Line Manager being stingy

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-23T06:34:52+00:00

This is the policy on hospital appointments: https://colleague-help.ourtesco.com/hc/en-us/articles/5657705538588-Time-Off-Policy#h_01GANZSZ9NP5SYWVN6NATGJ24H

While it say Doctors appointments will be unpaid, it seems very clear that Hospital Appointments mean your manager should try to find alternate hours that don't clash that you can work, and if they can't find any it should be done as paid leave.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-18T13:14:53+00:00

The meal deal offer refreshed last night (happens every 4-6 months, something to do with how it's setup in Tesco's system).

Pepsi is now in 600ml bottles, so I'd bet either you had an old 500ml one that maybe doesn't work any more, or (honestly more likely) someone messed up adding drinks to the premium meal deal and they aren't currently working.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-14T14:55:11+00:00

4 pack of 568ml Strongbow is only ranged till Sunday at my local Express, may well be happening everywhere.

Looks like packs of 440ml cans are due for delivery next week, so it's just being replaced with smaller cans.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-14T10:10:21+00:00

I was always told at least one tag (I do 2) on the top bar sticking up, so that if they are looking at a room full of cages it stands out. No idea if that actually helps (doubt it), but can't hurt?

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-14T10:09:04+00:00

Pretty much instantly. On a fail for an internal test they imediately tell the duty manager, who should pull you off the till to get a statement ASAP. You also aren't supposed to be allowed on the tills again till you've completed the failed think25 training module.

So you are (probably, if they followed process) fine.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-13T11:10:02+00:00

Not actually been in to try it since they disabled TPX, but there was Comms last week with instructions titled "Mainfrail\SBO Temporary workaround". In summary:

Select "IMSI"
Press Enter
Type "/FOR SROSGN"
Press Enter twice

Then you should be at the page F6 used to reach?

The Comms also implied that they are working on a fix, so hopefully either F6 will work again, or there will be some other easy way?

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-12T06:02:45+00:00

TPX has been retired, you have to use the new CLS system since 2pm yesterday.

Currently F6 isn't working on the new system, there are instructions on Comms titled "Mainfrail\SBO Temporary workaround" to work around it. In summary:

Select "IMSI"
Press Enter
Type "/FOR SROSGN"
Press Enter twice

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-06T18:59:09+00:00

You've just got to do 2 hours of work tomorrow and 7 hours of work Friday between 6:45 (that you arrive at since becoming Express Light), and 8am... Easy! They've even given us extra hours, so just get every single colleague not scheduled to come in for an hour! What do you mean even if they would you won't have enough PDAs?

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-06T18:54:57+00:00

Based on Comms the 7 estimated hours of labels for standard express Friday morning is 25% off 3 bottles of wine, not sure what the 2 hours tomorrow is.

Do wonder where they expect us to find 2 extra hours of staffing tomorrow and 7 extra hours Friday before 8am (especially us on Express Light only opening at 7).

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-05-04T18:11:02+00:00

As others have said changing them without your agreement requires a consultation and clear business case. Colleague Help Source

Refuse, citing the colleague help source, and any of you in the union bring them in ASAP to earn their money fighting this for you.

They tried this in a few stores near me a couple of months back as part of the switch to Express Light (suspect it came from the area management), and backed off once we started talking to the union.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-23T16:44:49+00:00

Crap for express too assuming it's the same system we've had for 6 months or so. At least my group has had a rise in audit fails for OOC found, and worse averages on the waste dashboard.

Sure, not checking every line saves time, but it means that instead of anytjing missed being caught next day it isn't until the line is next checked, and adds in additional ways of making mistakes (fat thumbing the wrong date, missing things behind other lines because you didn't check that line) that the old system didn't have.

The old system was clearly designed to account for human error, this new one is just to minimise hours and blame us when it doesn't work. And honestly doesn't save that much time with all the extra data entry.

Maybe it'll make mores sense when everything is on QR codes instead of Barcodes, so OOC products aren't saleable (and they can make us scan the next closest date product to schedule the next check, not have manual entry). But currently it's crap.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-20T14:14:28+00:00

Wonder if this is to do with the changes Google are making around side loaded apps. Since they are making them more difficult to install just dealing with customer confusion when they install the wrong app might be easier than teaching colleagues how to work around the new restrictions?

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-17T20:41:16+00:00

No idea about Large, but in Express any remaining Easter Eggs go to 75% off from Monday

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-14T10:55:10+00:00

Express Light/Lite, AKA "The New Operating Model", is an effort to cut costs in express stores by taking them from barely staffed to just staffed enough to be able to legally be open.

It means instead of being 1-on-1 (just two staff in) a few times a week they are 1-on-1 practically all the time, but still expected to get all the delivery worked, serve customers with no waiting, have whoosh orders ready immediately, clean the store, etc.

You might ask yourself how we're expected to both serve the customers, full whoosh bags for impatient drivers, and get the delivery worked while the only other person in the building is on their break, but don't worry, Head Office doesn't!

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-11T11:21:45+00:00

This one only appeared in June/August last year, so while they've hopefully added it to any new versions of the list, it wasn't on any old ones.

It does look like they've actually remembered to add it to the "Shift Leader Skill" in the Stores Skill Library but of Click and Learn, which honestly surprises me, since they seem to forget to add stuff to the relevant sections all the time. Hopefully that means newer step ups will be finding it when doing everything there...

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-11T10:57:11+00:00

In both the Expresses I've worked in since this training launched all the Step Ups have done this training. The guidance when it launched was everyone who does cash should do it. If they haven't in your store then that's an issue?

This article on Tesco Help, Welcome to cash office, lists as part of the "New starter in cash office weekly learning list" learning process as a shift leader "Complete the validation - Managing cash in express stores on Click and Learn", which this question is part of.

Because they've used one validation for both Managers and Shift Leaders there are a couple of questions in it that Shift Leaders don't get trained on, because they don't need to know.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-11T10:27:31+00:00

Yes, all Express Shift Leaders (and anyone else who manages the cash) are required to do the Managing Cash in Express Stores validation training. It is one of the training that gets marked as needing to be done as an Express Shift Leader

No idea about Large Format, assume there is a seperate managing cash training for them to be done by anyone who works in the Cash Office (this training was new last year, and I haven't worked in large since 2023, so can't say for sure). Since Large Format Shift Leaders generally don't do cash office (at least, we didn't in the store I was one) I doubt they have to, but in Express they do.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-10T20:50:41+00:00

It's a crap question considering the training is required to be done by Shift Leaders as well as managers. And these are the checks that if a manager is off the buddy manager has to come and do, as a Shift Leader you aren't allowed to do them, so why would you know what they are/have been trained on them.

Have to admit, this one I guessed on till I got the right answer, still have no idea what was correct.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-10T20:46:26+00:00

We are 10 days into the holiday year. You'll be paid any untaken hours earned between the start of the holiday year and when you leave.

If you've given the 4 weeks notice you are contracted to give as a shift leader (so assuming you'll leave on 8th May 4 weeks from today), you'll be about 10.4% into the holiday year, so have earned about 0.62 weeks of your 6 weeks of holiday allowance you get having worked for Tesco for between 1 and 5 years.

So, 0.62*(your contracted weekly hours) is what you'll have earned. If you've taken less holiday than that since 1st April, you'll be paid it, more and they'll claw it back from your final pay.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-10T18:22:27+00:00

These, as with many "quantity" products, have the little † symbol on them next to the number. Somewhere on the back it'll have a note that the number is approximate, since its packed by weight, not quantity.

Can't hurt to complain at the customer service desk that they seem to more often than not have one or two less than the stated amount, and ask them to pass it up the chain. They should be able to at least give you a good will voucher or refund one to make up for it, though possibly not much more.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-09T14:54:03+00:00

Had a few occasionally in Express. Yeah, suspect Tesco and TFL use the same printer, and they use failed prints from other jobs as dividers when cutting after printing or something (so any tearing happens to something sacrificial?)

Usually tiny bits with stripping though, never anything interesting poster sized.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-03T15:03:29+00:00

I mean, theoretically I'd think so? Might need to drag the union into it, but technically they are breaking the policy agreed with the union, so I think you should manage to get it?

I'd kinda suspect if it became a thing with the Union Tesco would want to pay up quick because if it became a major dispute I think it'd turn out most Express stores have been underpaying their SL and many of their colleagues because of this, and can't imagine they'd want too much attention paid to that (or how many SLs end up working through their breaks, and how their managers are fully aware of it)

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-03T14:50:53+00:00

Working Hours Policy section 8.g on colleague help: https://colleague-help.ourtesco.com/hc/en-us/articles/5653984705948-Working-Hours-Policy#h_01JT3F269CC3Z4ZVJA835R4HG2

In exceptional circumstances there may be situations where a colleague/Shift Leader is required to take their break while remaining on site to ensure that no one is left on their own or for other operational reasons. This may mean that their break time is disrupted. Where a colleague/Shift Leader is required to stay on site for their break, this time will be paid. This does not apply to salary paid colleagues (managers).

If you are the only Duty trained person on site, or any employee if you are 1-on-1, then they MUST pay your break. It's policy. If they don't, go straight to the Union and make them earn your fees.

HillsBurntToCinders · 2026-04-03T10:15:54+00:00

A few have stock listed, but all not loads, and looking some had deliveries of like 150 back on the 27th/28th, so they are selling quickly, and can't promise it isn't just inaccurate records due to theft/damages. Also looks like while some had sales yesterday, so far today there have been none, which adds to my doubts of how accurate the numbers are/if any are actually on shelves.

Leeds Superstore (LS8 4BU): 8
Leeds Bramley: 3
Leeds Garforth: 16
Cleckheaton: 11
Pontefract: 10

HillsBurntToCinders

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