I think it just depends on your perception really. I mean I'm typically on closing and think that can be pretty good as the department managers aren't on for very long. Don't have to get up early in the morning. And if you have the right folks on, the night can go super fast. Which is always a good thing, when it's hella slow or even when it's really busy too.
However, that is not to say that I don't like working days as well. Sure it's a pain in the butt to get up early at times. But at least to me that means I can actually DO something with the rest of my day after work for a change! I work so many closing shifts, that I feel like unless I cram just about everything I need to do in BEFORE I come to work. It's not going to get done when I'm on a 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. And also while on early in the day, you are kind of swept up in the rush of the morning set up and getting things done. That you don't have time to worry about the closing stuff. And I repeat! GETTING OUT EARLY TO BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THE REST OF YOUR DAY!
Right now though, I'm back on opening hours for the bakery(3:30-11:30) and have to say prior to the managers and what not getting in there. I really enjoy that time as well. Sure it sucks on going to bed super early to get up even earlier. But man is it great to be in there when there isn't so much hustle and bustle of activity. Can actually hear yourself think. Have room and time to move around your department with ease, without folks being all on top of each other half the time. No customers so early til 6-ish. And even the early birds aren't really big on asking a lot of stuff. Just want their doughnuts and the markdowns. And truly get out of there before the day gets into the thick of mishaps and other such shenanigans. Ugh, it's a beautiful thing. And even more so, I can do EVEN more with my day after a quick nap when I get home(mind you when I'm not doing the same hours back to back)!
In bakery, i actually like baking (3am-11am) the most and i'm the fastest at it... however, i hate getting up for work at 1:30 in the morning, and as dept. head i'm not really supposed to be working that time anyway. So i'd say i prefer the 8-4 shift overall.
I generally come in at 5:00AM. I work in ClickList and I like working the 5:00AM-1:00PM shift because there are fewer customers in the store and that makes it easier for me to complete trolley runs fairly quickly.
In bakery, i actually like baking (3am-11am) the most and i'm the fastest at it... however, i hate getting up for work at 1:30 in the morning, and as dept. head i'm not really supposed to be working that time anyway. So i'd say i prefer the 8-4 shift overall.
That's what our Department Head works, either she comes in at 3-4am or 5am and the backup will come at the other time. So yea, half the mornings they are both there in the mornings working together. Neither of them ever close, and neither come in past 6am. Even my Department Head (Grocery) works a 12am-8 or a 3am-11.
I prefer night shift, I have an 8pm-4am that I love, but the 10-6 isn't bad either. Don't like 11-7 or 12-8 because you have to see too many morning customers, and 7pm is too early to come in because there's still too much BS going on.
In bakery, i actually like baking (3am-11am) the most and i'm the fastest at it... however, i hate getting up for work at 1:30 in the morning, and as dept. head i'm not really supposed to be working that time anyway. So i'd say i prefer the 8-4 shift overall.
Yea, 8 to 4 is a good one as well. But I typically prefer a 10 to 6. Not too early and not too late.
And yes, getting up at 1 in the morning sucks to no end for those opening hours. Have had 3 days of it back to back this week. And next week 4, cause I'm covering for the usual floor setter. As she is filling in for the cake decorator that's on vacation this week and next. But at least for the first time ever I have a weekend off in between. Who knew that one could happen.
I think it really depends on what you prefer. Personally, I like 7-3:30 or 8-4:30 because you don't get out too late. My shift is 8-2 due to do having another job that I start at 3, but I was working 8-4:30 before I got a second job and I preferred it.
Nights. Call me crazy. You can barely pay me enough to work at Kroger with 6 people I can barely stand and some quiet and reserved customers. You CANT pay enough to deal with stupid ones all shift long or just all of them in the store ****ing it up ALONG with all of the stupid management AND 50 more coworkers I probably will barely be able to stand.
And besides, I can listen to music or books or podcasts. I can take my uniform shirt off. I walk away from issues I cant handle at the time. I can do my job as I see fit and go.
I like 9pm to 5am quite a bit, and 10 to 6am was great cause you get summer sunsets and early morning sunrises. And you never once see management (at my store at least)
I dislike 11-7. Too late. You lose a lot of benefits like sunrises and sunsets, no traffic in the morning and it not being hard to wake up. And you see management on the way out and they talk to you for 15 minutes and then one smokes with you and pretends like they give a **** what you think. And then you watch morning shifters walk in late every day and managers not care at all.
Every hour Im there after 6 am, I might as well just stay. I hate morning traffic so bad. 12 to 8 would be hell.
Id rather work 8 to 4 and see the closing manager and deal with evening traffic.
I'd say the morning or the evening, in between are the busiest times. When customers speak to me during the morning hours or the evening, they seem mellow for the most part. But during the busier hours, I feel that customers are more cranky.