Not 100% sure it's the reason why we don't have the Christmas songs playing on the radio. But last night when I was on til 9, they had the high school choir come in and do some Caroling in the Produce section. I believe even in of our store managers bought them hot chocolate from Starbucks after they had finished. But yea, I think they were saving up for having that particular opportunity than just playing the regular holiday tunes.
And on another note. Was curious if any one else is experiencing any one in their department whining about not getting off Christmas Eve, already or not? Have a girl in my department now that is doing just that. As she just discovered that folks that put in requests for having Christmas Eve off will come before her availability to have it off.
I mean, I get she is a college student and all. And set her availability to have Sunday, Wednesday, and I think Fridays off so she can do school/Church work and what not. But dude. She gets off EVERY Sunday now from the get go in the first place. It's not like she can't work just 1 Sunday as the end of the year is going out. Heck, I'm just thankful they let me get the 17th off so I can go see a concert that night myself. As I've worked just about every Sunday but 2 since I became full-time and probably even more than that when I was part-time. So, I just amazed she is having a hissy fit over 1 Sunday.
Anybody else going through something similar in their department this time of the year?
Not 100% sure it's the reason why we don't have the Christmas songs playing on the radio. But last night when I was on til 9, they had the high school choir come in and do some Caroling in the Produce section. I believe even in of our store managers bought them hot chocolate from Starbucks after they had finished. But yea, I think they were saving up for having that particular opportunity than just playing the regular holiday tunes.
And on another note. Was curious if any one else is experiencing any one in their department whining about not getting off Christmas Eve, already or not? Have a girl in my department now that is doing just that. As she just discovered that folks that put in requests for having Christmas Eve off will come before her availability to have it off.
I mean, I get she is a college student and all. And set her availability to have Sunday, Wednesday, and I think Fridays off so she can do school/Church work and what not. But dude. She gets off EVERY Sunday now from the get go in the first place. It's not like she can't work just 1 Sunday as the end of the year is going out. Heck, I'm just thankful they let me get the 17th off so I can go see a concert that night myself. As I've worked just about every Sunday but 2 since I became full-time and probably even more than that when I was part-time. So, I just amazed she is having a hissy fit over 1 Sunday.
Anybody else going through something similar in their department this time of the year?
Well if she has her availability set to have Sunday's off, and they have been respecting that and scheduling off, then of course she would expect that on Christmas eve. And quite frankly they should have just given it to her if they have been doing that all this time. Just my opinion. Do you guys not close early in Christmas eve?
Hate to say it, but if she's unavailable to work Sundays or whatever days she has chosen as unavailable, then there is very little...acutually nothing that can be done about it.
Not 100% sure it's the reason why we don't have the Christmas songs playing on the radio. But last night when I was on til 9, they had the high school choir come in and do some Caroling in the Produce section. I believe even in of our store managers bought them hot chocolate from Starbucks after they had finished. But yea, I think they were saving up for having that particular opportunity than just playing the regular holiday tunes.
And on another note. Was curious if any one else is experiencing any one in their department whining about not getting off Christmas Eve, already or not? Have a girl in my department now that is doing just that. As she just discovered that folks that put in requests for having Christmas Eve off will come before her availability to have it off.
I mean, I get she is a college student and all. And set her availability to have Sunday, Wednesday, and I think Fridays off so she can do school/Church work and what not. But dude. She gets off EVERY Sunday now from the get go in the first place. It's not like she can't work just 1 Sunday as the end of the year is going out. Heck, I'm just thankful they let me get the 17th off so I can go see a concert that night myself. As I've worked just about every Sunday but 2 since I became full-time and probably even more than that when I was part-time. So, I just amazed she is having a hissy fit over 1 Sunday.
Anybody else going through something similar in their department this time of the year?
Well if she has her availability set to have Sunday's off, and they have been respecting that and scheduling off, then of course she would expect that on Christmas eve. And quite frankly they should have just given it to her if they have been doing that all this time. Just my opinion. Do you guys not close early in Christmas eve?
To be honest with you, I haven't heard if we are closing early or not. It's like we are just taking things week by week. Especially since the other college student quit that wasn't working Sundays either of late. And with us having very few closers these days. I'd imagine they would have her or myself working a Sunday.
But I think she had heard from a more senior employee, that requests trump availability choices when it comes down to holidays. Probably could go to management about it. But I still think in the grand scheme of things, I kind of think she needs to be prepared for if they ask her if she can cut down some of her days when she can't work. In particular on Sunday. As so many people want that day off. And with bakery being even shorter staffed with the other college student leaving and with them pulling me back over from Deli. There is only so many people to cover so many hours for the week.
Hate to say it, but if she's unavailable to work Sundays or whatever days she has chosen as unavailable, then there is very little...acutually nothing that can be done about it.
Perhaps so. But I know they have a way of getting you in the office and kind of giving you that stare down look, like you REALLLY don't need 3 days off in the week right? But hey who knows, they could just also leave it alone too as for whatever reason they have a bunch of part-timers taking 3 days off in a row! When I can barely get my own two off days together(their more like waving at each other from the start of the week til the end). So who knows.
Be a heck of a lot better if they were able to pull more deli people down to cross train, like how they had me cross with deli to learn stuff. That way if they need someone to close any of the 3 closers, no one is available it will still be covered. Instead of running one our back up managers down so much with all the over time she gets every week. But for whatever reason that just hasn't entered their brains.
This is why it's sad that Kroger is so desperate for help in the departments. someone with those restrictions might be ok as a cashier or bagger, but to have a deli or bakery employee restricted on Sunday and Friday, two of the busiest days of the week?? Seriously?
I already have someone in my bakery restricted where she can't work Sundays and it makes things difficult to schedule.
Regarding the Christmas carolers... i'm glad i don't work in a fancy store, lol
This is why it's sad that Kroger is so desperate for help in the departments. someone with those restrictions might be ok as a cashier or bagger, but to have a deli or bakery employee restricted on Sunday and Friday, two of the busiest days of the week?? Seriously?
I already have someone in my bakery restricted where she can't work Sundays and it makes things difficult to schedule.
Regarding the Christmas carolers... i'm glad i don't work in a fancy store, lol
Exactly my point! I mean I'm not really begrudging the girl her feelings. Not in the least. But at the same time, from a practical stand point things are going to have to change a bit. Because as you said, being a bakery clerk is not like being a cashier or bagger. When you don't have enough peeps on for the busiest days of the week, it can really put a major stress and strain on the department. Especially as our busy days are Sunday and Mondays for sure during the day. And then the rest of the week later on at night as people are getting off of work.
And with how they are scheduling the Deli at times too. It's a bit of a struggle to get everything done without going into OT. Sure we have tons of new people hired on there. But still with all this, part-timers being scheduled off for 3 days in a row at a time, that really doesn't help us at times. Most especially when it comes down to closing. As I don't know how many times I've come in and discovered I'm closing by myself or someone else is. And I don't even know what they are going to do once I'm getting in more bakery days again. It's just a mess some nights.
And actually the carolers weren't too bad. They stayed over in Produce, lol. And thankfully I have been off a lot of Thursdays so far, so I don't have to be tortured by "Elvis" or whoever thinks they are the next big Country Superstar. To say the least.
I have heard all requests and availability go out the window during a holiday. Still, I try to give my people what they want unless there is a conflict, which I prefer to resolve by talking to the people involved. If neither will budge, it goes by seniority.
I have heard all requests and availability go out the window during a holiday. Still, I try to give my people what they want unless there is a conflict, which I prefer to resolve by talking to the people involved. If neither will budge, it goes by seniority.
Which I think is also what had the girl even more in her feelings. As she kept going on and on, that she is getting screwed over cause she is at the bottom of the barrel and under everyone else.
But yea, sometimes you have to bite the bullet and work when they have you scheduled for during the holidays. I mean heck I worked 3 nights myself til 11 for Thanksgiving myself. Was it something I enjoyed and moaned and groaned about? Absolutely, but I sucked it up and made it through the other side.
And I repeat, til we get another set of hands on to help with closing and even opening. I see more schedule shifts to be made. Just to cover what we can. Just part of the reality of things.
