No overtime but they never give enough hours or discipline the lazy workers that require me to stay over my shift to fix the problems the closers caused.
They want the "Conditioning Cart" set to the tee but it's only me and the truck guy.
They want cut fruit on display and PPST updated but it's only me and the truck guy.
They want the sales floor in grand opening condition at every ticking second but it's only me and the truck guy.
They want my attention on this, that, and ten other side activities because I'm the only one capable of doing it but then again, it is only me and the truck guy and I have other things I need to do too. And if I don't get something done, I apparently need to "prioritize". HOW THE HELL DO YOU SUPPOSED TO PRIORITIZE 20 DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE ALL NEARLY EQUALLY IMPORTANT for ONE person?
I am a backup so along with setting the department, I have to put the order on, markdowns, freshness checks, change prices on whatever they decide is going on flash sale this weekend, worry about getting the freshest product off the pallets and put it out, keep the sales floor replenished and fully conditioned, help customers, and everything else.
But then they complain to me that I have 3 hours overtime this week and proceed to tell me that I need to manage my time better. If I managed my time any better, I'd have to cut corners and things wouldn't get done, which would then lead to them also bothering me about those things. I am getting close to the point of telling them to find somebody else to do my job if they think they know someone who can do it better because I do the best I can and give 110% but if they'd give us more hours and ACTUALLY hire more people, I wouldn't have to keep chasing my tail.
Just needed to vent. These managers are outright delusional.
I don't know what KMA your in, but the conditionals you have described are everywhere! With the Hiring Process, Low Employment, Low Wages the stores are lucky they are still open. I wonder how long it will take Upper Mgmt to understand Department Heads/Assistants are doing ALL the work and being told to do more and basically threatened...... I would say the only thing keeping Department Heads/Assistants in the positions is the $$!
Who thinks this company is a lost cause? If staffing is not dramatically changed now, HOLIDAYS are going to be HORRIBLE !!!
No overtime but they never give enough hours or discipline the lazy workers that require me to stay over my shift to fix the problems the closers caused.
Yeah, that's our Kroger!
They want the "Conditioning Cart" set to the tee but it's only me and the truck guy.
The produce dept "Conditioning Cart" is a huge, totally unnecessary joke. For one thing, most produce is normally irradiated at processing centers, warehouses or distribution centers to kill nearly all bacteria in fresh produce, long before it gets to the individual stores, but on top of that, most customers, if they have any sense, rinse off product before eating or cooking. Yeah, some items have some dirt or sand on them (like fresh beets, radishes or romaine lettuce) but a quick rinse, immersing in water, is sufficient before placing on the shelving. When it is holiday time and we are busy to the max, no one has ANY time to condition ANY produce and we have to just get it out on the floor as fast as possible, and sometimes "waterfall" some fast sellers (stacking pallets on the floor). The way I feel, if it doesn't get conditioned during those times, why consider it necessary at any other times of the year???
They want cut fruit on display and PPST updated but it's only me and the truck guy.
Another totally unnecessary bunch of BS. Basically, the PPST is an inane, idiotic, time-consuming way of wasting paper by writing on a chart how much you need to put out because you are too stupid to figure it out just by a quick glance at the product currently on the shelf and making a mental note to slice such and such to refill the shelf as necessary. Like, it makes just as much sense to write out a PPST chart at home so you can "figure out" how often you need to wash your dishes. (Like, " I fixed dinner and used a total of 13 items including platter, plate, mug, bowl, silverware, frying pan, coffee cup etc" let me write this down in the proper columns, and let me figure out whether I should wait until tomorrow to wash them, or should I finish the dishes this evening, because tomorrow I will have another set of dishes from breakfast to add to what is already in the sink. DUHH!!!
PPST charts are (apparently) for STUPID people that don't use their God-given brain to just merely check what is on the shelf and cut more fruit IF NECESSARY. Whoever thought this up (someone sitting behind a desk with lots of time on their hands and no practical experience in actual hands-on work in the produce dept), is clueless. The proof of this is the fact that after the paperwork is done, no one really pays any attention to it.....(.totally pointless, waste of precious work minutes..)......unless a coordinator happens to show up to "grade" us on it being filled out properly. It is just meaningless waste paper, to help fill up the trash cans.
They want the sales floor in grand opening condition at every ticking second but it's only me and the truck guy.
Kroger managers are being "terrorized" by their superiors who are being terrorized by THEIR superiors.......on up the line. TOTAL insanity. How far up the ladder do we go before we find someone that actually has common sense and can make real changes in the inanity that is prevalent throughout Kroger corp?
They want my attention on this, that, and ten other side activities because I'm the only one capable of doing it but then again, it is only me and the truck guy and I have other things I need to do too. And if I don't get something done, I apparently need to "prioritize". HOW THE HELL DO YOU SUPPOSED TO PRIORITIZE 20 DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE ALL NEARLY EQUALLY IMPORTANT for ONE person?
I am a backup so along with setting the department, I have to put the order on, markdowns, freshness checks, change prices on whatever they decide is going on flash sale this weekend, worry about getting the freshest product off the pallets and put it out, keep the sales floor replenished and fully conditioned, help customers, and everything else.
I feel for you, bud. I don't have any constructive advice but I hope some of the BigWigs that can influence real changes will read this (and other) posts similar to it.
But then they complain to me that I have 3 hours overtime this week and proceed to tell me that I need to manage my time better. If I managed my time any better, I'd have to cut corners and things wouldn't get done, which would then lead to them also bothering me about those things. I am getting close to the point of telling them to find somebody else to do my job if they think they know someone who can do it better because I do the best I can and give 110% but if they'd give us more hours and ACTUALLY hire more people, I wouldn't have to keep chasing my tail.
They know they can't find anyone better. they are just bullXXXXXX you. Tell them "I'm doing the best I can with the skeleton crew that I have." if you think they can handle it .
Just needed to vent. These managers are outright delusional.
I really feel for you, OP. I'm a backup and it's the same in my store. Most of the days we don't have the middle guy for the tables, and now it's happening that the opener leaves BEFORE the closer gets there. And the hours just keep getting cut more and more.
Kroger is a champ at taking a great worker and turning him into someone who doesn't care. Because no matter how much you care and how much you hassle, you can't finish your job properly in the time given with help you are given. You will either just give in, or go insane and out on a stress leave.
I hope someone with powers reads this. You peeps ( managers and corporate) have great people in your stores. Working for you, customers, our own satisfaction from job well done. We are already going 110%. But this is not sustainable. Something will give. If you think it's ok, you will just hire someone off the street and he will be able to do our job AND he will care the way we do, think again. I see that happen all over the store. Good workers being transferred or pushed out, or going out on stress leave. New hires leaving after 2 weeks, because they can't handle the workload with no decent hours, no decent pay and no help.
I think stores have to crash hard before they realize what dangerous game they are playing. But by then, I don't think there will be any decent workers left to pick up the pieces for kroger, so they can be a good employer again.
the more i read on this site, the more i see that it is literally the same in every single store.
I am always getting told by my store manager too that i need to prioritize better and that this needs done, that needs done.. .but we don't have the people to do it.
So many new hires just have enough and walk out so you can't get anyone to fill your empty spots, so the few people we do have are pushed to the limit every week. Right now quite a few people in my store are working 6 days (me included) because we have no other choice. The store manager is on us about using ot but when things aren't done, he questions that as well.
Morale is the worst i have ever seen it be at. They put on 'associate appreciation days" this weekend but it's all a joke because if they truly appreciated us they wouldn't be treating us this way!
Sounds like my store too! Hours are being drastically cut to the point where a few workers were actually given only a mere 4 hrs for an entire week...of course NO ONE is happy in my store. The lack of staffing is ridiculous! Employees NEVER feel appreciated. The Customers get everything they want and act like spoiled brats because Corporate caters to their every whim and desire. Whatever makes the Customers happy. *rolls eyes* In the meantime the Employees are given the "short end of the stick" each and every time. Alot of good workers we had, already left long time ago and are still leaving. No one wants to put up with Kroger's abuse. Kroger is going to end up with no one showing up to work and just the Managers left behind to do the dirty work. Heck even the Managers are fed up. What a greedy and corrupt company!
I would say the only thing keeping Department Heads/Assistants in the positions is the $$!
in my division, the backups only get 50 cents extra. It's not worth $20 for the extra responsibilities. Unless you're able to contain your stress, being a backup is a stupid stupid idea.
^ *50 cents per hour extra, equaling $20 on a 40 hour paycheck
Also guys, and this goes for everyone. Do your job, all the ****ing paperwork and bull****, then when the bigwigs ask why it didn't get done, just tell them you were doing "X" (the paperwork). Maybe one day they'll see that we need less useless paperwork and more time actually putting **** on the shelves.
In a perfect world, with no customers to **** up the neatness of the aisles, no front end people whining for help (because the baggers don't know how to bounce between 2 checklanes), no late trucks, spilled trucks, etc. things MIGHT be possible.
Same in our store as well! I'm glad I'm not the only one. I was told (in writing) that if I don't take my time off at the end of the week I will be written up. How the heck can we get what we need done in the time allotted us? And, i don't goof around at all! Damn shame it is!
I got a directive from the Meat Merchandising to scan out as samples and give away all the new product we have going outdated in a few days that we aren't allowed to markdown. The ops manager asked me when it would get done, I told him it wasn't, last minute things like that don't get done. Cut hours, one on vacation, one suspended due to attendance? good luck charlie. I told him we wont take a financial loss and he needs not to worry.
What a greedy and corrupt company! 
