I have only been working at Kroger for 2 months and today I got a constructive advice sheet. This has upset me terribly because I was told that I was suppose to sweep for 30 minutes and that I only swept for 27 minutes. I moved very quickly through the store to try and get finished and it seems as though I am getting punished for going to fast. It says on the paper that I could be terminated. I like my job, but now think they are going to fire me over 3 minutes. Is this normal for probationary employees? To top it off they asked me to work an extra day this week. That really has me confused. I am young and going into work being afraid for your job is not something I expected. Any advice would be appreciated.
I don't think they would fire over that....but if you are still probation they can fire for pretty much anything they want to.... at my store they don't tell us we have to sweep for a certain amount time .Just 4 times a day 10am , noon , 3 pm and 7 pm..... Takes me about 20 minutes to do one......
This just not seem right. I tried to go fast to get the entire store swept. I am wondering if I go over 30 minutes if I will be written up again. No win situation.
A sweep is when an employee punches the time clock and goes around the store looking for spills, hazards, and what have you and cleans it up. you push the F4 button on the time clock to get the menu.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
It is part of the Key Retailing score. There was a similar post several months ago that talked about the sweep. Basically, it reflects negatively on the Key Retailing score if the sweep is done too fast. Corporate computers think you are doing a half a$$ed sweep. I know my store manager would not fire someone for going too fast. But, I do not know how your store manager is.
Sweeping is not only sweeping the floor. It could also include picking up open packages that customers(shoplifters) left on shelf, drying water spots near produce(and refridges) or cleaning up after a baby spits food on the floor or wiping up spills or clean up dirty floors with a wet rag.
Basically, you want the store to be free of hazzards, clean and neat.
Time yourself and make sure you take 30 minutes for the sweep.
Don't sweat it, I too think it is a foolish rule and I don't even sweep floors unless I make a huge mess working stock.
They said this was similar to me being warned of using the log sheet above the time clock. (it would not recognize my fingerprint) so I used the log sheet. They said both instances involved the time clock, that is why the write up. My parents have told me that this is what a company does when you are on probation, nitpick every little thing through your 90 days and build a case against you if they do not want to let you get past the 90 days. I have only done the sweep twice since I started and nobody ever told me that it had to be a minimum of 30 minutes. I am going in today like any other day and will do my best. I am still shocked that doing my best is not what they want. My parents have made me think I will not have this job much longer.
Thanks for the replies. I hope I am around longer to participate in this forum.
They said this was similar to me being warned of using the log sheet above the time clock. (it would not recognize my fingerprint) so I used the log sheet. They said both instances involved the time clock, that is why the write up. My parents have told me that this is what a company does when you are on probation, nitpick every little thing through your 90 days and build a case against you if they do not want to let you get past the 90 days. I have only done the sweep twice since I started and nobody ever told me that it had to be a minimum of 30 minutes. I am going in today like any other day and will do my best. I am still shocked that doing my best is not what they want. My parents have made me think I will not have this job much longer.
Thanks for the replies. I hope I am around longer to participate in this forum.
Wow! Are you sure you did not miss a spot?
Ok, I think you have a very crappy management team. Either you are on their $hitlist for doing something wrong or they are a crappy management team. Or, they have you mistaken for someone else... Some managers are good and others make you wonder how they got there.
As a teen, this is your first job. The managers are supposed to train and mold you to help you transition into the real working world. They are supposed to be patient and understanding. But, they can't let every mistake slide. That is silly to warn you about the log sheet. We have one clock that has never taken my fingerprint since I started 6 years ago. When the working clock freezes, I have no choice but to fill in the log in sheet. And other times, people like to lick their fingers or they use hand lotion and the working clock doesn't take my fingerprint.
Advice: Focus on school. Your writing indicates you are going onto higher education. Go further in life than kroger if you have the means and ability. Do not let this cause you stress or fear of working. This job is not worth it. Many jobs are much worse so toughen up a little. If I were a manager, I would have casually mentioned both issues and given you an opportunity to not make the same mistakes. I would not have made a scene out of using the log in sheet.
Generally, write-ups and termination are caused by tardiness, calling in too much, taking unauthorized breaks, using cell phone while at work, stealing and talking too much while you are supposed to be working. Yes, we have had courtesy clerks fired for putting beer out with the garbage(so they can get it later) and one even tried sneaking beer out the front door in "empty" boxes!
If you ever have a doubt about something, ask your manager or whoever is in charge of you that day. Eventually, you will get the hang of what you can and can not do so you can stay under the radar.
You are welcome in this forum whether you work for kroger or not. Some posters offer good advice from life experiences. This is not a kroger sponsored site so never use your name, store number or any info that would identify you.
May your future be prosperous wherever you are and whatever you are doing.
This just not seem right. I tried to go fast to get the entire store swept. I am wondering if I go over 30 minutes if I will be written up again. No win situation.
You will not be fired for over 30 minutes.
mcooldude wrote:
I don't think they would fire over that....but if you are still probation they can fire for pretty much anything they want to.... at my store they don't tell us we have to sweep for a certain amount time .Just 4 times a day 10am , noon , 3 pm and 7 pm..... Takes me about 20 minutes to do one......
Every store has to do atleast 30 minutes 6 times a day.
I am sorry I tried to quote in the above post. But every store is supposed to do 30 minutes 6 times a day. If they don't they are not following key retailing. The corp office will e-mail the store if under 30 minutes. That's just the way it is. Managers get an e-mail and you know what they say Sh** roll's down hill.
Get sprayed by a skunk. You won't notice the crap as much.
When you got a write-up, it should have stated that it will not count against you after 6 months or so. It will stay on permanent record but wont be counted toward the 3 or 4 step termination process.
Verbal warning, write-up warning, write-up, stern verbal warning and write-up, suspension pending union intervention, then termination. The managers can decide to not let it go all the way to termination. So, smile and atleast try to get along with your managers.
Someone correct me if above is wrong, I don't get in trouble so I don't know the process.
No one knows how to enter the night schedule in the timeclock. One manager tried to write me up for being "absent" on my only day off that week!! That is when I learned how much the managers really know about what is going on in the store. He didn't stay around too long.
The use of the word termination on my write-up is why I am so concerned. I have talked with other courtesy clerks and found out that others have been written up over the same thing. One guy even told me that he had me beat. He was written up for sweeping 28 minutes. (I was 27 minutes) I actually felt sorry for him. This has calmed me down some. I was thinking it is just me. What it also tells me is that the sweep procedure is not explained very well if a lot of the other courtesy clerks are being written up for coming up short on time. When I showed the write-up to my parents they were not happy with me. Disappointing them really bothered me more than Kroger writing me up. After a little while of thinking about it they told me they were not mad and would never punish me over 3 minutes. They have constantly talked to me about work ethic, being on time which to them means getting there early, always addressing adults in a respectful manner and never calling in. They told me to use this as a work lesson.
Thanks again for the responses. Being able to talk about this has helped me.
It's simple, the sweep MUST be at least 30 minutes to count. If they miss the sweeps, at least 6x per days at least 30 min each, the district is unhappy and they hear about it. Sweeps are pulled daily.
Your floor supervisors, your dept management get chewed out about these things because the store management gets chewed out about safety.
We've tried everything, but our @#$# courtesy clerks can't tell time even holding their $500 smart phones. We set timers & they vanish or they're ignored. We tell them the time they can clock back in and they don't do it. One recent day I had someone tell me when he was to clock back in but he had forgotten to clock out in the first place when I checked the report! I'll see eight attempts and two "count" it's maddening as hell because every time I have to send someone on a 'makeup' sweep (*IF* I can) I lose a bagger, someone for go backs, someone to get carts, etc.
We're at the point now where someone must walk the clerk to the time clock and watch them clock on the sweep, keep a log and set a timer and the clerks are not allowed to clock back in until that person gives the OK. This battle against incompetence is such a waste or time and energy that should be going to something important like customer engagement.
On that level, if you've been talked to about the minimum time required by corporate and it's been explained at least once since you were told how to clock on a sweep, then I'd totally support a write up. Sounds like no one had their coaching moment with you before they took it to this point.
What I want to know is why 30 minutes? Stores come in all different sizes. One store might be so small you can go through it twice in 30 minutes. Another store might be so big you can only do half of it in 30 minutes. Then the next person comes along and they do the same half over again.
Thank you very much for your post. You are right, I was never told about the importance of the sweep being at least 30 minutes. If this was explained I would have made sure I swept for 30 minutes. I hope you can understand my thinking that I was trying to do a good job quickly. The phone thing is not me. My parents have told me that they better never hear about my phone even coming out of my pocket at work. That is why they made me go buy a watch the other night that has a timer on it. When I clock in I will start the timer. BTW, I have a "free" cheap phone. LOL My step dad will not let me get an iphone. I am also not allowed to talk on it while driving. I think the write-up was excessive, but I can promise you it will never happen again. I went looking for a place where I could get some answers and found this forum. This has been good for me.
lol. I just got back from work. I saw a temporary bagger(working on the bagger schedule for a few weeks but now back on his regular schedule) doing the sweep. I asked him how long it takes him. He said, "depends. about 15 minutes unless I check the bathrooms and other things". I tried to explain to him that it is supposed to take 30 minutes. He said he isn't timed. He clocks in for the sweep but never clocks out of sweep!!! Just goes back to bagging.
What did you do the remaining time is the question? If you hung out talking with your friends or appeared to be playing around, that may be the real issue here. A great employee would go to the immediate supervisor when finished and ask "what needs to be done next?"
I WORKED FOR KROGER FOR 7 YEARS I WAS WORKING AT ANOTHER STORE FOR 6 SIX YEARS IT WAS OKAY THAT STORE
I WORKED AT WAS REALLY BUSY AND I WAS TRANSFERED TO A NEW KROGER STORE WAS OPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME I WAS HAPPY AND HAD SENIIORITY AT NEW KROGER STORE TO HAVE BEEN GRANTED THAT AND I WAS HAPPY AND THE OLD STORE WHERE I WAS LOCATED MY SUPERVISOR GAVE ME THE HOURS I NEED SOMETIMES IT WA OKAY AND
THE NEW STORE I WAS TRANSFERED THE SUPERVISOR I KNEW AND HAD BEFORE HE GAVE ME THE HOURS I NEEDED AND TIME OFF TO SPEND WITH MY FAMILY THEN HE GOT TRANSFERED A NEW SUPERVISOR CAME IN ME AND HERE DID NOT GET ALONG BUT I DID MY JOB AND THEN SHE START CUTTING MY HOURS WICH WAS WRONG
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE UNION AND THEY TREATED ME OKAY BUT I GOT HURT ON OCTOOBER 8 2019 AND I WENT TO CARE NOW AND THEY X RAYED RIGHT MY RIGHT FOOT AND IT WAS BROKEMN AND THEY STILL WANTED ME TO WORK I HAVE HAD ALL THE REPORTS FROM THE DOCTOR FROM THEN I WAS IN PAIN I WAS NOT HAPPY AND THE FRONT END SUPERVISOR AND THE MANAGER WROTE ME UP AND THEY SUSPENDED ME FOR HERASSING A FEMALE WORKER WICH WAS NOT TRUE SO I AM TIRED OF THE DRAMA AT KROGER I QUIT ON OCTOBER 29 2019 AND THEN COVID HIT IN 2020 I AM GLAD I AM NOT WORKING AT KROGER ANYMORE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AT ALL
I AM VERY HAPPY NOW I AM NOT THERE ANYMORE
-- Edited by garylynn1971 on Saturday 8th of July 2023 01:44:29 PM
I have only been working at Kroger for 2 months and today I got a constructive advice sheet. This has upset me terribly because I was told that I was suppose to sweep for 30 minutes and that I only swept for 27 minutes. I moved very quickly through the store to try and get finished and it seems as though I am getting punished for going to fast. It says on the paper that I could be terminated. I like my job, but now think they are going to fire me over 3 minutes. Is this normal for probationary employees? To top it off they asked me to work an extra day this week. That really has me confused. I am young and going into work being afraid for your job is not something I expected. Any advice would be appreciated.
AN KIND NOTE: You will later understand about Kroger customers will expect more faster cleanness, faster tidying up, faster scan, faster deliverance...IF you have a pattern of doing this quick pace. 27 minutes= congratulations. Customers will then later expect 20 minutes.
You are able to reject or say no if they ask you to work an extra day.
I WORKED FOR KROGER FOR 7 YEARS I WAS WORKING AT ANOTHER STORE FOR 6 SIX YEARS IT WAS OKAY THAT STORE
I WORKED AT WAS REALLY BUSY AND I WAS TRANSFERED TO A NEW KROGER STORE WAS OPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME I WAS HAPPY AND HAD SENIIORITY AT NEW KROGER STORE TO HAVE BEEN GRANTED THAT AND I WAS HAPPY AND THE OLD STORE WHERE I WAS LOCATED MY SUPERVISOR GAVE ME THE HOURS I NEED SOMETIMES IT WA OKAY AND
THE NEW STORE I WAS TRANSFERED THE SUPERVISOR I KNEW AND HAD BEFORE HE GAVE ME THE HOURS I NEEDED AND TIME OFF TO SPEND WITH MY FAMILY THEN HE GOT TRANSFERED A NEW SUPERVISOR CAME IN ME AND HERE DID NOT GET ALONG BUT I DID MY JOB AND THEN SHE START CUTTING MY HOURS WICH WAS WRONG
I WAS A MEMBER OF THE UNION AND THEY TREATED ME OKAY BUT I GOT HURT ON OCTOOBER 8 2019 AND I WENT TO CARE NOW AND THEY X RAYED RIGHT MY RIGHT FOOT AND IT WAS BROKEMN AND THEY STILL WANTED ME TO WORK I HAVE HAD ALL THE REPORTS FROM THE DOCTOR FROM THEN I WAS IN PAIN I WAS NOT HAPPY AND THE FRONT END SUPERVISOR AND THE MANAGER WROTE ME UP AND THEY SUSPENDED ME FOR HERASSING A FEMALE WORKER WICH WAS NOT TRUE SO I AM TIRED OF THE DRAMA AT KROGER I QUIT ON OCTOBER 29 2019 AND THEN COVID HIT IN 2020 I AM GLAD I AM NOT WORKING AT KROGER ANYMORE THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AT ALL
I AM VERY HAPPY NOW I AM NOT THERE ANYMORE
-- Edited by garylynn1971 on Saturday 8th of July 2023 01:44:29 PM
Youre in a cast you can still work and contribute to society. stop making excuses not to work plz
I have only been working at Kroger for 2 months and today I got a constructive advice sheet. This has upset me terribly because I was told that I was suppose to sweep for 30 minutes and that I only swept for 27 minutes. I moved very quickly through the store to try and get finished and it seems as though I am getting punished for going to fast. It says on the paper that I could be terminated. I like my job, but now think they are going to fire me over 3 minutes. Is this normal for probationary employees? To top it off they asked me to work an extra day this week. That really has me confused. I am young and going into work being afraid for your job is not something I expected. Any advice would be appreciated.
I got the same constructive advice record during the time I was starving (someone stole my lunch, I had no cash on me, no wallet). I told HR and HR spoke to the manager. One of the managers from an different department purchased me an sandwich :)
You shouldn't be fired over 3 min. As long as you did your job cirrectly, you should be fine. Have you joined the union (if applicable)? If you have let them know of your "constructive advice" (write up) sheet. Maybe they can get it removed. (Be aware of "under the radar rataliation" if management is douche-nozzles) under the radar retaliation is when they "get back at you" for reporting them for wrongful behavior. They do this by messing with your schedule like giving you less hours due to "needs of the business" stating business is "slow." Thus is done under contract negotiations to keep management out of trouble.
But as stated you should be fine. Just question them on it.
I have only been working at Kroger for 2 months and today I got a constructive advice sheet. This has upset me terribly because I was told that I was suppose to sweep for 30 minutes and that I only swept for 27 minutes. I moved very quickly through the store to try and get finished and it seems as though I am getting punished for going to fast. It says on the paper that I could be terminated. I like my job, but now think they are going to fire me over 3 minutes. Is this normal for probationary employees? To top it off they asked me to work an extra day this week. That really has me confused. I am young and going into work being afraid for your job is not something I expected. Any advice would be appreciated.
They dont care. If they want to get rid of you they will tell you something stupid like there are no hours to give we can transfer you. Youre better off working at Taco Bell they pay more and you get free food if you know how.
