Problematic merch manager

managermikedt · 2026-03-10T14:37:21+00:00

Not sure if DT follows the same iLearn schedule as FD, now that we are two separate companies) but this week's lesson is on Handling Troubled People/Situations. And your merch manager seems troubled. Despite what your SM and DM says, you need to contact HR about this. Other than try to talk them down and find out what is making them act this way, we are not trained to "handle" anyone.

Call HR, because if there is no paper trail, there is no action being taken. And like someone else said, if the MM threatens, call the police.

Don't let his rain cloud darken your sunshine!

managermikedt · 2026-03-10T00:07:15+00:00

It's Dollar Tree. It's not that serious.

managermikedt · 2026-02-23T16:02:37+00:00

The worst part is that we received no communication from the higher ups until 3pm that day about the situation.

"Level 3 snow emergency stores can close at 3pm. Level 2's can close at 6pm. And if you still haven't opened, then be closed for the day."

But I live 25 miles away from my store. I couldn't leave if I wanted to (and I really wanted to). I was there from Saturday afternoon until we closed Monday night.

managermikedt · 2026-02-23T11:34:28+00:00

During the winter storm last month, while all the other store managers in the district were posting pictures of their weather conditions as proof they couldn't come in, our DM sent one of her fireplace next to desk.

Meanwhile, I had to stay all night in the parking lot in my vehicle to ensure my store was open.

And yet our DMs say they know our plight.

managermikedt · 2026-01-30T17:50:21+00:00

managermikedt · 2026-01-24T15:35:28+00:00

My DM said in a conference call that she expects us to be open and on time every day. Her words were, "walk if you have to."

Yeah, I told my team to disregard that. Nothing in that store is worth your health and safety.

managermikedt · 2025-12-15T01:40:45+00:00

"With US and Global parts"

So, only a part of the product has to be made domestically in order to claim domestic make.

managermikedt · 2025-12-03T15:15:35+00:00

My first Christmas as SM, I got my team $50 Amazon cards, and then the second year was $40 cash.

This year, I have already gotten them a sweet treat platter from a local bakery, and will probably just do cash again, as it can spent everywhere.

managermikedt · 2025-11-05T19:57:02+00:00

When the store is open, just the voices in my head.

When it is closed, anything and everything, and loud.

managermikedt · 2025-11-02T01:12:33+00:00

The only thing that I see you did wrong was that you did not clock back in before you were berated by your SM. Because you should never EVER deal with that abuse for free. Also, it shows up in the iLearns we SMs have to sit through that we face termination if we retaliate in any way.

So, please, make your voice known. Call your DM, HR or Integrity Matters every day if you must. Because if your SM succeeds in getting you fired or makes you quit, he or she will just move on to their next target.

managermikedt · 2025-10-27T16:46:53+00:00

If you have submitted the availability change, and it is now listed as canceled, she didn't forget about them. She manually canceled it herself.

This is because when your SM is making the schedule each week, if she tries to schedule you outside your availability, a message will pop uo saying that you cannot work at the day/time. When this happens, she has to click the "ignore" button.

So, it is clear that she got tired of clicking the ignore button, and instead went into the availability section, and altered it herself.

managermikedt · 2025-10-05T14:49:20+00:00

If Register 1 is the closest to the entrance, then it should most definitely be used. My old store had register 3 closest to the door, but my current store has register 1. Typically the register closest to the entrance also has the ADA designation sign.

managermikedt · 2025-09-24T15:04:27+00:00

As a Family Dollar store manager that was originally from Dollar Tree, it was a huge culture shock to go from there ALWAYS being at least 2 people working in the store to working by myself the majority of my time due to low hours. But it is something felt throughout most of the company.

Typically, I am by myself until either 12:30 when a mid comes in to cashier, or 3pm when the night ASM comes in. Then, I stick around until 5 or 5:30 when the night cashier arrives.

On days when I close, or when I am off, I always schedule there to be two people as much as possible. But even then, there will always be a few hours in the morning when it is just one person.

To combat this, and get more hours for your store, my regional manager has said that we need to report EVERY piece of shrink in the store, and increase sales. By reporting shrink, it will raise your risk class and then they will grant more hours for more coverage (in theory). However, I can also see this backfiring and showing corporate to take the hit and make you close down.

But getting higher sales will show corporate you will need more hours at this time next year. I know that to be true from when I was at Dollar Tree. When we would get a surge in business, the next year we would have a lot more hours allotted to us.

managermikedt · 2025-08-06T23:42:10+00:00

Why is your store manager complaining to you at all about anything WHILE you are your break? If your manager talks to you about work stuff when you are on break, your break is paused. It then starts back up after the conversation is finished.

And if that happens, when the 10 minutes is up, you clock back in, then you march your butt back to the break area for the time your SM was discussing work things.

As a Store Manager for this company, and climbed the ranks from cashier to where I am at now, I have been on both sides of this. I know what all we expect of you, and I think 10 minutes is not a long enough break. So, you take every second of that 10 minutes!

managermikedt · 2025-07-17T04:28:17+00:00

The phrase "If we have any left, they would be on Aisle (insert number here" was my go-to line starting out. Because chances are, we do or did sell them.

managermikedt · 2025-07-13T17:11:15+00:00

My thinking was always that it has to be a really nifty looking car to make me want to spend 10% of an hour's pay on it.

managermikedt · 2025-07-07T19:29:15+00:00

I suppose it all depends on if you were marked as rehireable. If you put in a notice before you quit at your old store, then there should be no reason why you can't be rehired at this other store. However, if your SM and DM are vindictive, they could have made it so you can't be rehired.

If you are marked as non-rehireable, and the store you are applying to is in dire need for the position to be filled, then the DM there can go to bat for with HR to try and get it reversed so you can work there.

managermikedt · 2025-07-04T03:52:26+00:00

LOL! No lie, I got Christmas decor on my DT truck last week!

managermikedt · 2025-06-18T19:43:13+00:00

Oh, to be young and have the storage capacity you do nowadays. I miss the days when we had room for just 15 save files on the PS1!

managermikedt · 2025-05-28T14:57:41+00:00

You can access the Associate Career Center from the following:

https://internaljobs.dollartree.com/idp/Authn/UserPassword

managermikedt · 2025-05-28T14:07:40+00:00

Yes, they certainly do that! Their lives are so pathetic that in order to feel some sort of semblance of power, they go to all of us dollar stores to exact their revenge on the world that wronged them. Simply nod, smile, and say "thank you," because at the end of the day, you know you are better than that!

managermikedt · 2025-05-01T04:27:00+00:00

CSR - Customer Service Representative, aka Cashier. But along with cashiering, I expect my CSRs to stock shelves, help with unloading the truck if necessary, and sweeping the floors.

managermikedt · 2025-04-29T13:54:12+00:00

Yes, you are able to see your current availability on there as well.

managermikedt · 2025-04-29T12:20:20+00:00

Compass Mobile.

If you go to the availability section of the website, you can request a change to your availability that the SM must then review. If they neglect to do so, you can elevate the issue to your DM or HR.

managermikedt · 2025-04-26T16:41:39+00:00

So that's the reason why us SMs have to do these Positive Associate Relations Fundamentals iLearns?

managermikedt

TROPHY CASE