Mandatory to sign off on store policy statement?

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Mandatory to sign off on store policy statement?

NutritionWhore · Guru

Were you aware of whether your coworkers signed the same document (whether when they were first hired, or as an update)?

Is this in either your union handbook or in that little book that Kroger gave you with their policies, etc.?

Personally, I would've insisted on having that union rep (might've been on a smoke break there, eh?) even if I didn't know who it was. I would've just stopped another co-worker and ask "Hey, who's this union rep that's supposed to be within reach of us that we're paying dues for?".

Now I know if it's something like this mandatory safety pledges/sheets, or anything that directly affects your work, you HAVE to sign it. But, if it's as you say, that it's only some social media clause, then I'd be iffy about that.

Thinking about it though... if it really was specifically about not talking about x or y online, perhaps they've discovered this place already? :P

But, it's not that hard to find anyway. I found this place by typing "Kroger sucks" in Google. No, seriously.

Date: Jan 10, 2015

as far as i know the only thing you are required to sign for kroger is your paycheck

most people sign because they are scared to get in trouble or not knowing they don't have to sign

your union represents you and enters into agreements with kroger

tell them to send that paperwork on over to the union and have them sign it

FrontEndSlave · Guru

I did speak to the union person tonight.
She knew I had been looking for her -- trouble was I didn't know she was a union rep.
I thought it was one person, not two. She was the second person.
How she knew I was looking for her only minutes after I had left the meeting between my store's co-manager and FEM, I don't know.
But that ability to 'read' our employee grapevine encourages me.

I asked her if she will be working the two days that I am this week. she said yes.
My FEM may try to get me fired through a meeting between herself, me and our store's manager.
He is on vacation at the moment but will be back this week.

If this FEM brings me in and asks me to sign I do not know what I will do.
I only know she said that since it is store policy paperwork and not a "CA" that she said if I do not sign I will be fired.

NutritionWhore · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
as far as i know the only thing you are required to sign for kroger is your paycheck

Certain municipalities can require a business to train and have their employees acknowledge that they're aware of certain regulations regarding sales/policies within the jurisdiction. They get the acknowledgement through signatures. You HAVE to sign those in order to continue working at the front end, unless you received ZERO training as a cashier, or how to operate a cashier.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

NutritionWhore wrote:
Were you aware of whether your coworkers signed the same document (whether when they were first hired, or as an update)?

Is this in either your union handbook or in that little book that Kroger gave you with their policies, etc.?

Personally, I would've insisted on having that union rep (might've been on a smoke break there, eh?) even if I didn't know who it was. I would've just stopped another co-worker and ask "Hey, who's this union rep that's supposed to be within reach of us that we're paying dues for?".

Now I know if it's something like this mandatory safety pledges/sheets, or anything that directly affects your work, you HAVE to sign it. But, if it's as you say, that it's only some social media clause, then I'd be iffy about that.

Thinking about it though... if it really was specifically about not talking about x or y online, perhaps they've discovered this place already? :P

But, it's not that hard to find anyway. I found this place by typing "Kroger sucks" in Google. No, seriously.

"They" have not discovered this website.
It's a couple of local groups that I sometimes post to that are based around our local community.
I posted one post about abandoning shopping carts in the lobby. Another about courtesy clerks going out in the cold weather.
The shopping cart one apparently pissed people off and they contacted my store.
So, while I'll probably write more in another post about the actual meeting (since I brought up more than this subject...), that's what they brought me into their offices to discuss.

Trust me, if my store management had found this site, I'd probably be out of a job right now.

The issue here is that she said that this is based on store policy.
And therefore I have no choice but to sign it.
But it is a paper documenting how I will behave on social media and online sites while an employee of the company.
It does not relate to my job at all other than how I might identify myself or carry myself when or if I refer to myself as an employee or make reference to the store.

The co-manager said that I can't make any more posts to social media about the store at all, period.
Screw them on that; if I want to put on my personal page, I will do it.
I'll be keeping off the groups though, well, about the store at least.

All I am curious about at the moment, however, is if she is correct.
Do I have to sign and if so why?
I do not like the idea of this piece of **** company trying to tell me how I should act on my personal time.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
as far as i know the only thing you are required to sign for kroger is your paycheck
most people sign because they are scared to get in trouble or not knowing they don't have to sign
your union represents you and enters into agreements with kroger
tell them to send that paperwork on over to the union and have them sign it

I signed whatever the heck I signed when I was first hired.
I refused to sign a write-up back in June or July or whenever it was at the time.
It just shocked me tonight when she said I had to sign this or I would be terminated.
She says it relates to store policy so that's why I have no choice but to sign it.

I may try to find the union rep tomorrow or Monday and ask her.
Now that I know that this person is a union rep.

NutritionWhore · Guru

^That, is why experts say to not associate work with social media, no matter what medium. Just sayin.

Totally not saying if you're right/wrong, but just saying why those who don't involve social media with work end up doing better than those who do.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Believe me, I totally understand.
Basically, some people didn't like what I asked -- and all I did was ask why people abandon their carts in the lobby and things went south from there -- and apparently customers were gossiping about it to store employees, well the gossip got back to management.

I believe I am in the right here because I did not mention the company or the store at all.
I specifically worded that I was not trying to single any particular person out as a customer.
I specifically wrote in the original post about the lobby carts that I wanted a legitimate, straight answer on why people do it.
I see it happen every single day -- thinking was well I will still have to live with it and deal with it but maybe if I understood why I would have an easier time with it.

We just happen to have a bunch of *******s who live in this town and a few of them took it personally and tried to get me fired as a result.
One of the responding posters even went so far as to say she would spread shopping carts around the store and the parking lot just to make it harder for me to do my job.

In 48 hours I am definitely blocking my FEM.
When I went so far in our 'meeting' to ask for proof of accusations -- e-mail print-outs, faxes, paper print outs that sort of thing -- she was unable to provide anything to me.
Even after I directly said that I had a right to see these sort of things based on accusations.
Her response? "I saw the posts myself."

I checked, and she is not in either of the two groups to which I posted.
So I can only assume she saw it scrolling on someone's iPhone or tablet.
Regardless of how she "saw" the posts "herself" she did not have any thing on paper or electronically to provide to me.
Which is why I suppose I was not written up. Because she knew at the very least, I had the upper hand there.

That without any proof positive other than her own words (in this case, claiming that she had seen the posts I had made and that they had violated store policy on behavior) that she would not have a case for writing me up. So instead of writing me up they just bring me in to the office and put pressure on me trying to get me to cop out to writing the posts and trying to make me state that I would not reference the store again in any form.

The co-manager straight out said that if I do and he finds out that he will fire me. Well he didn't really say the word 'fire' more as he said we would have another meeting that would "go much differently".

-- Edited by FrontEndSlave on Saturday 10th of January 2015 10:45:14 PM

FrontEndSlave · Guru

NutritionWhore wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
as far as i know the only thing you are required to sign for kroger is your paycheck

Certain municipalities can require a business to train and have their employees acknowledge that they're aware of certain regulations regarding sales/policies within the jurisdiction. They get the acknowledgement through signatures. You HAVE to sign those in order to continue working at the front end, unless you received ZERO training as a cashier, or how to operate a cashier.

I have never been trained in any way as a cashier or how we operate as cashiers.
I know the paperworks you are talking about; I have seen several of them circulating to our cashiers for signing over the past two weeks.
The last thing I ever signed was paperwork that basically talked about how to properly bag groceries.
I signed it after reviewing it because it was basically the print out version of the video you have to watch.
That is, telling about 'strive for five', no chemicals with food, etc.

GenesisOne · Guru

You're going to need to talk to your union representative on this one because my understanding is something like this falls under "unwritten rule" territory. Technically, speaking badly of your employer either in a direct manner or indirect way (such as this instance) can have negative repercussions. You can argue freedom of speech and state when off the clock, you're free to do as you please, but Kroger as a company believes that whether you're on the clock or off the clock, you're expected to represent the company in a positive light or, at the absolute least, in a neutral way (meaning, if you can't say anything positive, you're not supposed to say anything at all). Everyone here, for the most part, understands that there's a degree of risk posting here because we know that if Kroger had a way of linking a user that was posting negative feelings about the company here and wanted to retaliate against that user/employee, the company could in various ways (cutting hours, write ups for violating this "unwritten rule" and such). That's why most of us don't post store numbers or mention names or provide too specific information.

It's really iffy here. Ultimately, I don't believe you can be terminated for not signing off on the policy statement since you need three write-ups on the same issue in a certain period of time to be terminated, in most cases, unless it's extreme, such as theft. What happens next will largely depend on the competence of your union representative, and by extension the strength of your local union branch and what kind of relationship the local branch has with the management at your store. Regardless of the outcome, I'm sorry to say I don't see things getting better for you at this point. It's more likely this instance will put you into liability territory. Management at that store considers you to be toxic and thus bad for the store's image due to your inclination to publicly vent or in the very least be open about your feelings towards the store and the company in general. I would say there is no way management would even consider letting you transfer to another department at this point and management probably will keep your hours as low as possible to minimize your time there (and potential negative feelings you might express) as well try and "encourage" you to quit by scheduling you infrequently and not making your time there pleasant (without crossing too far over the line that would trigger a union response). Some stores have department heads/co-managers/store manager that are very good at knowing how to create work conditions where a problem employee just gets fed up and willingly quits.

Consult with your union representative before you sign or refuse to sign the statement, but at the same time, I would suggest stepping up the number of applications you've been putting in elsewhere.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

GenesisOne wrote:
You're going to need to talk to your union representative on this one because my understanding is something like this falls under "unwritten rule" territory. Technically, speaking badly of your employer either in a direct manner or indirect way (such as this instance) can have negative repercussions. You can argue freedom of speech and state when off the clock, you're free to do as you please, but Kroger as a company believes that whether you're on the clock or off the clock, you're expected to represent the company in a positive light or, at the absolute least, in a neutral way (meaning, if you can't say anything positive, you're not supposed to say anything at all). Everyone here, for the most part, understands that there's a degree of risk posting here because we know that if Kroger had a way of linking a user that was posting negative feelings about the company here and wanted to retaliate against that user/employee, the company could in various ways (cutting hours, write ups for violating this "unwritten rule" and such). That's why most of us don't post store numbers or mention names or provide too specific information.
It's really iffy here. Ultimately, I don't believe you can be terminated for not signing off on the policy statement since you need three write-ups on the same issue in a certain period of time to be terminated, in most cases, unless it's extreme, such as theft. What happens next will largely depend on the competence of your union representative, and by extension the strength of your local union branch and what kind of relationship the local branch has with the management at your store. Regardless of the outcome, I'm sorry to say I don't see things getting better for you at this point. It's more likely this instance will put you into liability territory. Management at that store considers you to be toxic and thus bad for the store's image due to your inclination to publicly vent or in the very least be open about your feelings towards the store and the company in general. I would say there is no way management would even consider letting you transfer to another department at this point and management probably will keep your hours as low as possible to minimize your time there (and potential negative feelings you might express) as well try and "encourage" you to quit by scheduling you infrequently and not making your time there pleasant (without crossing too far over the line that would trigger a union response). Some stores have department heads/co-managers/store manager that are very good at knowing how to create work conditions where a problem employee just gets fed up and willingly quits.
Consult with your union representative before you sign or refuse to sign the statement, but at the same time, I would suggest stepping up the number of applications you've been putting in elsewhere.

I highlighted that one statement of yours because I can't believe I work for a company where this is even thought about.
Seriously, did George Orwell get it right or am I just imagining things.
And if the second sentence you wrote, the one directly after the bold, is correct, then my Front End Manager is a professional at it.

Most of the courtesy clerks and cashiers on staff did get hours cut this week. One of my co-workers as courtesy clerk has about the same hours as me as does another one. So I am not the only one here with low, low hours. But these are some of the lowest hours I have had since working here.

I am stepping up the applications and looking elsewhere. I think if I could move to another department and just start a 'clean slate' I would feel better. And as another person pointed out to me tonight, a different department could also have the possibility of a raise. If posters on here translated my information correctly a few months ago, Kroger would have me work as a courtesy clerk for two years before providing me with a 15 cent raise, and then cap it out with no more after that. Food Depot, I know for a fact that the baggers there get a raise after six months and then a year. Not sure how it happens after that.

The one positive factor I have at the moment is the actual store manager, the FEM and co-manager's boss.
He is unavailable this week but will be back next week. Although I may get taken into his office unwillingly.
If I don't, I'll see if I can schedule an appointment with him for a one-on-one sit down. I hope.

Thank you for the advice. The union rep, I think I will confront / talk to her on Monday.
If I can find out if she's there or not. I may need to go and do some sniffing around, a little shopping, and quietly ask when there as a customer.
I would really like to know how she found out so damn fast that I had been asked to clock out and go home. The radio is the only way I could see at the moment.
But she had the UFCW jacket on and everything. Knew I had been looking. Knew I had been asked to clock out. She sure knew a lot for someone I had not even known as a union representative 30 minutes ago and for someone who was not in the area when all this happened.

NutritionWhore · Guru

GenesisOne wrote:
You're going to need to talk to your union representative on this one because my understanding is something like this falls under "unwritten rule" territory. Technically, speaking badly of your employer either in a direct manner or indirect way (such as this instance) can have negative repercussions. You can argue freedom of speech and state when off the clock, you're free to do as you please, but Kroger as a company believes that whether you're on the clock or off the clock, you're expected to represent the company in a positive light or, at the absolute least, in a neutral way (meaning, if you can't say anything positive, you're not supposed to say anything at all). Everyone here, for the most part, understands that there's a degree of risk posting here because we know that if Kroger had a way of linking a user that was posting negative feelings about the company here and wanted to retaliate against that user/employee, the company could in various ways (cutting hours, write ups for violating this "unwritten rule" and such). That's why most of us don't post store numbers or mention names or provide too specific information.
It's really iffy here. Ultimately, I don't believe you can be terminated for not signing off on the policy statement since you need three write-ups on the same issue in a certain period of time to be terminated, in most cases, unless it's extreme, such as theft. What happens next will largely depend on the competence of your union representative, and by extension the strength of your local union branch and what kind of relationship the local branch has with the management at your store. Regardless of the outcome, I'm sorry to say I don't see things getting better for you at this point. It's more likely this instance will put you into liability territory. Management at that store considers you to be toxic and thus bad for the store's image due to your inclination to publicly vent or in the very least be open about your feelings towards the store and the company in general. I would say there is no way management would even consider letting you transfer to another department at this point and management probably will keep your hours as low as possible to minimize your time there (and potential negative feelings you might express) as well try and "encourage" you to quit by scheduling you infrequently and not making your time there pleasant (without crossing too far over the line that would trigger a union response). Some stores have department heads/co-managers/store manager that are very good at knowing how to create work conditions where a problem employee just gets fed up and willingly quits.
Consult with your union representative before you sign or refuse to sign the statement, but at the same time, I would suggest stepping up the number of applications you've been putting in elsewhere.

I don't think his union rep likes him. :P

FrontEndSlave · Guru

NutritionWhore wrote:
GenesisOne wrote:
You're going to need to talk to your union representative on this one because my understanding is something like this falls under "unwritten rule" territory. Technically, speaking badly of your employer either in a direct manner or indirect way (such as this instance) can have negative repercussions. You can argue freedom of speech and state when off the clock, you're free to do as you please, but Kroger as a company believes that whether you're on the clock or off the clock, you're expected to represent the company in a positive light or, at the absolute least, in a neutral way (meaning, if you can't say anything positive, you're not supposed to say anything at all). Everyone here, for the most part, understands that there's a degree of risk posting here because we know that if Kroger had a way of linking a user that was posting negative feelings about the company here and wanted to retaliate against that user/employee, the company could in various ways (cutting hours, write ups for violating this "unwritten rule" and such). That's why most of us don't post store numbers or mention names or provide too specific information.
It's really iffy here. Ultimately, I don't believe you can be terminated for not signing off on the policy statement since you need three write-ups on the same issue in a certain period of time to be terminated, in most cases, unless it's extreme, such as theft. What happens next will largely depend on the competence of your union representative, and by extension the strength of your local union branch and what kind of relationship the local branch has with the management at your store. Regardless of the outcome, I'm sorry to say I don't see things getting better for you at this point. It's more likely this instance will put you into liability territory. Management at that store considers you to be toxic and thus bad for the store's image due to your inclination to publicly vent or in the very least be open about your feelings towards the store and the company in general. I would say there is no way management would even consider letting you transfer to another department at this point and management probably will keep your hours as low as possible to minimize your time there (and potential negative feelings you might express) as well try and "encourage" you to quit by scheduling you infrequently and not making your time there pleasant (without crossing too far over the line that would trigger a union response). Some stores have department heads/co-managers/store manager that are very good at knowing how to create work conditions where a problem employee just gets fed up and willingly quits.
Consult with your union representative before you sign or refuse to sign the statement, but at the same time, I would suggest stepping up the number of applications you've been putting in elsewhere.
I don't think his union rep likes him. :P

It's entirely possible, although a few weeks back when I was doing go-backs and working on the nutrition shelves she worked with me on finding the right locations.
It may not necessarily be she does not personally like me as she is "in" with my boss. Like I said, she sure knew a lot in a short amount of time and I know I wasn't the one who told her. If this is the case, I won't expect anything from her as a union representative. But I have to find out her take on things first.

There are only two ways I may need her at the moment:

1) Signing that social media form. As I wrote, boss said if I don't sign it, I will be fired. That I have no choice because it's related to store policy and not CA. I don't even know what CA stands for, but it was when I was written up for insubordination against a Floor Supervisor back in the summer.

2) If my FEM, my boss, tries to drag me into the store manager's office when I next work and tries to get me fired or written up. Should she try this, I will say that I will not admit to anything or speak on anything unless the union is there with me. Which is a probably pretty good way for me to be fired. The only hope I have with that situation is that I know the store manager knows me, knows I am a very hard worker, among the hardest of the courtesy clerks (in the parking lot at least...) and I would hope his view of me would be a positive one.

I really hate dealing with this sort of thing but what the hell, if either situation arises I may as well get the $7 I pay each week. Otherwise why am I paying dues in the first place?

GenesisOne · Guru

FrontEndSlave wrote:
I highlighted that one statement of yours because I can't believe I work for a company where this is even thought about.
Seriously, did George Orwell get it right or am I just imagining things.
And if the second sentence you wrote, the one directly after the bold, is correct, then my Front End Manager is a professional at it.

Most of the courtesy clerks and cashiers on staff did get hours cut this week. One of my co-workers as courtesy clerk has about the same hours as me as does another one. So I am not the only one here with low, low hours. But these are some of the lowest hours I have had since working here.

I am stepping up the applications and looking elsewhere. I think if I could move to another department and just start a 'clean slate' I would feel better. And as another person pointed out to me tonight, a different department could also have the possibility of a raise. If posters on here translated my information correctly a few months ago, Kroger would have me work as a courtesy clerk for two years before providing me with a 15 cent raise, and then cap it out with no more after that. Food Depot, I know for a fact that the baggers there get a raise after six months and then a year. Not sure how it happens after that.

The one positive factor I have at the moment is the actual store manager, the FEM and co-manager's boss.
He is unavailable this week but will be back next week. Although I may get taken into his office unwillingly.
If I don't, I'll see if I can schedule an appointment with him for a one-on-one sit down. I hope.
Thank you for the advice. The union rep, I think I will confront / talk to her on Monday.
If I can find out if she's there or not. I may need to go and do some sniffing around, a little shopping, and quietly ask when there as a customer.
I would really like to know how she found out so damn fast that I had been asked to clock out and go home. The radio is the only way I could see at the moment.
But she had the UFCW jacket on and everything. Knew I had been looking. Knew I had been asked to clock out. She sure knew a lot for someone I had not even known as a union representative 30 minutes ago and for someone who was not in the area when all this happened.

It's not just Kroger, though. When you work for someone, that someone doesn't want you making comments that could be heard or read by customers or potential customers and have a negative impact on them. This is why it's generally advocated that a person keeps his or her personal/social life separate from his or her work life and not go on Facebook or Twitter or any social media and post anything that could be interpreted as negative about his or her employer. Even if the employer can't fire the person directly because of the remarks, certain employers know how to make the employee's life miserable in the event the comments become known to the employer. Sometimes it really is best to say nothing if you have nothing positive to say. Sometimes. Ultimately, it depends on the circumstances at the time.

As I mentioned in another post, hours at most Kroger stores, and retail in general, drop off in January. It happens every year. Consumers spend less money after Christmas and that shows up in the historical trends that is fed into the e-Sked software which budgets fewer hours across most departments, so a lot of part timers will see a drop in hours. Your hours may go lower after this week due to this incident as your CSM/management can take away hours e-Sked may be giving you and give those hours to other courtesy clerks.

You likely won't be considered for a department transfer, unless your store manager supports you over the people that are above you that don't have a positive opinion of you. Plus too, this is Kroger, where gossip travels sometimes at the speed of light, and thus no department head in any of the other departments may want to take a chance on you. You may be deemed more trouble than you're worth, regardless of whether or not you're deserving of what's said about you. You can't start a "clean slate" in another department at that store because people there have already formed an opinion of you, for better or for worse. No department is really isolated at Kroger. What happens on the front end usually makes its way to the other departments and the same is true about what happens in the other departments. Your outspoken nature and clashes with your superiors will be deemed as unfavorable to the other department heads, because they may not want to take the chance you will be outspoken with them. Being outspoken isn't a bad thing, but it's how you communicate yourself that can make the trait either a positive one or negative one.

See what happens though. Maybe your union representative can help you turn this around. It likely will be a very real uphill battle though.

BagBoy · Guru

I highly doubt that you can be fired for not signing something. Tell her to send that form to UFCW and when they sign it and put it into the contract then you'll go with it. It's not your job, as a union employee, to do ANY personal bargaining with your employer.

As for social media, I've known people who have been fired for posting on facebook about their employment and have even been sued for slanderous comments.

Just. Don't. Period.

NutritionWhore · Guru

BagBoy wrote:
As for social media, I've known people who have been fired for posting on facebook about their employment and have even been sued for slanderous comments.

Just. Don't. Period.

I'd like to frame this on a 25' x' 75' portrait and hang it on every workplace here in the US.

Sign here: X______________________________________________________

BagBoy · Guru

NutritionWhore wrote:
BagBoy wrote:
As for social media, I've known people who have been fired for posting on facebook about their employment and have even been sued for slanderous comments.

Just. Don't. Period.

I'd like to frame this on a 25' x' 75' portrait and hang it on every workplace here in the US.

Sign here: X______________________________________________________

Sign here: X ______I refuse to sign__________________________________

;)

[Edit:] OH, that's another thing. If you are forced to write something on the paper, write that. "I refuse to sign".

-- Edited by BagBoy on Sunday 11th of January 2015 01:13:46 AM

NutritionWhore · Guru

^BAM! Another lesson right there.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Well I just spent a good 30 minutes re-examining my Facebook settings; if anyone from work wants to see my personal page, they're going to have to work a hell of a lot harder now to be able to do it.

I also went back and deleted almost any reference i could find in the groups I was in and on my personal page to Kroger.
These bastards aren't going to take me down without a fight.

I did find one of the three threads that was started by me.
I screen shot the whole thing -- all 95 responses -- and then deleted it.
So now I have proof that I did not say anything negative about the store.

I guess I will watch my hours and see what happens over the next two weeks. Provided I have two weeks, of course.
And if they stay around the 12-14 number, I may directly ask about them.
What the hell, it is not like I have anything to lose at this point, right?

NutritionWhore · Guru

FrontEndSlave wrote:
Well I just spent a good 30 minutes re-examining my Facebook settings; if anyone from work wants to see my personal page, they're going to have to work a hell of a lot harder now to be able to do it.

I also went back and deleted almost any reference i could find in the groups I was in and on my personal page to Kroger.
These bastards aren't going to take me down without a fight.

I did find one of the three threads that was started by me.
I screen shot the whole thing -- all 95 responses -- and then deleted it.
So now I have proof that I did not say anything negative about the store.

I guess I will watch my hours and see what happens over the next two weeks. Provided I have two weeks, of course.
And if they stay around the 12-14 number, I may directly ask about them.
What the hell, it is not like I have anything to lose at this point, right?

Do what I do: have <25 friends, and only receive friend requests from friends of friends only.

No trouble, no privacy issues, just me, myself, and the 3/22 "friends" I have. xD

snailshell · Veteran Member

Posting on a community message board insulting customers with your real identity somehow attached was a really, really, really bad idea. How on earth did you think you could get away with that?!?!?!

I remarked to a customer the other day that I thought our apples/produce section in general was lackluster and I still feel bad about that. LOL I hope my manager didn't hear!!!

NutritionWhore · Guru

snailshell wrote:

I remarked to a customer the other day that I thought our apples/produce section in general was lackluster and I still feel bad about that. LOL I hope my manager didn't hear!!!

I always tell customers about being able to get certain products at other places when I absolutely know that they can get it for less there. Like that one time we were charging seedless watermelons for TWICE what the other grocer down the street sells it for.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

snailshell wrote:
Posting on a community message board insulting customers with your real identity somehow attached was a really, really, really bad idea. How on earth did you think you could get away with that?!?!?!

I remarked to a customer the other day that I thought our apples/produce section in general was lackluster and I still feel bad about that. LOL I hope my manager didn't hear!!!

That's the thing. I did not insult customers.
I did ask "Are they lazy" referring to "people" who leave carts out.
I guess those who did and read my words had a guilty conscience.

But I never openly attacked anyone except one person, and not even an attack.
The person who said "There are employees for the store all around so he shouldn't have a job much longer" (paraphrased).
The same woman who said in another thread she would "spread carts around" the parking lot to make my job harder.
A bit-ch, basically.

I deleted all the threads. But in none of them did I attack customers.
The co-manager felt as if I had, though.
And said in no uncertain terms if I write about Kroger anymore, I'll be fired.

The piece of paper that I was told I have to sign or be fired is a single page that, as far as I could tell (because I was never given it to look over), dictates in Kroger-ese on how an employee should present him or her self when not at work. And focuses on online activity.

Date: Jan 11, 2015

a few months back they made everyone sign those papers. i wouldn't worry about it. just sign it. it's just facebook anyways. complain all you want on here and leave work off of fb. that's how most companies are now a days anyways. i don't even have that i work at kroger on my fb

Ms White · Guru

At orientation we were given an employee handbook and required to sign a checklist of each section stating we had read and understood it. Social media was covered. You've probably already signed it when you were hired.

They gave me a paper about smoking the other day. I read it and it was a copy of the section in the employee handbook. I told them I had already signed it but I signed it again anyway. Come to find out the DM had been sitting in the parking lot and noticed alot of employees smoking outside and complained. I was following the rules, have been all this time but she is just wanting to make it hard on the smokers. The DM said she didn't like Kroger employees smoking in their uniforms. Well that's too bad DM. If they want to provide a smoking area in the back of the store fine with me. Until then I follow the city laws and smoke away. We are in a strip shopping center so out front is the only place to smoke.

As far as complaining about lazy customers, I don't know all the information but what if those customers who complained actually could have returned a cart to the corral but the corral was full. So they left their cart in the parking lot. If they put it in the corral, how are they supposed to know there are three different size carts? I just don't know any shopper who brings a cart all the way back inside the store. (Except me) If it's extremely bad weather I will put it in the corral. That's why they have the corrals in the parking lot. That's why they hire courtesy clerks.

Customers leave carts outside. If the corrals are full things get out of hand. Customers who leave carts all around outside are the reason you have a job. If the customers brought the carts inside, put them away where they are supposed to go, then where would you be? Working somewhere else because Kroger wouldn't need you!!!

In the three years I've worked at Kroger I've seen so many courtesy clerks come and go. Over 25 at least. They ranged in age from 15 to 40 years old. We have two now that have worked for Kroger for 5 years or more and have no desire to do anything else. I have NEVER once heard any of them complain about carts, seriously, not a one. Gobacks? All the time, they HATE gobacks.

I just don't think being a courtesy clerk is the right job for you. You should take your time off this week and work as hard at finding another job as you do at Kroger. You come across as a hard worker, a very intelligent man, so I'm willing to bet you will find something else soon and will report back here how happy you are! Until then I would go back to work at Kroger in a great mood, happy as a clam in high tide, knowing I'm on my way out!!!

4hourrush · Guru

So someone's too lazy to put their damn cart back where it goes but they could take the time to spread them around the lot?

What a bit.ch.

kroagrr · Guru

OP: Do you have a copy of your contract? If not, please obtain one, going as far up the union chain of command as necessary. Rather than having folks speculate about what you can and can't do, read up on it in black and white. If you are on the warpath, your contract holds your rules of engagement.

. . . I will say that I will not admit to anything or speak on anything unless the union is there with me. Which is a probably pretty good way for me to be fired.

Representation at a disciplinary hearing is a federally-protected right, not grounds for termination.

As far as being forced to sign statements you don't agree with, some other possible disclaimers to add might be, "Only receipt acknowledged", "Signature coerced", "Do not agree", "Under protest", and/or "Signed under duress".

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Worked yesterday. Manager not on the schedule so she wasn't there.
Worked today. Nothing was said about signing anything. Even though she had multiple opportunities.

Maybe she decided it wasn't worth the effort.
Maybe the thought of the union getting involved or going to the store manager scared her off.
Maybe she just didn't give a damn.

No idea.
Just know I didn't have her or anyone else come up to me and tell / ask / request me to sign anything.

But that doesn't mean it won't happen next I am on the schedule.
Since she makes the schedule, should be interesting on hours next week.
Wonder if I will get the minimum again.
I had 12.5 this week and other courtesy clerks were just as unlucky.
Should know tomorrow.