Working in retail is a hard job that requires many different skills, some of which can be challenging. Employees in this industry often look for raises for validation that they’re doing a good job. Some even strive for a promotion because they believe that it will come with employment stability and better financial positioning.
While some people think that a promotion is always a good thing, there are sometimes circumstances that make this a less-than-ideal situation. Paying close attention to what’s going on surrounding the promotion could help new managers to notice when something is amiss that may have gone unrecognized otherwise.
Pay discrepancies
Making the transition to a management position usually comes with an increase in pay. This should be clearly defined at the time of the promotion. For some people, particularly those who are in minority categories, learning what other managers with similar responsibilities and experience are making in the company is beneficial. This can clue them into issues, such as lower pay than others in a comparable position without just cause.
Job scope creep
Another issue to watch for is job scope creep. This occurs when supervisors slowly start to add more responsibilities to someone’s workload than what the person should be doing according to their position and pay. It’s typically easier to spot this if the managerial position comes with a written contract that can be reviewed to determine the exact job duties that are assigned to the position.
Unfair scheduling practices
One area that some managers don’t think about is scheduling, but this is often one of the ways that discrimination will appear. Some companies hire management for specific shifts and schedules, so the new manager would know when they have to work. Paying attention to the scheduling for holidays and similar events is critical. If there’s not a specific shift assigned at the promotion, ensuring that less-than-desirable scheduling is handled fairly is also important.
Discriminatory behavior toward management by their supervisors can be overt or covert. Any manager who believes they’re being subjected to discrimination related to their job should ensure they take a closer look at what’s going on. It may benefit them to consult someone familiar with these situations so they can determine if they should take legal action.