Why do FES always think they are responsible for the other front end employees? Is it that they don't understand that they are on the same payscale? Is it because they are on power trips? Do they think management has given them the right to boss people around?
The only responsibilities of FES are:
1) Organizing Breaks/Lunches 2) Dealing with Service desk issues (lotto, WU, Bill pay, Check cashing, ect.) 3) Closing tills and running reports
-- Edited by BagBoy on Sunday 3rd of May 2015 11:46:19 PM
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
I'm not a FES but they have to deal with way more than that. Making sure it doesn't get backed up, getting on a till when it is, making sure you don't get a drop (which is difficult if not enough people), calling managers when 1+1, etc
If you're a cashier or bagger they ARE your boss. They are your supervisor. They're suppose to tell you when youre suppose to do go backs, do lot, help a cashier, take someones break, do bathrooms, make sure you're doing what you are suppose to.
Do you think your CSM or manager is going to watch you all the time? No that's what youre supervisor is for. To make sure you are doing what you are suppose to.
i've been a bagger/cashier for a few years now, and there are always lazy ass co workers that I wish I could say something to but it's my supervisors job to make sure they are doing what they are suppose to.
you may not like your supervisors but you're suppose to listen to them.
Why do they think they're responsible for the front end? Because they are... Idk why your FESs are worrying about the service desk (the service desk clerk should be pretty independent) but if the other things you listed are all the FES in your store has to worry about, you either have a small, slow store or your area has none of the concerns most others do. I say this because the fact that you didn't even mention the traffic-directing side of running the floor means you probably have the luxury of being in a store that can basically let the traffic flow direct itself, which is the exception, not the rule.
Why do FES always think they are responsible for the other front end employees? Is it that they don't understand that they are on the same payscale? Is it because they are on power trips? Do they think management has given them the right to boss people around?
The only responsibilities of FES are:
1) Organizing Breaks/Lunches 2) Dealing with Service desk issues (lotto, WU, Bill pay, Check cashing, ect.) 3) Closing tills and running reports
-- Edited by BagBoy on Sunday 3rd of May 2015 11:46:19 PM
Because the company tells them they are responsible for how others behave, how they dress and a laundry list of other things.
how about making sure baggers are clearing the lot the way they are supposed to.
making sure the baggers are spread out and bagging at different lanes not all gathered at one lane talking
making sure perishable shopbacks are taken care of before it becomes shrink
making sure bottle room is clean
making sure bathrooms are clean
floor sweeps
any other little thing the manager comes along and wants done
fixing problems that come along with cashiers such as coupon declines, orders being tendered improperly, credit card and check issues, lanes malfunctioning and needing to be rebooted, money jams at self checkout.
running register when lines get backed up, calling relief help only to have relief not show up.
Why do FES always think they are responsible for the other front end employees? Is it that they don't understand that they are on the same payscale? Is it because they are on power trips? Do they think management has given them the right to boss people around?
The only responsibilities of FES are:
1) Organizing Breaks/Lunches 2) Dealing with Service desk issues (lotto, WU, Bill pay, Check cashing, ect.) 3) Closing tills and running reports
-- Edited by BagBoy on Sunday 3rd of May 2015 11:46:19 PM
In our contract, courtesy clerks level 1, cashiers and dept. clerks level 2, FES is level 3. So FES do get more pay per our contract.
Because they are Front End Supervisors. If there is just one FES on the floor, he/she is in charge of making sure the lines don't get backed up (1+1 compliance), resolving issues at registers/self-scan/Customer Care, keeping track of courtesy clerks, making sure there are carts for the customers, following through with any fundraiser/charity/ initiative that's in play, coaching best practices among cashiers/baggers/self-scan/Customer Care and plenty of other stuff, too, in addition to what you mentioned. Regardless of whether the FES' classification is different or if other days, he/she is just scheduled as a cashier or self check out or Customer Care, once that person puts on the red vest and comes in to run the floor when he/she is scheduled to, he/she is in fact responsible for everything and everyone on the front end. If you ever become a FES, you'll find this out.
you people seem to be confusing FEM, FES, and Floor Supervisor.
In any case FES and FS are both classified as clerks. I am also a clerk.
FS manages the floor, traffic flow, and tills.
FES organizes breaks, acts as an experienced cashier, lets people know what needs to get done. However their "orders" are nothing more than suggestions or word of mouth from managers or the FEM "Head cashier"/"accountant".
Their words are not all powerful and their opinions hold no more weight than my own. I've been here 6 years. I've done everything they can do and MUCH better. I tell them that if management has a problem they can come to me. They are not my babysitter and I'm a grown ass man. I've been offered the FES position many many times and declined as I'd rather do the work than tell others what needs to get done.
I don't need someone to hold my hand and tell me "I got in trouble for XXX, XXX, and XXX. You need to do them." I've been an employee for much longer than them and If someone has a problem with what I've done I can explain why it didn't get done much better than someone who didn't do it. stop being afraid of me and try to bust my chops. I'm not scared of the FES they aren't my boss and I'm not going to have someone tell me that they are responsible for the things I do and yet be unwilling to take a write up if I were to ever get one.
That **** doesn't fly.
[EDIT:] 2,000th post. Aren't I special?
-- Edited by BagBoy on Tuesday 5th of May 2015 10:42:15 PM
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
Floor Supervisor is a shift by shift thing, FES is a position but what difference does it make. They are in a position to make the dept run. Management will tell you you work for them, not for me, do what they tell you in accordance to your job. End of.
you people seem to be confusing FEM, FES, and Floor Supervisor.
In any case FES and FS are both classified as clerks. I am also a clerk.
FS manages the floor, traffic flow, and tills.
FES organizes breaks, acts as an experienced cashier, lets people know what needs to get done. However their "orders" are nothing more than suggestions or word of mouth from managers or the FEM "Head cashier"/"accountant".
Their words are not all powerful and their opinions hold no more weight than my own. I've been here 6 years. I've done everything they can do and MUCH better. I tell them that if management has a problem they can come to me. They are not my babysitter and I'm a grown ass man. I've been offered the FES position many many times and declined as I'd rather do the work than tell others what needs to get done.
I don't need someone to hold my hand and tell me "I got in trouble for XXX, XXX, and XXX. You need to do them." I've been an employee for much longer than them and If someone has a problem with what I've done I can explain why it didn't get done much better than someone who didn't do it. stop being afraid of me and try to bust my chops. I'm not scared of the FES they aren't my boss and I'm not going to have someone tell me that they are responsible for the things I do and yet be unwilling to take a write up if I were to ever get one.
That **** doesn't fly.
[EDIT:] 2,000th post. Aren't I special?
-- Edited by BagBoy on Tuesday 5th of May 2015 10:42:15 PM
You're the one confused. They're a supervisor. That means they are above you. Their job is to boss people around so the FEM/ co managers don't have to babysit. You may think because you have more experience that you don't have to listen to them but they're suppose to boss people around. That's in their job description.
Also your store may be different from mine but FES = FS in my store. There is no other person watching the floor other than the two front end supervisors (if two are scheduled). They do breaks, watch Quevision, etc. Our accountant is just that, our accountant.
in your job description it outlines everything youre suppose to do. your supervisior is suppose to make sure you're doing what you're suppose to. obviously if they tell you to go help dairy stock that's not in your job description.
but if they are telling you to do carts, you do it. if they tell you to put something up, you do it. if they tell you to give a cashier a break.. you do it. that's in your job description, and a supervisor is technically trained to be your boss basically. it seems like youre just butt hurt. if youre having a problem with someone who is suppose to boss you around, you wont do good at a high paying job.
FES = Front End Supervisor. This means he/she is your boss for the day.
Also, it must be different in your division because at my store there is the CSM Customer Service Manager and 5 ACSM Assistant Customer Service Managers. They are all full time, paid way more than clerks, and the only ones scheduled as FES.
CSM/ACSM all run customer service and wear the red FES vest.
If you think you're so much better and experienced and know more (which, hey, your probably do!) then why don't you become the supervisor? If not, then you can't say anything. We have a cashier who's worked at Kroger for 40 years and used to be the CSM, but she stepped down. She has her own views on how things should be done. However, she's not in charge, so it doesn't matter if she's worked for Kroger 30 years more than the FES - she has to listen to them.
In any case, it sounds like you're a smart person, which also means you're smart enough to not go into supervising or managing a dept. Try and get out of there, otherwise you gotta get bossed around by newbie idiots and there's not much you can do about it.
-- Edited by SCO on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 05:01:23 PM
Making front end profile and assigning checkers their lanes for their shift
Scheduling lunches, breaks, go home relief
Making sure baggers do tasks as assigned
Calling for next backup when lines get crazy
Helping other checkers when their register decides to act up
Changing the profile sometimes in mid-day when someone fails to show for their shift and sometimes switch everyone around
They are called FES for a reason. While they can't write you up, they can get you written up, especially if they are "buddy buddies" with management. Basically, they are checkstand managers
FES = Front End Supervisor. This means he/she is your boss for the day.
Also, it must be different in your division because at my store there is the CSM Customer Service Manager and 5 ACSM Assistant Customer Service Managers. They are all full time, paid way more than clerks, and the only ones scheduled as FES.
CSM/ACSM all run customer service and wear the red FES vest.
If you think you're so much better and experienced and know more (which, hey, your probably do!) then why don't you become the supervisor? If not, then you can't say anything. We have a cashier who's worked at Kroger for 40 years and used to be the CSM, but she stepped down. She has her own views on how things should be done. However, she's not in charge, so it doesn't matter if she's worked for Kroger 30 years more than the FES - she has to listen to them.
In any case, it sounds like you're a smart person, which also means you're smart enough to not go into supervising or managing a dept. Try and get out of there, otherwise you gotta get bossed around by newbie idiots and there's not much you can do about it.
-- Edited by SCO on Wednesday 13th of May 2015 05:01:23 PM
Where I work two jobs my availability doesn't allow me to work full shifts during the week, at Kroger.
mega-kitteh wrote:
FES responsibilities:
Making front end profile and assigning checkers their lanes for their shift Scheduling lunches, breaks, go home relief Making sure baggers do tasks as assigned Calling for next backup when lines get crazy Helping other checkers when their register decides to act up Changing the profile sometimes in mid-day when someone fails to show for their shift and sometimes switch everyone around
They are called FES for a reason. While they can't write you up, they can get you written up, especially if they are "buddy buddies" with management. Basically, they are checkstand managers
If anything, they would be better compared to secretaries.
-- Edited by BagBoy on Sunday 17th of May 2015 02:46:55 AM
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
Short answer- they are your boss. They are the ones that will hear it from management if things aren't going perfectly, and they are called a supervisor for a reason.
I don't know what your store is like, but I'll tell you about mine. We are constantly understaffed, there are too many gobacks, not enough carts, not enough baggers and not enough cashiers, too many calls coming in for the one person in customer service, and plenty of managers hanging around the FE to make sure everything is perfect, not to mention the customers who cuss them out over nothing day in and day out. My FES's work the hardest of anyone, helping in all those areas at once. I have one FES who has been known to even go out and help with carts! I have the utmost respect for them and I know that management is always on their backs. I know they work soo hard, and I sure hope they get paid more than I do.
So to come to a conclusion, even if your FES varies by shift, whoever is wearing that red vest is in charge of you, they have the responsibility to keep things running smoothly no matter how impossible that may be. I hope that you will either consider becoming one, or give them a little more credit and respect for the work they do.
-- Edited by KrogerBagger on Saturday 17th of July 2021 03:56:17 PM
I read the new list for the fes at work yesterday. Aside from the usual list of duties assigned to them they are also responsible for the lot making sure the landscape closest to the entrance and front garbage cans outside are clean. EVEN THOUGH that is PARKING LOT maintenance's job (outside company that is supposed to manage). AnD I was told by FES that they CAN get in trouble for not running the front end properly. EVEN MANAGING the aforementioned job that parking lot maintainence is SUPPOSED to do.
Oh, boy. No FES aren't your boss. Your boss is the department head (CSM), the backup, and management. FES are classified as Cashiers and make the same money you do. If anything they are just senior members of the front end staff with access to the customer service desk - nothing more. They deserve only as much respect as other fellow employees.
My FES knew that if they tried to force me to do anything I'd be able to punch back on the merits as we were both the same rank. The management who tried to tell me otherwise would get a face full of "I don't give a ****".
FES were able to make suggestions and pass down orders from management or CSMs but they weren't my boss. If they wanted me to listen to them strictly on their providence I'd let them know where to go. The ones who were my friends or showed respect didn't have to worry about that because I was willing to respect them back and do what they asked because it was right.
Don't listen to someone just because they tell you to do something. Use your own brain, you aren't a slave.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
Oh, boy. No FES aren't your boss. Your boss is the department head (CSM), the backup, and management. FES are classified as Cashiers and make the same money you do. If anything they are just senior members of the front end staff with access to the customer service desk - nothing more. They deserve only as much respect as other fellow employees.
My FES knew that if they tried to force me to do anything I'd be able to punch back on the merits as we were both the same rank. The management who tried to tell me otherwise would get a face full of "I don't give a ****".
FES were able to make suggestions and pass down orders from management or CSMs but they weren't my boss. If they wanted me to listen to them strictly on their providence I'd let them know where to go. The ones who were my friends or showed respect didn't have to worry about that because I was willing to respect them back and do what they asked because it was right.
Don't listen to someone just because they tell you to do something. Use your own brain, you aren't a slave.
It might be different, but in most areas the FES might also be the CSM or Asst. CSM or someone the CSM have empowered to make the decisions. In most cases, while they don't have the same powers as a CSM or Asst. CSM, they are basically considered FE MGMT when they are a Supervisor. Also, if you haven't already figured out FE MGMT is basically lower Store MGMT. If Store MGMT isn't available, they may be the ones in charge or the FE and or MOD.
Oh, boy. No FES aren't your boss. Your boss is the department head (CSM), the backup, and management. FES are classified as Cashiers and make the same money you do. If anything they are just senior members of the front end staff with access to the customer service desk - nothing more. They deserve only as much respect as other fellow employees.
My FES knew that if they tried to force me to do anything I'd be able to punch back on the merits as we were both the same rank. The management who tried to tell me otherwise would get a face full of "I don't give a ****".
FES were able to make suggestions and pass down orders from management or CSMs but they weren't my boss. If they wanted me to listen to them strictly on their providence I'd let them know where to go. The ones who were my friends or showed respect didn't have to worry about that because I was willing to respect them back and do what they asked because it was right.
Don't listen to someone just because they tell you to do something. Use your own brain, you aren't a slave.
It might be different, but in most areas the FES might also be the CSM or Asst. CSM or someone the CSM have empowered to make the decisions. In most cases, while they don't have the same powers as a CSM or Asst. CSM, they are basically considered FE MGMT when they are a Supervisor. Also, if you haven't already figured out FE MGMT is basically lower Store MGMT. If Store MGMT isn't available, they may be the ones in charge or the FE and or MOD.
The first part can most certainly be the case and if it is then yes, listen to them, but an employee with the same rank as you can not be empowered to force you into doing something. Don't get me wrong - I'm not saying to never listen to them, they have experience and training that you don't, but they aren't your boss, managers-in-training, or anything like that. The worst they can do is cry to the people above them that you did/didn't do something. Depending on what that something is you can bare your own consequences and force them to prove that you're in the wrong.
It's up to you to decide if it's worth your hassle.
I look at it this way: If someone is going to boss me around and make me listen to them then they better be making a premium to do it.
> In most cases, while they don't have the same powers as a CSM or Asst. CSM, they are basically considered FE MGMT when they are a Supervisor. Also, if you haven't already figured out FE MGMT is basically lower Store MGMT. If Store MGMT isn't available, they may be the ones in charge or the FE and or MOD.
That's a quality of their position as that's what they are around to do, as clerks. They inform you of things you should probably be doing and aren't there to specifically make those decisions. If they are right then do it.
I can guarantee you that by the time I left Kroger I had more power and could do more things than any FES could ever hope to do. I had access to keys, could print tags, change prices, run the front end and do everything service desk, was getting deferred to even more than most "supervisors". I could literally do more than most department heads if it was needed. My numbers were only second to the grocery head. I only lacked accounting and store management training from being able to do anything in the store. In a majority of the cases I could instruct and even train new supervisors in how to get their responsibilities done. I didn't expect anyone to listen to me and I wouldn't listen to any asinine order from someone the same rank as me.
but I also knew when to keep my mouth shut.
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
I'm sure you know quite a lot, even more than your FES. And I do know that the only experience I have is at my store, where I have tons of respect for my FES. I do know that every store environment is different and yours might not have that same work ethic. I'm not trying to downplay at all the fact that you are plenty of experienced. All I'm saying is, it is the FPS who will answer to management and not you if something goes wrong on the front end. Like it or not and whether or not they're paid more they do have responsibility over those on the front end. So it sounds like you left Kroger, but all I was trying to say was if you don't want them telling you what to do you should consider becoming one, because you definitely sound qualified.
I'm sure you know quite a lot, even more than your FES. And I do know that the only experience I have is at my store, where I have tons of respect for my FES. I do know that every store environment is different and yours might not have that same work ethic. I'm not trying to downplay at all the fact that you are plenty of experienced. All I'm saying is, it is the FPS who will answer to management and not you if something goes wrong on the front end. Like it or not and whether or not they're paid more they do have responsibility over those on the front end. So it sounds like you left Kroger, but all I was trying to say was if you don't want them telling you what to do you should consider becoming one, because you definitely sound qualified.
That's ultimately what it comes down to, respect. I'm glad your FES know the bounds of their role. :)
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Would you like fries with th... I mean, your milk in a bag?
Our fes is a lazy flake @$$ that should of been fired a long time ago. The small percentage he applies him self he's good but it's the other 90% of the time he's not good. He pushes the call outs to the extreme and won't even do his job correctly.
