I just started at a retail store in the UK (referred by a friend who works there). On my first day I was doing computer-based training, I was focused and the manager checked on me multiple times throughout the day. On one of those visits, he caught me glancing at my phone for literally a second. He got very angry, told me not to do it again, and then went and told my friend (who gave the referral) and other managers in the store that I wasn't completing my training and was on my phone. It kind of became a talking point on my first day, which felt really embarrassing and disproportionate to what actually happened.
At the end of Day 1 he told me directly that he didn't have a great impression of me. I apologised but honestly froze and didn't know what to say.
Day 2, I was on a delivery shift. I needed to move a pallet and didn't know how to use the pump truck (I'd never been shown). I asked the manager — he just told me to get the truck without any explanation. I figured it out by asking another manager who was actually really helpful.
He also hasn't given me my rota. I keep having to chase him to find out when I'm supposed to come in, which feels unprofessional on his end.
I get that checking my phone on Day 1 was a mistake. But gossiping about it to the whole store and then giving me the cold shoulder feels excessive. I want to do well here and I'm working hard, I just don't know how to reset this relationship.
Has anyone dealt with a manager like this early on? Should I just keep my head down, or is there anything I can do to actively turn this around?