I worked or kroger for 8 yrs. I accidentally bought my lunch before punching out on a day I was extremely ill. I was fired. The union did not even try to get my job back. It took seven weeks to get a union appeal, and when I finally did, the union official started speaking about somebody elses case, and then had to ask me what my name was. After eight years of paying union dues and having been in no trouble, you would think I would get some sort of representation. I was cheated out of a few thousand hours of break time over the 8 years, and fired for using two minutes of company time. Kroger wants disposable staffing. I guess I just had too much time in and it was a good reason to get rid of me and start another sucker at minimum wage. It is little wonder Kroger is one of the worst companies in America to work for. What a crap company, what a crap union.
They are doing u a favor, you got experience now to find more pay elsewhere..love the "most generous company" banners in the store...not to the employees.
The termination is stupid. You must have worked at one sorry store. The only people that clock out for lunch breaks at my store or the ones leaving the building and going home or to a restaurant.
I'd think there's more to the story. Sounds more like a situation for a CA than a dismissal. Heck my dept head is always pestering me to ring up her off break snacks.
Sadly, there is no more to the story, except a new young store manager who is ready to set the world on fire I guess. I had eight years with an excellent work record. This was a Michigan store. When I filed for unemployment, I started telling the unemployment office clerk my story, and about three sentences in, she said "you worked for Kroger, didn't you?". That is their reputation in southeastern Michigan, abusing their employees and wanting disposable staffing.
Our union agreement is that you have to be written up (not bitched at, but formally written up) three times for the exact same 'offense' within a 6 month period before termination. You say you are a union member and have been working for 8 years. Does your union have a different policy?
sounds like a familiar type of manager. when the new year started the hiring manager at my store had a glint in his eye and told me he was going to write everybody up because no one is worth anything. they've dragged tons of people up stairs, some even deserved it. but hey, part of this is his fault for who he's hired and also not hiring enough replacements.
It is in our employee handbook that on the clock purchases are not allowed, so I guess they didn't need any write ups in order to fire me. However, in the 8 yrs. I worked there, it has not been enforced.
The union.and these companies never had it so good most of the new contracts over the past 10 years new hires pay a fee upfront to join the union and don't last long enough to recive benefits from the company. It's a win win for both. That's why most of the stores wear t shirts now way cheaper than having people quit after they give them 3 polo shirts.
It is in our employee handbook that on the clock purchases are not allowed, so I guess they didn't need any write ups in order to fire me. However, in the 8 yrs. I worked there, it has not been enforced.
I read:
"Thanks for buying our stuff, but you're fired for costing us a nickel or two in time".
Seriously, why do companies treat employees as if they can't be valuable customers too? We're trained to go a million miles out of the way for a customer, but when we ourselves buy things, we're 'different' somehow. I mean, if you treat your employees crappy, then they AND possibly their family and friends won't want to spend any money at your store. Poof - loss of sales, loss of loyalty, bad word of mouth going round the wire. Just sayin'.
It is in our employee handbook that on the clock purchases are not allowed, so I guess they didn't need any write ups in order to fire me. However, in the 8 yrs. I worked there, it has not been enforced.
I read:
"Thanks for buying our stuff, but you're fired for costing us a nickel or two in time".
Seriously, why do companies treat employees as if they can't be valuable customers too? We're trained to go a million miles out of the way for a customer, but when we ourselves buy things, we're 'different' somehow. I mean, if you treat your employees crappy, then they AND possibly their family and friends won't want to spend any money at your store. Poof - loss of sales, loss of loyalty, bad word of mouth going round the wire. Just sayin'.
Spot on. If I'm going to spend money on a deli sandwich, I don't want crappy service. I don't have to eat lunch at the deli; I can go to the mcdonald's nextdoor and probably save money and get decent service. Store managers I hope you are reading.
Anonymous wrote:Spot on. If I'm going to spend money on a deli sandwich, I don't want crappy service. I don't have to eat lunch at the deli; I can go to the mcdonald's nextdoor and probably save money and get decent service. Store managers I hope you are reading.
They don't care. It isn't even a Kroger thing. It's across-the-board retail. Stores like Wal-Mart and Randall's/Tom Thumb are just like them.
Sort of a psychotic "well, we don't pay him/her enough to buy much anyway, so who cares if they get mad and don't shop" mentality. It's universal and out of touch with reality. Often, the retail job is the family's SECOND job and the first one pays a lot better.
Anonymous wrote:Spot on. If I'm going to spend money on a deli sandwich, I don't want crappy service. I don't have to eat lunch at the deli; I can go to the mcdonald's nextdoor and probably save money and get decent service. Store managers I hope you are reading.
They don't care. It isn't even a Kroger thing. It's across-the-board retail. Stores like Wal-Mart and Randall's/Tom Thumb are just like them.
Sort of a psychotic "well, we don't pay him/her enough to buy much anyway, so who cares if they get mad and don't shop" mentality. It's universal and out of touch with reality. Often, the retail job is the family's SECOND job and the first one pays a lot better.
