Jane Millar, Byron Bay
I have been a diligent volunteer worker in a Byron Bay charity shop for years.
It set strategic policies and procedures in place to achieve good outcomes for itself, its workers, the local community, and our needy. I always felt respected for my efforts and enjoyed a happy, compassionated workplace, until this year.
During the six months of a new, strictly retail regime based on ‘big picture’ reasoning, I have witnessed an alarming number of our volunteers dismissed. All were devastated and felt totally disrespected. Any long-term customers stopped coming in.
The needy feel estranged and unwelcome.
While I retain the utmost respect for the charity itself I question its implementation of such rigid marketing, causing the loss of our dedicated volunteers along with the shop’s veritable heart and joy.
I have just tendered my resignation and wonder how much more loss of compassionate interaction with our local community and those in immediate need will it take to sate this ‘big picture’ appetite?
I would like to thank the past managers and all of my fellow volunteers and say to to each of them, with heartfelt respect and admiration, WELL DONE.
