I worked at Kroger for all of two weeks.

First off, I was put to work in the Starbucks. The hiring manager lied and told me that I would like the job because I said I liked a job where I could keep my hands busy (since my last job was dismally boring and I spent a majority of my shifts roaming the store and straightening merchandise on the shelves). The hiring manager was a LIAR, but we'll get to that later. Well, I worked at the Kroger in The Woodlands, Texas, but the area's training store was in a neighboring town. As you all know, they tricked everyone into joining the Union, and I had to call the next day and demand the Union worker take me off his list, as I didn't want to join it. Unions are hardly necessary in this day and age.

Then the next day, we were put on the floor for training. However, the Willis store didn't have a Starbucks, so what did they do with me? They stuck me with a regular cashier and expected him to teach me something that would be relevant to a job with no similarities (the Starbucks POS system has nothing in common with a normal retailers POS, considering they sell made-to-order individual cups of coffee and not products with an actual barcode or weighted items). So the poor cashier spent a majority of his downtime glancing at me awkwardly and saying "...so..." because he had no idea what to teach me. And he shouldn't; my future position had nothing to do with his. So I basically wasted five hours, when they could have easily sent me to my store for training that was actually relevant. They also didn't have any Starbucks computer modules, so what did they make me do? Take all the modules for the bakery and meat market. I learned about equipment I would hardly ever even glimpse, much less have to operate.

Then, when I actually got into the Starbucks...I found out the hiring manager was a ****ing liar. The place was "busy" for a short amount of time, in the morning rush when people are coming to get their morning coffee on the way to work. Then it slows down, a LOT. You might be able to count the number of customers you service in an hour on your hands. And at a Starbucks, when there's no customers, there's not much else to do. If the dishes are clean, you don't need to brew any fresh pots of drip coffee, the countertops are clean, and you don't need to grab any supplies from the back, you basically have **** all to do. And considering how you don't need new supplies often, the countertops and dishes stay clean when you have few customers, and the drip brew only needs to be freshly brewed every few hours, you're left standing there most of the time. Well, the store manager didn't like me standing there and not smiling, despite the fact that there was absolutely no chores or tasks for me to accomplish, and no customers around for me to smile at, and if a customer happened to wander near the Starbucks, I would put on a smile until they walked away. She told me that if she caught me not smiling and not keeping busy again, she would "ask me to leave and not come back." Oookay.

So the next day, I tried to not get fired. I kept at least a small, content smile on my face at all times, even when I was facing the wall. And if I had nothing to do, I feigned busyness by arranging the straws, or wiping down already clean countertops. And I'm pretty sure I did what she wanted me to do - I smiled at all times, and kept as busy as I could. But then, the next day, in the ****ing MIDDLE OF MY SHIFT, she pulled me aside and said "this isn't going to work out." She told me to clock out, and demanded back my hat, nametag, and apron. Which, who the **** does that? This is the first time I've heard of an employer taking a fired employees nametag. But anyway, this was the summer after I graduated high school, so I didn't have a car at the time, so I had to call and wait for my mother (who was in the middle of doing something) to come and get me hours before expected. I worked there two weeks

Not to mention, the Starbucks department manager was a ****ing twit. She never actually taught me how to make drinks, assuming that I had to have a total mastery of the POS system and putting the right acronyms on the cups before she would teach me to make even a simple latte. Second of all, at one point, every time I kept turning to the sink to wash dishes, a new customer would come to the counter, and I wouldn't see them because I was turned in the opposite direction. So after putting in one customer's order, I stood there for a few moments, waiting for a little bit before turning to the dishes. And she snapped at me "get your hands out of your pockets, get those dishes, and start washing them." I probably was standing there for all of fifteen seconds. And I was waiting because I was tired of constantly having to dry my hands and turn back around every time a customer came up, so I wanted to wait a little bit before starting to wash the dishes. And she had to bitch at me about it again later on, instead of letting it go or at least being a bit nicer about reminding me that things had to be done. Third of all, a customer came to her with a pastry he had bought (I think it was some kind of coffee cake) and complained that there was a hair in it. It was a blonde hair, and the manager, who is pretty obviously a ****ing blonde, said that it couldn't have been the hair of anyone at the Starbucks, because none of them were blonde. I don't know how she was under the impression that her hair was brunette or red, but the color of the hair on the cake obviously matched her hair color. And fourth, a lady later came up to the counter and asked her what drink she recommended. And this old hag, making a face that I can only describe as a stupid cow's face, said "I don't know, I don't drink coffee." Which, do you know how ****ing stupid it sounds for someone who works at a STARBUCKS to nto know what to recommend a customer because they DON'T CONSUME THE PRODUCT THEY ARE SELLING? And she didn't even sound a little embarrassed or realize the stupidity. Like, "you know what? I actually don't drink coffee, so I can't help you. I know it's weird, sorry." And also didn't ask ME, despite the fact that I was an avid Starbucks drinker at the time (I no longer am, but that's a long story that has little to do with this horrible experience) and could have given a personal favorite as a suggestion.

They also pay drastically low, and lie to their employees. They bragged about how it was great to be a Kroger bagger, because you could accept tips. They claimed that WalMart and HEB employees could get fired for accepting tips. I later went on to work at HEB, and it's the best place I've worked. And right from my day of hire, I was allowed to accept tips as a bagger or a cashier. I currently work at WalMart, so I will admit that we aren't allowed to take tips here. But they still lied about HEB.

All in all, Kroger is a **** place, because almost none of this had to do with Starbucks. I don't have a problem with the way Starbucks treats their employees (one of the few aspects of their business I actually don't have a problem with). I probably wouldn't have had these problems if I worked at an individual, standalone Starbucks.

I agree with you 100 percent. I have worked for Kroger's for 7 years now. I was head of stock in almost every department in the store. I would run the dairy and frozen trucks everyday by myself and the disrespect from management is ridiculious . 2 years ago I was being over worked and they refused to get me any help I was trying to unload a grocery truck by myself and a misstaked pallet pinned me against the trailor wall and shatters my foot. After 6 months of pain and suffering I was able to return to work the manager striped me of my title and made me cashier even though I was cleared by my doctor to return to my department. So I called the union and they didn't help me so now I'm stuck doing a job I hate and have to suffer from the affects of the injury.

Kroger 346 Houston is by far the worst I have seen as far as management Bull **** I have worked/transferred from/to several locations and it just gets worse. Lack of communication is main issue, instead of coming to the person they have issues with they tell one associate to tell another till it eventually gets to proper person a day late and a dollar short as the saying goes. WTF if it's that important wouldn't logic dictate you talk to the person that it involves? Another BIGGER issue at our location is discrimination and the creation of a hostile work environment that upper management actually our store manager feeds with turning her blind eye to any and all issues in this regard. The " you must of misunderstood is the almighty catch phrase" used here. If offered a job at this store just say Hell NO and block their number from your phone!!!

I tell you folks, that company makes my skin crawl.  I should have known it was trouble from the start.  The HR woman at my store (Miamisburg, OH), is a vacuous idiot.  The hiring process took me a month because of her incompetence.  She lied, didn't call when she said she would, and apparently confused me with another applicant.  When I finally was hired, she presided over an atrocious new employee orientation which consisted in reading her cue cards covered with company platitudes and showing inane videos about the brilliance and foresight of Barney Kroger.  It is, I confess, possible that this orientation is the company standard, but if that is the case, what does that say about the company?

Still, what I find truly loathsome about the company is the indoctrination process that they want to put new employees through.  I was constantly inundated with what we might call pro-Kroger "propaganda".  Dr. Goebbels would have been proud.  Fortunately, with school starting in a few weeks, I have an out.  I like the money, and I confess not all of my experiences have been bad, but leaping at the beck and call of the entitled land-whales and soccer moms that comprise the majority of Kroger's clientele is work worth a hell of a lot more than $8.10 an hour.

I agree they have us spend so much time trying to do back flips to make the customers happy we don't get our work done. I've been in retail 14 years I know what good customer service is but to have stock clerks run up front to cashier every 2 min is stressful Kroger only wants 2 people in each line that's ridiculous I work at a busy store its imposssiable my manager actually moved me to the front end and claimed it was because my department wasn't meeting there goal. Maybe if I was back there more than 3 hours out of a 8 hour shift I could have got my work done but now he got fired and the co managers won't let me take my department back over. I'm sorry they did that too you if I didnt make the 15 dollars and our that I do I would have left a long time ago

Isn't that the truth.I can't even say how it is to this day.

I have a degree in english literature,as well as 3 tech degrees yet they insist on keeping me as a courtesy clerk(aka bagger)I have been at this company for coming on to a year.I started out optimistic,it seemed like an ok company, I figured though with being paid only minimum wage I should not get my hopes up too high.I Made friends with some of my coworkers who had been their 10 plus years started out in produce,which I was doing fine until other employees decided they did not want to do certain jobs,so I was forced to overcome their shortcommings and yet still was transfered on account of(and I quoate) the manager of the department did not have the time to teach me about the rest of the department. Sooooo they didnt fire me no they moved me to fuel were I had to listen to a woman talk about her morbidly obese lesian partners ovarian cycsts and how her bladder bursts and was covered in fecal matter,while im working up there for 2 weeks,I come to find out it was illigal as an employee for them to place me on fuel when I have not operated a register for 2 months first,so they sent me up front under the assumption I would be trained as a cashier then moved back to fuel ,I have talked to my managers and they dont even know how old I am up here,they thought I was still in high school,I dont know how they got that assumption,have of their customers know me by name due to family relations,yet now as it isi have developed a tendon issue in my ankle and foot,and because im forced to rely more heavily on my other foot its now developing problems and I am litterally working with a severe hobble. which as of recently they have written me up for a 2nd time for (and I quoate) staring at flowers while on carts,this was the description used to describe my severe hobble up and down the parking lot leggally we are only supposed to take 6 carts,yet if we take less than 10 we get yelled at for being lazy,if it is storming with lightening they will fire you or strong arm you if you complain about workers safty, I have not complained myself I just work but other employees have been fired or required to leave due to the unfair way they have been treated,we have custamers walk in saying how they was wondering if they could request a retard to assist them because retards do not question what they are told. we have gone through 5 black employees since I have started just because our customers are racist,and file complaints using the word ****** boy or girl. I admittedly have come into work high before and still I work harder than most employees on the front end yet the harder I work toward trying to be moved to cashier they more intent they are at keeping me with manual labor.

I will tell you why Kroger sucks!..we have a union,but if you use it,they will NEVER forget it!..I am second man at my store.(meat dept)..and The meat manager only had 5 yrs with the company when they promoted him!..I have 12yrs..I even took the CBT tests for him to become manager!..this last Sunday he whent home Drunk!.I ran it by my self on the busiest day.then he made up the lost hours the next morning on his day off before we even clocked I at 7 am!..And the store manager doesn't give a ****!..they don't promote me cause I called the union 3 years ago!..and he even tells me that! I do appreciate my job buyt the politics SUCK

A co manager recently cashed his bonus check , and the teller at the bank inside the store said his check was enough for him to live off of VERY COMFORTABLY for 3 months WITHOUT having to work at all!!! As I see co workers who are barely getting 10 hrs a week. How can the only cake decorator work 10 hrs. a week, yet be expected to keep the cake case full?? Our deli manager gave me permission to stay over one night to prep for the holidays ,  when the co manager saw me still on the clock , I was asked very angrily "why are you still here past your clock out time?" I told him I had permission from the deli manager to stay and prep for the next day for party trays. He said we are already over hours , you cannot stay , I said oh no we are not , the deli manager had already check the hours on the computer , and "e schedule" under cut us by 6 hrs , so there are 6 extra hours not being used. He got furious , and said LEAVE NOW , so I clocked out , the next day he threatened to have her demoted for telling hourly associates we have extra hours no being used. That means other departments , as well as stores company wide are under scheduling , and lying about it blaming e schedule. I have been with this company for almost 15 years this is crazy how things have changed. The bigger they get , the more like Winn-Dixie they get , and for those on the east coast , your remember what happened to them? Bankrupt That is what happens when a company gets too big for their own good they lose sight of the people who actually do the work. Our own store manager can't even put a roll of paper in the scales in the meat dept. Dumb ass doesn't know how.

alot of what you say is so true.  I think Kroger's mentality is like a "gang" or something like oh it's just how humans want to think.  SO opposite of what work culture should be.  Part of the problem is "I know you or i'm related to so and so." so I can treat this person like this.  Childish huh? Walk into ANY environment and you'll see any diverse person thinking they are the ****. Guys fist bumpling and slaping hands women treating good working people like a disease if she doesn't adhere to the queen.  It's cruel, inhumane and I for one just shut the eff up cover my eyes and try MY BEST every day.   If someone doesn't tell you the truth then obviously we are part of the problem and NOT the solution.  Had enough am looking to work from home and just get my bills in order and limit myself to public places as American Consumerism has gone to s.h.i.t. 

the truth. 

They are.... All of them

MISPELLED CONTINUOUSLY

I had to produce tortillas - prep, bake and then package

then.... make pa annocements CONTINOUSLY

THEN do the pull and 

Then do dishes (left by bakery day time* then go on the floor and date the products (bakery manager)

responsibility THEN clean countertops, tortilla machine and THEN CLEAN FLOORS

AND PICK UP FOR THE IRRESPONSIBLE CAKE DECORATOR WHO LEFT HIS CAKES OUT DAILY AND

TAKE OUT THE TRASH!!!! 2-10 SHIFT PART TIME HOURS VARIED 35 TO 40

LOST MY DISABILITY CASE AND UNEMPLOYMENT DUE TO THE INCOMPETENCE OF THESE

STAFF MEMBERS.  THAT WAS ONLY ONE DEPARTMENT and got transferred to cheese then deli

servicing 300+ customers with only two people closing.

ALL FOR 7.43 OH EXCUSE ME 7.45 and hour forgot to put in my two cents raise.  The only good

thing Kroger's does for people is protect these people who think they can bully people out of jobs. 

that seems to be the only thing they do.  All these people do is complain about how nobody wants

to do the job (lower level) DO YOU BLAME US?  THEY WAY CERTAIN EMPLOYEES ARE TREATED?

DO YOU BLAME US?  that's ok because holiday's are coming up and hope your so overwhelmed full

of **** people!

Anonymous wrote:

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I've been with Kroger 50 days, part time.  They schedule me for a 5 hour shift, then expect me to break down a truck, sort totes, stock my department, stock case goods and then condition.  All in five hours.  For $7.40 an hour.   If I don't get all of the work completed I will be confronted, but if I stay longer than my scheduled shift I won't be paid for it, regardless of whether I am still clocked in or not.  So they have crafted a situation where they receive de facto free labor.  It is impossible to complete the work in the allotted time but if I don't stay over and work for free, I will be fired. 

The Union is not interested in helping anyone.  In fact, it is in their best interest for you to become fed up with the company and quit, because every time an associate is replaced, that's another $50 bucks in entry fees for the union.  My rep has never made any effort to meet me, but has had no trouble in finding my paycheck.  It was also not mentioned during the hiring process that joining the union is optional. 

All in all I have been surprisingly dissatisfied with Kroger.  I was surprised to discover just how poorly-run the company is.  My co-manager is a very hands-on and hard-working person, and the company is chasing those kinds of people away.  We're increasingly blamed and criticized for the chaos that is the back room, although we have explained ad naseum that we continue to get mountains of back stock that we can't do anything with.  And every other day the truck brings more. 

They were initially understanding about this being a second job for me, and suddenly I am being scheduled all sorts of crazy back-to-back hours, as the end of my probation nears.  I try very hard to be a good employee and representative for the company while I am wearing the uniform, but I truly believe that they set their workers up to fail, then discard them like expired milk.

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 Welcome to Kroger.
At least you are just a stocker.
Imagine what we go through with the hell that is Front End dealing under the same circumstances.
Plus you stay dry; we have to get the carts out in the rain.
But if it's a busy day we can only spare the two courtesy clerks to work the different halves of the parking lot.
I've had a few times where I have ignored the smaller entrance of the store to assist the courtesy clerk gathering carts for the main entrance.

Kroger is a company where 1 + 1 = 3 and even if you buy a new calculator and show them the mathematics, they will still dispute your results.

I've been with Kroger 50 days, part time.  They schedule me for a 5 hour shift, then expect me to break down a truck, sort totes, stock my department, stock case goods and then condition.  All in five hours.  For $7.40 an hour.   If I don't get all of the work completed I will be confronted, but if I stay longer than my scheduled shift I won't be paid for it, regardless of whether I am still clocked in or not.  So they have crafted a situation where they receive de facto free labor.  It is impossible to complete the work in the allotted time but if I don't stay over and work for free, I will be fired. 

The Union is not interested in helping anyone.  In fact, it is in their best interest for you to become fed up with the company and quit, because every time an associate is replaced, that's another $50 bucks in entry fees for the union.  My rep has never made any effort to meet me, but has had no trouble in finding my paycheck.  It was also not mentioned during the hiring process that joining the union is optional. 

All in all I have been surprisingly dissatisfied with Kroger.  I was surprised to discover just how poorly-run the company is.  My co-manager is a very hands-on and hard-working person, and the company is chasing those kinds of people away.  We're increasingly blamed and criticized for the chaos that is the back room, although we have explained ad naseum that we continue to get mountains of back stock that we can't do anything with.  And every other day the truck brings more. 

They were initially understanding about this being a second job for me, and suddenly I am being scheduled all sorts of crazy back-to-back hours, as the end of my probation nears.  I try very hard to be a good employee and representative for the company while I am wearing the uniform, but I truly believe that they set their workers up to fail, then discard them like expired milk.

I have been at Kroger for 7 years.  Iam not allowed to change positions.  I have asked so many times.  I am told I am to stupid to do another job.  I am called the deli retard.  I hate Kroger so much.  I have young children .  I can not find another job.  I would rather be dead than work for Kroger.  I have to feed my children.

4hourrush wrote:

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He thinks we're all a bunch of lowly, uneducated idiots because we work for Kroger?

You sir, are a douche.

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In his defense, many of the actual customers of Krogers are douches.

Douches who put their shopping carts in the lobby rather than move them five feet to the line of carts nearby.

Douches who leave a cart in a parking space rather than walk 30 seconds to a cart corral.

Douches who pick up one item on one shelf and transport it to an entirely different area of the store ten shelves away. And oh yea, it's probably going to be an item that requires temperature control.

Douches who can't read and figure out what is on sale and what is not on sale.

You really should learn to spell.

I work at a Kroger store in cincinnati and I trt my best to be friendly. I mean I don't smile like a clown and talking like Barney the dinosaur. I get so much **** from managers and supervisors for not being barney the dinosaur. I have seen people's reactions to the so called customer engagement and they seem rather put off.