Let me just preface this by saying that I have worked on and off for Kroger for the last 6 or so years in the Delta division. All of this time has been spent at a small store(did 500k in total sales including fuel Memorial Day week) Most of this time has been spent as a 3rd shift grocery clerk.
When I started in 2006 we were given virtually unlimited hours to get everything done, and done correctly. Over the last 4 years, and especially since the introduction of the TSG sheet requirement, it's seemed that Kroger really is working to cut work to a bare minimum to get stock on the shelf, regardless of how it looks to the customer. In 2006, a major factor in what differentiated ourselves from say, a value market like Save a lot was how everything was presented and the general friendly atmosphere. This seems to have taken a major turn.
The hour cuts really started here starting around the beginning of 09'. Now they are wanting to cut approximately 80 hours off the night crew. And from what I'm hearing these cuts are everywhere except the front end. In fact, they want to cut us from ~300 hours a week to 220. 220 is 20 hours less than JUST our full-timers equate to. So if even one person gets sick, or goes on vacation, the department is basically screwed. It's quite obvious that the TSG sheets are just a way to justify the hour cuts.
I'm really wondering how far they will take this. Already they are implementing the new stocking and conditioning rules which have left the aisles here looking like trash. Will they continue down this path until there literally is no difference from a value store? The TSG sheets, conditioning rules, shelf ready packaging(absolutely makes the store look horrendous), hourly cuts...wondering how far this will go.
Do all the stores have similar situations?
Also, I've heard from someone who works with Tim Brown(The new delta president) that he is ALL about numbers, which honestly scares myself and the rest of the employees that I know. Pretty much anything as far as cuts go are fair game. Pretty sad really.
Also </rant> Overally I just think they are handling the future of the company, at least in this region entirely wrong. If you screw the people who do your work at a base level too much, it will ripple out and sales will suffer in the end.
I also work in the Delta Division, I've met Tim Brown and he seems pretty down to earth, I addressed him by Mr. Brown and he corrected me to "Tim", he also was bagging groceries at our store when we got busy.
As far as the crew sheets go I've found they really increase productivity in my department at least, I have a few co-workers that would spend a full shift (8 hours) putting up what should only take them around 3 hours, obviously we can't use this as basis for disciplinary action...but talking to them about it has really encouraged them to work a little more effectively..
They really do help~~a lot~~I'm a believer and I use to HATE these things...seriously...it is about leading more then tracking. Don't listen to the negitivers!...lol...
The TSG would be great if they gauged time correctly, but they dont. They don't account for all the little things you have to do that add up to a good chunk of time while stocking.
of all the new things we are doing with key retailing I have the most love for the newest TSG that has all of the elms times and each team members name and task on it.
I really believe the guys in charge of key retailing are trying to help us with these new programs. My ordering time has gone from over an hour to around 15-20 minutes.
Not much has helped me over the last few years via the home office but I do see a glimmer of hope now. Believe it or not the job is getting easier because of key retailing and wow I can't believe I just said that.
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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.
of all the new things we are doing with key retailing I have the most love for the newest TSG that has all of the elms times and each team members name and task on it.
I really believe the guys in charge of key retailing are trying to help us with these new programs. My ordering time has gone from over an hour to around 15-20 minutes.
Not much has helped me over the last few years via the home office but I do see a glimmer of hope now. Believe it or not the job is getting easier because of key retailing and wow I can't believe I just said that.
i guess they haven't cut your department's hours yet. don't worry, that's coming
i guess they haven't cut your department's hours yet. don't worry, that's coming
and there you would be wrong. my depts hours have been slashed to the point its nearly a one man operation. The trick is in how you use those few hours of help.
I'm sorry your struggling, it took me quite a while to figure our where I was losing the battle. It all came down to the fact my help was putting out freight at such a slow rate we were getting nothing accomplished. Believe me you get enough hours, elms makes sure of that, its all how those hours are used that makes the difference.
One thing your not going to like is that as the dept lead, your going to have to be very very strick when it comes to getting the job done and not allowing your help to play around with your hours. Get the job done then they can play all they like, thats what i tell my guys. You won't be very popular but then hey what dept manager is entirely loved by the workers?
Your only required to put out 38 cases an hour in frozen, are you really going to argue that its not enough time? try the 55 to 60 cases an hour that dry grocery is required, or go see how bad your dairy counterpart is being smoked with work then take another look and I think you will agree that frozen isn't so bad.
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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.
I agree that frozen is the easiest department next to grocery. I work in produce, and I'll tell you that it is not easy. Produce has got to be the most physically demanding department in the whole store. Also, 3rd shift comes in and works frozen/grocery/dairy, but not produce. If 3rd shift can run all of the back stock and most of the truck, then the frozen manager shouldn't come in and bitch the next morning about how the entire truck didn't all get ran. This is the kind of stuff that happens at my store, such as the frozen manager having to run a few carts of the truck from the previous night and bitching about that light amount of work. How can you be lazy in such an easy department such as frozen?
of all the new things we are doing with key retailing I have the most love for the newest TSG that has all of the elms times and each team members name and task on it.
I really believe the guys in charge of key retailing are trying to help us with these new programs. My ordering time has gone from over an hour to around 15-20 minutes.
Not much has helped me over the last few years via the home office but I do see a glimmer of hope now. Believe it or not the job is getting easier because of key retailing and wow I can't believe I just said that.
i guess they haven't cut your department's hours yet. don't worry, that's coming
well I sure hate to admit it but all this has blown up in my face, it's worse now than ever. They keep adding more and more and more and no more hours to do it. I am ready to give up.
__________________
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.
They cut hours like it's going out of style. I'm not sure where they come up with all of these new hours to hire new people though. Kroger you never fail to amaze my intelligence...or lower it.
