The biggest disconnect seems to be between upper and mid level management. The Sr vp is awesome and cares that managers get a work life balance. But if the DM doesn't support this, it doesn't work. It doesn't help work life balance to take managers off salary if the result is them working later in the day every day and missing dinner with the family in order to be working the needs of the business. My DM never answers her phone. Ever. And if you ask for a call back, and you're lucky enough to get one, it won't be for at least a couple days. She never works past 3pm or God forbid on a weekend. Don't have any emergency situations arise outside of business hours because you're on your own. There's a confidential line you can call into but I know for a fact that my DM has been turned in on this line and was told which of her managers it was. And guess what... She's no longer with the company. So basically you get stuck with whichever DM you get and that's it. I've been in the same position for over 7 years with no options for moving up even though I know there are opportunities because they say I'm not relocatable. Which is funny since I've already relocated to a different store once. Advancement beyond store manager is very cloudy and there is no clear path to take if that's what you want. I've worked through the entire manager achievement program (DMBA) and still no opportunity for advancement. My store is in the top 3 for my district. My staff could all be promoted up. There is no reason I couldn't do more but again they don't have a connection between the mid and upper level management.
