I'm a super hard worker, and I bust my ass for my store (by my own choice) -- I genuinely enjoy working in my store's dairy department. Yeah, yogurt is annoying, but besides that, it's really not that bad. Good co-workers there too. I condition the entire department before my shift is done, every single time, and trust me, I get a lot of actual stocking done too. I'm just passionate about it, because yeah it's hard work, but at the end of the day, you can lean back and see all the hard work you've put in. Thankfully the managers are very nice at my store (albeit a bit stingy with hours sometimes), but I'm just curious, how can I make more money, specifically working in dairy? I'm with the Union, but still, the pay is absolute **** (the union contract really sucks ass for clerks). I'm not a lead clerk (maybe one day)? -- but for the amount of work I put in, 7.55 a hour isn't really cutting it lmfao. I could get another job, maybe at Walmart or something, but I really love my store, and I really love my department. Any tips on how to swing more money? It's pretty hard to live off of the ****ty pay I get. And is there even a change at making a decent wage? My store is ass when it comes to pay. Everyone except lead clerks, grocery night stockers, department backups, and meat cutters get 7.25 starting pay. I was also thinking about trying to swing a dairy night stock position -- 9$ a hour plus the night premium, better than nothing I guess?? Any tips, anyone?
If you like nights, that would be the way to go for a short term raise.
Many years ago, store managers could give $1 raises on a whim if they wanted. Not any more.
Long term: Learn as much as you can. Ordering, reading sales plan and changing ends/bunkers, Lows & Holes scan, BOH changes, residual scan, running trucks, running backstock, changing bale, receiving trucks, training new hires to have a sense of urgency and scanning out damage. Keep department in stock every day. Sign bids for Full time clerk if you are part time. Sign bids for Department lead if you are willing to relocate. To make money, you have to aim higher than just a regular clerk.
I have only helped in Dairy during emergencies. Yup, yogurt sux for most people. But, we the pay is green so I do it with a smile.
Honestly my friend - you need to go to the store manager and just lay it on the line to him. I would concoct a story that you have a better job offer at $10/hour however you really like the work environment here at your store. Tell him you are worth more than the $7.70 you are making and list your examples. Let him know that you are making a decision in the not too distant future about what lies next. Ask him straightforward about advancement opportunities that would help offset the increase in your pay. Be prepared to leave the company if you have to at some point. Your financial wellbeing is what counts most
I was thinking about making this thread myself OP. I only make $9.15/hr and I am full time and have been with Kroger for 1 1/2 years now. What kills me the most is that a lot of new hires start off at $10/$11/hr. And there are people in the store who don't do near as much work as I do and they are either capped out at $15.XX/hr or started on a higher wage than I.
Even though I am just a produce clerk, I know how to do practically everything, even ordering. I do way too much work, like you, to not even make $10/hr. I'm eventually going to quit, but I need to find another company I can start over at, since I'm FT 40/hrs guaranteed at Kroger and new job means starting at the bottom of the schedule again.
I've also thought about talking to management/union about this but I figured they'd just laugh me out of the room or tell me to apply to other jobs.
Basically, there is no manager for Dairy. Just a lead clerk. In my Union store at least. Guess it's to cut costs. And I do basically everything except ordering, so yeah. I change the BOH, run backstock, downstack pallets, condition, unload trucks, do bales, basically I literally do everything except do the actual orders.
And I'm surprised how much you guys get paid, like wtf? My union contract must suck, because they seriously give us the bare minimum. I'm a dairy clerk making 7.55. 9.15 sounds pretty nice lol.
If you become a backup for a dept and receive the premium ($1.50/hr) does that bump you up to the corresponding step on the wage pay scale or do you stay at the step your on and progress slower with increases? Like for example your at Step 2, you become a backup and get your raise do you jump to the Step 7 in this case or not?? I've heard various answers from people...
If you become a backup for a dept and receive the premium ($1.50/hr) does that bump you up to the corresponding step on the wage pay scale or do you stay at the step your on and progress slower with increases? Like for example your at Step 2, you become a backup and get your raise do you jump to the Step 7 in this case or not?? I've heard various answers from people...
And is the pay where you stay at your base rate and then a separate pay rate of just the premium on the weekly pay stub?? or is it combined into one wage and bump you up to that step.
Unless you plan on being in management Kroger is a job to have until you get a better job. If you want to stay in grocery work at Aldi. Bare minimum they will start you at 15 and hour for stocking. The whole store is about as big as kroger dairy dept. Cashiers are provided with a seat and bare minimum make 12-15 an hour and get to sit down all day. No sacking groceries etc.....
