valley girl

A lot of people are leaving including me, and I understand why. 

I personally, have worked so many solo shifts as a casual worker (and some managers), mostly during huge rushes where I can't get the store tidy, and are left with about a rack of put backs. However, I am expected to get rid of all of them, while tidying the store, while dealing with customers, while doing stock, and somehow manage all my time during a rush near the end of my shift to clear them all up... This would be possible if they ever shifted 2 people on at a time, which they almost never do after Christmas times. 

Even customers constantly ask us why we are working our shifts alone, I didn't know what to tell them sometimes.

There is a clear hierarchy between some of the bigger managers and casuals, and I've seen it happen with friends that have been treated significantly worse by some upper managers, even when they have done nothing wrong. Dis logs are also so common place, and written up so frequently, especially to newer employees. If you have been taught once, you are expected to know if off by heart, and if something is not done to a tee you are written up. Not listening to manager instructions perfectly? Written up. Accidentally counting the EOD cash wrong? Written up. Forgot to tidy one section in the store? Written up. 

 It is overall stressful, and a very toxic environment to work in. Please go find another retail store to work in... 

I worked for ValleyGirl for almost a year, when I started there was just a manager and one other casual staff. Both soon left after I started and I had to run the store alone and barely any training on top of a second job. That should have been my first warning sign 
Store managers tried their best but were always overworked with 
ridiculous work/life expectations. I dont think our team was ever properly well staffed until I quit. I worked alot of busy days alone with little notice and Im still missing alot of backpay where I would come in early to open ( because you were only ever rostered on from 9am which is when you needed to be open and ready to serve so you would need to come in 15 mins early to open unpaid.. it adds up) state management was the worst ive ever seen, they had the strict expectations that left no room for mistakes otherwise you were either fired or written up. They had zero understanding for their employees and how they were coping with the continuous low staff and keeping to their high standards of how clean the store should look ( although customers were no help) it was just a continuous issue and you were just told it was your fault for losing sales.
Trust me if you're looking for a healthy workplace environment, its not here.

I worked here 3.5 years. Loved my own team but head office and higher managers than your own store are generally unaccommodating and hold unrealistic expectations. 

Upon being hired, I'd never worked in retail, I had almost no training and was expected to excel right off the bat and do everything on my own. I worked up to ASM and store manager but hours were iffy even with my level of expertise and head office only cares about the money. They'll tell you they care about customers but you'll get more penalised for not achieving tasks than you will for not taking care of your customers. 

I am task oriented, handle stress well and was the fastest staff on stock and it was still overwhelming. The amount of staff that have become clinically burnt out or become depressed working there is exceedingly high. A bunch of us from different locations have addressed the management but no action is taken. 

You only have 15 minutes to close the store at night and 99% of the time you're by yourself. If you don't finish it within that time, you won't get paid so you either try to help whoever comes in to work next by staying back or you leave it for them to deal with in the morning - also unpaid.

I have worked at Valleygirl for 4 months so far, and the more things I learn to do (closing, opening etc.) the more they tend to put me on because I am the only one with full availability, which is great to an extent, not so great if you're the only one working pretty much at all times, especially during the second half of the day.

The store's 'budget' isn't set high enough, therefore there aren't enough hour to keep 2 people on at all times. Not only is that a safety hazard, but also highly exhausting on busy days when customers are rude and leave literal MOUNTAINS of clothes in the change rooms

So far in my time being there, when closing the store alone, I will have to stay back a minimum of an hour and a half each time UNPAID to get everything done for the next day.

Overall if you want to keep your sanity and not have constant panic attacks in the store like I do when I close up and see how much work there is to do, don't even bother applying, it's definitely not worth your efforts.

The company has a longstanding reputation for not valuing its employees and severe understaffing/low budget hrs, with high work loads and operations. Unpaid overtime is often required if you want to achieve good standards and have all tasks complete as insufficient time allocated for store recovery and settling tills. Minimal training and outdated processes. Stores are notoriously overstocked constantly to the point of being unshoppable. Rules often changing leading to instability. Excessive, complicated mark down processes and double handling the norm.  Excessive stock deliveries to be completed in full daily while keeping store tidy, assisting customers, and merchandising. Customers treat the cheap stock with little respect. Feeback from those on the floor for better practices never acted upon to make the job more efficient. Some senior managers are vindictive and hold grudges. Communication is often excessive and expected to be acknowledged on days off. Alot expected of casuals. U shouldnt have to be chasing your tail all day every day. 

pros - 
Great coworkers who are hardworking and can have a laugh
Can pick up a lot of hours through covering shifts 
Get to see the newest fashions first 
Meeting customers from all walks of life 
Good pay on weekends, late night and public holidays

cons -
Workplace bullying / highly toxic workplace
Incompetent management
Shifts are typically three hours
ALWAYS working alone - Can sometimes work a whole 12-hour shift alone
Such high expectations that I normally stay back an hour to do everything and DO NOT GET PAID  
No staff discount or employee benefits or perks
Had to learn how to do closing and opening by myself - Very little to no staff training
Constantly feel underappreciated - You're expected to go above and beyond with very little in return

Would recommend if you like a challenge but definitely not a job you should apply for unless you're desperate. I have constant panic attacks because there is so much to do working alone and I will get told off if I don't do it

It’s a big brand with many stores across Australia but lacks in so many forms. You aren’t able to have a social life since they expect you to drop everything for them. If you want time off you need to ask months in advance even if you are casual. If you don’t take fill in shifts at other stores they cut your hours. Management is bad with giving stores decent hours and shifts for staff even with communication with issues they don’t care. They throw you in the deep end when first employed and you have to pick up the skills yourself even where to find items or how to work the computers. They also make you clock out exactly on time so no matter how late you stay back you aren’t getting paid even if you cleaning the store. Only good thing is the girls you work with and being busy working in the store with racking up/stock.

was hired as a christmas casual, which was good, very busy and lots of shifts and last minute call ins, but to be expected during this period. however afterwards, only one person is ever on shift at a time, creating lots of pressure. required to clock off at exactly 10 mins after store closes, despite the tasks for closing (eod cash count, daily report, sweeping, data input, tidying to an extreme level) being literally impossible to complete in those times, so so so much unpaid work. at one point there were only three employees and no manager working at the store, it was an absolute disaster. one was selected to act as manager and she did a fantastic job, but was stressed out of her mind. the girls are all lovely, but the unpaid work and stress is not worth it. 

I was a casual for a little under a year and I've never felt more depressed, suicidal and anxious than I did when I was working at VG. they put such unrealistic expectations. I had accusations thrown at me without proper trial before proven guilty. They fired me on the spot without getting a word from me about the situation. I coped a lot of abuse from the area manager and was expected to take it and not say a word.

The what’s app messages are around 100per day you can never switch off 
Everyday you would get a group message stating if something is not done or you don’t accept a shift as a casual or be available on call on days off you will be terminated 
Huge stock load on the daily pressured to get onto the floor 
Back room a complete safety issue within itself 
When handing in resignation was told to not bother finishing the remainder of my shifts 
-again fair work can deal with that one 

If you want to go home happy or go to work excited not the company for you and 

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