by El Zorro Viejo (aka; Jim)

Last Sunday we had our pre-holiday season full store staff meeting. This was a mandatory attendance meeting held after the store closed (9pm to 10:30) where we were supposed to be hyped for the coming season. It flopped...pretty much. We got stuff about dress code (which we all knew) and other things in that vein. About the only really interesting information out of that meeting for me was being told that all vacations, transfer requests and promotions were on hold until December 27th. That means I have no chance of getting out of the rut I'm in before that time.

But then comes this week. We find that the Morris Plains store is without a store manager, and that our very tall ASM could be in line to get that store. If this is going to happen, though, it has to happen like next week at the latest. There is no way he could walk in and hope to take over the store (which has serious problems as evidenced by the abrupt departure of its manager) after Thanksgiving. That would be asking too much of anyone. So, our ASM is going to that store for a couple of days this week ostensibly to act as Receiving Manager, but, in reality, to case the place. I think if he wants it, he'll be there before Thanksgiving. That means, of course, that our store will be short a manager. The thing is that I know our newest Department Manager is not even close to being eligible for promotion, and our other Department Manager (who could do the job standing on his head) has not garnered the support of either our store manager or our new District Manager. Consequently, I don't think he'll get the job. That means they either go through the season down a manager or they bring somebody in from the outside. If they bring somebody in from another store, that will mean there's an opening someplace else. The thing is that I don't want to have to leave this store. It is simply too damn convenient.

Of course, there is little reason for me to worry about any of this. From what I've seen, this company as a whole likes to hire the under 40s in management positions and to promote from booksellers to management people in their 20s and early 30s. Of course, I can't prove any of this--it is just a "sense" that I have. So, I'll stick to my original timeline and give 'em until after the holidays to offer me something a rung or two up the ladder. I would really like to be inline for a store of my own before I hit...ahhh...the next decade birthday. *sigh*

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License. ©El Zorro Viejo 2002-2005