After getting on unemployment for starting a union, spending my time padding my resume and applying to bullshit jobs that mean I could afford things like A House and Teeth, it finally seems to have paid off. I had an interview to be the manager of a fancy wine store location. I don't drink, and have never been general manager of an entire location. The entire went insanely well, I was asked when I could start/meet the owner.
I'm just wondering, do you have any advice for someone who may be put into a firing/hiring capacity soon? Any common pitfalls to avoid? It sounds like the location I'm inheriting control of is kinda doing Meh so I don't there will be too much pressure to perform at first. The interviewer seemed to really like me and basically tell me that most of her hard job (she manages another location) is easy and has been automated by her engineer BF and she can give me the files.
I was thinking about hiring staff, having schedules be consistent (I don't wanna do like, gig economy scheduling, easier for everyone,) suggesting weekly meetings and having staff vote on policies? and after I earn their trust during one of the meetings just going "By the way, if you all want to unionize I think that'd be rad. I couldn't be a part of it but LMK if you have any questions about the process."
But that also all seems really risky? Should I just put my fucking head down, do what I think is right, and ride wave, so to speak?
I'm, very intimidated, this 2.5x as much money as I've made in my life before.
Curiously I don't think this works in the given system. Every manager I had that did this was pretty resented by the entire team cause how it usually, even with the best intentions, works out more akin to socializing the losses and privatizing the wins.
I mean if it's "How do we decorate the break room" or stuff about how to organize when everybody takes their breaks or something? Sure, yeah, absolutely ask them.
If it's important strategic decisions? That either means literally every one has to read into the full scope of information available (your job) or basically pick at random and still fear getting blamed for their decision, they voted for it after all. This is regardless of whether that actually happens. Basically if I have to have a manager I want him to do his fucking job and not offload the bits for which they get paid more onto me.
Consultation? Yeah, absolutely. And you better be able to argue for your decisio. Could even be on the grounds of "it all sucks, I tried to go for the least sucky option" but democratizing your workplace like this doesn't really work out all that well in my experience. People know it's bullshit and hence seem to respect an honest, transparent decision even if it isn't to their liking because at least they can't be blamed for it.