We used to have a pretty decent Cultural Council (once a monthish meeting with one person from each department), it used to be an hour where we talked about inter-departmental issues, and possible solutions (e.g. "Night crew is having ... problem, and Grocery could help out by ...", or "I'm in Produce and think the Front End should do more to ..."), as well as address anonymized employee concerns. It used to go rather well IMO, especially on smaller issues where nothing new had to be bought, and management didn't need to get involved. The culture was quite welcoming as well, we could air gripes, name names, etc. with the understanding that whatever personal things we said there, would stay there.
Anyways, last meeting we had, our store manager oh-so-helpfully "joined in", by which I mean he practically led the discussion and took half the meeting droning on and on about "Fresh and Friendly" and pestering customers to take surveys. Which is absolutely stupid IMO (and one person quit the council over it), as it shuts down any possibility of debate/disagreement, much less being able to call out certain people or policies as unhelpful. Do y'all know if this change is likely a one-off thing, or a more permanent "solution" by upper management to put a lid on us?
-- Edited by Going 4011 on Friday 7th of March 2014 06:40:48 AM
-- Edited by Going 4011 on Friday 7th of March 2014 06:41:24 AM
they seem to think cultural council is just one big pep squad, but i see it as the morality of the store. ive been trying to get our cultutal council to host store picnics, softball games, etc. im trying to convince management to allocate $100 / week to cultural council to build a fund to do things plus raffles.
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My Views and Opinions do not reflect that of the Kroger company. I'm an indivdual expressing my 1st amendment right.
We used to have a pretty decent Cultural Council (once a monthish meeting with one person from each department), it used to be an hour where we talked about inter-departmental issues, and possible solutions (e.g. "Night crew is having ... problem, and Grocery could help out by ...", or "I'm in Produce and think the Front End should do more to ..."), as well as address anonymized employee concerns. It used to go rather well IMO, especially on smaller issues where nothing new had to be bought, and management didn't need to get involved. The culture was quite welcoming as well, we could air gripes, name names, etc. with the understanding that whatever personal things we said there, would stay there.
Anyways, last meeting we had, our store manager oh-so-helpfully "joined in", by which I mean he practically led the discussion and took half the meeting droning on and on about "Fresh and Friendly" and pestering customers to take surveys. Which is absolutely stupid IMO (and one person quit the council over it), as it shuts down any possibility of debate/disagreement, much less being able to call out certain people or policies as unhelpful. Do y'all know if this change is likely a one-off thing, or a more permanent "solution" by upper management to put a lid on us?
-- Edited by Going 4011 on Friday 7th of March 2014 06:40:48 AM
-- Edited by Going 4011 on Friday 7th of March 2014 06:41:24 AM
A store manager in CC? Oh cool why don't y'all invite Stalin? He's pretty open minded too.
I feel like the direction of a true Cultural Council has steered off track. Instead of focusing on culture and atmosphere in stores....we are now a "corporate program support" council. The last district meeting I attended still had a older traditional feeling but quickly got taken over by DMs reaching out for us to buy into OSAT and new sales goals and programs......in hopes of getting the cultural council members onboard for cooperage giant support.
Hi all, I'm fairly new to the Kroger family. I was just chosen, from my department, to be on the CC. Our store manager does not participant in our meetings. Is this something you could talk to your union rep about? Maybe tell him or her what is happening at your store and let them know you don't feel comfortable with your store manager joining in on the CC meetings? Like I said, I'm new at this, so I'm not sure what all the Union rep can do.
When we first started CC managers of any kind were not allowed. It was suppose to be "for the people, by the people" but when department managers weren't taking it seriously and putting it on their schedule they were getting forced to join. Our store manager came to meetings to touch base and help out with it but he was awesome and very hands off and let us run the show. Then it became a way for manager wannabe's to put something extra on their resume so they joined for the cred but couldn't care less about actually making a difference. I can't imagine a store manager wanting to join to micromanage it. Don't they have enough to do?
CC used to be just hanging safety signs and going over shrink alleviation. Much better that way. As it stands now it seems like a wild misuse of labor.
