So, about a month ago I got moved from being a courtesy clerk (where I worked for 6 months) to grocery, where I began to do conditioning. Then, out of the blue I come in and my schedule's all different and the front end supervisor tells me they've moved me back to being a courtesy clerk because there weren't enough hours in grocery. I'm also not listed as "courtesy clerk" on the schedule. Instead I'm under the "utility clerk" area with "courtesy clerk" typed in the boxes.
My question is this: Am I getting played? It seems like I just got demoted for no good reason, and I don't trust this game they're playing with my position in the store.
Do not get upset about this. Don't get caught up in emotion or negative about it. I am guessing you are in high school or college and just work for spending money. Take whatever tasks you get in stride. You are under a cruddy contract if hired after 2010 so you might never make real money at Kroger unless you get hired full time. Focus on higher education but do what you have to do make spending money now.
I would take you in grocery as a conditioner in a heartbeat but I need you to move 3 times faster. "faster, faster, more, more.."
Speak to your store manager and ask for a specific answer as to what you are. Are you grocery/dairy/frozen clerk, courtesy clerk or a utility clerk?
A Courtesy clerk is a courtesy clerk.
A Utility Clerk is a glorified courtesy clerk. They can not be scheduled to bag groceries. But if they are in the store cleaning, they can be called to help bag groceries. In our store, they are there to clean dairy shelves, produce racks, frozen door glass windows, etc. We have the best Utility Clerk in the business! I have never seen a kid clean so well. The Utility clerk is not allowed to run stock period. If they are caught running stock, a grievance can be filed against the store manager. I would let them run stock because we are short handed in the grocery department.
Grocery here makes $7.40 and tops out at $10.50 unless hired full time. Courtesy clerk tops out at $7.45. Utility Clerk tops out at $7.60. 20 cents is not a good reason to get mad or quit any job.
I prefer grocery but that is where I have been for the last 6 years and am on a decent contract. You have to hussle to get things done.
We just started Eschedule and employees are dropping like flies. Many departments do not have hours and are being forced to make difficult cuts to hours. It could be a manager wants you in the grocery department but can't spare the hours. So, they are finding hours for you in other departments. Let the manager know what department you would like to work in when the hours get settled if ever. Might take a few months. When there is an opening, jump on it. Be very careful about going into the grocery department. Be specific that you are not able to work nights. Most of the hours are going to third shift where I work.
btw, 4 courtesy clerks were promoted to grocery here over the summer. They worked frozen, dairy and grocery during the days. When eschedule rolled out, they were warned they might be forced to go to nights to keep their jobs. They are all in college and have lives so that is not an option. As of last week, only one kid is still there, the other three quit. He is still on days and might be safe.
Thanks for the advice. I'll speak to my manager about what my current role is. It just stung a little after I got told I was doing well as a conditioner to get bumped down like that.
Thanks for the advice. I'll speak to my manager about what my current role is. It just stung a little after I got told I was doing well as a conditioner to get bumped down like that.
Yup, real life can be bitter at times. Be patient and never ever panic. "If it doesn't kill you, it will make you a stronger person."
If you are only at Kroger for spending money while you go to school, a courtesy clerk is a good place to be. Volunteer to help out in other departments(produce, GM, groc, dairy, frozen) for more hours. If you decide to make a career out of Kroger, you will have some experience.
A utility clerk is supposed to clean the store during the entire shift. That can be mind numbing for some people.
We just went to eschedule so the managers are having to do magic tricks with the hours to get the work done and make the budget look good.
They can't forcefully demote you if you were doing your job. On the other hand, if you don't want to be laid off, it probably be best to stay demoted. Your choice.
They can't forcefully demote you if you were doing your job. On the other hand, if you don't want to be laid off, it probably be best to stay demoted. Your choice.
OP, keep in mind that this may not qualify as an actual demotion. Unless your pay has somehow decreased when they put you back up front, you weren't actually "demoted" but just "moved." I'm not sure whether the situation involved you starting as a CC, then becoming a store clerk to move to grocery, or if you just went to grocery as a CC, since you were just conditioning. If you moved up to store clerk, and now are being scheduled as a CC (which really just means bagger) while still being coded as a store clerk, you pretty much have your hands tied. If you're a store clerk, they can pretty much put you in ~90% of the positions in the store at will. Asking you if you want to move is really just a not-so-common courtesy.
"faster, faster, more, more.."
