Okay for a part time job but not the nicest atmosphere - Sales Adviser Superdrug Employee Review

Discount for branded items same and sometimes less than student discount. The unrealistic push for beautycard and starbuy sales to a small store with regular customers and tourists, the regulars either have them already or don't want them and unless it is treat Thursday there is no benefit for tourists with beautycards. Often the ridiculous amount of questions you have to ask at the till will get in the way of you providing good customer service, many times customers think you are stupid (and some have verbalised that exactly) because you are offering a bag when they are packing one already but you have to because you get marked down on your mystery shop. It is uncomfortable to be on the shop floor as even when doing nothing wrong you are watched the entire time, out of nowhere a team leader will pop up to tell you where you could have sold a star buy in a transaction etc which was quite stressful for an anxious person. Although sometimes nice, the managers and team leaders would be very catty, often talking about colleagues to other staff members. On a few occasions my manager would make inappropriate remarks about my weight, hobbies, and styles passed off as banter but was not his place to say. High turnover of staff, by the end of my two years at Superdrug I was the longest remaining member including managers etc. Staff would randomly leave with no notice and no chance to say goodbye even managers. Short 4 hour contracts meaning some weeks you work 24 hours or so and the next you're down to your minimum 4 hours so you cannot guarantee how much you will make each month. The 28 hour weeks would often mean working 4/6 hours a day so it will take up most of your week but also not be a lot of hours at the same time. Between your 4 hour shifts changes would be made to the shop or procedures and you would not be told about them before you made a mistake and told off for it. Customers rude about the employees at Superdrug being thick despite the majority at my store were working whilst studying for degrees or masters. Inappropriate comments or gestures meaning that no skirts no matter the length could be worn and nothing tight fitting even though they were not inappropriate for work. Although this was not the company, it was the employees that had to change their outfits instead of the company dealing with the customers. I understand that retail has moments like these and it is just part of the job but 'the customer is always right' has been used against us so many times with customers being incredibly rude and personal to a member of staff but you have to grin and bear it, you cannot even politely refuse what they are saying. Staff search every time you leave the building. Although I get the company want to limit shrinkage, every single time you leave the store your shoes, pockets, and bag would be searched, it was almost as if they were accusing you. Any item sold at Superdrug including ladies' sanitary items would need to be individulally signed meaning many awkward moments with my male manager. It feels like the senior team members do not have trust in their employees. Dual control things like banking and safe checks had to be done by two people, often though the managers had access to the safe etc and would do these alone anyway. Many times I had issues taking my holiday, I gave plenty of weeks notice and filled in the correct form but would not be given holiday due to staff shortage or any other reason. Managers would make you feel very guilty for even asking for the time off even though you were using your holiday hours.