BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's

Subject: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 05:33 PM

I have noticed that in our local branches of Sainsbury's supermarket, the usual "Staff Announcement" bellowed through the sound system has been replaced by "Colleague Announcement" - isn't that nice? Well the lady on the customer care desk thinks it is nice, unfortunately I think it sounds plain daft, as do many other shoppers in the store that I spoke to this afternoon. Is this a different angle on political correctness?

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: Tangledwood
Date: 06 Feb 09 - 05:58 PM

Ah, the warm and fuzzy management style. A large hardware store here refers to all the staff as "team members".

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: bubblyrat
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 11:33 AM

Everyone at John Lewis is a "partner" or an "associate" or some crap like that.When I worked at Chase Manhattan,ALL departmental managers were called " 2nd Vice Presidents", so the head of Shithouse Cleaning was a "2VP"-----still, I guess it made his wife and neighbours proud of him !!

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: DMcG
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 11:41 AM

John Lewis is a special case; they call they staff 'partners' for a valid legal reason, not just as management-speak.

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: Michael
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 02:29 PM

The one that I'm not so sure about is Tesco's call for extra checkout staff: "Will all collegues please give good service at the checkouts"
They call them 'colleagues' and then give them a kick up the arse.

Mike

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 06:24 PM

Totally crackpot!

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Feb 09 - 07:55 PM

They've been doing it for years round our way, in all the supermarkets and similar. Even ASDA I think - which would be bloody cheek in their case. "Minions" would be better.

I agree with DMG that John Lewis is different - and it pays off. The people working there are always incredibly friendly and helpful, in my experience. (The supermarket Waitrose is owned by John Lewis. I think they have the same partnership system. But I don't know what they call them on the PA.)

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: GUEST,Sainsbury's Colleague
Date: 08 Feb 09 - 11:51 AM

Don't tell us, write to Justin King at 33 Holborn.

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 11:29 AM

I don't know the situation in other countries, but in the U.S., employers really wish the people working for them were not actually employees. Employees have certain benefits under the law, benefits employers would rather not pay for. Therefore, they tie themselves in knots trying to say their employees are something else.

Usually it's a waste of time, but they can always dream, can't they?

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: GUEST,Jonny Sunshine
Date: 09 Feb 09 - 04:04 PM

Nothing to do with PC, just stupid management-ese to make their underpaid minions feel "valued"

Some years back I saw an employment agency had an ad for "shelf replenishment executives" in their window. I don't you got a company car with that job though...

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 02:36 PM

Target, a large discount department-store chain in the US, has started calling its customers "guests".

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: Tangledwood
Date: 10 Feb 09 - 05:09 PM

I hope that they offer you coffee or a beer when you arrive?

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: GUEST,Sainsburys Colleague
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 05:19 PM

We at Sainsbury's are always refered to as Colleagues, not just over the tannoy. The idea is to promote a working environment where everyone is treated equally, by using the term Colleague instead of Employee or Staff. Unfortunately though in the majority of stores, this is not the case, I will not go into why because this is a thread about Sainsbury's using the term Colleague, not about how they treat their staff.   
I work on the Customer Service Desk, and I have been told to say "Colleague Announcement" rather than "Staff Announcement" when doing announcement. I suppose it also gives Sainsbury's an added bit of difference to other supermarkets.
Also if you feel strongly about us using the word Colleague, why not pop to the Customer Service Desk in your local store, and fill out a feedback form, or as one of my colleagues said above, write to 33 Holborn, I'm sure both will love to hear your opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: Rasener
Date: 05 Mar 09 - 06:20 PM

Will all colleagues of the bog cleaner, please report to chief bog cleaner in the bogs please.

Subject: RE: BS: Colleague announcements in Sainsbury's
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 06 Mar 09 - 08:42 AM

I `ad that John Lewis in my cab once.
`e said, " `ere Jim, would you take me to the Ritz Hotel please, we`re `olding the company annual party there."
I said, jokingly," What, you gonna take your "partners" in a dance then?"
`e said, "Not bloody likely, take `em for a ride`s more like it!!"

Whaddam I like??