It is a completely different job code-one of the reasons I took the Utility job was *not* to have to bag anymore. I wish the cashiers (at least in my store) would be more respectful of the job we do (it isn't just about "cleaning the bathrooms" as some cashiers think that is all we do.)
If management says to bag...you bag. However, I would ask management if a checker asks you to bag what should you do. Bag or continue with your duties as a UC. I work as a gm. (Wherever I'm needed.) My classification does not include bagging or UC work, BUT... I have done those as well when asked to do so by management.
When surge help is called, that means EVERYONE, who is able to bag comes up. At that time UCs sre automatically considered available. Even I have come up during surge calls
I hear what all of you are saying (I am the original poster) but for every hour I am *taken away from my job* that means I get further behind and have to play catch up. I discussed this with one of our front end managers (she also makes the schedule in our store) and she told me to say to a cashier that "I will help you out for a little bit but I have to get back to my duties also." That has seemed to work in our store. Front end is perpetually understaffed where I am due to the fact we are not offering competitive wages in our area and losing people to companies who pay much more. I don't think the world is going to come crashing to a halt if a few customers have to bag their own orders-most of ours know we are short staffed and try to help us out from time to time.
Then do just that. Tell the cashiers that you NEED to get YOUR job done or YOU will be in trouble with the store manager then after you are done helping do just that.
It is a completely different job code-one of the reasons I took the Utility job was *not* to have to bag anymore. I wish the cashiers (at least in my store) would be more respectful of the job we do (it isn't just about "cleaning the bathrooms" as some cashiers think that is all we do.)
YOU WILL DO AS I SAY OR YOU WILL BE FIRED. IF I SAY BAG THEN YOU BAG. YOU HAVE TO DO AS I SAY.
It is a completely different job code-one of the reasons I took the Utility job was *not* to have to bag anymore. I wish the cashiers (at least in my store) would be more respectful of the job we do (it isn't just about "cleaning the bathrooms" as some cashiers think that is all we do.)
YOU WILL DO AS I SAY OR YOU WILL BE FIRED. IF I SAY BAG THEN YOU BAG. YOU HAVE TO DO AS I SAY.
As a checker, I never TELL anyone to bag. I don't even ask anyone to bag, unless there happens to be a huge order, with a line behind them, but most times the supervisor has already called the UC to bag, so I don't need to. While the UC is doing other duties, most of the time it is slow enough, small enough orders that I am able to handle all the bagging by myself. My UCs are usually good about finding the time to get their UC different stuff done, while still noticing when they need to bag. So far as "not your job", our managers bag when needed, I have been told to bag for others. You're not a UC to avoid bagging, when every department does it including management. That goes for pretty much every job in the store, unless it is something you are not qualified to do, or are unable to. Like I have a really bad knee and bad back. I couldn't do a regular bagger shift. I can cover it for a couple of hours, but I couldn't do a full shift of bagging, hauling carts, and loading cars for customers, though I can do it for short periods.
If there is a particular checker who is telling you to bag when they could be doing it themself, while taking you away from other duties, then A. You still get off at the same time, even if the other duties don't get done. B. explain to management WHY you are not able to get those duties done.
I followed up with the Admin in our store that does payroll-she said Bagger and Untility Clerk is the same thing due to the fact our store doesn't have the dollar volume to separate the two job descriptions. Don't quite understand it-are there stores in Kroger that have these as completely separate jobs?
I followed up with the Admin in our store that does payroll-she said Bagger and Untility Clerk is the same thing due to the fact our store doesn't have the dollar volume to separate the two job descriptions. Don't quite understand it-are there stores in Kroger that have these as completely separate jobs?
Yes, plus union contracts in certain places probably require it to enhance the number of jobs. My store is what Kroger calls "value" (value/mainstream/upscale - which I imagine the upscale stores might get two different positions). We have courtesy clerks and utility clerks, and pretty much all job functions except cash functions are interchangeable. Utility Clerks at our store never do anything with cash registers, USCAN, etc. Most of these employees are "special" and/or elderly so they pretty much bag, sweep, clean bathrooms, collect buggies, restock go-backs, and take out trash. Courtesy Clerks at our store do most of these functions (they usually don't have to clean bathrooms however) however they might also man USCAN and some of them are trained and able to operate a register if business dictates. We have dedicated cashiers too that do nothing but cashiering (mostly older ladies) but several of the clerks (mostly younger ladies) can run one as well. Some of the courtesy clerks also act as emergency file maintenance for big ad events and a few stock/condition if they're completed with all front-end tasks but still have time before they have to leave. We even have a few that work other departments a few days a week, mostly deli/produce/drug GM. One used to do grocery some but she quit a while back.
TL;DR - At our store, Utility Clerks clean toilets and other menial tasks. Courtesy Clerks/Baggers do most of those menial tasks but some of them can run USCAN and operate a cash register. Cashiers are what several clerks aspire to be because most of their hours are just working the register instead of having to grab buggies. Then you have Customer Service that mostly gets to stand behind the counter all day, then clerks for each department. Most of these positions get paid the same, of course.
Utility is supposed to be disappearing in ATL division so good luck with that if that's where you are. If I need you to bag and you refuse I'm writing your *ss up for insubordination. It's that old "Customer 1st Task Second" thing. They've already cut back on non-express check lanes which cut bagging hours so it's an understaffing headache. We're so damn busy we need two on the lot but only have hours for three.
Most of the time eschedule will assign someone to do c. clerk or utility clerk work for a brief time and switch back and forth through the shift. It's ridiculous but necessary to achieve a schedule rating under the current mind-less system.
Utility is part of the front end - even if the job tasks require you to be elsewhere in the store at times, just like File Maintenance. Since utility is part of the front end, anyone assigned to utility has to go by what the front end supervisor, or if the CSM is there, wants done. That means if you are called to the front to bag or get carts, then that's what you have to do. If, later, a front end supervisor, CSM or member of management gets on you for not doing store sweeps/cleaning the bathrooms/emptying trash/whatever, then just name the person that called you to the front to bag/get carts and let that person take the heat for preventing you from doing the job.
Let's be clear though... Kroger doesn't care if the bathrooms are nasty or if the trash cans are overflowing or if the outside sidewalk looks a mess with Kroger ads and trash all over the place. The only time Kroger actually cares if company is on the way. If Kroger did care, then utility would actually consist of multiple people that would be left alone to make sure the stores are clean and safe from spills.
"Let's be clear though... Kroger doesn't care if the bathrooms are nasty or if the trash cans are overflowing or if the outside sidewalk looks a mess with Kroger ads and trash all over the place. The only time Kroger actually cares if company is on the way. If Kroger did care, then utility would actually consist of multiple people that would be left alone to make sure the stores are clean and safe from spills."
The above quote makes me ask this question..........anybody who knows about E-Schedule / ELMS please enlighten us. Has there supposedly been actual PEOPLE do tasks (such as cleaning bathrooms ) in order to construct the computer program that assigns 'such and such time limit' for various tasks around the store..........what I am trying to say is......... And/or Is it true that somewhere in the computer program (or paperwork) is there an actual "time this task should take" time allotment such as "to clean the women's restroom it should theoretically take the average worker 34 minutes and 47 seconds".
I haven't checked it in forever, but yes there actually is a breakdown in ELMS that decides how long each task should take, and based on sales decides how many hours you will need for the week.
For example, I know ELMS states that it should take 15 minutes to decorate a 1/4th size sheet cake. This however, is completely wrong because it's not counting things such as having to stop to answer the phone, write on another customer's cake, the complexities that this particular order might have, etc.
We stopped going by ELMS on cake decorating. Customers were getting pissed off because when they called in they had to wait and the customers qwrw getting even more pissws (yelling pissed off) because they had to wait to get writing on a cake..(not a big deal but Kroger panics when a customer loses it)
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