u/EagleFly_5

It became a point of contention last week on my site when someone on MyVoice (who primarily works night shift/FHN) one day wrote in that some area managers who were working a shift were not wearing their leadership/operations vest. One case was a BHD inbound manager working a shift because he was doing an extra day for peak/SET, he didn’t have a vest, and for that associate/team member (he’s a learning ambassador, wore his vest), it probably was the first time ever seeing him. He says he did get a documented coaching but not too sure. So from then on, all leadership needs to wear their vests on duty. Of course if they’re on break or whatever or doing extra things (like decorating the site) they don’t have to.

There’s another area manager (also BHD) w/ 12 years tenure in the company that also seldom if ever wore a vest while on duty (unless required). Both of my Operations Managers wear their vests (sometimes my Back Half Ops Manager doesn’t), my site leader whenever he’s on the floor 50:50 wears it (I don’t see him often). I do understand visits from higher ups make it a requirement everyone with a position wear a vest during that day.

I’m not in leadership, safety, learning ambassador, or anything, and for me I’d probably be a little adverse as well to wear my vest on duty unless required. Although I get why since it denotes your position/authority and directs people to come to you if you have any concerns. Then again (by choice) I’m one of the few associates at work who do wear a sort of work uniform w/ pins.

I’m at a Fresh FC in NYC, but we’re in the process of transitioning to a SSD (TBD when that’ll be done), fortunately that won’t require us to close. However one thing on my mind and maybe one of the top three reasons I won’t properly transfer to full time (I’m Flex, but work full time hours): my site does **not** have a night shift differential for working nights to early morning. So all associates earn the same thing: $20.20/hr starting out, up to $23.20/hr for 3 year step plan. Only a few associates do pull in overtime or work more but they’re typically helping out nights, cross trained in specific roles (dispatch, dock hero/inbound, so on) so they can work 12x5 schedules if they’re up to it, and business needs warrant it.

I myself don’t mind night shift, most of my work day (typically 12AM-9AM, sometimes 7PM-10PM weekends in the mix) is working with that team or seeing the same associates. Working nights does present its own challenges, the biggest one being your health/circadian rhythm (sleep schedule). Then comes burnout or fatigue from an associate or managers POV. Some of my ASMs do split shifts: two days nights, two days on day shift. Others (inc. work friends) just stop showing up or quit, or get terminated/transferred to day shift or another site.

My site hasn’t paid out premium/surge pay ($2/hr) since around the end of February. Perhaps it can be a nice incentive if night associates (+ hourly ASMs) can be paid more for working nights and putting their health and lives aside for up to 10-12 hours, 4-6 (or so) days a week.