Allana Wrenway By Bex Vee

Allana Wrenway
by Bex Vee

- Hey everyone! I’m Allana W,  26, She/Her - I’m Autistic with selective mutism.

I’m a longtime lurker, but this is my very first post! ~ ^w^ ~

I actually wasn’t sure if I should make a post, but given how highly this site talked of my new workplace, I figured something might be wrong. 

These forums have been a major game changer for both me and my partner because everyone here is also on the spectrum, so accessibility tips, and finding a disability coordinator has been great, but I think my experience with Freshfields Supermarket might be super weird.

I mean honestly, working at Freshfields kind of seemed too good to be true, especially based on how you guys made it out to be.

Works well with disabilities, employee discounts, and it’s Trans affirming??? In the UK??? Sign me up.

My partner helped me set up an interview and helped me work though my disability accommodations, and before I knew it they hired us and we were thrilled.

But I’m starting to think this isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Things started out great — they gave me a whiteboard and some markers and assured me that any customers who complained about its implementation would not be welcome back in the store, which is cool to see.

I’m a shop floor colleague, meaning I spend my day making sure returned objects get back to where they belong in the store, and making everything look nice. As a chronic organiser, this was kind of a match made in heaven, because I get to spend my day focused and cleaning. So far that’s been just as described.

10/10 no notes. The weird part is literally everything else about the job.

That part I have detailed notes for — it’s so bad I had to make a list.

1. My rota keeps putting me on overlapping shifts — maybe it’s because the people who usually work those shifts seem to either not show up, or disappear by the end of the day, but the computer keeps scheduling me as a cashier, or in bread department (Bakery)
   
   I didn’t sign up to make bread. I got this job so I could put boxes away!
   
   The bread guy I work with is really funny though. He gets me.
   
   Apparently the usual guy he worked with disappeared.
   
   It's really inconvenient because I keep having to go back to our new manager, and she just looks tired.
   

1. The computer system keeps flagging me as inefficient, which would mean I’d be eligible for termination, if not for my disability protections.
   
   My manager told me she keeps having to manually reset the system. Apparently it was built in America where my protections don’t apply.
   
   That’s pretty concerning on its own but... 
   

1. Weird people keep coming into the store, again one to talk, but we had this lady dressed up in a trench coat and sunglasses that kept hiding behind display pieces and following people around.
   
   Our security guy finally got fed up with her and chased her out of the store, but he’s a bit odd too. One of my coworkers finally got up the courage to ask him out — but apparently he’s worse at talking to people than I am! 
   

(Offline — I am the best texter)

And he doesn’t even have selective mutism!

EDIT: Also, it turns out he was a new recruit too! The previous security guard also disappeared. There seems to be a lot of that at this store.

1. Someone tried to rob the store — but the security guy didn’t catch him, it was actually one of our floor associates.
   
   
   

AND then our security guy had the date with the lady who caught the shop lifter ON COMPANY TIME. Who was guarding the store then, Jae-Sun???

I’m trying to keep myself from going conspiracy brained, but things kept getting weirder.

EDIT: No, the shoplifter and the trenchcoat guy aren’t the same person — that was my first thought too.


SIDE NOTE: I don’t know if this is related, but this weirdness all started after we implemented SPIMS and hired a bunch of odd people on — and I mean ODD odd.

And I’m saying this as somewhat of an oddball myself; I still wear a piece of Sonic the Hedgehog merch every day for comfort. 

I’m talking straight weirdos. One of the weird people that came in liked my Chao hat though! He was kinda nice. He signed my whiteboard and drew a little Sonic on it, but couldn’t find my expo so he had to write it in permanent marker.

Chris Cwej, if you’re out there somewhere, yes we can be friends, but you owe me a new board. Now, strangers seem to think that’s my name too! I was even contacted by some weird guy making a documentary. 

Thanks a lot, Mr. Cwej!

In some ways the environment has gotten better since the new people were brought in. We used to have this guy who talked non stop — like all the time.

A lot of our new people seem actually competent too, which makes their weirdness all the more noticeable.


Anyway, am I right? This can’t be normal. Are all Freshfields stores like this?

What’s the verdict? Is this normal? Should I put in for a transfer?

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- Anna Mae Marie here! She/Her, 36.

This is definitely not normal. I also have accommodations with Freshfields and the exact same job description.

I clock in, do exactly what we outlined in the interview,  and then go home and rest. I’ve never been asked to step out of my role in the store, and we tend to get pretty normal clientele.

The store has also actually made good on throwing customers who have harassed me out before, so that already goes beyond what I’d usually expect from an employer.

What you’re describing sounds like something out of a Netflix special.

Put in for a transfer ASAP. This does not sound like a standard Freshfields.

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- JAYson, 22


Sounds like standard shit — I work in the US, and they shift us around like crazy. I could walk in for a coffee shop shift only to find out they put me on salad bar for the day.

Most days they forget to give me my lunch and breaks, which sucks.

At this point I’m better trained to sub in for a lot of these jobs than the department heads themselves. Pay’s still shit though.

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-  Anna Mae Marie here! She/Her, 36.

Britain's got some protections against that though. That shouldn’t be happening here. RIP. Sorry for your loss, American.

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-  JAYson, 22

:’( Thank you.

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- Nathan B - HE/HIM - 32

Yeah, your experiences are not universal. My Freshfields has been awesome, but my manager point blank refused to comply with SPIMS, so maybe that’s the problem.

I would transfer like Anna suggested or put in a complaint. Freshfields should NOT be reassigning you like that.

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- Allana, 26, She/Her

Yeah, that’s fair.  Thank you so much for your support everyone. I put in a transfer and it got approved, but things are finally starting to calm down.

This isn’t even the location closest to us, York just got back to us fastest.

As weird as all this has been, I may have to stick it out. At least now I’ve got fun stories to share with the family.

I’ll post updates if anything changes, but I may be here to stay! :D