I've been at Kroger for 6 months and think I may have finally reached my limit. I'm basically my department's dedicated conditioner. I'm usually scheduled five 4-hour morning shifts during the week and whoever is the first to come in on the weekends might do a little facing before they start stocking. I also did price tags in the summer. My predecessor (who was unceremoniously moved departments soon after I was hired) was given 8-hour shifts to perform the same job. The assistant department head has even brought it to my attention that for the amount of work that is required I should have more than four hours at least a few times in the week. This was fine during the summer, because I could stay late as needed, but now that I'm back in school, I've felt pressure from the store manager. My coworkers are notorious for shoving as much product onto the shelf as possible, sometimes filling holes with the wrong product, "hide-and-slide", etc. and I'm left to fix it each morning. I can't begin to tell you how many basketfuls of backstock I've taken off the shelf. I've brought it up to my department head multiple times and even wrote him a letter (which I have a photocopy of), but nothing has been done about it, in part because he never holds department meetings. More recently, when the assistant supervisor was on vacation, he's even boldly threw away several weeks price tags because he hadn't scheduled anyone to do it, and wasn't about to do them himself, and I'm left to answer to the tag coordinator when she notices a discrepancy. I've reached out to my union rep and plan on holding a meeting with them, but I read in the handbook that you only have 10 days from the date of the incident to process a grievance. I'm just looking for some advice here as to what I should do next. I've considered moving departments, moving stores or even the possibility of cutting my losses completely (though I was striving for at least one year of service before moving on). For a first job, this has certainly been an experience I didn't sign up for and would not wish upon anyone.
Well, if this is an ongoing thing, the 10 day rule doesn't really apply. Let the union know ahead of time so they;ll be fully prepared to handle a future grievance.
I read your post and honestly I am not so sure what the reason for your grievance will be. Could you tell me what you are thinking. I mean, you mentioned some work situations but are you getting in trouble somehow. If they schedule you are 4 hours a day, then my suggestion to you is to come in and do the best that is possible to do for those four hours then clock out and go. Ten minutes before you leave, write a note to your department manager telling him what you accomplished. You are not a magician with a wand you can wave to make things perfect. Good luck
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
