Pluspunten
Get to work with some of the most amazing people I've ever met - below middle management level. Other shop managers pull together to form a great area team and the volunteers are, generally, some of the nicest people I have ever worked with.
Minpunten
Worked as shop manager for 7 years. Began with a huge amount of respect for Oxfam and the work they do and determined to do what I could to raise money. BUT... A 'part-time' job with fairly low pay which, in reality, becomes more-or-less full-time with a huge amount of responsibility and pressure which goes unrecognised by line management. Entirely results oriented - shop must open 7 days a week and if there are insufficient volunteers, the manager is expected to fill in - often at very short notice and for no extra pay. Goodbye to family or social plans! Manager is responsible for recruitment, training, H&S, stock sourcing, financial paperwork, shop security, out of shop fundraising events, drawing up business plan, achieving financial targets, being open 7 days, being 'entrepreneurial' .... The list goes on and it's too much for 24 paid hours per week. There was no support from line management, only regular criticism (to all shop managers, not just me). I finally left after becoming ill through the bullying behaviour of line manager. Pursued grievance process, during which manager's behaviours were confirmed - but nothing was actually achieved. Dedicated and hardworking shop managers are patronised by middle management and treated like children. HR decisions were constantly overruled by area and regional management - which renders them powerless.