A new supervisor/tl “caught” me on my phone
I work in cafe and before we open someone usually goes around the shop picking up stock for the day. Usually I make a checklist list on my notes on my phone, take the cafe trolley and go and gather what we need, i’ve been doing this for the past two years i’ve worked there. Management of the store have seen me walking around gathering things with my phone in my hand or in the trolley and have never said anything. This morning a supervisor or tl who i’ve never seen before came up to me whilst i was picking up some avocados and asked why my phone is out. I replied by explaining that I work in the cafe and that I use it to list the items I need to get. She snapped back and said “I can tell by your badge /my name/ that you have been here for at least 2 years so you should well understand that you shouldn’t have it out”, I then explained that I’ve never been told that before by anyone and that i’ve been doing this for the last two years. She then asked for my managers name so i gave his name to her.
I know my manager will defend me if it were to get to him, and i asked my colleague about this rule and she said that she had no idea about this rule and that she also uses her phone on the shop floor for the morning shopping. It was just so weird how she so aggressively came up to me as if i was a child doing something wrong, how do you even go up to someone you’ve never met and speak that way to them. Is there any way I could report her, I can’t imagine how she speaks to the staff she does know. The store managers usually come in twice a day for coffee and we usually have a little chat so we’re familiar with each other, could I tell them about it then or does it have to be something more formal?
Update: I messaged my manager explaining the whole situation. He replied basically saying that tomorrow he’s going to have a word with the store manager and make him bring it up in a meeting with management (including supervisors/tl) that cafe staff aren’t under any of the floor or warehouse management and that he will discuss the whole situation with the store manager too to see what’s going to happen to her. luckily the managers in the store are really nice and understanding guys, i assume the woman is in her probation period or something so i wonder if this might be a cause of termination or failed probation. When I go in tomorrow i’ll have to also write a written statement.
If i see her on the shop floor again next sunday i’ll be sure to have my phone out too.