I just started working meat and seafood. I am scheduled to work 32 hours. I am always called in on my day off. This would essentially mean that I am working full time. (I'm 18 and in school, no time for full time.) My question is this. Am I required to come in to work on my day off if my boss calls me in? I understand that we have different policies for overtime and whatnot. I don't want to get in trouble for saying, "No, I don't want to come in on my day off." Are they taking advantage of my age and lack of knowledge?
You're in no ways obligated to come in on your off day, but i've always come in on the basis that it helps out your crew and relieves some stress for others. Working in a market can be stressful, but I would advise that you do come in and work hard. If you get the full time status that means you'll get better raises, benefits, etc.
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You're not obligated to come in. It helps your dept and 'looks good' so they'll be more likely to call you in the future plus the hours you're getting now won't last forever. They'll fall off so you might as well get them while they're on offer.
It's nice to come in whenever you can, but I wouldn't just come in to relieve stress for others, in my experience all that does is increase YOUR stress level. You do a favor for someone too many times and in the end, they take advantage of you and expect you to do it again and again.
Believe me, I know how you feel. Whenever I get called in, if I say no, I feel so guilty about it afterwards.
I personally will always answer the phone when Kroger calls. Most cases I will decline the offered hours. Thing is, not answering the phone can leave some folks waiting for a time to see if you will call back instead of calling the next person in line. It is more polite to your fellow employee to let them know as soon as they call. This is not Wal-Mart and you will not be fired for not coming in on a day off. That said, I expect the department manager may possible get a little tired of you never coming in. They should of course be able to handle it, but I have seen a few who would probably retaliate for such things.
-- Edited by Stranger on Monday 1st of April 2013 11:33:09 PM
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Yea I am with stranger on this one. Just answer the phone. Some times you may want to work / other times you will not. Just say "I can not come in today" and leave it at that. They don't know what you have going on in your personal life! They aren't hanging out in your kitchen with you frying up bacon and eggs and drinking coffee chatting away with you to know what your day's plans are! If they ask "why not?" just say "I got a whole list of things to do that need to get done. sorry". Don't feel guilty about it. You already have done what was asked from you when you worked your set schedule. If you can work some hours, great! Tell them, "hey no problem. but i can only work from 12 to 4 pm, does that work for you?" toss them the bone but stay in control of the situation. they probably want you there for a full shift but negotiate or tell them no thank you.
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
It's nice to come in whenever you can, but I wouldn't just come in to relieve stress for others, in my experience all that does is increase YOUR stress level. You do a favor for someone too many times and in the end, they take advantage of you and expect you to do it again and again.
Believe me, I know how you feel. Whenever I get called in, if I say no, I feel so guilty about it afterwards.
This is very true; There is also another side to this which probably doesn't effect you. In my case management will just change the schedule while I am off and call me saying "Are you coming in or do we fire you?" This has happened once so far to me. Check whatever contract you signed with this company for details.
I answer the phone because sometimes they can offer you better hours. If not, I just say "no" and go on. That way, they will know to call somebody else.
OKAY, sorry for digging up a zombie thread, but I think for NEW HIRES past their probationary period, this is relevant:
Depending on whether or not you are unionized and also on your contract, the following may apply
1. It is store management's responsibility ultimately to ensure that they have enough labor scheduled to cover shifts. It is NEVER the employee's responsibility.
2. Sometimes, in union shops, management/department heads purposely staff low so that a part-time employee's hours cannot technically reach the contract level that would require the KMA to open a full time position. Some contracts specifically state (as did mine) that IF a part time employee averages 40 hours or more over the course of several weeks, there must be a full time position created. This does not mean IN YOUR STORE, so it could be created in BFE. But that caveat will be addressed in the contract.
3. Contracts generally state that the employee is only responsible to work hours posted by NOON on FRIDAY. If your schedule is being changed on Saturday for the following week, check your contract because this could be a grievable issue. This also means that you are not subject to retaliatory action because of failure to work non-scheduled shifts.
4. YOU CAN NEVER be passed up for extra hours because of past failure to accept being called in. If you are passed up, as was I, THIS IS GRIEVABLE AS WELL. The beauty of this is that, depending on contract, you COULD BE/WILL BE PAID FOR ALL HOURS YOU WERE PASSED UP regardless of whether or not you actually worked these hours. In other words, a less senior employee is called in for an 8 hour shift instead of you, THE COMPANY MUST PAY YOU BOTH for those 8 hours.
If you are union, god help you, BUT YOU HAVE ENFORCEABLE LEGAL RIGHTS that the company and union must recognize. DON'T BE PASSIVE. BE ASSERTIVE.
They can NOT force you to come in on your day off. You can NOT be punished for it. HOWEVER... It IS good to come in once in a while. Because one day you may need to call in a favor, and you may need their help. (i.e. you may want a certain day off) of you come in once in a while EVEN if you don't want to, they may say: "Hey, this guy/girl helped us out in a pinch. Lets give him/her that day off."
If you don't come in once in a whole, they may say " forget this guy/girl! They always say no! So let's NOT give them the day they ask!"
I just started working meat and seafood. I am scheduled to work 32 hours. I am always called in on my day off. This would essentially mean that I am working full time. (I'm 18 and in school, no time for full time.) My question is this. Am I required to come in to work on my day off if my boss calls me in? I understand that we have different policies for overtime and whatnot. I don't want to get in trouble for saying, "No, I don't want to come in on my day off." Are they taking advantage of my age and lack of knowledge?
First off, you're "...in school..." and this means they have to respect your limited availability. Your education comes first and should not let work interfere with your education... Because of this, you are not obligated to work on your days of if the store is aware that you are a student. If you are availabe to cover the extra shift without interfering with your studies and you are willing to do so, by all means pick up the extra hours...don't let them try to bait and switch your schedule by insisting you take another day off since you went in to work on one of your days off; they offered the extra shift so you should get extra days pay unless you personally want to trade off days... Just be polite if you can't work by simply reminding them you are in school and are bogged down with your studies, they should understand.
