I recently got hired on as a courtesy clerk and when I was about to do my carts, my manager said to go down the street and look for carts by the apartments as we had almost none. Can they do this? Make us leave the property to hunt down carts? He said go just to the end of the street and pull any loose carts back. Even on apartment property. If I even, and that's IF I even leave the property, I am going to bring a can of mace with me just to be safe. But can they have us leave our property? some of My co workers say that I don't have to, but others say I had better do it.
What city are you in? Don't give a store location.
Are you a minor? Your manager should not be asking you to put yourself in danger. The manager should atleast go with you or have someone else go with you...
Ask your union steward what you are supposed to do in that situation.
Yes, the carts need to be retrieved but the manager should not be sending a minor by themselves in my humble opinion.
What city are you in? Don't give a store location.
Are you a minor? Your manager should not be asking you to put yourself in danger. The manager should atleast go with you or have someone else go with you...
Ask your union steward what you are supposed to do in that situation.
Yes, the carts need to be retrieved but the manager should not be sending a minor by themselves in my humble opinion.
I completely agree with this. If you are a minor, you should not be asked to retrieve carts outside store property. In the very least, have another courtesy clerk who is not a minor go with you, with a cell phone.
I've actually contacted OSHA about this before because the same thing was happening with CC's at our store. OSHA says minors must be accompanied by an adult. Adults must proceed with caution.
Something to keep in mind, the second a cart leaves Kroger property without permission is considered stealing. Some of our carts even state such and have the statute written down as well. At least in my state, stealing a cart is suppose to result in imprisonment and a fine. I've never heard about anyone being penalized for it though. What you could do is call the cops on the apartment complex.
Shoot, that's nothing. Over here carts end up in the middle of the tollway underpass, sometimes roughly half a mile down the service road. And yes, clerks still have to retrieve them. However, those extreme distances are always done by the older and more experienced clerks than the minors.
Shoot, that's nothing. Over here carts end up in the middle of the tollway underpass, sometimes roughly half a mile down the service road. And yes, clerks still have to retrieve them. However, those extreme distances are always done by the older and more experienced clerks than the minors.
That's pretty bad.
If I had it my way, it would be against company policy to make CC's gather carts outside of Kroger property. Sadly, it will take a lawsuit for Kroger to consider changing their policy. It's kind of sad when you have to wait for someone to be run over by a car or ganked before Kroger corporate starts thinking about its employees' well-being.
Stop being a wuss and get the carts! I'm just kidding.
If there seriously is a significant anount of carts missing, then you should get someone physically able to defend you to go with you. Not the 59 year old bagger who you would end up defending. If this is a common occurrence, just ask your manager to have wheel locks installed. It's like an invisible fence for carts. If they go out of the permiter, the wheels quit working.
This is something a salaried manager should be handling, no different than dealing with shop lifters and acting out customers/staff. Simply tell them you're concerned for your safety, and be firm about it.
See if the store has a contract with a cart retriever. Meaning Kroger hires an outside company to retrieve Kroger carts. Don't risk your neck for a cart off the property. It's NOT worth it.
Shoot, that's nothing. Over here carts end up in the middle of the tollway underpass, sometimes roughly half a mile down the service road. And yes, clerks still have to retrieve them. However, those extreme distances are always done by the older and more experienced clerks than the minors.
That's pretty bad.
If I had it my way, it would be against company policy to make CC's gather carts outside of Kroger property. Sadly, it will take a lawsuit for Kroger to consider changing their policy. It's kind of sad when you have to wait for someone to be run over by a car or ganked before Kroger corporate starts thinking about its employees' well-being.
Heh... I know it's bad. Our front end supervisor always makes sure that whoever's gonna have to get the carts wear a ton of reflective clothing. We even get some reflective tape off the shelves and add 'em to other spots to make them really visible.
I know another Kroger close to where I used to live now have those locks on the cart that activate when they cross a certain point on the lot. The wheels will end up locking in place. Though, honestly I believe that stores alongside the highway could use those more than the ones alongside highways (like where I work).
Shoot, that's nothing. Over here carts end up in the middle of the tollway underpass, sometimes roughly half a mile down the service road. And yes, clerks still have to retrieve them. However, those extreme distances are always done by the older and more experienced clerks than the minors.
That's pretty bad.
If I had it my way, it would be against company policy to make CC's gather carts outside of Kroger property. Sadly, it will take a lawsuit for Kroger to consider changing their policy. It's kind of sad when you have to wait for someone to be run over by a car or ganked before Kroger corporate starts thinking about its employees' well-being.
Heh... I know it's bad. Our front end supervisor always makes sure that whoever's gonna have to get the carts wear a ton of reflective clothing. We even get some reflective tape off the shelves and add 'em to other spots to make them really visible.
I know another Kroger close to where I used to live now have those locks on the cart that activate when they cross a certain point on the lot. The wheels will end up locking in place. Though, honestly I believe that stores alongside the highway (where I work) could use those more than the ones alongside main roads and residential areas.
I would not, under any circumstances, leave Kroger property to perform any duty. It's too easy for them to deny responsibility for anything that happens to you. I'm sure their workman's comp policy includes language that prevents coverage for employees while off the company premises. Trust your gut instinct.
If you're on the clock they're responsible for you. If they tell you to go, make sure you have a witness in case it comes up as you refusing to do something or if you're crazy enough to try...
But let's be serious, don't do it. It's not worth the risk and cart retrieval services aren't uncommon. They drive around in a truck and load carts in the back.
You out there with a strap, a vest, and your life in your hands trying to get carts back through a neighborhood or across a busy roadway? Forget it.
My old apt complex had a number to call if we had carts piling up.
I've seen neighborhoods that had more abandoned carts than people on the sidewalks. I wouldn't send my CC to do that ever and I'm not doing it myself either.
I'm honestly surprised at seeing responses basically saying to refuse to do your job. I mean, I'm totally against the idea, and would definitely recommend a CC to object to such a request, but, I would never recommend outright refusing to do it.
OP wasn't refusing to do his/her job. It's just stupid and unsafe to send someone out OFF STORE PROPERTY to retrieve carts which they can call a CART COLLECTOR to grab the carts off the property and return them to the store. If they are hellbent determined on sending op out regardless, then op needs to carry mace or a small billy club for protection at the very least.
I'm honestly surprised at seeing responses basically saying to refuse to do your job. I mean, I'm totally against the idea, and would definitely recommend a CC to object to such a request, but, I would never recommend outright refusing to do it.
Show us where a CC's job is to go into neighborhoods and collect carts. It's called their "lot time" for a reason!
We had one utility demand somebody else clean the bathroom for them... now that's refusing to do the job! Can't believe management let that slide.
When I was a courtesy we had a utility say I ha to clean the restrooms. I was all nope nope and nope. It's YOUR job. Management agreed and for the first time ever, I saw that utility turn 9 shades of red and smoke come out if his ears. It's a good thing looks can't kill... That guy'd be out away for "murder"
I'm honestly surprised at seeing responses basically saying to refuse to do your job. I mean, I'm totally against the idea, and would definitely recommend a CC to object to such a request, but, I would never recommend outright refusing to do it.
Show us where a CC's job is to go into neighborhoods and collect carts. It's called their "lot time" for a reason!
We had one utility demand somebody else clean the bathroom for them... now that's refusing to do the job! Can't believe management let that slide.
Sure. Under my contact, the duties of a CC are explicitly laid out. One of the duties simply states: "Collect push carts and return them to the store." It doesn't state it only shall take place on Kroger property.
Once again, I'm totally against this. Like I said before, I even contacted OSHA to get their take on it.
Don't know where your located.......you need to ask your union steward at the the store what is right and what is not right....if they are on top of their game.
Who is going to fine a customer for buying so many groceries they ave to push a cart home if they live close by? I doubt Kroger will. I am sure someone in the store or someone knows someone who has a trailer they could bring and gather the carts that way around the neighborhood. That has been done at my store before.
When I was a courtesy we had a utility say I ha to clean the restrooms. I was all nope nope and nope. It's YOUR job. Management agreed and for the first time ever, I saw that utility turn 9 shades of red and smoke come out if his ears. It's a good thing looks can't kill... That guy'd be out away for "murder"
Both CC's and Utility clerks are supposed to clean the restroom. That is the old way things were done when smaller stores only had a C Clerk.
