Used to be great .. but gradually getting worse! - Store Manager Co-op Employee Review

Thank you for sharing your experience and for your many years service as a Store Manager. We truly appreciate the time and commitment you’ve given, and we’re glad to see you highlight some of the things that matter most to colleagues, such as our 30% colleague member discount, holiday allowance, benefits package, and the pride that comes from working for an ethical brand. We also take seriously the challenges you’ve raised. Many of the points you mention, such as staffing pressures, compliance demands, and dealing with theft, are common across the retail sector and reflect the complexity of running a store today. These issues can impact work–life balance and create challenges for managers and their teams, and we know they deserve attention. While audits and compliance checks are essential for safety and legal standards, we understand they can feel burdensome. Similarly, retail crime and anti-social behaviour have increased nationally, and Co-op has successfully campaigned to make a change in the law, resulting in a stand alone offence for violence against retail workers. We continue to review how we support colleagues in these areas, including exploring ways to make processes simpler and ensuring safety remains a top priority. Your feedback reinforces the importance of balancing operational demands with colleague wellbeing. We want to keep listening and learning from experiences like yours so we can focus on what makes the biggest difference for our teams. Thank you again for recognising the positives and for sharing constructive advice. If you’d like to discuss your feedback further, please reach out through our colleague channels so we can understand your experience in more detail. Your voice matters, and we appreciate everything you’ve contributed over the years.