Hey everyone, I would really appreciate your opinion regarding this issue. I'm a part-time pharmacy technician at Kroger and go to college full-time. My availability thus is limited and have worked the same hours and days since I started two years ago. The store I work is currently going an extensive remodel and is closed until Thanksgiving; only the pharmacy stays open and they have increased tech. hours so the pharmacist on duty is never alone. I'm one of two techs. and this doesn't affect the other tech. as she's already full time and has no other commitments. However, this has greatly affected me as I just started graduate school and in school five days a week, and now have to work six days. I'm in school from 9 until about 3:30 and have to report to work at 4:30-5 until 9 pm, Monday-Friday. I also work about six hours on either Saturday or Sunday. I was informed about my new schedule in late July and the remodel started in early August. Can Kroger just change anyone's schedule without enough notice, and what would you in this situation? I made it very clear to them that I would continue to work through school as my previous schedule was very doable, but this new schedule is not sustainable for me. I like my job and my coworkers, but I can't help but feel that this was very inconsiderate on their part. Thanks.
are those new hours in your approved availability? if so, you're expected to work it.
check. talk to them. change your availability, you can do that every six months although it can be denied. needs of the business.
Contract says full time has seniority for shifts but we're actually part timers' bitch. If they need a body late like eleven or later, or early like six am or even overnight, we're stuck for "needs of the business" where a part timer can pick whatever start and end they like and are happy with. the pay and slightly better benefits arent' worth it. the only benefit if there is one is knowing what you'll get paid week by week.
Kroger doesn't care about its employees. To them, you're just a mindless automaton.
"My ideas and suggestions count"? Yeah right.
Yes, I can see that now. There are techs. around our area that have had their hours cut and some would likely picked up some hours were this properly handled.
are those new hours in your approved availability? if so, you're expected to work it.
check. talk to them. change your availability, you can do that every six months although it can be denied. needs of the business.
Contract says full time has seniority for shifts but we're actually part timers' bitch. If they need a body late like eleven or later, or early like six am or even overnight, we're stuck for "needs of the business" where a part timer can pick whatever start and end they like and are happy with. the pay and slightly better benefits arent' worth it. the only benefit if there is one is knowing what you'll get paid week by week.
No. I was still in college when I started there and the pharmacy manager assured me that he will work around my school schedule that semester and any thereafter.
are those new hours in your approved availability? if so, you're expected to work it.
check. talk to them. change your availability, you can do that every six months although it can be denied. needs of the business.
Contract says full time has seniority for shifts but we're actually part timers' bitch. If they need a body late like eleven or later, or early like six am or even overnight, we're stuck for "needs of the business" where a part timer can pick whatever start and end they like and are happy with. the pay and slightly better benefits arent' worth it. the only benefit if there is one is knowing what you'll get paid week by week.
The problem with most of what you're saying is that it comes from union contracts but pharmacy employees are mostly/always non-union.
are those new hours in your approved availability? if so, you're expected to work it.
check. talk to them. change your availability, you can do that every six months although it can be denied. needs of the business.
Contract says full time has seniority for shifts but we're actually part timers' bitch. If they need a body late like eleven or later, or early like six am or even overnight, we're stuck for "needs of the business" where a part timer can pick whatever start and end they like and are happy with. the pay and slightly better benefits arent' worth it. the only benefit if there is one is knowing what you'll get paid week by week.
The problem with most of what you're saying is that it comes from union contracts but pharmacy employees are mostly/always non-union.
Techelite, I'm actually in the union--as is the other tech. I'm in Michigan and from what I know, techs from different stores in our area are in it as well.
are those new hours in your approved availability? if so, you're expected to work it.
check. talk to them. change your availability, you can do that every six months although it can be denied. needs of the business.
Contract says full time has seniority for shifts but we're actually part timers' bitch. If they need a body late like eleven or later, or early like six am or even overnight, we're stuck for "needs of the business" where a part timer can pick whatever start and end they like and are happy with. the pay and slightly better benefits arent' worth it. the only benefit if there is one is knowing what you'll get paid week by week.
The problem with most of what you're saying is that it comes from union contracts but pharmacy employees are mostly/always non-union.
Techelite, I'm actually in the union--as is the other tech. I'm in Michigan and from what I know, techs from different stores in our area are in it as well.
Really? I was under the impression the whole pharmacy-excluded-from-the-union thing was pretty universal.
are those new hours in your approved availability? if so, you're expected to work it.
check. talk to them. change your availability, you can do that every six months although it can be denied. needs of the business.
Contract says full time has seniority for shifts but we're actually part timers' bitch. If they need a body late like eleven or later, or early like six am or even overnight, we're stuck for "needs of the business" where a part timer can pick whatever start and end they like and are happy with. the pay and slightly better benefits arent' worth it. the only benefit if there is one is knowing what you'll get paid week by week.
The problem with most of what you're saying is that it comes from union contracts but pharmacy employees are mostly/always non-union.
Techelite, I'm actually in the union--as is the other tech. I'm in Michigan and from what I know, techs from different stores in our area are in it as well.
Really? I was under the impression the whole pharmacy-excluded-from-the-union thing was pretty universal.
Mine are union people too.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
Well, I stand corrected then. I was of the opinion that the pharmacy was so different that they tended to just be automatically excluded from the union, but I guess not.
Thanks to those who replied and gave me advice. Kroger doesn't come first for me regardless of what the pharmacy coordinators say and I'm certainly not at anyone's beck and call. I gave my two week notice today and know this was the best decision. I have helped with shifts when possible over the years and tried to bare it out since the beginning of August, but this is not a company I want to be a part of going forward. Again, thanks.
4hourrush, I don't see myself working in pharmacy ever again. Retail pharmacy in general doesn't pay technicians what we deserve; I enjoyed what I did and liked our patients, but I'm moving in a different direction. Hopefully what I do next will be my career and what I went to school for.
Techs get paid pretty well in some states from what i understand (ohio for example, ask SayWhat about it :P) but i hope everything goes well for you in the future :)