In this paper, we focus on the role of the first line manager in the Finnish retail environment. The role of the line manager has in general strengthened as a part of the general trend to decentralize management and responsibility in organizations. However, the role of retail line managers in supporting both the work ability and well-being of employees and the performance of the store, involves particular challenges specific for the retail sector context. Specifically, we are interested in how the interviewed managers position themselves towards both the employees of the store and the chain under which they are employed. In this study, we unravel some of the tensions and resources in the relations between first line managers, store employees and the retail chain. Our analysis shows shifting positions of the first line managers in constructing boundaries of relatedness, distance and detachment towards store employees and chain management. In other words, the interviewees both distance themselves from employees and the chain and assume relatedness to the same actors by occupying various subject positions. They construct their professional identities as supervisors through constantly shifting identifications vis-a-vis these actors. As a result, we argue that this shifting is a way for the first line managers to cope with the conflicting expectations due to their in-between position.

Shifting subject positions of first line managers in retail trade

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Shifting subject positions of first line managers in retail trade