Interview Questionnaire for Convenience Shop Support Staff
Demographic Information
Name: Rakib
Age: 25
Gender: Male
Experience in convenience shop work: 5 years
Employer/shop profile: Jilany Store, Fatullah, Narayanganj
Section A: Work-specific Questions
1. Can you describe your daily tasks in the convenience shop?
Usually, I start my work at 7 AM. I open the gate and start organizing the outside display
stuffs.
2. How many hours do you usually work in a day or week?
I work till night, till 11 PM.
3. Do you think your work is important for the shop’s smooth operation? Why or why not?
Yes, of course. The owner relies on me.
4. How would you describe the work pressure in the shop?
Work pressure is huge.
5. Have you ever felt forced to work extra hours or tasks you did not want to do?
Yes, sometimes I have to do extra work.
6. Do you face any penalties, fines, or threats if you refuse work or slow down?
Sometimes when work gets done slowly, the owner keeps giving pressure.
7. Do you get breaks during working hours?
Yes, for taking lunch.
8. How are you paid and how often (daily/weekly/monthly)?
I am paid on a daily basis.
9. Have you ever been paid less than promised or faced delayed payments?
Usually that doesn't happen.
10. Do you receive any additional benefits (e.g., food, health, bonus)?
No extra benefits.
Section B: General Understanding of Work Challenges
1. How would you describe the workflow in the shop? Is it smooth or disorganized?
During 10 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 10 PM the load is huge.
2. What are the main challenges you face while working here?
Sometimes handling stuffs becomes hard.
3. Do supply delays, product shortages, or miscommunication affect your work?
Yes, sometimes.
5. Do local leaders, political groups, or others ever influence who gets work in shops?
Yes, that happens occasionally.
Section C: Perception of Work Performance
1. Do you think long working hours affect your performance or efficiency? How?
Sometimes creates drowsiness and headache.
2. Have you ever made mistakes due to stress, fatigue, or workload?
Sometimes work gets slower.
3. How motivated do you feel to work in this shop?
I get paid, so I work to justify that.
4. What strategies do you use to cope with work pressure?
I work systematically to keep everything in order.
5. If conditions improved (e.g., fair pay, proper rest), how would your performance change?
Then I would work harder.
Section D: Role of Informal Workforce
1. Do you think convenience shop support staff like you make the shop run faster or slower?
Skilled workers always make the shop run faster.
2. What kind of value do you add to the shop (e.g., customer support, stocking, cleaning)?
Everything above.
3. Do you think lack of formal training affects your work quality?
Not at all.
4. Do shop owners depend on you, or do they sometimes see you as a problem (e.g.,
absenteeism)?
Yes, the owner fully depends on me.
5. Do you believe informal staff sometimes create hidden costs (mistakes, rework)?
Yes, if they are unskilled.
Section E: Sustainability
1. Do you think it is sustainable for convenience shops to rely on informal workers long-
term?
Yes, as I am also working here for 5 years.
2. Do you believe the government may push shops to formalize staff in the future?
No idea.
3. Are workers like you satisfied with this type of work, or do you wish for better
opportunities?
Yes, as long as we get paid properly.
4. Do you think relying too much on informal staff can damage the shop’s reputation?
Not at all, we work hard to gain trust and respect.