I've been working at Kroger for only about 2 weeks now. I like to think I do a good job. I don't talk back to bosses, I'm nice to both coworkers and employees, and I do checking, bagging, and closing.
However the past few days my work environment has been HELL. We have a supervisor who acts like she's a dictator, yelling at newer people, ignoring others, while constantly flirting with every single female employee we have (her daughter also comes in sometimes and she's CONSTANTLY grabbing her ass, it's very creepy). This supervisor has been a complete bitch to me any time I've worked with her, telling me I'm not doing my job right, making sarcastic comments and remarks about me, and obviously talking down to me a lot.
Other employees told me she's that way to everyone but I've never seen it. However, she has a "clique" of friends at this store and ever since me and her got into a fight one night all these friends of her have been acting strange and often indirectly rude to me. Recently I've been bumped up to 35 hours a week (reminder: I'm part-time only) and apparently this is very excessive for a new person. One coworker remarked that they're trying to get rid of me. These long-hour days kill me, since I have fairly severe medical problems with my feet to the point where standing up for more than 6-7 hours will leave me limping because of poor support in them. This leaves me pretty pissed off most of the night, especially considering how merciless Kroger is about breaks and relaxing "on the clock". I have to gather every cart off the lot frequently so I occasionally sit down for a few minutes just to rest my feet, and I get told by some of the coworker-friends of this supervisor that I'm going to get written-up and yelled at for it.
These same people gossip about others a lot too; two other people are frequently trashtalked and insulted far more than I am, but when these people are actually around the gossipers act friendly as can be to them.
I'm very tempted to quit, but I have a feeling I'll regret it. There are people and managers who like me, but I can't help but feel this supervisor and her friends (which includes managers she flirts with) want me gone, and this massive increase in hours (I'm working more than 60% of other employees) even with the knowledge of my feet condition is a sign that they really want me to quit. I come home miserable and angry and I go to work miserable and angry thinking this.
What do you guys think? Has anything like this happened to you? Should I throw in the towel?
Call that Kroger hotline and make an anonymous report if you don't feel comfortable talking to the store manager about it with your union steward present. You need to report this. And don't be at all surprised if a few of them retaliate after you report it. It happens. Just keep in touch with management or whoever you report it to and put a stop to it. Start writing down everything you remember, dates, times, get witnesses if you can.
I would make sure I reported it though, they know about your health problem and they are increasing your hours to do you physical harm. I would be royally pissed.
The managers like me and do know about my problem, but apparently I agreed to work 8 hour shifts when I got hired, which is why they don't want to change it.
see i don't think it means theyre trying to get you to quit (30+ hours)
if they were trying to get you to quit they'd give you like 12 hours.
i like a lot of hours because = more $$.
by the way supervisors are just glorified cashiers (they get paid the same). if you're not getting your breaks/lunch then tell a manager. if they don't do anything, call the union. it's against the law to not get your breaks/lunches.
I called today to tell them my situation and the medical problems foot-wise I have. Our regional manager was friendly, but the first manager I spoke to bitched me out for wanting fewer hours, saying I'm "gonna have to work it" and "I should've told them this when I got hired". I DID tell them this when I got hired, and I am NOT going to work in an environment that's hostile and horrible for ****ing below-minimum wage while being treated this why. Quitting for sure.
I called today to tell them my situation and the medical problems foot-wise I have. Our regional manager was friendly, but the first manager I spoke to bitched me out for wanting fewer hours, saying I'm "gonna have to work it" and "I should've told them this when I got hired". I DID tell them this when I got hired, and I am NOT going to work in an environment that's hostile and horrible for ****ing below-minimum wage while being treated this why. Quitting for sure.
Ahh that is a very bad situation and I'm sorry you are going through that. Kroger stores are great places to work if you can find the department you like. Our store closes at midnight and I transferred to the night crew (stocking shelves) years back. I love it because I get to do my work and go home, nobody on your a** and nobody to bother you as long as your work is done. I'd suggest finding a department to transfer to, because the front end honestly just kinda sucks. Many CSM's (Managers on the front end) think they have so much authority but... in reality they are rather close to the bottom of the chain and disposable, other than a lead CSM. Just a thought.
