I have been working at Krogers for about a year now as a sacker. We got a couple of new front end managers (both female) about 6 months ago. They don't like me even though I am liked by my customers and co workers Ever since then they have had an agenda to get me to quit or fired by making my time spent at work miserable. I have asthma and was sick alot last winter but still came to work. I wasn't contagious just having some lung problems trying to breathe but still managed to do my job. One of them wrote me up for it! Now almost every day one or the other will harrass me by asking if I'm on break in a condecending way when I AM ON BREAK! I was told by one of them I was going to be punished by having to do the lot my whole shift (8 hours) if I didn't push more baskets. If I am getting an item for a customer or helping them I am accused of taking a break or trying to which is untrue. Yesterday a friend of mine overheard one of these women asking an employee where crazy " " is, refering to me. I don't know how much more I can take. Is there anything I can do about this to get these women to stop harrasing me? I didn't join the union but have health,insurance. Someone told me I must belong to the union in order to get health insurance. Is this true? How do I find out if I am in the union?
About the union - where do you work? Most, if not all, areas have what is called a 'closed union shop'. In other words, you must be in the union in order to workk for that employer. Look at your paystub and see if they are taking out union dues. This would be listed down below where all the taxes are taken out. It should be a small amount around $6. Also see if they are taking out anything for health insurance. Let us know what you find.
Next, about the front end ladys. You must go to each one of them next time they 'harrass' you and calmly ask them to stop. I know that might be a difficult thing to do for some but it must be done. Once that is done, walk away from them and go to the nearest co-manager and tell them what just happened and what you just did. Put the facts out in front of all to see plainly what is going on and that you feel harrassed and that you will not tolerate it. Next, go speak to the human resourse person concerning the matter. Let them know that you will be drafting up an harrassment complaint by the following day. Also let them know that you know your rights concerning harrassment and will act accordingly if it continues. They are now on notice. They can not retaliate because of your complaint. Tell everyone that all you wish to do is 'come to work happy, do my job happily, and then go home as happy as I was when I arrived. Thats all!"
This should make them back off from you some and get those *******s behind the proverbial 8-ball. Remember what the great Tom Petty said - I WON'T BACK DOWN!
good luck and keep us informed. if you want, tell me the store and i will personally call them up and give them a piece of my mind.....
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
If i can say anything, it's for you to document, document, document.. Write down everything, write down names of people who heard them say something, write down what they say to you when they say it. keep a notebook.
Kroger in general flourishes on harrassment. There is not a store in kroger that doesn't have issues with this. In fact I actually think that's how they determine who gets promoted.
But trust me, if you don't keep everything documented and your not willing to stand up for yourself and keep standing up for yourself, just quit now. Because it won't ever get any better.
(not that I want you to quit, but once a krogerite "sees" you. They are like rabid dogs, they will never ever let up.)
If i can say anything, it's for you to document, document, document.. Write down everything, write down names of people who heard them say something, write down what they say to you when they say it. keep a notebook.
Kroger in general flourishes on harrassment. There is not a store in kroger that doesn't have issues with this. In fact I actually think that's how they determine who gets promoted.
But trust me, if you don't keep everything documented and your not willing to stand up for yourself and keep standing up for yourself, just quit now. Because it won't ever get any better.
(not that I want you to quit, but once a krogerite "sees" you. They are like rabid dogs, they will never ever let up.)
Just to add to Fatboys comments, managers can write you up and keep a file on you, but people don't realize it works both ways. If you have an incident, document and report your side of the story. That way if it comes down to a grievance, you are more prepared than more than likely what they are expecting.
1-800-689-4609. Jot that number down in the event that nothing is accomplished through management. If there are other employees having similar issues, I would highly recommend giving this number to anyone else.
I posted a story a couple weeks ago about a situation involving the head cashier at my store and the parralel's are extremely similar. Ever since my situation and our co-manager called in a human resource representative to address other complaints brought on by her actions, she has been extremely nice to people ever since. I still don't trust her, but you need to stand up for yourself. If anything, it might scare the piss out of them.
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"The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent the positions, strategies or opinions of The Kroger Co. family of stores."
Listen to the folks who posted before me. They have it right. Don't get discouraged and quit. That is what they want, and you don't want to let them win, do you?
Your store should also have a Union Steward, a store employee who helps out with union matters. Ask around your store and find out who this person is, then talk to them about union membership and harassment.
Something a lot of people do not realize, is that harassment can be looked at as an OSHA violation. You have the right to come to work in a safe environment, and that doesn't mean just physical safety. Your mental well being is just as important.
You have rights! You do! But only you can exercise them! So know your rights, and know you're right. You can do it! Just remember to keep that incident log with Names, Dates, and Times!
Anyway, you need to contact Human Resources and send them a written letter detailing everything. Even if you're not in the union, front-end management and store management cannot retaliate against you for doing so. However, that won't prevent them from possibly using that as an excuse to fire you for some trumped up violation of company policy. That right there is a good reason to join the union.
And another thing...if you're in the union, store management and front-end management cannot force you to perform lot duty for more than one hour, let alone a whole 8 hour shift.
Get a department change or a store change. FE supervisors could be there for 2 weeks or 2 decades. You never know. Some of them are certainly on a power trip since they 'get' to orchestrate the most backwards department in the store while still earning less than some of their own cashiers.
And another thing...if you're in the union, store management and front-end management cannot force you to perform lot duty for more than one hour, let alone a whole 8 hour shift.
Not necessarily very good advice, as both issues are very contract-specific.
