I fancied covering a slightly more sensitive issue, and I immediately thought of Debenhams. I mean to cause no offence and would suggest that anyone reading this that sees's something offensive should re-read the entire piece before making a decision.
In 2002 I was offered the role of manager ... Read review
Advantages: Occasional good perks Disadvantages: Dreadfully boring at senior management levels.
...of the 2nd floor of Debenhams on Oxford Street, London. The departments were Home wares, Textiles, Cook shop, Soft Furnishings, Electrical, Restaurant and overseeing a variety of concessions. I had a staff level of roughly 240, the store staff level was roughly 1400.
I am a white British man, and on my floor was certainly in the minority. Having had somewhat a sheltered life and spending most of which in the West Country a whole encountering ... ...the different layers of the Debenhams cake were unrolled to me; I was invited into more important circles. Then one day I was bought into the world of internal investigations. In Debenhams if a member of staff was involved in a disciplinary issue it was dealt with in the following ways:- If the member of staff was of sales assistant or supervisor level, the investigation would be carried out by a manager from another floor. If it was a senior management ... more
I fancied covering a slightly more sensitive issue, and I immediately thought of Debenhams. I mean to cause no offence and would suggest that anyone reading this that sees's something offensive should re-read the entire piece before making a decision.
In 2002 I was offered the role of manager of the 2nd floor of Debenhams on Oxford Street, London. The departments were Home wares, Textiles, Cook shop, Soft Furnishings, Electrical, Restaurant and overseeing a variety of concessions. I had a staff level of roughly 240, the store staff level was roughly 1400.
I am a white British man, and on my floor was certainly in the minority. Having had somewhat a sheltered life and spending most of which in the West Country a whole encountering a variety of new cultures was quite a strange situation for me. I got on very well with all my staff, and a variety of staff on the other floors. I became quite popular as people found me a bit unusual. I tend to say exactly what I think, and considering the variety of people in London you would think people would not be too reserved. Boy was I wrong, every single day I would say something only to turn around and see someone's jaw practically on the floor.
This level of popularity took me to a variety of other areas, I was discussing problems that staff members had outside of work and always dragged in to help with recruitment. My off the wall and slightly more reserved at interview level sense of humour really seemed to please both senior management and the interviewees. Other management made me very welcome I was invited out for meals, and to quiz nights with other stores. I even founded a moaners club, in which staff of all levels would meet at the Spread Eagle (a pub) opposite for a drink and a good moan after work. This would take place at least once a week, and to this day the gatherings still take place.
Slowly the different layers of the Debenhams cake were unrolled to me; I was invited into more important circles. Then one day I was bought into the world of internal investigations. In Debenhams if a member of staff was involved in a disciplinary issue it was dealt with in the following ways:- If the member of staff was of sales assistant or supervisor level, the investigation would be carried out by a manager from another floor. If it was a senior management disciplinary then an outside team would be bought in. My first few disciplinary issues were quite straightforward. Nobody was sacked they were just minor issues i.e. poor accountancy, bad timekeeping etc.
Then it raised its head
RACISM, not in the way you may think either and by far the worst I had ever encountered.
I glanced upon a hand written notice one day in Human Resources about disciplinary procedures. The notice clearly stated that all disciplinary action must be carried out by white members of staff. This immediately struck me as being possibly tilted at a white supremacy situation. And again was I wrong.
I became "privileged" to two investigations on two consecutive days. Case 1 was a white female who had taken home a chipped mug rather than throwing it out and filling in a stock loss report. Case 2 was a Pakistani male who had been stealing money, filling out fraudulent refunds and using other members of staffs operator numbers to cover his tracks, falsely accounting his hours, and extending his breaks as he saw fit. He had been getting away with this for three years. In case 1 the young lady was handed over to the police, but they released her without charge later. In case 2 we spent hours surveying CCTV footage going through audit roles, at one point we had about 9-11 members of management all working on the same issue at the same time. As the case reached its climax the accused member of staff used the expression "Your trouble is, you are all racist". There was an immediate closed door situation between the most senior management in the store, and after ten minutes the man was fired but allowed to leave without charge. Despite more than 40 pieces of evidence to 100% confirm he had committed these acts.
This was the beginning a whole string of similar occurrences which took place over my remaining three months in the business. Every time a similar pattern, on one occasion a racist war of words between a Scottish man and an Iraqi girl ended up with him being dismissed and her being left alone, despite staff present who claimed it was equal racist abuse.
Debenhams apparently had a very high profile court case involving a racist incident that cost the company considerably, and as a result Debenhams have an unwritten policy of avoiding anything that remotely points to racism, certainly in Oxford Street anyway.
I left the company both bored as I had become used almost as a Captain Peacock type character. Who was a figurehead but nothing more, this occurred when I raised an objection over a disciplinary issue. And of course most importantly, totally discontent with the whole situation.
My point for this opinion being is that racism is not always aimed at ethnic minorities, when I mention this to other people in city working environments they nearly all have similar tales.
I am fully for equality but equality needs to be a 50/50 thing not tilted to one angle because of fear of the outcome.
About The Job ------------------------------
With my personal experience out of the way, to keep this on topic I feel it only fair to mention some things about the position, so a potential employee can assess things about the role I undertook.
SALES MANAGER
The position entails running of a specified area of the store as if it were your own. You need to ensure that all Point Of Sale and promotional offers are actioned at the exact time designated.
The Sales Manager is responsible for planning the rotas and dealing with staff attendance issues as well as organising holiday times and appraising staff twice a year. The appraisals affect the way the staff member is paid, and outlines a strategy for improvement over the coming six months.
The role requires that the Sales Manager be prepared for a variety of sales complaint scenarios and be familiar with the full customer satisfaction policy.
Sales Managers must push staff to sell the Debenhams Loyalty card in association with GE Capital Bank, logs are kept of staff performance on this. Members with a poor sales history on specific days of the month are given an area on the floor where they must push the card until an achieved number of sales is reached.
Sales Managers need to have basic understanding of other floors within the store so to fill in at a moments notice. Prior to working at Debenhams I was store manager for C & A in Cheltenham and thus was always thrown into fashion areas when staffing levels were short.
Sales Managers must achieve previous year's sales targets; the only excuse for failing these targets is if the store as a whole has a failing day. Failure to achieve targets several days running can result in an on the spot assessment. Sales Managers can initiate Staff incentives to increase sales, suggested methods include link selling.
Sales Managers must ensure investigations are dealt with fairly!?!?
Staff Incentives ----------------------
At the time I worked at Debenhams the following incentives or perks of the job were available. These are the incentives at the Oxford Street store and applied to all staff, other stores may vary.
Free Travel Card up to Zone 6 in the London Transport Network.
Staff Store Card, this is the GE Capital card but given to all staff regardless of credit status. This card also is required to activate the 20% Staff discount (this may now have been reduced to 15%)
Staff Uniform, each staff member receives two full uniforms.
Share Scheme and Pension Plan, open to all.
50% Discount on food eaten in the staff canteen.
My Thoughts On The Role -----------------------------------
The problem with Debenhams is that you are accepted by all at Senior Management level, unless you speak up against issues you feel are unfair. At such time they close ranks and you are made an outsider.
Another annoying issue is that there is no set wage for Managerial staff one member may have worked for the company for 5 years and earn £20K while another may walk in off the street and earn £28k. It is forbidden to discuss wages amongst senior management, and again should you be found to be discussing wages you are again made an outcast, and eventually removed.
The job itself is nothing too demanding, but incredibly boring. To achieve the maximum amount of rewards within Debenhams you must not have a brain, or any opinions other than those written clearly in the rule book.
In fairness to Debenhams if you are an ordinary sales assistant, or merchandiser you can carry on for a large amount of time without coming to any harm or noticing the internal disputes, as most of the issues outline only occur at "Top Level" as Debenhams like to regard the position.
Advantages: Good discounts! Disadvantages: Managers with no experience, low pay, treated like dirt.
...Jane Norman, a concession within Debenhams and this was the best place to post it. I actually thought Debenhams was probably a well run store, the pay was a bit low and I was hoping to apply for Debenhams when I left JN... Anyway just wanted to clear that up and warn off any young girls of taking a Saturday job in Jane Norman just because it's trendy as it's honestly one of the WORST places to work. If your lucky like me and worked in A Debenhams, ... ...SECONDLY on Mega Days that Debenhams had, Jane Norman participated too. This is not mentioned in your contract at all about working lates, till midnight so for one you shouldn't have to do it and secondly there was no increase in pay for staying to so a midnight shift. They just offered you some seedy minicab to get in, not even a proper black cab! I heard that Debenhams staff got extra pay and I think JN and ALL the concessions should have done ...
luckyduke 18.07.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Debenhams
Advantages: Good Cheery Staff, great banter, and a pretty compatible job. Disadvantages: Tiring after consistent standing and monotonous repetition of the store music!
Debenhams happily hired me for my first proper job as a 6th (last year in England) year school pupil this Christmas as a Gift Advisor with a 12hr/week contract; my primary task being to advise the public and be of bubbly assistance. It was really quite good job - it wasn't overly stressful and the people I worked with were brilliant. I asked a fellow employee what their opinion of Debenhams was and she responded "Never can you work in a place and ... ...breaks, a really quite stingy Debenhams approach. The changing rooms were quite unsafe and really too small with quite puny lockers. On the shopfloor, the 6 leveled Glasgow Debenhams, the 2nd most profitable in the UK, created an absolutely fantastic atmosphere especially when a visit to the stockroom for goods was made. I worked as an advisor on either the Men's Gifts or Children's Gifts but it wasn't all that it said on the tin; There was a quite ...
Blobz 10.01.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Debenhams
Advantages: Good Customer Service, Reasonable Prices Disadvantages: Store Cards are always being emphasised to customers
...Got a Wedding planned? Well Debenhams offer a wedding Service. From Bridal wear, to gift lists, they are able to help you with every aspect. With the gift, you can also have them delivered at a certain date, instead of all the hassle of carrying tit all around. This is also a Bonus if your honeymoon is straight after your wedding.
Another good thing about the store is, there are always sales going on throughout the year, where you can make great ... ...*When you pay with your Debenhams Card
When you qualify for a Gold Card, you get access to a 'Gold Card Lounge' which provides you with seating, lockers for your purchases etc. This is comfortable area when you can relax when you have been shopping for several hours.
Want some help with clothes for an Interview, looking for that Perfect Dress? Some of the Debenhams Stores across the Country have 'Personal Shoppers'. These clever members of Staff ...
sideweaver 02.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Debenhams
Advantages: None and none Disadvantages: Too many to list
...order an expensive watch through Debenhams online during their supposed great 25% discount weekend - but never again! They rejected my order after 7 days so i missed the discount (very convenient!). Then calling to complain customer services told me that i couldn't purchase the product online as my order would be rejected again and refused to tell me why due to security reasons. Having checked with my bank (obvioulsy concerned) they confirmed my ... ...a £400 gift – obviously Debenhams is so big now it doesn’t need my custom!!! I have since written an email to Debenhams (almost a week ago might i add) and i haven't has as much as a "thank you, we are dealing with your issue" email.
Debenhams you really need to get your act together! ...
Angryshopper100 01.12.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Debenhams
Advantages: Debenhams excellent Wedding Gift Service. This service allows family and friends to buy the perfect gift, from the Bride and the Groom present list they have devised with the help of Debehams high quality products. Debenhams will also deliver it. Disadvantages: The disadvantage is firstly the price, as Debehams can be quite expensive. Secondly if the present you have selected is out of stock, which happened to me, you will have to wait for it to be in stock.
Last August 2002, my best friend Ruth was getting married to her now husband Graham. They had selected Debehams to be the place where they would ask people to buy their wedding presents. Therefore they went down to the store in Belfast and devised a wedding gift list with the help of the staff. When my sister and myself were going down to choose something from the list, we found it extremely easy to bring up their list from the wedding gift computer. ... ...what was still left on the list, therefore we would not be buying them a gift that someone else had purchased. I decided to purchase from their list a lovely vase and my sister decided to buy them a Chinese set of dishes. However when we proceeded to collect and pay for them, one of the items my sister was buying them was out of stock, and she would have to wait for it to come back into stock. Well since the wedding was only 1 week away she did not ...
TrisheyWishey 24.02.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Debenhams
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