I work as a cashier at Kroger and heard some sensitive news regarding another employee having been fired. I was with a group consisting of my boyfriend, my brother and his girlfriend. Now my boyfriend gives me a ride home a lot and has become pretty friendly with the employee who's gone so I wanted to let him know that he was gone, but I was so shocked at the details behind his being fired that I accidentally shouted out something about the situation that probably shouldn't have been shouted out in the open, as I had done so almost right after we exited the store to the parking lot (mind you this was right as the store closed at 1am). Right after I'd shouted I remembered that the main overnight manager was still right behind us as he had let us out and had heard what I'd said.
Now I feel awful and am extremely nervous that I or the other employee who told me the information to begin with may be in trouble because I shouted like that, especially since I saw the manager go in and speak with her (pointing out the window toward us while doing so) as we drove away.
I honestly didn't mean it in a gossiping way. I was just shocked at what had happened to the fired employee and really thought that my boyfriend should at least know that he was gone. However I have not disclosed any real details as to just what the employee did wrong.
Am I overreacting or am I right to be worried about how this will affect me or the employee who told me what happened?
If it was essentially just gossip and you were off the clock, they really have no grounds to discipline you, though I've seen that not stop them from doing it in the past. Don't worry about it and just watch who's around in the future when you discuss such things.
Loose Lips Sink Ships! But I totally understand where you were coming from... Kroger Mgmt( Isn't that an oxymoron?) has been heavily brainwashed over the past 5 years- those that didn't follow like lambs going to slaughter have been dismissed or soon will be. Terminating employees is a good thing for the company's bottom line- especially long term, full-time employees-- it saves them in higher wages, benefits cost, and vacation/pension costs. You sound like u were privy to one of their dirty deeds and it outrages you-- a perfectly normal and moral reaction... use this as a lesson that you need to work for a caring and appreciative company thats not against paying a liveable wage and providing a pension/benefits so you have a future and reason to do a good job and be loyal. It might be hard to do but if you can look down the road this might be the best thing that could have happened to the fired employee and someday the puppet store mgmt. will have to relive what they've done over the years and it won't be a positive Karma/reflection time for them. So if you get a writeup, a slap on the hand, or just get shunned by mgmt. for what you did.. don't be upset or worried... just be glad you've had your eyes opened to what kind of company you really work for!
Loose Lips Sink Ships! But I totally understand where you were coming from... Kroger Mgmt( Isn't that an oxymoron?) has been heavily brainwashed over the past 5 years- those that didn't follow like lambs going to slaughter have been dismissed or soon will be. Terminating employees is a good thing for the company's bottom line- especially long term, full-time employees-- it saves them in higher wages, benefits cost, and vacation/pension costs. You sound like u were privy to one of their dirty deeds and it outrages you-- a perfectly normal and moral reaction... use this as a lesson that you need to work for a caring and appreciative company thats not against paying a liveable wage and providing a pension/benefits so you have a future and reason to do a good job and be loyal. It might be hard to do but if you can look down the road this might be the best thing that could have happened to the fired employee and someday the puppet store mgmt. will have to relive what they've done over the years and it won't be a positive Karma/reflection time for them. So if you get a writeup, a slap on the hand, or just get shunned by mgmt. for what you did.. don't be upset or worried... just be glad you've had your eyes opened to what kind of company you really work for!
It was definitely not a ridiculous reason for the employee being fired. If the employee did what I was told, they were right to have done so but it was just something I had not expected from the person from what behaviors I saw from them while we worked together so I was shocked!
Ordinarily I love working there and I really like the management at my store, but the overnight manager is a bit of a gruff person in general and I don't know him very well since I usually just interact with him when they buy like a coke for the night or I call them to check an ID.
But thank you for the advice. My boyfriend, brother, and his girlfriend were all very insistent that nothing would probably come from it, but it's hard to know if they are trust trying to calm me down for the time being cause I was freaking out so much over it.
I have a shift today so hopefully things will unfold well from here....
As long as you didn't disclose any info about why said employee was fired, then you should be ok. Like if you shouted "OMG can did you hear xxx was terminated?!? Poor guy..." Then I doubt they can so anything. Management may talk to you however, and if they do just say your boyfriend was friends with said employee and you thought he should know. If manager ' verbally warns you' the consider it lesson learned. Good luck
As long as you didn't disclose any info about why said employee was fired, then you should be ok. Like if you shouted "OMG can did you hear xxx was terminated?!? Poor guy..." Then I doubt they can so anything. Management may talk to you however, and if they do just say your boyfriend was friends with said employee and you thought he should know. If manager ' verbally warns you' the consider it lesson learned. Good luck
I really didn't want to repeat this again, even if it is on here, but since I am anon and think it may hold impact on what may happen and haven't revealed anything regarding where/who...
I shouted "xxx is gone! He was ARRESTED!" Then when I remembered management was behind me I tried to back up and said "I don't even know anymore! What's going on?" And when my bf and brother and all freaked out and pressed me for why I repeatedly said I didn't know and have not said anything more. I meant to just say that they were gone but like I said, I was genuinely shocked and my mouth ran ahead of me.
