Ok, today I did a "ballsy" move. I had the audacity to politely tell a checker that I had my own work to do. Today I was assigned to clean the entire store, which is quite a job. I even had to clean store shelves on the sales floor. I normally just do routine clean ups and help keep depts clean but today was different. Don't ask why. Well being as I'm a utility clerk, I am not 'authorized' to tell a checker I cannot do what they ask. I was polite and not rude in anyway. Well I got writ up for it. Really now?!? are they that "high up" on the chain that they can tell courtesies and utility clerks what to do???
You were given tasks by the manager. You should work on those. The important tasks should have been done first. The back burner tasks should be done last in case you don't get to them. But, when asked to assist on the front end, you definitely need to help out. The customer comes first. When you are asked why your list of tasks didn't get done, then you mention that you were called upon to help on the front end.
That is the way I would do it.
I recommend you not let the write up get under your skin. Be the bigger person. Apologize to the checker and manager. Try not to sas senior employees.
That's Kroger for you. You try and do the work assigned to you, but the front end won't leave you alone long enough to get it done, so you get yelled at by your department head for not finishing what needs to be done. So then, you ignore the front end and focus on your work, and instead of your department head going off on you, the front end supervisors/co-managers go off on you. It's a lose, lose situation. You just had the unfortunate luck of dealing with a real jerk of a checker who has this illusion of authority that in reality doesn't even have the authority to tell you anything. Front end supervisors, self check-out attendants and customer service associates can issue you tasks, but not checkers, although I imagine that varies from store to store. I would say though the write up was uncalled for and if you're in the union, go to the union. Only bad thing about going to the union is management can hold it against you for standing up for yourself and you might find yourself in a less friendly/comfortable work environment.
What if a dept. head of another department tells you to do something and you ignore them?
Back when i first started the dairy manager got very pissy with me because i left a skid out in his way too long, he told me to get it and i kind of ignored him and did what my manager told me to do. I never got written up but he came back and chewed me out when he wasn't even my department head.
are they that "high up" on the chain that they can tell courtesies and utility clerks what to do???
