A Proper Job........ (Sainsburys)

Member Name: suehome

Product:	Sainsburys
Date:	16/03/09 (1420 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Inclusive local employer

Disadvantages: None in our circumstances

My brother has Downs Syndrome, which in these politically correct times is quaintly described as a learning difficulty. The reality is probably much closer to the historic descriptors of 'mentally handicapped' or 'mentally retarded'. However he is fortunate in that he does go out to work independently to a proper job at a local Sainsbury's supermarket. Indeed he has been working in the retail sector for most of his working life, although it has only been at Sainsbury's for the last few years due to TUPE transfer from Safeway via Morrison's. His employment experience also includes Tesco and Marks & Spencer.

*** Job Role ***

He is employed as a General Assistant, competent grade within the checkout department, working 24 hours per week spread over 4 days. This competent grade is important since it determines that his hourly rate is paid at a premium over a new team member or someone who has not completed all their training. His current rate is £6.08 per hour which is above the National Minimum Wage rate of £5.73 per hour meaning that Sainsbury's are actually rewarding him above the minimum they would be obliged to honour.

Although he works within the checkout team, there is no way he would be competent to be left unattended on a checkout. Whilst he could operate a scanner and count money, he would be slow with change, and any complications would completely fluster him, whereby the queue would be snaked back to the car park. Consequently his role is based around collecting baskets, returning them to the entrance doors, removing and returning any abandoned items, and assisting other disabled people either with their shopping or helping to carry out shopping to their cars/taxis. He can direct customers to specific items in the store and assist with stock replenishment. However when left to stack the toilet rolls, heaven help any poor customer who wants to disrupt his military precision!

Like all staff he has to clock in and out whilst working so he needs to be able to manage time., as he is paid directly from his recorded hours. .A typical shift starts at 0930 and then he takes a 15 minute tea break (which is paid) at 1115. Normally a lunch break of an hour between one and two o'clock, is taken in the staff canteen, where there is a good choice of fresh rolls, sandwiches, snacks and hot meals at subsidised prices. He will typically choose filled rolls knowing he is coming home to an evening meal! No doubt it is cheaper too!! His shift finishes at 4.30 whereby he clocks off and can then return home. Whilst the store is on a bus route, it is not frequent nor easy to connect to where we live so typically he will get a taxi, which costs about £5 per journey.

Along with all other staff members he is issued with a uniform, of which he is fiercely proud. It comprises black trousers (which have to be taken up significantly to accommodate a 24 inch inside leg measurement), blue polo type shirt, dark blue fleece V neck sweater or orange thick fleece zipped jacket and the all important name badge. The name badge is just like one of those fiddly things you get at conferences whereby the pin is much smaller than the badge and hidden underneath. It is a total pain to get straight in relation to the Sainsbury's logo embroidered onto the fleeces or shirts, and this is an essential part of the pride in his uniform. Many arguments have ensued as to whether it is wonky or not, a concern completely lost to most people! Fortunately he has to provide his own black shoes since I suspect size 5 "H" fitting would be outside the normal range for typical menswear uniform.

*** Pay and Benefits ***

As I mentioned earlier, Sainsbury's pay an hourly rate of £6.08 per hour, paid by BACS to his bank account every 4 weeks. It is always reliable and transferred on time, and a simple payslip is electronically produced with all the statutory data, which is picked up directly in the store from the personnel team. He is a member of the Sainsbury's Final Salary Pension Scheme, and has recently been able to opt to reduce his contributions to a career average scheme which is beneficial in his case since he will never be a high earning employee. Also he gets a staff discount card which is typically 10% but occasionally rises to 15% discount on purchases including online shopping. As you may imagine we take full advantage of the shopping benefits.

The shop is a nice clean fresh and warm working environment, and there is excellent contact and interaction with both other staff and customers to act as a stimulus. Indeed at Christmas time he will often come home with tips and cards that he has received from customers. Often when out and about in the town people will approach and say "Hello" since they are familiar with seeing him at the supermarket.

Whilst he only works 4 days per week in the store the Wednesday is spent at college., where he is doing an NVQ entry level course to adult literacy. Although Sainsbury's do not sponsor him as such since this is a community based course provided by the local council, they do always ensure that his schedules are such that he can attend the classes and are keen to record the certificates of achievement at each stage.

The schedules are probably the most complex area for a mentally handicapped person to handle. Booking leave is complex even for me to understand since all the hours are annualised and include the statutory holidays. This means you have to plan carefully ahead to ensure that leave is correctly booked out so that holiday pay is not missed, and typically about February time you are asked to request all your leave days for the next year which runs from April to March, sometimes including Easter and sometimes not, depending on where it falls. As I say this is where a disadvantaged person would certainly need help.

He is treated just as anyone else so far as time and attendance is concerned which is a very good thing. This even extends to losing 45 mins pay when his taxi was late in the recent snow, since it could not negotiate our local hills. I say this is a good thing since he has to live in the real world and there are consequences which make him realise how important time and attendance is. The reality is that he has a mindset that would rather be early than late which can be no bad thing.

I have to say his department manager and the personnel team are all very helpful and supportive, which makes all the difference, since obviously training (whether it be Health & Safety or compliance training) is going to take longer and be more difficult to ascertain that it has been absorbed. The only concession as such that I am aware of relates to him having his own Personal Evacuation Plan in the event of fire or similar emergency since he would be like a 'rabbit in the headlamps' and certainly no use to assist with the evacuation of customers.

Finally the local store he works in has a fairly active social and participative attitude. My brother loves taking part in store events, dressing up for Halloween, Christmas, Red Nose Day, St Georges Day etc etc, and being included in parties, bowling events and BBQs. He feels part of the team and is very proud and loyal to be working for Sainsbury's, and looking forward to receiving his 15 year service award, which is a new badge he can wear on his uniform, replacing the 10 year one.


If you look on the corporate website maybe as a prospective employee you will see the following statement:

" 'Respect for the Individual' is one of Sainsbury's core values. We are committed to putting that into practice, creating a working environment where everyone has the opportunity to contribute, is valued and respected. "

From the experience of my brother's employment, his store is certainly trying to live up to this value and I thank them sincerely for this commitment, as it has enabled an otherwise disadvantaged individual to realise his potential.


Thanks for reading

Posted on Dooyoo and Ciao under the same author

Summary: Excellent employer for disadvantaged people