So, I got almost 14 months with Kroger. Drug/GM to Bagger to Cashier. Cashier since last May.
I was on register then SCO on Christmas Eve, with the front end at full threshold before it would fall apart, and I thought, "wow, I'm making just 8.25/hr for this crap" as every moron kept bringing $15-$500 gift cards through SCO and getting pissy when I asked for a matching ID and CC. No holiday pay, nothing. Double the usual craziness. My check for last week's hell won't even be $260, and I wonder why I'm trying to start a 4-year degree. The problem? It's a 4yr degree, and working somewhere else might pay more but no union protection.
They got me doing SCO more often than I care for (2-3 shifts per week), boring as hell, and I occasionally fill in for night shift cashier, usually get late hours (even though 4/5 of my shifts last week were 11-7), and I will do shifts in other departments (bakery, grocery, dairy) to help out, embrace training new cashiers and trainees, scan alcohol and offer cashier tips/codes around, but other kids are moving up to customer service even though I've been on the floor longer as a cashier.
They have mentioned training me on fuel, but keep forgetting, plus fuel seems like an island of boredom. I don't think I would like the front desk, but kinda wish they'd ask. I'm never late, always stay late, come in to help out, look presentable, have a high cashier score, keep SCO immaculate and fluent, and know what I'm doing. My performance review was great and I mentioned that moving up in the store is ideal to me, but nothing yet. Considering joining the store council, since the note says it's a great way to advance. But what gives? I'm getting quite bored doing the same old same old, especially when I prefer an actual register. Do I just need to wait? School will distract me, but I worry it will stress me out more since not being paid well, despite loans. Considering a second job to contrast this monotony, but I fear it will limit my hours at Kroger (due to Kroger being stupid with scheduling) and possible "commitment" questions.
Odd to go from Drug/GM to bagger to cashier. Usually, the order is Bagger to cashier or Drug/GM. If a person isn't working out in a department, they usually get sent back to the front end.
If you are a student and getting educated in something besides Liberal Arts, then, it might be safer to stay under the radar where you are.
It is up to the store manager to promote you to another department. You could try asking Department heads to consider you to fill positions if there are any available. Then, they can request you from the store manager.
I suppose it is possible that you are so good on the front end that your CSM doesn't want to lose you doing what you currently do. As for the kids moving up past you, that might be favoritism. Maybe, there is a certain image Kroger is looking for at customer service? I do not know. My opinion is: A store manager can put anyone in any position they want in the store. If it is a bad choice, it will eventually bite them in the ass. I keep my mouth shut and do my job. I am where I want to be doing what I enjoy as a Night Grocery Manager.
Cultural Counsel: That is probably a sales pitch your store uses to get people to sign up for it. Here, it is an excuse for a group of people to sit around and complain about what is wrong with the store and get paid for it. And, offer a few stupid "fixes" that don't fix anything and sometimes make things worse because they don't really have a clue what is wrong.
The holidays are over soon. I suspect there will not be many hours on the schedules until the next major holiday.
College isn't for everyone, there are fewer degrees worth the paper they're printed on.....and prospective students need to understand that colleges themselves are in big business to sell diplomas.
In fact, tech certificates are becoming increasingly popular---and with much better rewards, in many cases!
