London these days.

Or indeed the bowler hats that I used to see when going to school in London.

 

[gswindale]

Standards of dress in the workplace in general, not just in retail, have declined significantly over the last 20 years or so.

It's rare to see anyone wearing suits on my rail commute into London these days.

Why should I wear a suit? I'll make an effort if meeting a client, otherwise I'll wear something more comfortable if I'm just sat in the office all day. Certainly no need to wear a strangulation device around my neck.

The one thing I have noticed is that women's office attire seems more suitable than it did pre Covid with less flip flops and other suchlike around.

 

[david1212]

I don’t know what happened to uniform standards but when I first did supermarket work the dress code for women was plain black company skirt or trousers, black or nude/natural tights/stockings, and flat shoes-no heels, knee highs or fashion boots. Today I’ve seen a female colleague wearing black jeans and Ugg boots…..

.... They are employing people on zero hours contracts and don't want to supply a full uniform, so it isn't particularly reasonable to mandate that the employee provides trousers which they don't have any use for elsewhere....

Also now they will be taking on short-term casual staff. In the run up to Christmas in Tesco it is only the badge that identifies some as staff. This is aside from the permanent staff wearing Christmas jumpers.

 

[Hadders]

Why should I wear a suit? I'll make an effort if meeting a client, otherwise I'll wear something more comfortable if I'm just sat in the office all day. Certainly no need to wear a strangulation device around my neck.

I am inclined to agree, but you would not have not away with this sort of attitude in most workplaces 15+ years ago.

 

[gg1]

I am inclined to agree, but you would not have not away with this sort of attitude in most workplaces 15+ years ago.

I appreciate some fields are stricter than others in terms of dress code, but excluding interviews (on either side of the desk), the number of times I've worn a suit and/or tie in my 25 years of office based work can probably be counted in single figures, and in none of those was my less formal attire at all unusual compared to colleagues.

 

[Typhoon]

I appreciate some fields are stricter than others in terms of dress code, but excluding interviews (on either side of the desk), the number of times I've worn a suit and/or tie in my 25 years of office based work can probably be counted in single figures, and in none of those was my less formal attire at all unusual compared to colleagues.

Even when I've been on an interview panel, I didn't wear a suit, just the type of jacket and trousers - and tie - that I normally wore because for the rest of the day I would be doing my normal work. I wasn't an exception. I would want the candidates to see us as we normally are, and I want to 'see' them as they normally are - I will need to work with them. I am not sure what interviews between the 'suited-and-booted' with people looking down sternly behind solid wooden desks achieves.

Other matter - I do want supermarket staff to be recognisable (not just a small badge with 'staff'), I may want to ask them where certain things are, especially (a gripe of mine) when they have another 'reorganisation' so I can't find the very thing I went in for. Common at this time of year when whole swathes are taken over by 'Christmas'. Nothing fancy, a waistcoat type of thing with the supermarket brand and 'staff' will be fine.

 

[gg1]

Even when I've been on an interview panel, I didn't wear a suit, just the type of jacket and trousers - and tie - that I normally wore because for the rest of the day I would be doing my normal work. I wasn't an exception. I would want the candidates to see us as we normally are, and I want to 'see' them as they normally are - I will need to work with them. I am not sure what interviews between the 'suited-and-booted' with people looking down sternly behind solid wooden desks achieves.

Not entirely dissimilar to me when I'm on an interview panel, where I wear a formal shirt, trousers and tie but stop short of a full suit. In ordinary day to work I drop the tie and go for slightly more casual shirt.

If I'm being interviewed I generally take a step up in terms of formality and wear a suit. Having said that my last face to face interview was in 2014, the only interview I've had since than was conducted remotely via Teams in summer 2020 when I just wore a shirt and tie.

 

[dgl]

I just wore a shirt and tie.

And trousers I hope!

I'm of the opinion that a lot of work wear is unnecessarily formal and something more comfortable is a better option.
I think a good example of this is cabin crew, in an emergency wearing trainers is far better than something fancy, and a job is made easier if the employee is wearing something comfortable.

 

[gg1]

And trousers I hope!

Not essential when working from home

 

[Silver Cobra]

I don’t know what happened to uniform standards but when I first did supermarket work the dress code for women was plain black company skirt or trousers, black or nude/natural tights/stockings, and flat shoes-no heels, knee highs or fashion boots. Today I’ve seen a female colleague wearing black jeans and Ugg boots…..

The best one I saw back in August was a home shopping picker in a Tesco in Hertfordshire wearing white sports socks and sliders. How that passes the uniform code I have no idea.

Funnily enough the shop I work in recently was trying to tighten up the uniform policy and press for everyone to wear proper trousers and black shoes rather than jeans/leggings and white trainers. Though they now seem to have given up again on that, as most of the younger colleagues are still wearing the latter. I personally wear black trainers, but ones specifically designed for work with steel toe caps. I've run over my feet a few too many times with heavy cages and milk dollies while wearing ordinary 'smart' shoes in the past, so will only wear something with steel toe caps now for my own safety.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I am inclined to agree, but you would not have not away with this sort of attitude in most workplaces 15+ years ago.

I worked for a retailer from 2006 - 2014 and had a desk in their head office, although my job meant I was only there maybe a third of the time. Quite often I'd arrive there mid-afternoon, and would be wearing a shirt and a suit, with a tie in my jacket pocket. It became a bit of a game as to how long I'd be sat there tieless before somebody told me I wasn't wearing a tie and that I should. For a while I'd reluctantly put the tie on at this point, but after a couple of years I'd either ignore them or tell them wearing a tie wasn't necessary to do my job. Eventually I got a letter from HR telling me I was headed towards a disciplinary if I carried on. I just went to the office less and less

Amazing really that this was only a decade and a bit ago

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I worked for a retailer from 2006 - 2014 and had a desk in their head office, although my job meant I was only there maybe a third of the time. Quite often I'd arrive there mid-afternoon, and would be wearing a shirt and a suit, with a tie in my jacket pocket. It became a bit of a game as to how long I'd be sat there tieless before somebody told me I wasn't wearing a tie and that I should. For a while I'd reluctantly put the tie on at this point, but after a couple of years I'd either ignore them or tell them wearing a tie wasn't necessary to do my job. Eventually I got a letter from HR telling me I was headed towards a disciplinary if I carried on. I just went to the office less and less

Amazing really that this was only a decade and a bit ago

The tie is a strange thing. Serves no other purpose than pointing towards the groin and mopping up gravy. Some people do use them to express their personality eg 'humour' ties. I wore boring ones for decades, stopped wearing one in hot weather then stopped entirely, apart from funerals.

 

[takno]

The best one I saw back in August was a home shopping picker in a Tesco in Hertfordshire wearing white sports socks and sliders. How that passes the uniform code I have no idea.

To be honest I'm not sure there's a lot of value in the home shopping pickers being in uniform. They generally aren't trained at all to interact with the public, they often don't know what things are or where they are if the picking list is out of order, and they certainly can't usually jump on the tills or go out the back and find out if anything is in stock which has run out on the shelves. Better to leave them to their specific task.

 

[Merle Haggard]

Years ago, department stores had 'Floorwalkers' - men formally dressed in a suit, shirt & tie that prowled around ready to answer questions from customers and be generally helpful.
Wearing, in those days, similar formal wear for the office it was not unusual for me, when calling in for a purchase in my lunch break, to be mistaken for one, and asked a question. Although I normally replied honestly there was a temptation, in shops which had upset me in the past, to answer in a very unhelpful and even offensive way, before making good my exit.
I was never certain that being mistaken for one was a compliment.

 

[takno]

The tie is a strange thing. Serves no other purpose than pointing towards the groin and mopping up gravy. Some people do use them to express their personality eg 'humour' ties. I wore boring ones for decades, stopped wearing one in hot weather then stopped entirely, apart from funerals.

I stopped wearing ties for work when Halifax dumped their formal dress code for head office in about 2001. I'm pretty much down to funerals only as well, since whenever I get invited to weddings I tend to realize at the last minute that I only have black ties.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

I stopped wearing ties for work when Halifax dumped their formal dress code for head office in about 2001. I'm pretty much down to funerals only as well, since whenever I get invited to weddings I tend to realize at the last minute that I only have black ties.

Which may be the appropriate colour, depending upon your view of marriage.

 

[_toommm_]

I don’t know what happened to uniform standards but when I first did supermarket work the dress code for women was plain black company skirt or trousers, black or nude/natural tights/stockings, and flat shoes-no heels, knee highs or fashion boots. Today I’ve seen a female colleague wearing black jeans and Ugg boots…..

Come to Waitrose. I wear a blue formal shirts, cargo trousers, and steel toes. Probably the most formal you’ll get in a supermarket.

 

[jon81uk]

To be honest I'm not sure there's a lot of value in the home shopping pickers being in uniform. They generally aren't trained at all to interact with the public, they often don't know what things are or where they are if the picking list is out of order, and they certainly can't usually jump on the tills or go out the back and find out if anything is in stock which has run out on the shelves. Better to leave them to their specific task.

What their wearing doesn't affect their ability but does affect their safety. Open toe sandels likely shouldn't be allowed due to the risk of injury. Also likely the insurance policy for the workplace wouldn't cover an accident if someone is not wearing closed-toe shoes.

 

[Gloster]

I have a feeling that the wearing of ties developed out of two things, both of which involve an element of snobbery, which was a major driver. Nowadays we display our snobbery in other ways.

One was that in many workplaces it was inadvisable to wear something trailing around your neck that could get caught up in something and do you a nasty. Wearing a tie showed that you had achieved a level of seniority or importance above those working with machinery.

The other was that public schools liked uniform and a tie indicated that you (as a public schoolboy) were a bit (well, far) above those oiks who could not afford a proper tie. It then migrated down through groups and professions trying to ape the rich.

 

[birchesgreen]

Ties are christian symbols and we are a secular land now.

 

[dgl]

What their wearing doesn't affect their ability but does affect their safety. Open toe sandels likely shouldn't be allowed due to the risk of injury. Also likely the insurance policy for the workplace wouldn't cover an accident if someone is not wearing closed-toe shoes.

At the caravan park I work at you'd be sent home if you were wearing open toed sandles, and I've seen it happen.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Ties are christian symbols and we are a secular land now.

Really? As they often say on Wikipedia "Citation needed".

P.S. Also, are we still talking about supermarket here?

 

[Jamesrob637]

Shopmium is a good app for cheaper necessary food. I bought some cheese and milk using the app today. The B.o.B milk was free if the cheese was purchased full price, however the B.o.B cheese was reduced with "My Nectar prices" on the Nectar app, anyway. Winner!