The Warehouse Way - A Team Member's Handbook

The Warehouse Way - A Team Member's Handbook


Applies to: all TWL team

A Team Member’s Handbook


2017/2018 edition

The Warehouse will make a difference to people's lives by making the desirable affordable and supporting New Zealand's communities and the environment
By putting the customer first, we will succeed. 
Everything we do flows from this principle. 
We enjoy success through working together as one team. 
People choose to work for us because we care about and recognise individuals. 
Where everyone gets a bargain

Ko te Whāinga Matua:
Ka whakarerekētia e The Warehouse te oranga tangata mā
te whakaheke utunga hoko me te tautoko i ngā hapori
o Aotearoa me te taiao hoki.
Mā te whakamana i te kaihoko, ka angitū mātou.
Ahu katoa mai ai ā mātou mahi i tēnei mātāpono.
Kua angitū mātou nā te mahi tahi.
Hiahia ai te tangata te mahi mā mātou nā tō mātou aronga nui ki ia tangata.
te wāhi e iti noa nei nga utu

Welcome to your career at The Warehouse

Welcome,

On behalf of all team members, I’m pleased to welcome you to The Warehouse Group.  By joining our team at The Warehouse, you’ve become an important part of our organisation, and we look forward to working together as you develop your retail career with us.

From a single store in 1982, we’ve grown to become the largest general merchandise retailer in New Zealand.  We’re famous as the retailer “where everyone gets a bargain every day,” and we have a strong sense of purpose and genuine pride in making a difference to the lives of New Zealanders by making the desirable affordable.

Retail is undergoing some exciting changes.  The growth of online shopping and advancements in mobile devices mean that customers can now buy products from anywhere in the world, making retail a challenging and dynamic sector to be involved in.  We’re committed to growing your retail career with us through training and development that allows our people to be the best they can be in this fast-changing environment.

Here at Red (as we’re known within our team), our people, our customers and our community and environment are at the heart of everything we do.  You’ll see that reflected in the work we do to give back to our communities.  Our team knows that by working for The Warehouse they’re helping New Zealand families and communities grow and flourish.

This booklet contains valuable information that will help you settle into your role at The Warehouse.  Please take the time to read it and to get to know our business as we get to know you.
Your immediate team and everyone else at The Warehouse Group are here to help you, so please speak up if you have any questions. Everyone has started as a new team member, and they’ll be happy to help you find your way.

All the best for a run and rewarding career with The Warehouse Group.

Kind regards,
 
Pejman Okhovat
Chief Executive Officer
The Warehouse Limited & Warehouse Stationery Limited

Using this handbook

Purpose of this handbook

The Warehouse Way brings together in one easy-to-use document, the benefits and policies that apply to you as a team member of The Warehouse (TWL).

Take time to read it, we hope you enjoy reading The Warehouse Way and that it adds to your understanding and effectiveness here.

It is divided into sections:

1. Things you need to know
2. Managing your career and employment
3. Sharing our success
4. Taking a break
5. A team focus on health and safety
6. Our business standards - including Our House Rules
7. Leaving us

Included are policy statements which explain our rules and guidelines. Full copies of all policies can be found in this Knowledge Base. Talk to your Manager if you have any questions.

A business our size needs policies and rules so we all know what is required of us. It is important that we all follow those rules.

You can also find more information on the benefits available to you and full copies of policies in the Knowledge Base.

List of terms

Employment Agreement    The document sets out the terms and conditions of your employment with The Warehouse.
Core Purpose                    This tells us why we are in business and what’s special and unique about The Warehouse. The Core Purpose guides our behaviour and interaction with each other at work.
Policy                                 The Warehouse rules and regulations. These are non-negotiable behaviours. Breaches may lead to disciplinary action.
Team Member                   Any employee of The Warehouse.
Red Shed Lead Team (RSLT) - The Warehouse Executive Team i.e. Chief Executive Officer or General Manager.
Manager                            Your Store/ Department Manager
SSO                                  Store Support Office

Things you need to know

Creating great first impressions

When you are wearing your uniform (commonly referred to as “Reds”) you are representing our Warehouse Brand. Presenting yourself well has a positive impact on our customers. Always wear your name badge on the right side of your uniform shirt.

We will replace worn out uniforms as needed. Let your Manager know if you need more.

Uniforms must be returned to your Manager if they are old, damaged or you leave.

We provide: 

Full time (20 hours+)
5 x polo shirts
2 x Fleece jackets
1 x fleece vest

Part time(less than 20 hours)
3 x polo shirts
1 x Fleece jackets
1 x fleece vest

Name Badge: Wear at all times when in Store. Name badges are worn on the right side of your shirt.

You provide:

Pants/Skirt: Black pants or skirt. They must be knee length or longer and professional in appearance. You may purchase from the company for yourself for work purposes - either black trousers or skirts at cost price plus GST. Purchases must be made from the store where you work.

Shoes: Clean, black, sensible flat or low heeled shoes completely enclosing your feet that provide you with adequate support and safety.

You may purchase from the company either one pair of safety boots and two pairs of black shoes or three pairs of black shoes per year at cost price plus GST. Purchases must be made from the store where you work.

Team members in stockrooms will be provided with free safety boots from The Warehouse or reimbursed The Warehouse retail price if they choose to buy boots elsewhere. Safety boots must be worn at all times in stockrooms.

Socks/stockings: Plain black socks or plain black or clear stockings.

Plain black long sleeve tops: These can be worn under our uniform polo shirts. They will not be provided at the cost + GST special rate but you will receive the normal team discount rates when purchasing these from our stores.

Additionally:
  • A high standard of personal hygiene is required i.e. daily showering, an effective deodorant, clean hands, clean and tidy hair.
  • Minimal jewellery. The style of earrings should be studs, sleepers or small hoops. No more than 1 nose piercing no bigger than 3mm in size; and no other facial piercings.

Use of company property and facilities

Personal calls

Customers always come first so if you are working in any part of a store or offsite or distribution centre, personal mobile phones, pagers, etc are not permitted unless you have permission from your Manager. They can detract from our customer service.

Urgent incoming calls will be accepted on your behalf and messages passed on as soon as possible and if you need to make a call out, please check with your Manager first.

Computer systems

Our computer system and network are for work related purposes, including maintaining your professional knowledge, and any other purpose your Manager has approved.

We monitor email communication and Internet usage from time to time to keep our team and company safe.

You need to be aware that inappropriate use of our systems includes using our computer systems and network to access, create, display, copy or distribute material which:

  • is illegal
  • is defamatory
  • is objectionable, offensive, or is of a sexual nature
  • is harassing or deemed to be so
  • is copyright, and you do not have a legal right to reproduce it
  • is encrypted (has a secret security code)
  • harms morale
  • relates to a business other than ours unless it is public information
You will be given a user name and password and your use can be identified by this. Make sure you keep your username/password confidential as you are responsible for any activity using that user name and password.
Refer to our Network policy separately as it applies to you.

Your pay


Your pay will be paid directly to your bank account.

Team Members on hourly rates: your pay will be processed every second Tuesday evening. You will be able to access your pay no later than Wednesday of each pay fortnight. Occasionally a public holiday may mean we cannot process the pay on the Tuesday. You will be notified if this occurs in case you need to make other arrangements.

Salary payments are made monthly, no later than the 20th of each month. The pay is for that full calendar month (i.e. part in advance, part in arrears).
Any payments outside of our normal pay cycles are made at the discretion of your Manager and Payroll.

MyPay

We have an online self-serve system called MyPay. You’ll get a logon to MyPay which will let you update your details and give you electronic payslips. You’ll get this logon with a payslip sent form Payroll to you in the first month after you start work.

You can access MyPay from a work or a home PC. Salaried Team Members can also apply for leave via MyPay.

When you start you let us know all the details required to pay you. After this please update MyPay if there are any changes to your details.

Refer to your employment agreement for your pay details also refer to MyPay or check with your Manager