I have worked in the stocking/replenishment & warehousing/distribution industry for over 15 years. 3 months ago, I filled out an online Kroger application for the listed job opening as an Overnight Grocery Stocker and the Asst Mgr called me in for an interview the next day. I still have my full-time day job with another employer when I was hired at my local Kroger (2 miles from my home).
I passed the drug/background check. She told me she didn't know exactly what my pay rate would be and also told me that the Union would let her know what I should be paid, and that it would be based on my last 6-years experience and my current employer would be verified. This was not a problem for me.
I was told I would work the 1st week in the afternoons to train with another stocker. My first afternoon there, I completed 8 hrs of computer essay/tests/Q&A. That same evening, another lady (who does the scheduling) told me I'd be bagging groceries instead. This is a minimum-wage, starting-out job. I tried to find the Asst Mgr who hired me to let her know of the mistake in my hired job title. It took me 3 days to catch up to that woman. I was bagging groceries when the Asst Mgr whizzed passed me and I asked why I was bagging and not stocking. She said a mistake had been made and she would fix it.
I bagged groceries for another week while I waited for an answer and a resolution. The Asst Mgr said the job opening for the Overnight Grocery Stocker (she hired me for) was "no longer available", but there was another store (27 miles from my home) that would like to have me right away. She finally informed me of my union-based pay rate as an Overnight Grocery Stocker with my last 6 years experience. I told her I would go to the other store, but wanted to work at my local Kroger when she resolved the confusion about the position I was originally hired for.
The transfer, getting on the new schedule, establishing the new pay rate, my new badge number and everything else took forever to get done thru Corporate HR.
I found out a week or so later from her, that I was was originally hired to replace a person that was to be fired, but I was put in the Bagging position instead, because someone (unbeknownst to me) decided to give this nearly-fired individual "one last chance to improve his performance".
Well, I had been working 40-hr weeks at the Kroger store 27 miles from my home for about a month, when the Asst Mgr from my original, local Kroger called and said she needed me back at her store "right away, because that other individual blew his last chance". She spoke with my new Kroger Store Mgr and arranged my transfer back to the original store at the end of the scheduled work week.
I had FINALLY just begun to receive my correct Overnight Grocery Pay, and was waiting to receive my Retro-Pay, when she transferred me BACK to my original Kroger. I expected to just report back there with a hand-written schedule, but it would take a WHOLE WEEK before I'd actually start working there again. (I don't know WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS and STILL DON'T). Once again, my badge number didn't work, I wasn't on a schedule, and because of more confusion, she asked if I would "help out in Produce for a few days". WHAT THE HELL?
That Asst Mgr had me transfer back to my original store, and I haven't even SEEN the Overnight Grocery position, nor her! That Asst Mgr, has been on vacation, working in other stores and now is on "Special Assigment" out-of state for another 3 weeks and no other Mgr will help me, because they don't know what that Asst Mgr is doing with me.
Now, for the last 3 weeks my pay has dropped and I am showing up on the new scheduling process an a "Produce Fruit Cut Clerk"?? WTF?
No one asked me if I wanted to change jobs. I've been a stocker/replenshier for the last 15 years, why IN THE HELL would I want to change my "career" NOW?
I have been severly abused, taken advantage of, and fallen thru some deep, major cracks ever since I was hired 3 months ago. I have been jerked around, lied to and now they're cutting my pay and sticking me in a job I have no interest, nor desire to perform? Why in the HELL did she even HIRE ME if there was "no position available" as my store? What in the hell was so urgent that she had me transferred back to my store with no Overnight Grocery Stocker position to go to? Why didn't she just LEAVE ME AT THE OTHER STORE?
I have been VERY patient and polite with this Asst Mgr, but my patience is wearing thin. I am ready for some answers and it will be nearly Halloween by the time she gets back from her "Special Assignment". I have even had one of the Front End Mgrs call that Asst Mgr's cell phone and leave a message for her to call me. That was 3 days ago and I haven't heard from her, YET.
I have NEVER quit a job in my life and certainly don't want to now, but WHAT IN THE HELL IS KROGER THINKING?
I'm not sure if my store has a Union or not, or even if the Union can help me in South Carolina (Right-to-work State). No one has even asked me if I wanted to join a Union.
Okay, I got off at 5am this morning, went home and waited for a member of Management to come into work. So, I went back to Kroger and asked the Supv on the Front End to please contact that "absent out-of-state Asst Mgr". The Supv informed me that the Asst Mgr would continue to be on "Special Assignment" for ANOTHER 5 weeks !
I am truly disgusted at this point. That Supv texted the Asst Mgr and asked her once again to call me. At this point, I'm playing the "waiting game" and my pay will continue to be very short for, at least another 5 weeks.
I'm hoping that the Asst Mgr can make a few phone calls, from where she is performing her "Special Assignment", to HR and get this resolved. She owes me an explanation. She knew all of these issues existed before she left, but left me with nothing but questions.
My biggest issue is NOT the pay rate I am receiving, it has EVERYTHING to do with my job title and the job I was hired to perform. I am NOT, nor do I desire to be a "fruit cutter".
oh god yeah special assignment i have no idea what that is but one of our managers was sent on special assignment last month too. i think they gave him a lobotomy
I am thoroughly exhausted by the above post...I have no words at this point...If this isn't a fuster cluck of extreme proportions, then I don't know what is!!! I've seen a lot of things (even crazy things) in my time in retail over the years, and I am usually NOT surprised when it comes to a lot of the tales of Kroger "drama" and inefficiency I've read about from others here, but the more I hear stories like this woman's, I find myself shaking my head and wonder WTF is going on in the world? This sounds like an extreme lack of communication all the way around among these managers with their employees, and it seems to only lead to more problems, as I have seen myself many times...I wish these kinds of things wouldn't happen, but I've been around long enough to know they're not likely to change, and I won't hold my breath either...Seriously, why the run-around???
I was exhausted from trying to compose the words for this post. I became so frustrated by trying to put it into words, that I gave up several times before I actually put it on this Forum. Having such a long post is sometimes ineffective because readers like you, get exhausted trying to follow along. But I appreciate the patience.
There were many other incidents surrounding my dilemma, but I tried to just put the most pertinent facts to keep my post from being so long.
I still have not heard from my Asst Mgr, but I did hear that her "Special Assignment" was a new store that will be opening. I can only PRAY that she will not be involved in the hiring process. God forbid she would do this to some other poor soul.
All I can do is wait for her to return my calls. I have tried not to make any waves or be a pain in the ass, but I have been persistant in my goal and I'll probably get fired over it.
You have to be able to enjoy your job. If you hate going into work everyday and the people you work for, it is probably time to move on. I have enjoyed being a stocker these many years. I've taken great pride in my ordering, maintaining my inventory levels to avoid have any "outs". Kroger doesn't know the many skills I possess, yet. I am only asking for the opportunity.
This is a problem that "snowballed". I was told almost daily, and led to believe that all of this would be resolved in a timely manner. I'd have never imagined that the Asst Mgr and Kroger would have allowed this to drag on.
I have been lied to. But who do I go to? Other members of Store Management will not assist me because they really don't know what the Asst Mgr is doing to resolve this. There is a TOTAL lack of communication and I'm not sure WHO I can go to for help.
Right around the time I was doing my drug test & background check, another company, that I'd applied to, offered me a position. I turned them down because it was further from my home. Kroger is very near to my home and I can actually commute on my golf cart.
Had I known it was going to be THIS much trouble to be a Kroger Overnight Grocery Stocker, I'd have never bothered.
Wow is all I can say, I have worked for Kroger twice in my life and honestly though this does not really surprise me. My first time working there I was hired in as customer service, and pretty much the same thing happened; minus the transfer (the next closest store is 75 miles away. The second time around I was hired in as a Produce Clerk which was what I wanted to do, however because I worked front end before I am always on the call list for front end and they schedule me in there as well. So the best I can say is to either get out now, or maybe see if you can get back on with the other store.
I don't know how long you were hired in for or if you're still on probation, but you need to contact your union representative. They tried to do the same to my last year when I put in for a transfer to another store even though they didn't want me. Well, I told them "Hey, I don't have a schedule here and I don't have a schedule at the other store. Do I need to work here?" and they said "No, I don't have any hours and we just hired 3 part time employees.". Well, I called the union and my Representative said "Hold on." and the next moment you hear "I need a manager to pick up line 101". He tells the manager "Hey, if you want ********* sitting on his ass for 40 hours next week and getting paid you better have a schedule.". I had a schedule the next day. :D
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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.
"I don't know how long you were hired in for or if you're still on probation, but you need to contact your union representative......"
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I am past my 45 day probation now (if that is how long probation lasts). I was hired near the end of June, but all of this turmoil began during the first week of my being hired. I don't know how to contact a Union rep and no one from the Union has asked me if I want to join. I am in South Carolina and my state is right-to-work State. Not sure if that matters.
