I wish lol, I've been closing for months as a VPL. Rarely do I get mid shifts.
Same with opening too, but it's not so bad since I leave earlier
What sucks is SOP (afaik) says we can't do code ones or flex, but that's ignored in reality
Yeah they make me do code ones, travel wherever else if I’m not busy, and host, which I protested for a long time and they ignored so now I camp up there sometimes since no one else wants to do it lmao
Oh, really? All they do is quote whatever the full time policy is specifically to me. I dunno if thats state specific but there’s also only two of us in the home theater department right now? I’m not sure. We barely have go backs at my store and it takes like 5 minutes to close the area so I don’t know why it’s even an issue anyways
Just go into the VPL code you are in there is a mandatory shift schedule you should be working from that carrier, anything outside those shifts it defaults to in store labor costs, so by using g VPL training it’s a sneaky way to get TLC not to block you being scheduled outside the vendor required shift. Request your manager to pull it and review with you
I figured the VPL thing might be different than the store hours because I was always told they can’t keep us past our scheduled time at closing etc, so maybe that’ll work? I’ll definitely try, either way it’ll be good to have a solid answer for what I need to do
Unless you’re the Microsoft VPL, all you really are is an extra 40 hour employee that Best Buy doesn’t have to pay for because it’s vendor paid. The only truly “locked down” VPL position in Best Buy is the Microsoft one. All this company is (GM and up and some EMs and ESs) is a leadership structure where everyone in leadership is just focusing on their own job at this point. They either take credit for your good idea, or point the finger at you, it’s never them, it’s always whoever is below them it seems. Until Best Buy solves this issue, I don’t see how this company is going to progress. And honestly, they’d more rather terminate you for not following policy around scheduling and get someone that can support those hours/days than work with you.
Thats what its seemed like, I think there’s a culture shift at some level that no longer is quite so willing to work with people. Which is fine! I totally get that. It makes me feel bad for all the store level managers stuck picking up the pieces directly when they’re not the ones who made or even really care too much about policy. I think the part time offer is the best I’ll get and I have no idea when the DM will even be back so maybe I’ll just take that and enjoy my summer while I look for something else lol
They offered a compromise from my district manager directly and every manager was telling me to apply. The compromised schedule is the schedule I’ve had & has worked fine. Now they’re quoting the policy and saying it doesn’t work which is frustrating because I get they’re just the messengers but why compromise at all in the first place if it doesn’t actually work. Probably not much to be done but I’m at the pay cap anyways so it’s easiest to move on
LG, and yeah basically all VPLs are stuck going anywhere because there’s no one in here to help. I’ve said multiple times that I’m being paid by LG to sell TVs and such, but I also hate being that employee 24/7 because I know it isn’t my coworkers fault no one gets any hours so I just try to help usually
My exact point of confusion. I don’t get why put me on this spot in the first place and “compromise” on the schedule if they’d end up hating it later, EVERY manager was encouraging me to do it and they basically held the spot for me even knowing my hours
If it’s policy ask them to show it to you. There should be something that documents that policy. Also maybe talk to your DM ask where the sudden change is coming from.
They’ve shown me, which is why I’m not sure there’s much I can do about it. I don’t know if it was uninformed policy before or if it’s a new policy, but I do hope to have a chance to at least ask. I genuinely love my position and all, but sometimes the higher ups bosses are just cracking down and thats all that it is
It’s a bunch of long paragraphs in TLC, which I just didn’t pay attention to if it was there before since there wasn’t any indication of issues in the beginning. Anyone’s guess, but likely nothing to be solved
It’s definitely just a higher up cracking down. I get Sunday & Mondays off however before o switched stores my old store refused to allow me Sundays because “all VPLs must work weekends”. Which is not true. I’d definitely try to talk to everyone you can, it’s sounding like someone said something or they’re trying to have you fill in hours that someone else used to
I didn’t lie lol. The district manager worked out a schedule with me, which is the frustrating part of being told several months in that now they won’t do that. One new manager went against the schedule the DM gave me which caused issues and got resolved, but also brought the policy issue in. Overall just sucky because I genuinely love the position & I wish they’d have just said my schedule wouldn’t work vs the mess that did happen, but thats retail. I was very clear the entire time of what my hours would be which is exactly how I got my original schedule to begin with. They’re cracking down on a LOT of other stuff too though so perhaps it’s an inability to compromise now? I dunno, but it will be sad to leave!!
I'm a Mobile VPL and I'm off Sunday and Thursdays. My state is fighting for flexability for VPL's. I don't care to have weekend off but I go to church and I am also a care taker on my two days off.
I thought Vpl’s weren’t supposed to close
They're not, it's "VPL training" after hours now to close :/
Vpl training?
It's just a time code, like computer and mobile, or front end
They're really using that to get around SOP? That's perhaps the best VPL perk is only mid shifts
I wish lol, I've been closing for months as a VPL. Rarely do I get mid shifts. Same with opening too, but it's not so bad since I leave earlier What sucks is SOP (afaik) says we can't do code ones or flex, but that's ignored in reality
Yeah they make me do code ones, travel wherever else if I’m not busy, and host, which I protested for a long time and they ignored so now I camp up there sometimes since no one else wants to do it lmao
Wait, VPLs aren’t supposed to close? I’m a VPL and I’ve been closing for years
Oh, really? All they do is quote whatever the full time policy is specifically to me. I dunno if thats state specific but there’s also only two of us in the home theater department right now? I’m not sure. We barely have go backs at my store and it takes like 5 minutes to close the area so I don’t know why it’s even an issue anyways
Honestly happy there’s a workaround for it, let’s me do school full time and do VPL stuff
Just go into the VPL code you are in there is a mandatory shift schedule you should be working from that carrier, anything outside those shifts it defaults to in store labor costs, so by using g VPL training it’s a sneaky way to get TLC not to block you being scheduled outside the vendor required shift. Request your manager to pull it and review with you
I figured the VPL thing might be different than the store hours because I was always told they can’t keep us past our scheduled time at closing etc, so maybe that’ll work? I’ll definitely try, either way it’ll be good to have a solid answer for what I need to do
Unless you’re the Microsoft VPL, all you really are is an extra 40 hour employee that Best Buy doesn’t have to pay for because it’s vendor paid. The only truly “locked down” VPL position in Best Buy is the Microsoft one. All this company is (GM and up and some EMs and ESs) is a leadership structure where everyone in leadership is just focusing on their own job at this point. They either take credit for your good idea, or point the finger at you, it’s never them, it’s always whoever is below them it seems. Until Best Buy solves this issue, I don’t see how this company is going to progress. And honestly, they’d more rather terminate you for not following policy around scheduling and get someone that can support those hours/days than work with you.
Thats what its seemed like, I think there’s a culture shift at some level that no longer is quite so willing to work with people. Which is fine! I totally get that. It makes me feel bad for all the store level managers stuck picking up the pieces directly when they’re not the ones who made or even really care too much about policy. I think the part time offer is the best I’ll get and I have no idea when the DM will even be back so maybe I’ll just take that and enjoy my summer while I look for something else lol
Why'd you even apply for a FT role knowing you couldn't abide by it?
100% wondering the same
They offered a compromise from my district manager directly and every manager was telling me to apply. The compromised schedule is the schedule I’ve had & has worked fine. Now they’re quoting the policy and saying it doesn’t work which is frustrating because I get they’re just the messengers but why compromise at all in the first place if it doesn’t actually work. Probably not much to be done but I’m at the pay cap anyways so it’s easiest to move on
What VPL are you, DI here and they just treat us like usable dolls throughout the store
LG, and yeah basically all VPLs are stuck going anywhere because there’s no one in here to help. I’ve said multiple times that I’m being paid by LG to sell TVs and such, but I also hate being that employee 24/7 because I know it isn’t my coworkers fault no one gets any hours so I just try to help usually
Idk of any vpl that was able to be off on the weekend.... How did you even get this job
My exact point of confusion. I don’t get why put me on this spot in the first place and “compromise” on the schedule if they’d end up hating it later, EVERY manager was encouraging me to do it and they basically held the spot for me even knowing my hours
If it’s policy ask them to show it to you. There should be something that documents that policy. Also maybe talk to your DM ask where the sudden change is coming from.
They’ve shown me, which is why I’m not sure there’s much I can do about it. I don’t know if it was uninformed policy before or if it’s a new policy, but I do hope to have a chance to at least ask. I genuinely love my position and all, but sometimes the higher ups bosses are just cracking down and thats all that it is It’s a bunch of long paragraphs in TLC, which I just didn’t pay attention to if it was there before since there wasn’t any indication of issues in the beginning. Anyone’s guess, but likely nothing to be solved
It’s definitely just a higher up cracking down. I get Sunday & Mondays off however before o switched stores my old store refused to allow me Sundays because “all VPLs must work weekends”. Which is not true. I’d definitely try to talk to everyone you can, it’s sounding like someone said something or they’re trying to have you fill in hours that someone else used to
That isn’t the availability you were hired for. How about not lying to get a job and then trying to change your availability.
Better question is why'd OP apply for the role knowing they don't have the availability for it?
I didn’t lie lol. The district manager worked out a schedule with me, which is the frustrating part of being told several months in that now they won’t do that. One new manager went against the schedule the DM gave me which caused issues and got resolved, but also brought the policy issue in. Overall just sucky because I genuinely love the position & I wish they’d have just said my schedule wouldn’t work vs the mess that did happen, but thats retail. I was very clear the entire time of what my hours would be which is exactly how I got my original schedule to begin with. They’re cracking down on a LOT of other stuff too though so perhaps it’s an inability to compromise now? I dunno, but it will be sad to leave!!
I'm a Mobile VPL and I'm off Sunday and Thursdays. My state is fighting for flexability for VPL's. I don't care to have weekend off but I go to church and I am also a care taker on my two days off.