I'm a 20 something, part-timer with about eight months in. Worked most departments except for meat and deli at one time or another. Fairly constantly get shuffled around, and having days rearranged at the last minute. Randomly get between 12 to 30 hours any given week. Fairly constantly get late shifts followed by early shifts with the minimum eight hours inbetween. Other things about but this post will already be too long.
More and more I have grown dissatisfied with the job. A seemingly total lack of communication from top to bottom, and how higher ups seem to need constantly prodded to do even basic things. I have kept my nose clean in that time. In general there is just so much negativity and unneeded bullcrap that comes along with the job, I have been seriously considering hunting for another job. One of the management actually snarls when most anyone walk by, and not in a joking "Don't I look like a dick? Ha ha" way.
While I do have a number of problems with the store, probably one of the most troubling for myself is that wish constant shuffling I am expected to have expert level performance after a day. I am put into a dept almost totally cold and they wonder why work no get done as fast. It isn't like coming off of being a bagger that I could run produce by myself at the same level as the regular crew right off the bat.
It seems that everyone at the store wants to leave, and are either unaware that they can look for work elsewhere or is holding on for their pension. God knows what will happen to the place when the core crew of old-timers leaves, because there is a giant experience gap between them and the rest of the employees through the store.
The way things have gone so far I aim to do my best to be gone before I reach one year. In the meantime, are there things that I can do to make my remaining time a little less soul crushing, preventing me from just quitting in a rage without something else to move to? Or worse, getting fired in a rage. I have no record of problems, but some days quitting kroger sounds like it would be a religious experience.
I suppose otherwise, is it so bad of me to think "You know, I don't have to put up with this kind of ****. Like I could just leave and go work somewhere else." As I understand it, 40+ people had that thought over the course of a year or two.
What is your actual position? If you're a courtesy clerk, I don't think they can make you work in other departments due to the union contract. I could be mistaken though, might want to check on that. However, if you refuse any of those extra hours, they'll probably stop offering and you'll be stuck with the little 12 hours they give baggers.
I know how you feel, though. Kroger can really get you stressed out, and over the stupidest stuff. No offense to you career retail people, but the grocery business is ****ing stupid. Most of it comes from zone/district/corporate people who have no idea what working in a store is like anymore, and every rule or policy gets filtered through every nut with an ego trip on the way down to you. I'm always left thinking "OK I'll do that, but when can I actually get work done?". I've just come to terms with it and decided my Kroger days are limited, same as you. For now, do what you can during your shift and forget the rest. Go home, get drunk and forget about that place.
i have only been with kroger 5 months and the disorganization is very visable. Before coming here i worked at a small Dollar store that i thought was the most disorganized place i have ever worked at until i started work at kroger. I work 3rd shift so i dont get shuffled around, but the task they want you to complete leaves basically no time for putting up stock. i spend more time scanning backstock than actually putting up product.
work your schedule and go home. **** them and the horse they rode in on. You can't take your work home with you. otherwise you get way too stressed out.
Just to let you know.... it's like that everywhere. One job is exactly the same as the next. Don't look for a satisfying experiance working retail. It's just not going to happen.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
you pretty much describe a "hell on earth" scenario that you are living in. kroger can be a very cold, secular place. the workers soon turn into zombies walking around blindly doing medial tasks to earn their pay. like mentioned by a previous poster, it actually is like this at most workplaces.
but you have the potential to control your own destiny. do not allow yourself to fall into the same lare that all the others have. bring JOY into your life at work. Use a sense of reverse pyscology to act oblivious to the hell on earth going on around you. do not let them trample your spirit through their cold ways rather react back to them with an air of Joy that rund through your viens.
Sounds silly but it works. No need for you to be miserable along with all the other lost souls out there! Play some mind games with a few. Have a good time - snap your attitude around right now as you read this line and just go have some crazy fun on their expense. Maybe even try to change the negative behavior of some of those around you...
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
I don't know what store you're from but in most cases they must provide a 24 hour notice of a schedule change unless otherwise you agree to it. I know in some contracts there is suppose to be a 12 hour "turn around" for example if you work 2 pm - 10 pm and they schedule you 7 am - 3 the next day this would be a violation.
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My Views and Opinions do not reflect that of the Kroger company. I'm an indivdual expressing my 1st amendment right.
