I have a question. Would Kroger close its stores if a hurricane were to hit?
Very unlikely. As long as the place is operational, we're going to run unless it's Christmas. It basically has to be unsafe and non-functional for them to shut down. Power needs to go off and stay off, flooding in the store, etc. A little bit of wind and hail will not shut us down. I mean hell, I drove in snow and ice last year to get to work and I ended up working nearly 12 hours because hardly anyone showed up. Was me, store manager, one department head, two cashiers, and a clerk until after 9am and I had come in at 10 the previous night and was the only one in the store until 4am. Customers still need serviced and we had quite a few people that came because we had power and they did not, and being cool in the 60's in Kroger is better than freezing your butt off at home because you have no heat.
I expect our store will stay open unless they don't have any people to staff it with. Kroger will likely expense out hotels for dept. heads & managers to stay in, there's quite a few right nearby the store.
And at least in our store, I've never heard of anyone getting written up for not coming in during a storm.
Wow, even with 130 mph wind gusts outside, they'll stay open? Well, count me as one of those people who won't be showing up for work.
I assume you get written up if you don't go to work in that situation?
You shouldnt. 130 mph winds? Thats WAY TOO dangerous imo. If they TRY to write you up, refuse to sign and seek union assistance if you are with them. Saftey is MORE IMPORTANT than making sure someone gets groceries.
Yes, they will try to keep all stores open as long as possible. If there is any government applied warning or curfew the company can not force any associate to travel again their will. In reality if an associate is threatened, the write up would be thrown out, as long as a large group is in the same boat. The same process occurs with snow, but associates need to understand there is a difference between a threat in travel and just not wanting to go to work. If I was a Store Manager and had hurricanes occurring and a hotel in the parking lot, I would already have an understanding with the Hotel Manager and it would be a mute point. I have only heard or an area of stores closing, due to the severity and the Div Pres. basically said CLOSED, due to extreme warning occurring. In reality the store is going to be wiped out anyway the days before the hurricane hits.
Wow, even with 130 mph wind gusts outside, they'll stay open? Well, count me as one of those people who won't be showing up for work.
I assume you get written up if you don't go to work in that situation?
Right on friend, me neither! ... and as for this 'we need to serve and shelter the people' bull sh!t, it's Kroger. Not the fking Salvation Army. When it's that bad out people need to stay the fk off the roads, if only so EMS vehicles can get through---as well as NOT get caight up having to rescue all the dumb shoppers asses
Imo, it CAN wait. Half the stuff would be stolen anyways and 'Heaven forbid we "upset" potential shoplifters.' In actuality, we'd be SAVING money in the long run, and even making it. Because, a shut down store (due to actual common sense) will still have the product when customers come back. Nothing gets stolen as long as the store is shut tight. So it would work out for the best
OKay, I've been through multiple Hurricanes working at Kroger and I can tell you. They'll wait until the last minute to close the store, but they will close the store if your area is directly affected or indirectly through severe flooding. They never have a store open DURING a hurricane over your area.
If you feel like you can't stay, don't. They can't punish you for not coming to work if you're evacuating or something
IF your store does close and you were scheduled that day, they will pay you. If the store didn't close, they will not pay you, but they will let you use any PTO you have, and of course, you may qualify for reimbursement from FEMA.
Once the storm passes they will do anything and everything to open the store back up as soon as possible, but that depends on things like flooding, power, enough employees showing up, etc. If you can't make it to your store, they will let you work at another store nearby if you can, and the store will gladly put you to work. And trust me, during hurricanes they don't care about overtime or hours, so take advantage of that while you can, but don't overwork yourself either. It usually takes about a week for operations to return to normal. Longer if the store was damaged severely.
