Saturday, September 19, 2009

Not that this is bad news or unexpected, but you may not have a job next year

One commenter writes:
"The company is only making 88% of its projected sales, even with those numbers having been reduced 10% from last years' sales.
At our conference call on Friday, we were told that we might not have jobs this time next year in the portrait studio....and that if we don't want the company to fold, we need to be working all weekend every weekend.
Oh yeah, and our manager just quit, leaving me in the lurch with little to no idea what to do, and five positions to staff and train in time for the holidays. Great."
On a related note, another commenter writes:
"I'd like to send a big shout out to Neil and his boss Cindy! Thanks again for firing me- I never knew life could be so great! "
This job danger could also be a made up story: we all know how the people up top like to make it seem like everyone's job is in jeopardy as a means of motivation, but still I tend to believe it.

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

The Sears store that I am in is a ghost town. There are many days that there are only a few people in the store at any given time. The store's sales are down, my studio's sales are way down... I'm frustrated and burnt out, and wish they would just close the store.

Anonymous said...

It is really not up to the studio managers whether or not CPI closes its doors. I went from ASM at a mega to running a low volume stand-alone store because I was tired of being mistreated by the manager. When I got there they told me it was up to me to keep the studio open because it was doing so badly. I raised the overall PRS average by more than $15. on the year in just a few months and got an award in St. Louis for best improved studio in the COMPANY. After I was there for 8 months the VP came to tell me personally, that they were closing the studio. It was already slated for closure and and NOTHING to do with me, but in true CPI form, they let me feel completely responsible for the success or failure of my store and the jobs of my staff.
Ever heard the saying, "don't feel guilt you haven't earned"? Well I truely live by this now and it feels good.

Anonymous said...

If my DM told me that if I wanted the company not to fold I would work nights and weekends, I would tell them that I understand the depth of the situation, but that this is a business and to stop trying to emotionally manipulate me into believing that what happens to the company or it's decisions are in any way up to me. Gotta love the small idiot minds of those with false power. PLEASE do not fall for their bull. Do the best job you can and feel good about it. For anyone in a business or corporate structure to pull that kind of high school, co-dependent crap, they must really think you are a bunch of mindless zombies hanging on their every word. Trust me, if CPI folds, it will be due to their complete lack of leadership and incompetence as well as poor business acumen. NOT because you suck as a manager and didn't work nights and weekends!

The Bunny Lady

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the encouragement, Bunny Lady! I know that they are just being manipulative, but the DM had SUCH a plaintive, sorrowful voice when she told us all that we needed to be working open-close all weekend.
I have a religious issue with working on Sundays, so that's usually my day off. I'm not *really* the manager (at least, not until I get a pay increase), so I figure she can't really hold it over me.
On a side note, does anyone know what the regulations are regarding religious conflicts at work? Can they write you up or fire you for not working on the sabbath? Or passover? Or a Christmas Eve Mass? Just curious...

Anonymous said...

They can require you to work whenever the studio is open EXCEPT what you originally put down as your availability. If you have religious issues working on certain days, make that point VERY clear to the DM and even to HR to back up your rights. They will probably not have a problem with it (or risk action) especially if you are not even the official manager. I would NOT work the managers schedule until your raise and title have changed. And I do know for a fact that if they are pressuring you or requiring you to do the managerial duties without the pay, you have a serious legal issue and should call HR to cover your butt. HR's job is to protect the company, not you, from law suits and will correct any DM misusing their title.

The Bunny lady

Anonymous said...

Did you know that if you are discharged for something stupid..like being sick..and you save all of your text messages and show them to the unemployment agency..you will win unemployment benefits? Save your texts and emails from your DM..all of your write ups too..it can be useful when filing..sooo many contradictions.

Anonymous said...

I just pulled up hot jobs and found all the listings for SPS. Half the entire listing is for store managers. I saw a couple DM positions posted too. Either they got rid of a lot of people at once or they're having trouble getting people to accept a job at sps.

Anonymous said...

On conference call today, my DM told us about a situation where one of the higher-ups in corporate went to visit a studio and found it a complete mess: dirty, none of the required documentation completed, etc. The for that studio's district was called and fired on the spot. The SM was also called and terminated.
Now they are flying out people from corporate to do surprise checks at most of the studios, but definitely the ones closest to airports. Anyone found not complying with the 360 promise card, PROS standards and associate development standards is getting FIRED.
That's probably why they have all those listings on craigslist: to make room for all the people who are going to be let go as a result of the "surprise" visits.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, meant to say "The DM for that studio's district..."

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry, but that sounds like a crock! How many times have you heard that someone was fired on the spot for whatever reason? I have personally been told numerous times about the manager that was fired for going 2% over labor control; not getting outreach done; not certifying photographers; not holding associates accountable; taking personal photos while on the clock; not booking the last appt time; turning a customer away after closing; not taking a break; taking a break; the list goes on and on to include whatever they are currently trying to control. And using those tactics to control you! Fact is, they will NEVER tell you who or what district they are from, siting some sort of confidential bull. Another fact is, it is very rare for any H.O. employees to show up unannounced. In my 17+ years and several studios I worked in, I NEVER had a surprise visit. The TM's don't want their DM's to look bad, and the DM's don't want their SM's to look bad, so they keep a close eye on who is where. There is always a phone tree to let studios in the surrounding area that a potential visit is a possibility.

The bunny lady

Anonymous said...

I agree that this sound suspicious because, as a manager, it was almost impossible to fire an associate, even when I had lots of documentation. I finally got the OK to fire two of them during my time at SPS, but it was long after they had done a tone of things and been written up multiple times (meanwhile making me look entirely inconsistent because I could never hold true to my own warnings). If they really are firing people on the spot, that is insane because it is right before Xmas and that makes no sense at all.

Anonymous said...

We JUST had someone fired because they didnt make a 6pm appt. It was a fake appt made by another studio to see if they were complying. They didnt, and they were fired on the spot.

And i believe the 'surprise' visits because of this whole 360 execellence thing. But,TBH, i cant keep track. its something new every week and i dont care if we win the $100 anyways since its just for studio use and the kids always steal anything new that we buy.

Either way as long as our studio is clean and our assoc are in dress code, im fine!

Anonymous said...

Over at PMPS we have a ton of manager jobs open as well as a few DM jobs. They are firing managers and DM's for not making the numbers. The company is not allowing any PTO time off until after JAN. 1 so it looks like I will forfeit all my time I have built up when I quit or get fired after Christmas. They are training just about all of our part-time associates to be store managers.

So after Christmas there will be a lot of us let go for the cheaper labor in the wings. At our stores we will be very lucky to have 1 customer/day after Christmas for about 2 to 3 months this year. Maybe 5/week if we are lucky.

CPI will have us drag customers in from the store ailses by their hair to get pictures made. I predict that there will be a mass sell off of stock in the next month.

Shareholders know what is coming their way, no customers after Christmas until Easter. Everyone that works for CPI had better have a backup plan by then to go somewhere else.

Anonymous said...

Yes, they are firing people now, even as we approach the busy season. It's happened in our district. I really think they want people to know they mean business and mean they are. With a bad job market, I'm sure they think this is a great way to retain compliant employees. Besides, as it's been said here many times before, upper management acts as if its employees can be replaced with WGTP-trained baboons. This isn't rocket science, but it takes a good deal longer than many higher paying jobs to get good at. But, who am I to know?

And, when did clean ever matter? Has there ever been anything circulated about cleaning procedures and expectations? I've seen oodles on PRS, and PRS, and telemarketing, and all the things that can get you fired, but cleaning? When do managers get a chance to even think about cleaning their studios with so much crap paperwork and such restricted labor allocations?

If I sound soured on this company, I am. I sure hope those surprise guests are taking rail and economy car rentals for their stealth visits. We have to save every penny now, don't we?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, you'd better be saving your pennies alright...you'll need them to purchase those Fall/Halloween/Christmas props.

Anonymous said...

I agree with not having time to even think about cleaning. How are we supposed to clean the studio when we're booking fake appts at closing time. I used to use the last hour of the day to clean the studio but now, there isn't any time. I'm using whatever free minute I get to telemarket and try to get caught up on the crap paper work. It's gotten to the point of bring paperwork home with me to do on my own time to get caught up. I don't have the labor to schedule "admin" time. I have noticed all the management positions for sps/pmps and even some of the DM positions. I'm just waiting to find my position listed on the web.

Anonymous said...

also every other place is hiring at a higher starting rate. we brought back a girl from last xmas who was friendly outgoing and had a decent PRS. i whispered a thanks for one lees person to stress about training. she worked 2 weeks before quitting stating babies r us started her at $10 per hour. AND it was much easier. they dont ring up their own sales they send the purchase to the cash registers. that cuts our work in HALF not having to deal with the SAS. plus the customers walk out with most of their merchandise before leaving. no people waiting forever or interrupting your sitting for pickup. AND they dont have a minimum of portraits to take or a list of WHAT poses to take. i think ill fill an application, because if one more thing changes, one more extra piece of paperwork, one more new policy, one more thing to "sign off on" i may just go postal. i chipped my tooth the other day i was clenching so hard trying to keep my calm with a confrontational abusive customer as my company told me.

Anonymous said...

oh FYI most targets wont hire you because you have too much experience for them

Anonymous said...

Christmas times a coming!! Christmas times a coming!!

I just can't wait! I wanna see the look on their face when the studio won't be covered the day after Thanksgiving. Got me another job lined up for that day. LOL...

Anonymous said...

The comment about Target not wanting to hire too experienced personnel, if even vaguely true, says a lot about this industry. I don't know about others, but when I select a lawyer, dentist, appliance repairman, or any professional for that matter, I want the most experienced person I can find. Experience alone doesn't guarantee a good result, but it sure improves the odds. But in retail portraiture, experience, and its associated higher salary (not necessary true at SPS), are viewed as a liability. Companies that will not extend the measures necessary to retain experienced staff or, worse yet, view their quality, senior employees as a financial liability, are destined to deliver variable quality at best. Customers, believe me, you are getting what you pay for.

Anonymous said...

They don't have these Managers in Training and District Managers in Training for nothing at Picture Me. They are planning on dumping a lot of higher paid individuals. They are still giving tough reviews of employees even though it is Christmas time. Most of my older collegues are really worried about what happens after the holdiays. We know they are hiring in cheaper managers and setting the way we get bonuses up to never get them.

boothis said...

I'm putting in my notice later this month. I've been with sps for over a year and a half and still haven't received my 6mos performance raise. I've submitted ~fifty-five~ 5-star sessions and my DM simply stated that our "numbers are too low to get [me] that raise." Wait - what about when our numbers were good? You know.. .when I submitted my paper work ~the first time?~ Awesome, thanks.
But, what really did it for me? Is when my mgr called me sobbing about how the dm told her she put ads online and is replacing her because she's a terrible mgr and leader.

Anonymous said...

To BooThis...

You sound like 3 employees that i have. They are going into their 2nd Christmas season and they wont give them a raise, because we submit when #'s are up, but shockingly the DM doesnt reply until they are slightly back down.... hmmmm. Not to mention myself, ive been promised 3 different raises. I never got them. If the company doesnt care when i kickass..... then i STOP kicking ass. They are getting what they pay for, mediocre.

Anonymous said...

I've was forced to leave the company 5 months ago. I lost weight, have fewer headaches, am actually going to get to enjoy the Holiday Season AND when I got 'FIRED' I won my case against CPI. How? I copied my write-ups and brought them all home so they would be safe..the unemployment office read through many, many contradictions, emails and the like and awarded me my benefits....you CAN win them....just keep the proof.

They did me a big favor. Now I am enjoying my life..and making enough to survive. I finally got my vacation after all these years of not getting one.

Anonymous said...

"I won my case against CPI. "

Was that an unemployment case or wrongful termination case" Just curious. CPI didn't even try to deny my unemployment but I did have the documentation just in case. My friend is now in court with them for getting fired for something that another employee just got written up for. Silly company. Don't they know we are not all a bunch of idiots that are gonna lay down and take their crap anymore? Better get your cases settled soon if you have them, cuz by this time next year, there probably won't be much left of CPI to collect from.

boothis said...

To whomever posted "don't feel the guilt you haven't earned" - I want to say Thanks! I was having a lot of trouble actually writing my two weeks and that helped out so much! They have groomed us to feel that whatever we do for ourselves is selfish and against the company! Well, I don't want to feel that way anymore! I've worked this job for everyone else, and now I'm quitting for ME!

Anonymous said...

boothis,

Congratulations to you! I hope you find a more nurturing, enabling, and less neurotic environment in your next job. That shouldn't be too hard. I have never worked for a company that so systematically fosters guilt and a sense of inadequacy as CPI. They thrive on people like you, who care about the people they work with and customers they care for. They need people like you to furnish studio props and the like out of their own pockets. They need people like you to rearrange their own lives so that the studio can get by with unrealistic staffing. Ultimately, they need people like you because they really don't care. Now they'll have one less and that's their loss.

Anonymous said...

"To whomever posted "don't feel the guilt you haven't earned" - I want to say Thanks!"

You are VERY welcome! I learned that later in life but it helped me so much to get through the CPI swamp that I wanted to share. You sound like a fantastic person that deserves happiness and I hope you all the best from the bottom of my heart!

The bunny lady

Anon. E. Mouse said...

Is no one talking about the new 40% off coupons from marketing? These coupons also feature a free collage. So... 40% off a $7.99 sheet is $4.79. There's also the big sign out front that says "Free 10x13," the calendars on all the monitors advertising a free collage with any purchase during October, and let's say a customer is also a Super Saver Member. A customer could easily come in and spend $4.79 and walk out with 2 sheets, 2 collages and a 10x13. Oh, and if they come on "Super Saver Wednesday" this month they can also get an additional 10x13 - enhanced! And forget trying to tell them they can't get all that combined because they already called customer service who told them they could. Marketing's response: "It's our job to get them in, it's your job to get them to spend." I'm sorry, but I can't do my job when every tool I am given is working against me. Not to mention if I turn this customer away to take a more lucrative sale I get terminated. Take the customer and the $4.79 sale and I get written up for having a bad PRS. Where do I win?

On another note, TWICE this week my DM had conference calls from 2-3. And then the next day called me and asked why I didn't take a lunch break. How can I when I'm the only one there and you didn't tell us we were having a call DURING LUNCH until that morning, so I didn't know in advance to bring someone in to cover (which would also kill my labor...)

LOSE, LOSE, LOSE all around...

Anonymous said...

I was working at Sears portrait studio in Nova Scotia, Canada.

I worked Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (I had Wednesday & Sunday off). It was my first week of training. On Sunday I got a phone call at 4:45 stating not to come back in on Monday... After "careful deliberation" they were going to let me go...

Now the issue I have is that I worked an ADDITIONAL 1.5 hours on saturday due to the fact it was BUSY. I was not ready to leave my poor manager hanging, as she was the only staff member working. She was telling me she was "so glad I was there" and that she "would never have been able to do it by herself" and that I "was catching on so well" and she was so glad and never had an employee who "jumped right in and started doing things" (like passport photos) and that she "really liked how I was editing the photos" so she kept me editing the photos and showing the photos to the customers...

I wasn't really able to ring anything in, or do the photographs, because I hadn't really been trained in those areas. I wasn't even really trained in the whole "selling photo" thing either (because It had only been 4 days prior to Saturday of training).

I was kinda shy, it was a new job. I hadn't been able to get "too into it" because on the 4 days prior to Saturday I had not been able to get too involved in the other shoots because there were only about 3 of them PLUS I was sick. I was SICK and i dragged myself into work for the training. I wasn't playing with the kids too much, because I was not willing to make them sick. poor things...

But yeah... I am supposed to call them tomorrow and see why I was let go... I am sure THAT will be interesting... if I can even get a straight answer out of them.

(oh and PS - they can't stay its cause they are overstaffed since they have to hire 2 more people at least by Oct 10th for the holidays - as only 1 staff member currently works at the location - and is working 3 weeks straight.)

MelissaS

Anonymous said...

Bunny Lady said, "Another fact is, it is very rare for any H.O. employees to show up unannounced. In my 17+ years and several studios I worked in, I NEVER had a surprise visit. The TM's don't want their DM's to look bad, and the DM's don't want their SM's to look bad, so they keep a close eye on who is where. There is always a phone tree to let studios in the surrounding area that a potential visit is a possibility."

I'll have you know that Kellye Feiffer showed up on my doorstep unannounced on the 1st day of training for my new core staff! She was 100%, without a doubt, a surprise visit. My D.M, T.M, & all other stores had no idea she was coming. I was her 1st stop!!! Believe me! It happens!!!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 8 said, "On conference call today, my DM told us about a situation where one of the higher-ups in corporate went to visit a studio and found it a complete mess: dirty, none of the required documentation completed, etc. The for that studio's district was called and fired on the spot. The SM was also called and terminated."
Our DM told us the same thing on a conference call. As a matter of fact, it was a district in our region.
Has anyone else received a backup customer service sign for when they start canning D.M.s? We got one the other day & our D.M was freaked out when she told us to put it behind her sign for when the day comes they sack her! It's not just S.M, A.S.M & staff that are fearing for their careers. It's affecting the district level too. Our District Trainer was in my studio today when we got the message about the price increase. Even she is concerned SPS is closing their doors!

Anonymous said...

Anonymous from September 27 12:40am says, "If I sound soured on this company, I am. I sure hope those surprise guests are taking rail and economy car rentals for their stealth visits. We have to save every penny now, don't we?"

I know my T.M won't stay in anything but a Best Western & that Kellye Feiffer drives a nice car when she surprises, so they're not scrimping & saving there! lol

Anonymous said...

After working at my SPS for a week, I was ready to quit. I watched my assistant manager show me, not portrait examples, but pictures of her boyfriend's penis on her cellphone. Meanwhile, she is stealing sales from all the new people. All of our sales are posted in the store, and I laughed when I saw "YUCK!" next to my PRS and "DOUBLE YUCK" next to my collections. All of this for minimum wage... what a deal.