Hey guys, I'm looking for some advice on a suspension pending I just received. Yesterday I left for my 30 minute break, but forgot to clock out (and was 5 minutes late walking back in). A few minutes after coming back in, I was called into the office and accused of stealing food that they saw me walk out with without paying, however it was free food prepared by our chefs for an employee Thanksgiving luncheon. After that was cleared up, they accused me of Theft of Time for forgetting to clock out. This seems like a flimsy reason to suspend/terminate me as it was a paid break, so no company time was "stolen" aside from the 5 minutes past my 30. The manager who informed me of the suspension was hazy on what would happen next and told me that the next step would be to call the union.
From what he said, and what I've read on these forums, a suspension pending is basically termination. All I was told was to contact the union and I would possibly get my job back, but it would have to be at another store. I've also read that fighting these can take months. Does anyone know if I will be re-reimbursed for my lost wages should I succeed, or am I basically jobless until the process finishes? And has anyone else gone through this and succeeded in keeping their jobs?
I've been with Kroger for 8 years and had a few minor violations that have resulted in takings to (and one previous write up), but otherwise I've been a good employee, working myself ragged to keep a department running after a mass exodus left us with a skeleton crew.
Contact your Union Rep, not clocking a break most times can easily be fraught. Have the Union ask for Associates Time Reports, I would say MOST Department Heads do not clock any breaks or you will find others also not clocking. So if you were written up for not clocking where they? Do they not take breaks? How long do they take on "un-clocked breaks"? If you use this argument, you will get your position back and the missing hours while on suspension.
Contact your Union Rep, not clocking a break most times can easily be fraught. Have the Union ask for Associates Time Reports, I would say MOST Department Heads do not clock any breaks or you will find others also not clocking. So if you were written up for not clocking where they? Do they not take breaks? How long do they take on "un-clocked breaks"? If you use this argument, you will get your position back and the missing hours while on suspension.
I know for a fact that my department head often takes hour-long "half hour" lunches with another head, though I don't want to throw her under the bus. I don't think she supported this, especially since we're extremely short handed as it is and it's the week of thanksgiving. I've also been told that the front end courtesy clerks rarely ever clock out for their breaks, so that at least may be something to pursue. Thanks for the advice.
Anonymous wrote:
It is not a "paid break" if you clock out for it (or are supposed to clock out for it)
We have two options in our time clock: Break In/Out, which is paid, and Lunch In/Out, which is unpaid and used when you leave the store's shopping center for your break. At least that's how I was told it worked by another employee. I was never formally told the break policy when I transferred from my old division to this one. That's something that will hopefully help my argument when I fight this.
They can't suspend you or fire you for forgetting to punch out for break unless you've been guilty of doing it repeatedly. People forget to make punches all the time. That's why we have a time clock corrections sheet. Talk to your union steward.
I'm not telling you to get them into trouble, but if they are going to Suspended Pend you, WHY ONLY YOU? Talk to the Union Rep and start the process, if others not clocking where not Suspended Pending you will get your job back. If you prove you were being picked on, you will then paid for the hours your missing too.
Hey guys, I'm looking for some advice on a suspension pending I just received. Yesterday I left for my 30 minute break, but forgot to clock out (and was 5 minutes late walking back in). A few minutes after coming back in, I was called into the office and accused of stealing food that they saw me walk out with without paying, however it was free food prepared by our chefs for an employee Thanksgiving luncheon. After that was cleared up, they accused me of Theft of Time for forgetting to clock out. This seems like a flimsy reason to suspend/terminate me as it was a paid break, so no company time was "stolen" aside from the 5 minutes past my 30. The manager who informed me of the suspension was hazy on what would happen next and told me that the next step would be to call the union.
From what he said, and what I've read on these forums, a suspension pending is basically termination. All I was told was to contact the union and I would possibly get my job back, but it would have to be at another store. I've also read that fighting these can take months. Does anyone know if I will be re-reimbursed for my lost wages should I succeed, or am I basically jobless until the process finishes? And has anyone else gone through this and succeeded in keeping their jobs?
I've been with Kroger for 8 years and had a few minor violations that have resulted in takings to (and one previous write up), but otherwise I've been a good employee, working myself ragged to keep a department running after a mass exodus left us with a skeleton crew.
I'd really appreciate any advice.
Your 30 minute lunch is not a paid break! That is what they mean by stolen time. Is this the first time you've done this? Have they warned you or written you up, before this?
