How do you file a complaint about your manager in a retail environment?

Question

My mom has worked for Kohls for ten years. She has been in the same position for that long too. She has been through many managers. Her new group of mangers have been on her case. She has been written up a few times for things not in her control. She tries to fix the issues they have but some of the things are not acheivable. They cut their staff down to nothing. One employee is suppose to cover 5 departments, assist customers and do special projects that take them off the floor. She can't be in two places at once and when something is not done because she was doing the other thing they told her to do she gets written up. None of the managers help her like all the other past managers. There are many long term employees at her store that have issues with these managers. One employee called corporate and complained. My mom works hard and does her job. These managers expect her to do 5 projects at once and they don't understand what is really happening in the departments. She has been with the company this long with no other issues until this past year. Who does she talk to or complain to? The managers told one employee "Go ahead and complain" Many employees are scared they may lose their jobs if the mangers find out they filed a complaint. (they are in their 50s and 60s)I have worked at three different Kohls in the past ten years part-time so I am familiar with the company too. Any advice please. She is stressed.

Answer 1

Sorry.......suck it up or move on........I was laid off 7 months before I could retire........live with it..........if she complains shes gone.......you would be surprised how many applications Kohl's has........life in the job market..........sorry.....

Answer 2

You will not get anywhere in your career fighting the system of any established organization or company.  She should either move on to another career or company, or, go straight to the person she reports to, or the general manager, and ask what they want her to do, then do it to the best of her ability.

Me and my buddy, who are both drugstore managers, and moved up relatively quickly in our company both agree that the best way to get ahead in your company is just to do whatever your boss wants, to the best of your ability, so long as it isn't unethical.

You can spend your life making money and getting ahead at least until the point you want to be at, or you can spend your life fighting the system and getting nowhere.  Theres small consolation in knowing your right, if your bills aren't getting paid and you aren't making the money you want to make.

Answer 3

Kohls sucks like that. Go to corpriate.  

Answer 4

If working your end off while smiling to show how much you enjoy your job, arriving early and staying late etc does not work than I would, along with several others (if they are agreeable) make an appointment with management.  Before doing so find out if there is a greivance committe within the organization, if not then I would contact the head office and ask for a consultation with the district manager (or whatever that persons title may be) then ask them  to meet with you to hear your greivance.  God Bless ! contact me if I can help  

Answer 5

 

Answer 6

She should complain to the right person in Corporate.  It is illegal for her managers to retaliate for her complaining.  If she loses her job because of it, she'll have a good case to file suit against them.

Answer 7

This tactic is used by management to get rid of long time employees, so they can hire younger employees as part timers and pay them less.

She should document everything in one note book everyday after work, recruit other mistreated employees to do the same. If you must file a law suit for unfair treatment in the workplace its better to have several employees with documentation to back up what they say.

The fact that your Mom has already been written up means they are documenting grounds for dismissal...and may fight her if she quits and applies for unemployment.

It would be really good for her to start looking for another job now, before things in her personnel file get ugly.

Issy