As a cashier, am I allowed to walk into other departments back areas?
Like today, I was on my break and a customer asked me where all the eggs are, cause they had all been bought. So I went into the dairy room to look around. I saw some eggs, but because I didn't see any other associate in there from dairy, I didn't touch them in case they were doing inventory or something like that, or if they were expired or something. So I went back out and told the customer they'd have to come later.
You are a clerk. You are allowed to walk into the cooler and get some eggs. Know what the customer wants and try your best to find the right product. Check the date.
There will be notes posted all around the back room when inventory is being done.
After something has been inventoried, it will have a note on it saying, "Do not add or remove anything from this cart or pallet."
I would say that you could as you are an employee like the rest of us. Mind you in my department one of the managers would have stopped you and asked what you needed and likely have gotten myself or another clerk to find it for you.
As a cashier, am I allowed to walk into other departments back areas?
Like today, I was on my break and a customer asked me where all the eggs are, cause they had all been bought. So I went into the dairy room to look around. I saw some eggs, but because I didn't see any other associate in there from dairy, I didn't touch them in case they were doing inventory or something like that, or if they were expired or something. So I went back out and told the customer they'd have to come later.
Im going to say that depends on the department. Since youre a cashier and not trained for certain equipment you are probably not allowed in Deli or meat. But I'm sure ealking into the dairy cooler and grabbing eggs for a customer is acceptable. After all customers come first.
This brings up a side point.......... when a new employee is hired, they are SUPPOSED to be given a thorough tour of the store, so they can get a rough idea of where everything is and what the various departments consist of. However, I think that nowadays, at some (or many) stores, the HR director (or whoever is doing the interviews) is too busy or stressed to do this for all new hires. The paperwork issued in the hiring process states that a tour is to be performed.
I've noticed that many new hires (as well as alot of long-term employees) at the front end, or in other depts, never, ever go behind the "counter" in the meat department, or deli, or bakery department, and never go back in the produce or dairy areas.
I guess they feel like it might "not be allowed". but I consider it a "plus" for ALL employees to be at least slightly familiar with ALL Departments and how they are "laid out" and what they do, and how it "feels" to work in them. It only makes for more understanding and tolerance for fellow employees if we know each others' work space. But I guess that is just me........ I have a natural curiosity about things around me, and I WANT to know, since I work here! I've been in every part of the store, except the pharmacy.
Lol front end clerks love to come into the produce prep room and just throw random things on the counter for "go-backs". I'll come in in the morning and see that some random courtesy clerk or cashier the night before laid juice, drug gm stuff, deli meats, meat department items, dairy, etc. whatever on our counter which is supposed to be clear of all debris all the time. But apart from that, I have no problem with other departments clerks getting a good tour of the entire store. It's actually very helpful for everyone.
You can go back there, but you probably shouldn't. There's no problem being back there, but it's not your job and will waste a large portion of your break.
If there's not an item on the shelf, there's a pretty good chance it's not in the back. There's also a pretty good chance you won't be able to find it even if it's there.
Get someone else on it. It's not unusual for more customers to grab you, and then management gets pissed when you have been helping customers for 20 minutes during a 10 minute break. And then you might not get your break.
Inventory is a big deal. You will know when it's inventory time, and counted items will have notes or even be completely wrapped up.
You can go back there, but you probably shouldn't. There's no problem being back there, but it's not your job and will waste a large portion of your break.
If there's not an item on the shelf, there's a pretty good chance it's not in the back. There's also a pretty good chance you won't be able to find it even if it's there.
What would you recommend I say to them? That they're out of stock? Won't they get pissed that I didn't at least go back and look?
This brings up a side point.......... when a new employee is hired, they are SUPPOSED to be given a thorough tour of the store, so they can get a rough idea of where everything is and what the various departments consist of. However, I think that nowadays, at some (or many) stores, the HR director (or whoever is doing the interviews) is too busy or stressed to do this for all new hires. The paperwork issued in the hiring process states that a tour is to be performed.
I've noticed that many new hires (as well as alot of long-term employees) at the front end, or in other depts, never, ever go behind the "counter" in the meat department, or deli, or bakery department, and never go back in the produce or dairy areas.
I guess they feel like it might "not be allowed". but I consider it a "plus" for ALL employees to be at least slightly familiar with ALL Departments and how they are "laid out" and what they do, and how it "feels" to work in them. It only makes for more understanding and tolerance for fellow employees if we know each others' work space. But I guess that is just me........ I have a natural curiosity about things around me, and I WANT to know, since I work here! I've been in every part of the store, except the pharmacy.
Yea, to my knowledge they have stopped doing the tour of the store as well. As I've often heard from some of the deli new hires, they don't know where to go to get supplies or take the trash.
You can go back there, but you probably shouldn't. There's no problem being back there, but it's not your job and will waste a large portion of your break.
If there's not an item on the shelf, there's a pretty good chance it's not in the back. There's also a pretty good chance you won't be able to find it even if it's there.
What would you recommend I say to them? That they're out of stock? Won't they get pissed that I didn't at least go back and look?
That is a good question. I mean I'd likely go back and check as well. However, I let the customer know upfront, that I don't work in a particular area they may find me in(if I'm away from the bakery and deli) and may not be able to assist them, as accurately as someone that works back there would.
Which is kind of why I wished they would give us walkie talkies, with different channels for folks in different departments. So that way if you are asked where something is, can be like "hold on just a sec," switch to the correct channel and ask someone there. And someone can come out and meet the customer and assist them from there.
When I was trained I was told that we weren't allowed behind the meat counter due to union rules or in the fuel center because we didn't do the online training. Other than that, we could go into all of the work areas. Although if you are on your break and they aren't sitting in plain sight, I'd say we're out. If they're out of eggs and they had more in the cooler I doubt they would be sitting there for very long.
When I was trained I was told that we weren't allowed behind the meat counter due to union rules or in the fuel center because we didn't do the online training. Other than that, we could go into all of the work areas. Although if you are on your break and they aren't sitting in plain sight, I'd say we're out. If they're out of eggs and they had more in the cooler I doubt they would be sitting there for very long.
I don't know. When eggs are 10 for $10, they can't stock them fast enough. One person on duty and needs a break, throws everything out of whack.
Lol front end clerks love to come into the produce prep room and just throw random things on the counter for "go-backs". I'll come in in the morning and see that some random courtesy clerk or cashier the night before laid juice, drug gm stuff, deli meats, meat department items, dairy, etc. whatever on our counter which is supposed to be clear of all debris all the time. But apart from that, I have no problem with other departments clerks getting a good tour of the entire store. It's actually very helpful for everyone.
You could just put it right back out on the front end area. That's what we do. Meat, eggs, and ANY other item that is NOT in ANY WAY related to the dept I work in (produce currently) goes right back up to front end faster than it got put on the prep coumter.
