We have Que-Vision already. It makes me mad how some of the supervisors try to respond just to what the machine wants them to do, instead of using their observation skills to determine how to run the front end.
You can't teach anticipation to people and I think that's the problem. If you have three checkers and three big orders then they need to anticipate a need for another lane- and open up. Our problems come from the supervisors failing to open a register. If they would open up quicker there wouldn't be such a need for surge help. They don't call one or two checkers. They call everyone, because it's so backed up.
You can't teach anticipation to people and I think that's the problem. If you have three checkers and three big orders then they need to anticipate a need for another lane- and open up. Our problems come from the supervisors failing to open a register. If they would open up quicker there wouldn't be such a need for surge help. They don't call one or two checkers. They call everyone, because it's so backed up.
but then you have department crews going "why did you call me up? there is nothing to do."
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
This sounds like something we have at Wal-Mart called the 'T-MAT': it is a computer operated system whereby management dictates to all employees what needs done, in a specified manner, in a time recorded format. Needless to say, if one falls behind in that pre contrived time frame.....Well, it sounds like your ELMS. We have those too, and your problems are OURS, and for the same reasons.
If I were a pessimist, I'd say they're---Kroger AND Wal-Mart---trying to force long term employees out the door.
But because I'm a survivor, I say we ALL buckle down! Fight the system head on; use these 'policy enhancements' as reasons to strengthen our skills! FUUCK beaurocracy: if they really want us gone, let's make these pencil licking, too tight/never done a day's work Potsy Webber mates with Ugly Betty looking losers FIGHT HARDER THAN US to make that happen!
What's going to be interesting is our manager has said that once Que-Vision starts, all of the departments will be operating on a timed schedule. For example, Produce is called between 11-12, Meat 12-1, Drug-GM 1-2, Grocery 2-3, etc.
My question is what happens if the front end is so shorthanded due to underscheduling by ELMS or calloffs? That might be "your time" to be up front but I still think they will be calling other people if they can't get enough up there.
Working in meat, I see a potential problem just in that the meat shop is a service department. If I am called up front to open a register and I am cutting a tenderloin for a customer, I'm not leaving it to go up front.
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OK i don't understand the premise of Q-vision. All I see are the round lotto balls that tell me what numbers to pick for the day's drawing. How the hell does the damn thng work anyway? it must be somehow routed into the cash register as a program and knows who is logged on and stuff and spits out reports based on that huh
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
The right one tells you how many lanes are open at the moment. It is based on how many registers are signed in. The middle (or action now) ball tells you how many lanes need to be open at that time. If the right and the middle one are not the same number, a timer will appear at the bottom of the middle ball. This indicates how much time has elapsed from the moment the two became "out of sync". The left one is a future indicator of how many lanes need to be open in 30 minutes, probably based on the data from the first two.
The smoke detector looking things on the ceiling above each checklane are supposed to indicate how busy it is, by body heat... but what I don't get is how it can tell the difference between a customer and an employee.
The right one tells you how many lanes are open at the moment. It is based on how many registers are signed in. The middle (or action now) ball tells you how many lanes need to be open at that time. If the right and the middle one are not the same number, a timer will appear at the bottom of the middle ball. This indicates how much time has elapsed from the moment the two became "out of sync". The left one is a future indicator of how many lanes need to be open in 30 minutes, probably based on the data from the first two.
The smoke detector looking things on the ceiling above each checklane are supposed to indicate how busy it is, by body heat... but what I don't get is how it can tell the difference between a customer and an employee.
Oh ok.... that explains it good. Thanks.
don't you know we all have been inplanted with a kroger chip
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
You can't teach anticipation to people and I think that's the problem. If you have three checkers and three big orders then they need to anticipate a need for another lane- and open up. Our problems come from the supervisors failing to open a register. If they would open up quicker there wouldn't be such a need for surge help. They don't call one or two checkers. They call everyone, because it's so backed up.
but then you have department crews going "why did you call me up? there is nothing to do."
THIS is the truest statement ever said! We anticipate and everyone stands there for 30 seconds whining, moaning and then wandering off! I just wish they would stop griping and use their brains a little. Shut your trap and open your eyes! You can tell that lanes are going to be needed just by the number of customers in the store. Does that sound harsh? If so, GOOD! Maybe people will remember it!
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Quote from the Boss: I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was going to blame it on you.
Que Vision is coming? Que Vision is HERE! Don't say you weren't warned...Of course, you guys are all reiterating what I knew would happen. Same problems, different stores...How can so many different people here be wrong?
Yet, no one foresaw this ahead of time?
Oh yeah, I forgot...Thinking too far ahead at Kroger is a crime! To me, the future looks just like the past...Only fancier and more expensive!
I bet they told you "this will lead to more hours on the front end" right? Cause at our store it's only lead to headaches and less hours. More business less hours. Isn't it a perfect time to work at kroger!?
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
I bet they told you "this will lead to more hours on the front end" right? Cause at our store it's only lead to headaches and less hours. More business less hours. Isn't it a perfect time to work at kroger!?
Yes they did BagBoy. Hasn't happened. Won't happen. They never intended for it to happen. After I stepped down from supervising they added more hours in for this week. The thing is...we needed the hours the week leading up to mothers day.
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Quote from the Boss: I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was going to blame it on you.
Store management has to be 100% behind Que Vision or it will fail at the store level. Managers need to lead by example, if they need another register open they should open up. At our store you will see our managers on registers as needed. If they are closer to the FE then the dairy person they will open up. If a drug person is walking by the FE and sees the lines are out of control because the floor supervisors are playing around they will open up.
It took a few months but our store is doing very well with Que Vision. It helps that we have a USCAN operator who will pull small orders before the lines get backed up and our management team opens up when needed. Not everyone in our store is trained to check and will probably never be.
The thing with QueVision is it works with the ELMS system and scheduling hours. When the numbers get out of sync, for example it says we need 4 lanes and only have 3, this off sync is recorded on the computer. Then ELMS (supposedly) will allow for more scheduling to deal with the average customer traffic for that time period. Thus, another cashier will be able to be scheduled on that day for the next week. When the FES or management just signs on to match the numbers, ELMS thinks that hours are fine the way they are and won't allow for anyone else to be scheduled. If the number of lanes exceeds the number needed open, ELMS cuts hours and reduces the cashiers. Managers try to be 100% all the time and it actually hurts them in the long run. If they paid attention in the QueVision meetings, they would know that the store's que is graded on the heat sensors above the registers, not the numbers on the screen! If we were to just let the numbers be what they are without trying to trick the computer, the system would work better.
-- Edited by SCO on Monday 9th of May 2011 10:40:54 PM
What I want to know is how on earth did grocery stores manage to get along all these years without things like ELMS and Que-Vision? Have people become so reliant upon computers and other electronic devices that they can't think for themselves? I work in the bakery department as bread baker. Everyday, CAO (computer assisted ordering) prints out a sheet that tells me exactly what I need to bake each day. It's never right. Half the stuff we bake isn't even listed on the sheet. It also doesn't take into account things like special orders, deli needs, or holidays. I know more about planning ahead than a stupid computer does.
yea have we really been deduced to trying to figure out when people will go shop for groceries? i for one do not have a set day & time that i go to shop and i doubt that most people in this world do either. so to have these computer programs recording data and analysing trends is to me a little far-fetched. just because on this tuesday for some reason there was a spike in traffic doesnt mean it will happen consistently every other tuesday till the world blows up (which just so happens to be on 12/24/2012 by the Mayan calendar )
-- Edited by thedude on Wednesday 11th of May 2011 08:00:00 AM
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
I just had to post something here. We have just "gone live" with this ridiculous program in my store. O.K.... we in floral were told to start training on the register about a week and a half before Mother's day. We also had several proms in the mix, as well as recitals- you name it, we had it. So we got permission to postpone our "training" until after M.D. We have tried to fit the training in this past week, and have done some training. Today, they were having a fit for us to be on a register. One of us was working on a WEDDING order to be picked up in the morning. I was working a truck. We had almost NO arrangements in the case. Plants were wilting on the sidewalk. This is just a normal day, by the way. Anyway, they pulled wedding girl to the register. She stayed on the front end 45 minutes, and then it was time for her to go. I finished up the wedding, did the rest of the special orders, worked the rest of the truck, etc, and never had time for the register. I left a pallet of big plants on the sales floor, with a note to my co-worker that read "I tried". I have yet to get a straight answer about what to do when the floral person is on a register and there are customers in floral needing assistance. Our deli staff is exempt from this, because they are a service dept. WTF??? What are we? All management cared about was making everyone run a stinking register, and to hell with customer service. And we have to fimish the orders that we take. And our manager put a dirty letter in everyones box that said we would be written up if we worked any over our schedule. My floral department does average $7,000 a week right now. We came off a $37,000 mother's day. If we are expected to run a register frequently, I will stop taking special orders altogether.
-- Edited by flower child on Friday 13th of May 2011 09:53:27 PM
keep on taking special orders then when they are not done and you need to leave hand them over to the managers and say "time for me to go, i was unable to make this assortment b/c i was on the damn register so looks like its up to you now to figure out how it will get made in time for the customer"
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
yea my store is getting this ****. i work department and probaly cashiers 7-8 times a shift it get really annoying because who is gonna help me at night when im behind. NEWSFLASH---- schedule more cashiers dumb ****s
I just finished a shift where i wasn't able to even finish trash at the store. All i could do was write morning people a note saying "finish trash and misplaced I couldn't get everything done". Basicly all our help went home at 9 and I was forced to stay on register all that time. nothing i could really do when breaks needed to be given and customers needed to be helped.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
Most days, we have a customer in floral about every five minutes. Most need assistance, or they want to talk about their selection. We are most definately a service department, but we are the only service department that will be called to the register.
Most days, we have a customer in floral about every five minutes. Most need assistance, or they want to talk about their selection. We are most definately a service department, but we are the only service department that will be called to the register.
We have huge problems with ANY department helping. I can totally see where you're coming from but I can also understand the supervisors position as well. If they know your department is dependable then they just don't bother asking any other department for help and avoid wasting time. That is very unfair to you and your department but on the other hand, the supervisors are only thinking about customer service. This is so much easier said than done but maybe if you get with a couple of the supervisors and ask them to talk to management with (or for) you and have them explain why it's important for everyone to help if/when they can it may ease the load on your department some. I went straight to our district manager with this problem and she acted as if she was appalled by the front ends situation but months later...no change. So it may help in your situation and it may not. Good luck to you :)
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Quote from the Boss: I didn't say it was your fault. I said I was going to blame it on you.
What I want to know is how on earth did grocery stores manage to get along all these years without things like ELMS and Que-Vision? Have people become so reliant upon computers and other electronic devices that they can't think for themselves? I work in the bakery department as bread baker. Everyday, CAO (computer assisted ordering) prints out a sheet that tells me exactly what I need to bake each day. It's never right. Half the stuff we bake isn't even listed on the sheet. It also doesn't take into account things like special orders, deli needs, or holidays. I know more about planning ahead than a stupid computer does.
Would you believe the FE CSM would graph the store traffic for the SM. They would either approve it or say cut XX amount of hours. It took about 8 hours to make a weeks schedule back in the day.
My store manager is so concerned with not missing que at night he forces us to run our register 5 for the last two hours.... the heat sensors are broken for that register. The other night we had a lady walk to the front bag her own groceries on #1 and just walk out. Isn't that just amazing?
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
My store just rolled out quevision recently and I have to say I like it and I think the customers do too. Your answer of training baggers and relying on your fe folks is how I have done it in my store. It works well. We don't call for backup help as much and the baggers are right there to hop on when needed. Call the managers to help you with bagging (and non perishable depts) I have RARELY had to call anyone from perishables to help. And ELMS does work most of the time with headcount for the front it just isnt as successful in other depts because all the others try to buck the system so much. Also with quevision you sometimes have to watch the lines not the balls especially if you have slower cashiers. Ring tender really does matter. Just my 2 cents.
My store just rolled out quevision recently and I have to say I like it and I think the customers do too. Your answer of training baggers and relying on your fe folks is how I have done it in my store. It works well. We don't call for backup help as much and the baggers are right there to hop on when needed. Call the managers to help you with bagging (and non perishable depts) I have RARELY had to call anyone from perishables to help. And ELMS does work most of the time with headcount for the front it just isnt as successful in other depts because all the others try to buck the system so much. Also with quevision you sometimes have to watch the lines not the balls especially if you have slower cashiers. Ring tender really does matter. Just my 2 cents.
You'll think it's good until it starts cutting your hours in the system and they start cutting your baggers down then your cashiers down.
before quevision we had an extra bagger and cashier every night then suddenly noone is there to help you get things done at night. Enjoy it while you can vecause it doesn't last long.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
My store just rolled out quevision recently and I have to say I like it and I think the customers do too. Your answer of training baggers and relying on your fe folks is how I have done it in my store. It works well. We don't call for backup help as much and the baggers are right there to hop on when needed. Call the managers to help you with bagging (and non perishable depts) I have RARELY had to call anyone from perishables to help. And ELMS does work most of the time with headcount for the front it just isnt as successful in other depts because all the others try to buck the system so much. Also with quevision you sometimes have to watch the lines not the balls especially if you have slower cashiers. Ring tender really does matter. Just my 2 cents.
You must either work at a low tier store, or Labor Mangement in your Division is giving your store a good headcount. I've never heard of a busy store with quevision rarely calling for surge help. My store has the FES on the register most of the day and we still have to call for surge help VERY often. Even on "slow" days.
The smoke detector looking things on the ceiling above each checklane are supposed to indicate how busy it is, by body heat... but what I don't get is how it can tell the difference between a customer and an employee.
If someone under it farts does it detect the heat?
You will hate it. This is a joke in my store. Only a handful of people get called up. Managers say that we ned to train more people on the register, but that never happens. They are wearing us out.
Yes, where in the world are you? Perishables get called up every day, sometimes every hour of the day. The poor wine steward is the only non-perishable to get called up, and he runs a register sometimes 5 or 6 hours out of his shift. Last Saturday, there were NO baggers on the FE schedule, and we are a VERY busy store. Tell me they don't PLAN to use us up.
I agree, now supervisors have a tool to help them be even more lazy by sitting in aroom their intire shift watching a computer screen to dictatewhen more checkers are needed
I hate it! It worked in our store to start with, but then our store manager told us FES's to stop calling the managers to the front, because nothing was getting done in the rest of the store. We were told to call surge help by name from other dept's, but they soon caught on, and as soon as we did, we would get a page to call them, "I'm on break", " I have a customer", "I am the only one here", or some other excuse, plus we have a co-manager that is a total dick, cos he will come to the front, but he sees the queues, and sends huge orders to express lanes, which pisses off the poor checker on that lane. We try the best we can, but we get frustrated, and sometimes when we are so frustrated, and we get a difficult customer, we get pissed, and end up in trouble, all this and you have to worry about report after report, and one affects the other. Myself, I take no dam notice of those stupid screens, cos they are totally innacurate. They are suppsed to tell by body heat how many people come into the store, how many people are waiting in line, to give us an acurate reading as to how many lanes we need now, and in 30 mins.
Here is a tip. Have your cashiers sign off if they have any kind of lapse between customers, even for the shortest period, cos the sensors only work on lanes that have cashiers signed on. That way, they won't sense if you have a vendor filling up the mag racks, or someone filling the candy on any reg, or that annoying customer just standing there having a good old chin wag with another, or reading the dam mags
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