- Report: #12923
Complaint Review: JoAnn ETC & JoAnn Fabric & Crafts - Hudson Ohio
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Author Not Confirmed
Why?
JoAnn ETC & JoAnn Fabric & Crafts
5555 Darrow Road Hudson, 44236 Ohio, U.S.A.
Phone:
330-656-2600
Web:
N/A
Categories:
Business Rating:
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Tell us has your experience with this business or person been good?
I was asked to come to work for the JoAnn ETC store because I have 2l years of custom apparel experience. I super enjoy helping people with thier creative needs.
On my first day, I was warned to watch out for a woman named Ann Pollard,a co-manager, I didn't think anything of it and committed myself to modeling a positive, conscienscous, team oriented example.
Within one week I was told that my salary had been revealed to the other employees, and the fact that I had my own health benefits. This was personal information that should never have been discussed.
I decided to turn the other cheek and do the best work ever. Within a few months I recieved an award from the corporation for exemplary service. However, about every other day Ann would vent some negative opinion at me, the management was"out to lunch", " the corporation doesn't have a clue about what they are doing", "apparel fabrics are just stupid", "these customers don't know what they want", and on and on and on.
I continued to simply ignore her. The management was stressed and when I would ask questions about what they would like to have done they would respond with comments like " well, do what you want, have at it, its not a big deal"
I really wanted to present the department in the best possible light and when I would ask how the managers would like merchandise displayed I was told " Nobody really cares, it doesn't make any money anyway" I knew the attitude was terrible but was convinced I could help turn it around by not coming alongside and agreeing with it or doing anything to indicate I condone it.
I am a Christian and a few times I would say to customers " God Bless" or "isn't that a Praise!" I was asked into the managers office and told by the manager that my religion made people nervous and to lay off it.
I explained that I never discussed my personal beliefs with employees or anyone else for that mattter. I asked Ann if my faith was a problem and she said "It does make us feel uncomfortable and your just too syrupy nice".
It was then I realized that I was dealing with a real gossip and slanderer. The verbal attacks continued. As the amounts of work increased (one day over 300 bolts of polar fleece arrived in the backroom) I had,had no job description or direction and when I would ask Ann Pollard to help she would just make an excuse and walk away.
Recently the company's stock has dropped and the managers told us they would be downsizing to meet budget. The last week of December I requested a leave of absence as my Mother-in-law was dying of cancer and needed immediate assistace.
Upon my return, Ann Pollard told me that another employee was angry beacuse I did not thank her for doing my job while away, and that other employees no longer wanted to work with me as they thought I was cold and unapproachable.
She then asked if as part of the budget decrease I would be volunteering to go part-time. I said if they needed me to I would, but as of that moment I wasn't planning on it.
She walked out of the work area and ten minutes later the manager called me into her office and said that I was such a problem that she was going to have to transfer me unless I apologized to the employee and started giving written directions to the parttime people in my department.
I said I would be glad to, they called in the angry employee and I apologized. She said she didn't believe me and left, whereupon the manager told me she would be transferring me. (this whole drama was surreal!) I have watched others fall victim to slander in order to get them to quit. Jo-Ann ETC does not pay into Unemployment and therefore abuses women in order to get them to quit to meet budget. I have seen customers and employees mocked, ignored, insulted, lied about, gossiped about, put down and swore at(employees are swore at). I been in sales since I was l4 (a long time ago) and have never experienced such an atmosphere of animosity and lack of integrity. I know this company has laid out alot of money for some big, nice stores. While the window may look good there is some real rot inside, if you go, watch you back!
NL
Andover Minnesota
On my first day, I was warned to watch out for a woman named Ann Pollard,a co-manager, I didn't think anything of it and committed myself to modeling a positive, conscienscous, team oriented example.
Within one week I was told that my salary had been revealed to the other employees, and the fact that I had my own health benefits. This was personal information that should never have been discussed.
I decided to turn the other cheek and do the best work ever. Within a few months I recieved an award from the corporation for exemplary service. However, about every other day Ann would vent some negative opinion at me, the management was"out to lunch", " the corporation doesn't have a clue about what they are doing", "apparel fabrics are just stupid", "these customers don't know what they want", and on and on and on.
I continued to simply ignore her. The management was stressed and when I would ask questions about what they would like to have done they would respond with comments like " well, do what you want, have at it, its not a big deal"
I really wanted to present the department in the best possible light and when I would ask how the managers would like merchandise displayed I was told " Nobody really cares, it doesn't make any money anyway" I knew the attitude was terrible but was convinced I could help turn it around by not coming alongside and agreeing with it or doing anything to indicate I condone it.
I am a Christian and a few times I would say to customers " God Bless" or "isn't that a Praise!" I was asked into the managers office and told by the manager that my religion made people nervous and to lay off it.
I explained that I never discussed my personal beliefs with employees or anyone else for that mattter. I asked Ann if my faith was a problem and she said "It does make us feel uncomfortable and your just too syrupy nice".
It was then I realized that I was dealing with a real gossip and slanderer. The verbal attacks continued. As the amounts of work increased (one day over 300 bolts of polar fleece arrived in the backroom) I had,had no job description or direction and when I would ask Ann Pollard to help she would just make an excuse and walk away.
Recently the company's stock has dropped and the managers told us they would be downsizing to meet budget. The last week of December I requested a leave of absence as my Mother-in-law was dying of cancer and needed immediate assistace.
Upon my return, Ann Pollard told me that another employee was angry beacuse I did not thank her for doing my job while away, and that other employees no longer wanted to work with me as they thought I was cold and unapproachable.
She then asked if as part of the budget decrease I would be volunteering to go part-time. I said if they needed me to I would, but as of that moment I wasn't planning on it.
She walked out of the work area and ten minutes later the manager called me into her office and said that I was such a problem that she was going to have to transfer me unless I apologized to the employee and started giving written directions to the parttime people in my department.
I said I would be glad to, they called in the angry employee and I apologized. She said she didn't believe me and left, whereupon the manager told me she would be transferring me. (this whole drama was surreal!) I have watched others fall victim to slander in order to get them to quit. Jo-Ann ETC does not pay into Unemployment and therefore abuses women in order to get them to quit to meet budget. I have seen customers and employees mocked, ignored, insulted, lied about, gossiped about, put down and swore at(employees are swore at). I been in sales since I was l4 (a long time ago) and have never experienced such an atmosphere of animosity and lack of integrity. I know this company has laid out alot of money for some big, nice stores. While the window may look good there is some real rot inside, if you go, watch you back!
NL
Andover Minnesota
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Deb
Mason City,Iowa,
U.S.A.
Jo Ann Fabric Inc. is dishonest, unethical, and headed for closure
#2UPDATE Employee
Thu, July 08, 2004
I was hired at Jo Ann Fabric store along with one other person. I was given a written promise of at least 25 hours a week.Two days after we started work the manager left, a new one came in. I was informed that I would have a week off while the new manager figured out the scedule, but then called in to replace an ill associate. After working with the new manager I was tole "God you're really good!" The other gal hired left for three weeks, I became familar with the store and the work.. when the other gal came back I had no work for two weeks, 2 hours the next, then 5.5 the fallowing with the manager telling me sales were down and everyone was taking a cut. I agreed to take the cut that I 'thought' was happening to everyone. I went in to speak with the manager because the other gal was working the hours I was promised, was told that I had not been as person. Well I hadn't been there! I worked with the other gal on a saturday, she was told to run the cash register and informed the manager she couldn't and asked me to.I was hit in the jaw and lost a tooth, no report filed until weeks later, still no response. I was yelled at in front of customers who came and apologized to me for the way my co workers acted. I had little notes written on my scedule, funny one week three people had to call in and be replaced, including me for one shift, however I was the only one with the notes written in. Seems like a set up by now. My sceduled has been altered after it's posted so often I have started to take my digital in to scan the darn thing so no one can accuse me of mixing things up. The manager told me he had to spekto the other about the way she looke, she usually came in looking overly grubbly. he was supposedly upset because she took a check for over a hunderd less then what the bill was. I spoke to the new manager again about hours, there seemed to be plenty available he said that he wanted to see me work and from now on I would work when he did. That ment days instead of evenings and weekends so I had to quit a part time position in the morning. That was twelve weeks ago and there hasn't been one shift sceduled yet with the manager. My hours improved slightly for about thwo weeks, almost three. Suddenly they have gone from almost up to 20 and getting close to what I was hired for and WHAM! down to almost nothing, again. ? There seems no point in speaking with the manager, he is unable to speak trueth to me. I lost over 1200 dollars by stopping that job to be at Jo Ann when the manager asked me to, and my thanks is to have hours cut to almost nothing, again. Everyone at the store works everyother weekend, except me, I work 3 out of four. Last time I spoke to the manager he informed me that the other gal hired is more familar with the store, well after her working 20-30 hours a week and me being cut to 6 or less she should be! None the less I do have my hours in writting, At this time court is looking like my only chance for anything fair, or honest. I am not going to talk to the man again without a witness, no point really if he can't be honest. Also I am the only non white person there, and I have kids.
Pat
Alton Bay,New Hampshire,
U.S.A.
Some of them were confused, testy and down right rude
#3UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, December 02, 2003
I started off by working in one of the retail JoAnn Stores as an operations manager. I worked there for two years. For the most part I liked the people I worked with (not all perfect). The customers were the same. Some of them were friendly, kind, creative people. Some of them were confused, testy and down right rude. But isn't that life? I had the opportunity to take a position for the corporate office setting up new ETC store all over the US. This was a dream job, something I felt I could be proud of. While working with corporate staff is a bit of a challange (ahem) most of the people I work with were helpful, friendly and I think of them often. Things didn't work out and I left the company shortly after (not wanting to be away from my home for long periods of time). I still shop at JoAnn's in my hometown area and I still see some of the same people I worked with several years ago. The moral of the story is: JoAnn Fabric Inc should know that the people make the company, not the merchandise. If people like NA are not happy, she will spread the news (just like this site) and while people may still shop, they will loose confidence in the company and maybe begin to look to other sources for their needs. A note to NA: Keep blessing all of us...we need it!!!!
Michelle
Kansas City,Missouri,
Experiencing the Creativity is a daily choice.
#4UPDATE Employee
Mon, December 02, 2002
I'm sorry to hear that NA had such a difficult time working at the JoAnn Etc store in her area. I have worked at JoAnn's for 4 years and have almost 20 years of retail experience. In all of that experience I have found that there are great managers (like the one I have now) and there are those who would benefit transferring to another career. I have always thought that the management team of a retail store reflects the company as a whole to the employees of that store and the guests who shop there. But, what NA shared is not something that happens company wide. I have enjoyed working at JoAnn's and love to work with people who inspire me. I don't work there because it is JoAnn etc. I work there because I love the people who I work with. I don't have to work, and I have small children at home. But, it is refreshing to work with others who have similar interests as I. And it is rewarding to work with guests and help them reach their 'creative potential'. I guess the point that I am trying to make is that no matter what each of our work experiences are, that shouldn't dictate how a company is on a national level. If you get good service at JoAnn's and enjoy shopping there, please keep coming back. If you don't, please let the home office know in Hudson, Ohio. Each store should want to improve their guest service as much as possible. Thisb world is full of imperfect people, and unfortunately NA worked for individuals who had a negative view on life. I will say that I don't agree with all the decisions that JoAnn's makes corporately. But, it is a corporation, made of people, whom none are perfect. As a Christian myself, I think that NA should have reported how she was treated immediately to the district manager or human resources at the home office, and taken a stand to do the right thing. It is too bad that she feels this is the only way to go to obtain justice. I have met the VP of HR and I know she wouldn't have stood for the injustice that NA experienced if what she stated was accurate.
