It's been about 4 months since I was hired so I don't think it can be the probation period ending. Can they terminate you after the probation period without even letting you know?
I'd rather not get the union rep involved, because if you do that then I'd be afraid of being seen as a "troublemaker".
-- Edited by 4hourrush on Friday 24th of February 2012 08:32:04 PM
I've only been working for Kroger for a few months, and I only average about 12 hours a week. Last week I worked 20 hours due to Valentine's Day and this week someone was sick so I worked 14 hours (went in early one day) I called today, and I was told that I wasn't on the schedule at all. I don't want to get paranoid because it's only one week and I'm not out that much money (I'm just using this money to save up anyway) but...
What does this mean? When I called, my co-worker sounded sad about it and apologized. I said it wasn't her fault, because well she's only been there a few months too and I've always gotten along with her great :) She said she was only getting 20 hours this week but that is her regular amount lately. She used to get 30 but they cut her when they hired me :/
Is this their way of saying "We don't need you anymore" or does this happen on slow weeks? There was a week I got 4 hours (after i did a ton of overtime around Thanksgiving) but I've never had 0.
I've only been working for Kroger for a few months, and I only average about 12 hours a week. Last week I worked 20 hours due to Valentine's Day and this week someone was sick so I worked 14 hours (went in early one day) I called today, and I was told that I wasn't on the schedule at all. I don't want to get paranoid because it's only one week and I'm not out that much money (I'm just using this money to save up anyway) but...
What does this mean? When I called, my co-worker sounded sad about it and apologized. I said it wasn't her fault, because well she's only been there a few months too and I've always gotten along with her great :) She said she was only getting 20 hours this week but that is her regular amount lately. She used to get 30 but they cut her when they hired me :/
Is this their way of saying "We don't need you anymore" or does this happen on slow weeks? There was a week I got 4 hours (after i did a ton of overtime around Thanksgiving) but I've never had 0.
would depend on one thing. If you passed your probation period or not. Some are 45 days and some are 90 days probation. If you have not made it past your probation then you was probably cut loose or terminated. They do not need a reason or justification to do this. If you had passed your probation period then you need to contact your shop steward or union rep. Most contracts will guarantee 12 yours a week for all part timers. If that is the case then, they could help you the pay for the 12 hours and could help you find another store
Under our contract in Portland, everyone is entitled to 12 hours per week unless they decide not to work that week. Nobody can be "reduced to zero" unless there is a complete lack of hours for the department, and then it goes on seniority, with full timers getting their 40, then the most senior part timer working the amount of shifts they are available, etc. You could get 0 hours in a week, concievably, without being fired. However, go in and chat with your manager and see whats up. If its not an hours thing, and you're passed probation, they can't not schedule you. Nobody gets fired without the proper discipline steps.
Well, when I called to get my schedule, she told me that the full timers (there's 3 of them in our department, out of 6 of us) weren't even getting the 40 this week. Last week I noticed the manager had 39, and the other 2 had 38-39 hours. So... i have no idea whats going on. But still, I find this so odd. Heck, I don't even have a chance to talk to the manager because we never work at the same time. I don't even remember the last time I worked with her.
That's usually the minimum scheduled hours. They can claim theres not enough hours for the department to provide everyone with shifts, as thats "conditions of the business" which are totally under the discretion of the employer under most contracts.
The 12 hour minimum means that they cant neglect to provide you with 12 hours if there are 12 hours available, by say giving 8 of your hours away to another employee so they have 32 hours and you have 4. If 12 hours or more are available after the more senior employees are provided their hours, then you get at least 12.
I dont think any FredMeyer has ever been in a spot (at least in the meat/seafood dept) to actually have fulltimers not get their 40. In our contract, all part timers would have to be laid-off for the week down to 0 hours before any fulltimer would see an hour reduction. I've seen hours cut, but it generally leads to a lack of extra board help, and some retarded "2 man" days in busy stores (just a wrapper and cutter 8-5), but the stores meat staff gets full hours.
It's been about 4 months since I was hired so I don't think it can be the probation period ending. Can they terminate you after the probation period without even letting you know?
I'd rather not get the union rep involved, because if you do that then I'd be afraid of being seen as a "troublemaker".
-- Edited by 4hourrush on Friday 24th of February 2012 08:32:04 PM
It would be time to get your union rep involved. they could find you the hours in another department. If your union rep does not get back with you soon then what you need to do is stay on top of them. That would meen sending an email to ufcw.org. place the issue back onto the rep to get you the answer you deserve and not just any answer. One thing you will find out is there is to be one rep for about every 1000 members. They do not always get to everything , in a timely manor, but if you make enough noise then they will get you a deserving answer and resaults. push the issue. ou are paying your dues and that is what tey are to do.
Well, I went in today for my shift and I asked my coworker (not a manager) why I had 0 hours. She said this is a slow time of the year and every department was taking cuts. I checked the schedule and saw that it was like this: Manager- 39 hours Full timer 1- 39 Full timer 2- 39 Part timer 1- 28 Part timer 2- 22 Me- 0
I asked her if this would happen again and she said she hoped not. She said I wasn't in trouble or anything like that, but everyone was taking cuts (even though she only went down from around 32 to 28).
Oh and to top it off, whoever made the schedule can't even count. I'm in the bakery, and tomorrow, there's a person working 8-4, and a person working 5-9... now what in the world is going on from 4 to 5? Making the deli watch over I suppose. :/
Anyway. I guess i'm on vacation this week unless they call me in :s So since it's "hour cuts" on everyone, am I STILL supposed to get those 12 hours or not? :S
Nope. Sounds like they reduced the department hours to just enough to cover the full timers and the part timers, they can totally claim "business discretion". Now if that happens more than occasionally, look for spots in other departments, or at other stores that you are willing to travel to. Or ask if its possible to pick up shifts in other departments due to sick calls, vacations, or what have you.
I like how its a "slow time of year". No its not, its no slower than any other non-holiday time. They just used a LOT of hours for valentines day, and are trying to pay for it with cuts now, when its not at holiday business levels. Kroger is always the shortest-sighted company when it comes to staffing. Barely staff stores, expect employees to magically get stuff done. No coverage for sick calls or vacations. And cut hours to the point where people cant rely on their job to actually give them a paycheck. And they wonder why people dont perform well, or stay for a career....
i heard that it is because the company is trying to look good on Wall Street for their first quarter numbers. Banks look at this information for potential loans.
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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 division or district you're in but if you ask me, I think the problem lies with upper management. They should know how many employees a store needs so that there are enough people to cover the busy times but not so many people that they have to start laying people off during the slow times. If business is that slow, they need to ask themselves why and try to fix the problem rather than just cut hours. If the hours are cut so much that things don't get done then the problem will only get worse.
Does anyone know if you still owe union dues for weeks you don't get any hours?
As far as I know, If you don't get paid, you don't pay union dues. If you're on vacation they don't take union dues out of your vacation check but they do play catch up when you go back to work.
Is anyone here that works in Ft wayne,In that knows how this really works?I have heard many different things.
