A recent photo of former Woolworths CEO Brad Banducci working behind a checkout counter in his final days with the company has ignited heated debate online. Banducci, who spent 13 years at Woolworths and served as CEO for eight of those years, stepped down in February following a controversial ABC Four Corners report. The report accused him of throwing a “mini tantrum” when faced with difficult questions. His decision to work on the shop floor during his last weeks has raised eyebrows.
In keeping with the commitment he made when announcing his resignation, Banducci worked in-store during his final weeks, stepping down from the CEO position at the end of August and passing the reins to Amanda Bardwell.
Although Woolworths has consistently denied that Banducci’s resignation was related to the ABC report, some experts believe both the company and Banducci have suffered reputational damage because of it. This was reflected in a customer’s reaction at the Woolworths Marrickville store in Sydney’s inner west, where Banducci was spotted working.
A photo posted online, captioned “What a w**ker,” went viral, sparking thousands of comments. The post described how a shopper confronted Banducci, accusing him of “cosplaying” as a worker while allegedly not paying Woolworths employees fairly. The poster continued, “Lady was having a go at him, pretty on the money.”
Despite this claim, it’s been reported that no negative remarks were directed at Banducci by customers during his time at the store.
The post drew mixed reactions. Some expressed sympathy for the store employees who likely had to prepare for Banducci’s visit. One person wrote, “I feel for all the team members who had to deal with this ‘visit.’” Another commenter took a jab at corporate executives in general, suggesting, “Now make the Qantas CEO fly economy on flights over five hours. Let them experience the product at its best.”
On the other hand, several people defended Banducci’s actions. One comment pointed out, “Sure, a corporate executive isn’t going to learn empathy in a day, but isn’t this better than never working the checkout at all?” Another suggested that Banducci’s store time could be for research, writing, “He’s probably gathering final insights on store experience in case he’s hired as a consultant.”
Woolworths Group reportedly has a long-standing policy that requires all new office-based hires, regardless of their role, to spend several days working in a store as part of their orientation. This initiative helps build a deeper understanding of the customer and employee experience within the supermarket environment.
Banducci’s farewell may have sparked controversy, but it also sheds light on a broader practice within Woolworths to keep its leaders connected to the daily operations of the business.
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