My store mgr. loves to talk to employees like crap on the sales floor with customers in ear shot. She did it to me the other day with a customer 3 feet away and I was off the clock! I scanned out a shipper of product that had 14 day shelf life and I found it behind other stuff in our grocery back room. It was already on Day 13. She told me it just came in. BS! She Screamed "who are you to make a call like that? We just lost all that money. You need to talk to a mgr. before ever doing that again." The poor customer looked like he was embarrassed for me. I just turned and walked away. BTW..I am a dept. head and have been for 16 years. Our asst. mgr. also thinks he can talk to people however he wants. Overreacting? Or take this to the next level and file complaint? This has happened several times before but not off the clock the other times.
Many years ago, I received tortillas that had expired a month before they were delivered. I saw the date on the outside of the box and sent them directly to the damage area.
How did you scan it out? Did you scan it out and send it to reclaims or to charity or scan it out and sell it for 50% off?
Most expiration dates are Sell By dates. They can still be safely consumed after that date.
General rule I was told is to pull it a week before it expires and send it to the receiver to be reduced for a quick sale.
Corporate does keep track of outdated products that we scan out. I think it has a score as part of the key retailing score.
Yes, the manager was unprofessional. But, there is no law against that. It is ok for the manager to request that they are informed about damage being scanned out. It is tacky to scold you in front of the customers while off the clock.
Many years ago, I received tortillas that had expired a month before they were delivered. I saw the date on the outside of the box and sent them directly to the damage area.
How did you scan it out? Did you scan it out and send it to reclaims or to charity or scan it out and sell it for 50% off?
Most expiration dates are Sell By dates. They can still be safely consumed after that date.
General rule I was told is to pull it a week before it expires and send it to the receiver to be reduced for a quick sale.
Corporate does keep track of outdated products that we scan out. I think it has a score as part of the key retailing score.
Yes, the manager was unprofessional. But, there is no law against that. It is ok for the manager to request that they are informed about damage being scanned out. It is tacky to scold you in front of the customers while off the clock.
It's completely rude bullsh!t is what it is, and the reason you're upset by it is because you're right to be upset by it. DON'T EVER LET ANYONE GET COMFORTABLE ABUSING YOU.
There's a proper way to communicate, and that was NOT it. Very next time this happens I would document, get a witness if possible, and aggressively kick it up the ladder.
DON'T EVER LET ANYONE GET COMFORTABLE ABUSING YOU.
There's a proper way to communicate, and that was NOT it.
Agreed.
Also, I'd refuse a reprimand off the clock. (Receiving a work-related reprimand is a work activity, is it not?) Were it forced upon me anyway, I'd file a grievance claiming a minimum shift's pay (four hours in Southwest), and I'd report the abusive manager for the abuse, the tacky unprofessionalism, and for forcing you to "work" (be worked over) off the clock.
I'll tell you how I handled a situation like this. I was in line at a register, clocked out, shopping after work. The comanager walked by me and yelled in front of all the employees and customers "thanks for ruining my q vision". Well I had started at register 2 and ended up at register 6. I chose the lane with the least amount of customers in it. All the register lines were backed up. I was pissed. So I yelled right back at her "I'm off the clock, shopping on my personal time". "Don't you ever yell at me again about my personal shopping habits". Customers all stopped and were looking at us. She ducked her head and said "we will discuss this when you come in tomorrow". I ripped into her again and said "NO, you are NOT going to discuss ANYTHING with me about me shopping here on my time off". "You need to leave me alone and quit harassing me". She wouldn't look up or say anything to me after that. All the employees were smiling and laughing. They hated her as much as I did. Embarrassed the crap out of her.
I should have mentioned that I was shopping and in the frozen aisle when she did this! Thanks for the input. It really does help. People at store level are afraid to say anything if you ask their advice! Thanks again!
Unless you feel absolutely comfortable with it and you have a reason to do so, don't ever talk to anyone in the store about work related things while off the clock. I would have responded with "I am not working now, talk to me when I am working". After that, just ignore them. It doesn't even matter if you were right or wrong.
Chances are that the next time you work, he won't even remember about it. If he does, then discuss the details. If he goes as far as to make a claim such as "you always need manager approval for that", listen to him. It not only protects you if he wants to fire you, but it will also piss him off. Every single time you want to scan something out, call him over. Eventually, he will tell you that you don't always need approval. If he does, get him to clearly define when he does and doesn't want you to ask for approval.
If I've learned anything from my time at Kroger, it is that if someone gets pissed off, give them free stuff, apologize over and over, and find some employee to blame it on and say that they are new and you will make sure they receive better training.
Optimally, the best way would be to make sure there are enough employees and make sure they know stuff. That's not going to happen though. Kroger will always try to get by with the lowest number of employees being paid at once. They will also do anything they can to prevent people from getting full time, plus the average time someone works there is short because the pay and treatment it so bad. If a customer finds an employee and wants help, they expect him to know where stuff is, have a decent knowledge of the products, and know stuff about the store (when do sales run? when do you stock stuff? what is your return policy? do you carry x?). If the average employee worked full time and had been there for a while, we would be a lot closer to that. Instead, few people have full time and most people are inexperienced.
Just learn to battle your managers into submission... I've gotten away with telling a coordinator they were screwing up and making poor choices..... that a comanager needs to just do their damn job after I brought something to them with no result numerous times... I almost got a write up once over markdown percent effective... until I said screw that, I can walk into any competitor and get paid more... they threw away the write up.
However, don't ever use foul language :)
Do learn to take advantage of situations and know what you are talking about.
Just learn to battle your managers into submission... I've gotten away with telling a coordinator they were screwing up and making poor choices..... that a comanager needs to just do their damn job after I brought something to them with no result numerous times... I almost got a write up once over markdown percent effective... until I said screw that, I can walk into any competitor and get paid more... they threw away the write up.
However, don't ever use foul language :)
Do learn to take advantage of situations and know what you are talking about.
You just bragged for an entire paragraph and then ended what "duh" advice. "Don't ever use foul language" and " learn to tke advantage of situations and know what you are talkimg about?" You should give a TedTalk. Dunce
We have a co like that, but we also have a new manager. He's made it quite clear that no one will be talked down to or treated like crap. I about hit the floor, cause that just doesn't seem like kroger management, but so far, everything's seems ok and the co has had an attitude adjustment. But the manager don't play, he fired a kid for raising his voice at him.
If I've learned anything from my time at Kroger, it is that if someone gets pissed off, give them free stuff, apologize over and over, and find some employee to blame it on and say that they are new and you will make sure they receive better training.
Optimally, the best way would be to make sure there are enough employees and make sure they know stuff. That's not going to happen though. Kroger will always try to get by with the lowest number of employees being paid at once. They will also do anything they can to prevent people from getting full time, plus the average time someone works there is short because the pay and treatment it so bad. If a customer finds an employee and wants help, they expect him to know where stuff is, have a decent knowledge of the products, and know stuff about the store (when do sales run? when do you stock stuff? what is your return policy? do you carry x?). If the average employee worked full time and had been there for a while, we would be a lot closer to that. Instead, few people have full time and most people are inexperienced.
What in the hell does any of this have to do with OP's situation - being yelled out when off the clock? Do you think she is entitled to free stuff? Should she find another employee to blame it on? Awaiting your reply...............
Actually, if you are part of the Union, a manager is not allowed to reprimand you if you are off the clock. Since, at that point, you are no longer making money from Kroger, and it becomes your own personal time, any "corrective action" that a manager tries to give you is in violation of Union rules and standards. You are then a customer, and as we all know, customers come first. If this is a constant problem, then it actually can fall under harassment, both on and off the clock. Plus, if you have been there 16 years as a department lead, and are being treated like that by an obviously recent addition to the store's management team, you should have a little more sway with the Union rep.
If you are part of the UFCW, I would get with your store's Union Steward and report the problem to them.
Actually, if you are part of the Union, a manager is not allowed to reprimand you if you are off the clock. Since, at that point, you are no longer making money from Kroger, and it becomes your own personal time, any "corrective action" that a manager tries to give you is in violation of Union rules and standards. You are then a customer, and as we all know, customers come first. If this is a constant problem, then it actually can fall under harassment, both on and off the clock. Plus, if you have been there 16 years as a department lead, and are being treated like that by an obviously recent addition to the store's management team, you should have a little more sway with the Union rep.
If you are part of the UFCW, I would get with your store's Union Steward and report the problem to them.
Working off the clock is also in our employee handbook. It's right up there with stealing. A big no no. You can't even say "hey, when you come in tomorrow, start on those totes first". Can't even talk to an employee off the clock about anything work related.
They like to interrupt your break time to. I hate that.
If I've learned anything from my time at Kroger, it is that if someone gets pissed off, give them free stuff, apologize over and over, and find some employee to blame it on and say that they are new and you will make sure they receive better training.
Optimally, the best way would be to make sure there are enough employees and make sure they know stuff. That's not going to happen though. Kroger will always try to get by with the lowest number of employees being paid at once. They will also do anything they can to prevent people from getting full time, plus the average time someone works there is short because the pay and treatment it so bad. If a customer finds an employee and wants help, they expect him to know where stuff is, have a decent knowledge of the products, and know stuff about the store (when do sales run? when do you stock stuff? what is your return policy? do you carry x?). If the average employee worked full time and had been there for a while, we would be a lot closer to that. Instead, few people have full time and most people are inexperienced.
