Ok so I've heard about the whole 28 hour limit for part timers before but until now I don't think my store had been following it. This week, since our dept. head has finally gone to training, I'm getting 33 hours.
Today our co-manager says to us that she's working on the schedule for next week (since our dept. head is away still, for about a month) and that there is 14 hours left over. She tells us that these extra hours will be given to a deli employee, who will be working days in the bakery, so that she's not by herself, to cover for us.
OH AND I MIGHT WANT TO ADD.... that employee has only worked there a few months. Which means she's at the very bottom of any and all possible schedules based on seniority.
I ask, is everyone at 40 hours next week? Because I didn't see how we could have extra hours. Then she tells me, no, everyone's at the maximum hours for part time. I ask what that is, and she says, that she told off for giving us more than 28 hours, when that's the limit for part time employees.
My question is...
Shouldn't those hours be divided up among bakery employees, not other departments? The deli already got their own allotted hours for the week. Those 172 or so hours are allotted for the bakery. Shouldn't they be divided up among all available bakery employees only? It's not like I get hours from other departments when I'm low on hours. If I decided to go complain about it, would the union be any help? (doubt it but thought i'd ask)
-- Edited by 4hourrush on Tuesday 25th of February 2014 11:32:18 PM
I'm part time and have had 40 hours the past 3 weeks. You're considered part time unless you're a dept. head. Basically, Kroger likes to work you full time but say you're part time so they don't have to give full time benefits.
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I thought people were joking when they said working for Kroger sucks...
Yeah, I know your pain. The problem is, contractually, the only thing you're obligated to is 28 hours. Anything else has to be agreed to by both you and Kroger.
Once again, contractually, you're actually getting more than what they have to give you. The union can't really help you, BUT, in some contracts there's actually special committees dedicated to maximize part-timers hours. I haven't had any experience with such a committee (it's brand new with my contract) so I'm not sure if they'd be willing to work with you if you have such a committee. The union could talk to the company on your behalf, but, don't be surprised if you hear the phrase "needs of the business." God knows I hear it a lot more than I'd like to.
I wish I was down to 28 hours. I've been at 40 hours for 3 months, and I thought that if they gave you full-time hours over a certain amount of weeks, you are considered part time. It's been 12 weeks, my contract says 10 weeks. I brought it up with my boss, he got huffy. Union did nothing, so I quit.
I had a tech go on vacation a couple weeks ago and I had two part time tech's scheduled for around 35-40 hours to make sure I had shifts covered. Our store manager came back and pretty much asked myself and my RX manager what we didn't understand about PTers only getting 27 hours. I would've have been way over 100% on my ELMS hours, more like 120% if i had done it that way. I don't think they care about coverage, I really think they just care about everyone staying under 27 hours. My God, it makes me glad that 1) I make the schedule and 2) that I am status 1.
I had a tech go on vacation a couple weeks ago and I had two part time tech's scheduled for around 35-40 hours to make sure I had shifts covered. Our store manager came back and pretty much asked myself and my RX manager what we didn't understand about PTers only getting 27 hours. I would've have been way over 100% on my ELMS hours, more like 120% if i had done it that way. I don't think they care about coverage, I really think they just care about everyone staying under 27 hours. My God, it makes me glad that 1) I make the schedule and 2) that I am status 1.
Lucky you. :D
The lady who was hired just 4-5 months before me is status 3, so at least she's guaranteed full time hours. She must have been the last person in the whole KMA to get status 3 who isn't a dept. head.
Me? I'll NEVER be able to attain status 3 if they continue this 28 hour crap. Which reminds me. They filled EVERYONE at 28 hours (even the deli lady who's stealing a few of our hours) and there were still some left so they scheduled the person above me for 30 hours. Even though she's not available like half the week.
I'm surprised no one's said Blame Obama yet. I'm not blaming him, i'm blaming greedy-ass corporate CEOs.
Edit: Not that i'm going to go off and quit but you know, this 28 hour crap isn't exactly encouraging anyone to stay with the company. Why stay if you know you never have a shot at full time?
-- Edited by 4hourrush on Friday 28th of February 2014 10:20:52 PM
