Pros
I met lots of amazing people while managing the shop. Great to think you are helping people. Area Manager very nice but really had no power to help.
Cons
Paid 24 hours per week but responsible for everything including targets - staffing - stock - opening hours - seven days per week. Was given a deputy manager to ‘help’ but had to ensure he didn’t exceed his twelve hours!! If volunteers or deputies don’t turn up or are unable to attend, the manager has to attend - it’s nothing for Oxfam managers to work 40 hours per week but never get paid for any of those hours. If the shop is unable to open through lack of volunteers who are prepared to take on responsibility for closing/opening safeguarding / cashing up, you are accused of not doing your job, delegation and taking on a full team of volunteers is your ‘job’ and if you’re not able to keep the shop open 6 or 7 days per week then you are constantly underperforming. Performance reviews a joke - if you struggle to open instead of helping they rate you non proficient and cut your wages - if you’re proficient- or outstanding ( exceeds expectations) you get your normal salary. They generally only keep shop managers a couple of years / it’s an impossible job, very stressful and although HR team are supportive, they are controlled by operation directors, so they are good at seeming to say the right things! Work life balance, forget it, Oxfam have!
