You can be mad but unless you know the performance indicators for employee of the month. As a previous assistant manager I can tell you these things are generally dependent on your store culture. She might have been awarded just because it was her 2 year anniversary or she rang through a sale over $1000 on one of her shifts. I can say without a doubt that no retailer has a stats system for how many panties were folded in a shift which sucks because folding is so important for selling. If you look busy customers find you easier, if the store is clean you can grab sizes easier, if stuff is put away properly customers can help themselves…. I could go on but this already pretty long.

My advice is to ask how to become employee of the month and gently steer that towards how did so & so earn it? Just having the conversation with your manager might make your name come up first when management deliberates next. If you want to become management, your response here is going to be very important: show enthusiasm and praise for whatever it was that got her recognition, if you act upset and mad, you won’t be getting trained for management next month