I recently started working for Kroger and enjoy the work I do, but I absolutely hate the way employees from the Deli, including the department head, gossip about and talk bad about other employees. It is sad and hurtful! You can not trust anyone in the Deli. I don't understand why people have to be so hateful and hurtful! I am at a point in my life where I just want to work and be happy and these people make it difficult. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to handle this? I tried speaking to the department head and that is when I discovered she is part of the problem. Instead of addressing her gossiping back stabbing employees, she ran and told them what I said. Why is she allowed to be a department head when she allows this and plays a part in this? I am afraid to go to store management for fear the same thing will occur.
Over here, we call it "PMS land" just because of that.
There's only like one guy in that whole entire department. We feel bad for him most of the time.
Anyway, of course there's gossiping in the workplace. How else would these employees make it through their day without meddling in other people's affairs?
I would love to stay away from the deli, but unfortunately I work near the deli and hear it and have been the subject of it. I haven't done anything to these people, or said anything except "Hi, how are you" and yet they have so much to say about me. It makes the day unbearable at times. What to do?
Just ignore it. Unless it's affecting you and your work, ignore it. Just cover your end and do your assigned tasks an let them piss and moan and bitch with each other. When THEIR work falls behind, THEY will get in trouble.
And out store? I store is the 'rumor' store. Do something out of the norm, and get spoken to by management, by the end if the day, you'll not only have sprouted wings, you'll have a pet dragon, and be the ring leader for drug smuggling.
It's the same at this store. Believe me I have tried to ignore it. My husband says I should just laugh at them. I suppose I just need to develop thicker skin. I have always believed you should treat people the way you want to be treated. I find it hard to be nice, cordial even, to these people. Their work never seems to fall behind, but they are always shorthanded because no one wants to work there. I am sorry I am whinning and complaining, but I need someone to talk to about this. It would such a breath of fresh air to work in a place where everyone respects each other. Does that exist or do we as animals have to lash out in hurtful manners to make ourselves feel better? I just want the smile I present to the customer to be genuine, not fake. I want to go into the work place and not feel as if I might burst into tears at any given moment because people speak about me as if I'm deaf and have no feelings at all.
It's always deli and bakery it's almost all women that work those depts, they're either fighting with each other or gossiping front end is just as bad now.
Deli is probably the least desireable dept to work in the whole store Because of how many backwards ass people work in it. And the deli oil stinks like a ****ing dump.
I recently started working for Kroger and enjoy the work I do, but I absolutely hate the way employees from the Deli, including the department head, gossip about and talk bad about other employees. It is sad and hurtful! You can not trust anyone in the Deli. I don't understand why people have to be so hateful and hurtful! I am at a point in my life where I just want to work and be happy and these people make it difficult. Does anyone have any suggestions of how to handle this?
Yes, just stay out of it. It's funny how some people just seem to attract drama wherever they go. If someone looks at you the wrong way, don't get all bitchy about it and tell everyone you see. No one wants to hear it. There's a woman like that at our store. Just do your work. Be cordial and friendly but keep converations work related only until you get to know people better. Even then you shouldn't get too personal. I've been with the company for over 15 years and I still keep my personal life and my work life separate.
lol, ignore it. Do not let it get under your skin.
What type of gossip have they said about you?
Me, I like to start gossip about myself and see how long it takes to get back to me and how it has transformed from a finger sprain to I lost a finger. But, that is just me.
Go in and do what you enjoy with a smile. If you hear gossip about yourself, smile even more. It probably means you make them nervous and and they want to know who the competition is.
Good luck and don't let crabby coworkers bother you.
lol i use to work at in the deli last year. Getting fired from their was the best thing that happened to me. I worked with lazy females that did nothing but gossip about each other behind their backs all day. Then when they had schedules together they act like the best of friends. And the supervisor of my department was never satisfied and bitched about the smallest things her whole shift. So much drama and bull**** was going on, and on top of that I had lazy coworkers. Was getting ready to call it quits but got fired a week later. Definitely not work the 7.50 a hour
Thanks for all the input. I sincerely appreciate the support. I don't speak of my personal life at work and I do not gossip about others because I know the pain. As I said I've just recently started working there and have been training and learing new things that I've not done before. I suppose I am still a little too slow for their taste so I've been labeled as lazy and a liar. Today they said nothing. It was a great day! I will continue to do my job to the absolute best of my ability and be the kind person I am. Again, thank you all!!!
You seem like a nice person with a decent head on their shoulders.
Deli is tough. There's a lot to learn, and as others have pointed out, it's generally a problem department. Lots of cattiness, gossip, crazy crap you wouldn't normally expect from grown adults... but that's just how it is.
Just roll with it, and try to stay out of problems.
Just go to your HR and ask to be transferred to another dept. The deli sucks anyways. You never know who's friends with who. In my store, our deli manager is best friends with the store manager (the BIG store manager) so you won't get anything done by talking to either one. However, there may be other managers (our HR manager was the bomb and super awesome and helpful) that might be willing to help you transfer or offer advice on your situation.
you have to remember something about the type of people who work in a typical Kroger (or for that matter any) deli. they are not what can be considered high society people. most live in a trailer and barely made it through high school so their social skills are very poor.
to some who will read this - you will say "wow! what the f*ck" but come on you all know its true. these people missed the intelligent line when they were being passes out in heaven. I know cause I worked in the best damn deli the company has in Cincinnati then was transferred to several typical Kroger bullcrap deli.
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
A trailer would be generous for most of them. Generally they're in section 8 apartments (if kids) or four deep in a two bedroom apartment. Dropped out after 10th grade.
The guys in the deli are usually pretty cool. Just college students trying to make an honest $7.25 an hour. The older women that work back there all think that the world is 'against them' though. Literal tons of gossip is spread among them, and the turnover rate skyrockets. That's why they can't make the food good. Only like 2 or 3 people back there have enough experience and actually care about the job.
Every time I tell a secret to my coworkers everyone else knows about it in a day. It's really sad that there's so much gossiping.
Who has secrets anymore? Go through life only willing to tell someone what you don't mind everyone knowing. It's served me well, and I walk into work not giving a damn what anyone else out there on the floor says about me. Also, you're spending a good part of your day (a lot of us 40 hours a week) with the same people. For the most part, what you have in common with them is your place of employment and co-workers....perfect recipe for gossip. It. Happens. EVERYWHERE. Big companies, small companies, online, offline, schools, families, etc. It's nature.
