Dear co-workers of Kroger, and ALL upper management,

As some of you know, I have turned in my keys and shirts. But before I leave, I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know what a great and distinct pleasure it has been to type Today is my last day.

For nearly 2 years now, Ive hoped that I might one day leave this job. And now that this dream has become a reality, please know that I could not have reached this goal without your unending lack of support. Words cannot express my gratitude for the words of gratitude you did not express.

I have never left an employer like I did Kroger but then again I have never worked for a place that treats their employees as if they do not deserve common courtesy and respect.

I would especially like to thank management: in an age where miscommunication is all too common, you consistently impressed and inspired me with the sheer magnitude of your misinformation, ignorance and intolerance.

Over the past 4 years, you have taught me more than I could ever ask for and, in most cases, ever did ask for. You have given me the chance to work with some absolutely interchangeable managers on a wide variety of seemingly identical projects an invaluable lesson in enforcing random arbitrary new rules on a nearly weekly basis.

To all of the management members of Kroger. Despite working with people that practiced deceptive behavior, backstabbing, incompetence and disrespect, I have benefited tremendously by working with you and I truly thank you for that. Your demands were high and your patience short. I learned that there are actually management members who think it is ok for customers to curse and threaten employees and to not only be rewarded for that behavior, but to be apologized to by the poor employee just trying to do their job. That only encourages the behavior continue. Here is a perfect example of the lack of spine I have encountered in your management staff:

Customer: Why can't you take these 8 cans of infant formula? What if I DID have a receipt?

Employee: Because we have been instructed that we are not allowed to take back infant formula regardless of whether you have a receipt or not.

Customer : I want to speak to the manager.

Employee: Pages Mr. Brennan. REPEATEDLY while the customer continues to throw a temper tantrum

Customer: I gonna come over this F'ing counter and whip your Fat F'ing Ass!

Customer continues repeating the same thing over and over. Employee keeps repeating stop speaking to me, my manager is coming Finally another person on the only open check-lane has to stop waiting on the customers to bring the manager up.

So called manager hears the lady cursing and screaming at the employee. Briefly speaks to the customer and turns to the employee and says Diana I'm going to ask you to apologize to her and give her a gift card

SERIOUSLY????? What kind of management member does such a thing?

For the record I refused to apologize even after being told to do so a second time.

He then had another employee apologize to her and give her a gift card.

How much more clear can it be that the people representing management have no regard for the employees?

There was once a time where hard work was rewarded and acknowledged, its a pity that all positive output now falls on deaf ears and passes blind eyes. My advice for you is to place yourself closer to the pulse of this company, actually spend some time in stores, not in a walk through or audit, they scramble and spend countless overtime hours when there is a group of suits coming. If they gave us the tools we need on a daily basis everyone wouldn't be panicking when company is expected because the store would always be acceptable, not just when managers are scared. Care a little more and see the effort and dedication. Maybe then you will be able to achieve far less turnover and happier, competent employees. After all, with your many decades worth of combined work experience should have taught you that happy employees are productive employees.

So, in parting, if I could pass on any word of advice to the lower salary recipient who will soon be filling my position, it would be to cherish this experience because a job opportunity like this comes along only once in a lifetime!

Meaning: if I had to work here again in this lifetime, I would sooner kill myself.