Hi guys, I've been an off and on reader here and been working for Ralphs for over 5 years now. I've seen a few incidents or issues that just don't seem right here and there, but nothing that I've been much involved in as I usually get more work done than anyone I'm working with. I'm technically an Asst Deli Mgr but my last store couldn't hold on to anyone in the Bakery so they started to move me there a few days out of the week and it eventually turned into most days of the week. I didn't really mind it because the work was different than Deli work. My issue is now I've been transferred to a much larger high volume store than where I was on the premise that they want to see if I can handle a bigger Bakery department or in their words to learn from the Bakery Manager to train for me being promoted to a Bakery Mgr since no Deli Mgr spots have been available and the company are not much in need of Deli Mgrs as they are Bakery Mgrs. So I said ok that's fine because I'd really like to be promoted by now. They transferred me and the drive to my new store usually takes a little less time depending on traffic. Since the first week at my new store, I've seen an extreme difference in the way the Bakery Mgr runs her dept. I've consistently been given a ton of work to try to finish in a 6 to 8 hour period, much of what other stores will usually accomplish in the morning. Much of the days it really felt impossible to finish everything the manager was making a list of. I've been constantly hearing the co-manager saying I need to work faster and more efficiently and I told him I can't safely work any faster. The Bakery Mgr doesn't move fast herself mind you. There really seems to be a pattern of overproducing breads and rolls and dumping it all on the closer which has basically been me and one other "problem" employee who is now transferred since the start of this week. The closer has to then deal with all the overproduction since the Bakery Mgr and the baker won't touch it and then try to complete a list of things the Bakery Mgr wants done. Basically, an impossible task list including baking table items, scanning using CAP program, closing duties, trash, cleanup, etc. 2 people in the morning, one at night. I've opened a couple of days this week. On Monday the Bakery Mgr called out and on Tuesday the baker called out. They tried to call me in but I had plans to tend to homework so I told them I couldn't make it. Also, I notice on the couple days opening that the co-manager doesn't complain to the Bakery Mgr while she is working about the same things he complains to me about so I'm just seeing favoritism here. So suddenly I've gone from a possible promotion to the co-manager saying he may have to find someone else that can complete the work in time. I know this has been lengthy but this seems like a new wave of management style through Ralph's and if your not in the loop of favorites, then you're treated like dirt. My actual question beyond all this is does a co-manager constantly telling me I need to work faster and more efficiently qualify as harassment?
-- Edited by drwbns on Friday 27th of February 2015 09:48:05 AM
-- Edited by drwbns on Friday 27th of February 2015 09:48:59 AM
It's not harassment for the manager to tell you to constantly work faster, but it certainly isn't fair of your store manager and bakery manager to do these things to you. I had a similar experience with the store that I used to work at, where I couldn't keep up with all the work they piled on me (I was also asst. deli manager). The store manager told me that union rules wouldn't allow him to just fire me, but he could have me transferred to any other store in our union local, if he wanted. I live in Louisville, and he threatened to transfer me to Bowling Green, a driving distance of 2.5 hours away. Clearly I wouldn't have stayed with Kroger if that had happened--he would have in effect been firing me!
You are definitely being treated unfairly. My advice to you is to explain to your union representative what's happening--how there's favoritism, unrealistic goals, and that promise of a promotion seems to have been taken away from you. Ask your union rep what could be done--even if there aren't union rules to protect you in this instance, your rep should be an experience employee who may have good advice. And seriously, find another job somewhere else outside of Ralph's if you can, there are absolutely better stores to work for.
Probably not. See if you can transfer back to your old store. It is very difficult for them to fire people for performance issues. Thats why the bakery manager is leaving a mess. Do the best you can. They browbeat people to intimidate. They are constantly training deli to do bakery as hiring off the street for bakery has resulted in massive turnover. They can't replace you anyways.
They don't fire people based on performance issues. They just transfer them or try to make them quit, don't you just love working for a company with that sort of thinking?
Instead of trying to figure out the problem or work with people they just give you low hours where you can't live on the wages or they make your life hell in whatever job you do. Yea. That's a company that you want to work for with a smile on your face!
