I have never called out in my 14 months with Kroger. Yet, I will not have a choice if I can not switch out with a co-worker courtesy clerk for Saturday.
Depot pays more. Depot respects its employees more. Depot gives more hours. Depot actually closes. Depot is slightly more work, but with more responsibility and pride.
Kroger is Kroger.
The only dilemma I have is that the two are literally across the street (well, kind of diagonal). So if a Kroger employee sees me working in the parking lot of Home Depot (I'm Lot Associate), and word gets to my Front End boss or management, they won't be happy that I called out.
But at the bottom line I have to go with who pays more and provides more hours. That is Home Depot.
This past Tuesday I changed my availability to 6 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (noon) only, for all days. Hopefully it kicks in next week.
I am not happy with the idea of the possibility of getting up at 5 a.m. to work at Kroger, BUT if it means I can open my days to Depot then that is a plus.
Why don't you just run back and forth across the street and push carts for both stores? Lol just kidding. Yea I would probably quit Kroger and try to maximize my hours at Depot if you can. Not sure if you're in Kroger's health insurance or if Depot offers it to lot associates, but working any two jobs is sure to stress you out. Make sure you TELL your schedule writer when you'll be available in addition to putting it on eschedule.
I'm not really wanting to quit just YET. But I do have hopes to do so by June. Although the way my life works out it could be later.
I also want to make sure I have a job with depot after 120 days.
So there's that.
But those a-holes at Kroger are only giving me 12 hours each week now.
It's my Front End Manager being a total bit!h and knowing I now work a second job.
Hey, guess what, maybe I would not have had to take a second job if I had been able to get enough hours and make enough money at Kroger.
If I can't sort out the schedule by Friday I will call out Friday afternoon. That's 24 hours notice.
As for Wednesday I am going to talk to my HR at Home Depot and see if she is willing to push back two hours for me to come in at four.
I can literally walk across the street, so it's not like I'll have to take 30 minutes or more.
The HR person who hired me is cool and I think for that window difference I can get a 'yes'.
It's Saturday that worries me. But if it comes down to it I have to go with who pays more and offers more hours.
I'd just call in sick for both shifts. At this point you don't want to mess up things at HD. Kroger gets pissy thats their problem. With two jobs at least one needs to be a set schedule. Your goal is to leave kroger then don't worry about making them mad.
I wouldn't cut the Home Depot hours or mess with that schedule. They are giving you more hours both of those shifts than Kroger is, plus they gave you a new work shirt! Like you said, Kroger is giving you 12 hours a week. I would tell Kroger you can't make those shifts, or you can work a later shift on those days. Try your hardest to switch shifts with someone or give them your shift. I'm glad Home Depot is working out for you!!!!
Because of when I came on, that's how it happened.
Since Kroger schedules weekly I could not tell her how my days would be when the HR rep wrote the schedule.
HD schedules three weeks out, actually.
I have changed my availability but did it last Tuesday, so Kroger apparently doesn't recognize it yet.
Yes Kroger is only giving me 12, i worked four hours on Saturday. I would've picked up almost a whole day at Home Depot if I had gone in to work there.
Not really sure what to tell you about the Kroger schedule. Looks like those two days are your whole 12 hours they give you, so I wouldn't call off.
Hopefully, they'll work with your new availability. I know I'd be pleased as punch if I could only be there til noon any given day of the week.
You've read about my FEM before. She is a mean b!tch.
There is no way she would work with me and in fact is probably the cause of my 12 hours.
I had 12, 12 for several weeks before going to store management (her boss) and asking about it. When I was told availability was the basis of the schedule, I told him that my availability at the time was fully open. Save for midnight to 7 a.m. each day. The next week I got about four more hours.
i was in the same boat. I'd work my second job in the mornings, and Kroger in the evenings. It got to the point where i had a half-hour break between jobs. That's barely enough time to eat. So after having enough of not eating before going to Kroger and consequently getting sick, I changed my availability. Then my schedule got erratic and Kroger scheduled me for 20 hours. On top of having 30+ hours at the new place, I'm burned out massively. So I asked for the minimum per union rules because essentially Kroger has gone from main income to supplement (which is really their fault since they don't like giving hours). It gives me some time with my family, and I might live a little longer because I'm not under as much stress.
Granted, they didn't listen when I said "12", so I got 9 instead. But that's another rant for another day.
FES, here's my advice: ask yourself; is it worth it? Home Depot pays more and gives more hours. I'd just stick with them. If you want to wait, I understand, because that's what i'm doing. But after you're sure that you're gonna be there after probation at HD...GTFO. xD
So I spoke to Home Depot this afternoon.
They would have a gap of lot associate assistance if I came in at 4 p.m. rather than 2 p.m.
........Basically, this means I am about to call out to Kroger and tell them I can not work tomorrow.
This is and will be the first time I have "called out" in my 14 months with this company and this particular store.
Not that they deserve 24 hours notice.
I mean, I have no problem with screwing them.
They have screwed me a few times. I didn't like it.
But as I have a high work ethic and personal morals, I am going to attempt to give them 24 hours notice.
Provided someone answers the damn phone at Customer Service!
It also means that unless I can find someone to work my Saturday shift that I get no (direct deposit) paycheck from Kroger next week.
And as Home Depot pays bi-monthly (bi-weekly? twice a month....) I will have to live off of this week's Kroger check (Thursday) and this week's Home Depot paycheck (Friday) for two weeks. But I think I can swing that based on the Home Depot check.
This phone call is going to be fun. I'm going to enjoy doing it.
Is the parking lot close enough that the Kroger management would be able to recognize you on lot duty at Home Depot?
If not I'd call in sick at Kroger this week unless you can trade shifts with someone.
Possibly, yes. But if it came down to management bringing me in at some point pissed off at me for calling out and working another job, I would drop my two weeks right then and there.
Depot is paying more, giving more respect as an employee, providing a more stable schedule, more stable hours, more wages per hour compensation for my time AND they actually CLOSE THE STORE. The Kroger I work for is a 24/7 establishment.
It is one of my worries, though. If someone sees me on the parking lot at HD and trickles word to Kroger. But see above for my response.
*phone rings*
*customer service answers*
"Hi, XXX, this is XXX and I have some bad news for you, I am scheduled for 10:15 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and can't work tomorrow."
"Hold one one second please"
*cheesy elevator music*
"This is QQQQQ (my bitch front end manager)"
"Hi, QQQQQ, this is XXX, courtesy clerk, I can't come in to work tomorrow"
"Why not?"
"I have a schedule conflict"
"Well this is a commitment you made"
"I can't be there. I'm sorry, I don't know what else to tell you"
"So it will be a disciplinary action, an unexcused absence then"
"I can't come in, the best I could do for you would be maybe 10:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m...." (notice I try to negotiate with her)
"Well this is a commitment you made so unless I have more information I'll have to write you up" (paraphrased)
"I have a second job that is a schedule conflict"
"Well I'm sorry but this is a commitment you made and you are supposed to be here, so unless you come in I am going to take you off the schedule"
"I don't know what else to tell you. I can't come in due to the second job and the schedule conflict"
"Okay then then there's no need to come back in to work then"
(my jaw drops)
(I hang up on her)
....and as I type this I am about to call her boss, our store manager.
That. Was. Bullcrap.
How is it my attempting to give 24 hours notice and even providing her an explanation AFTER the bitch PUSHED ME FOR IT a valid reason for firing me, which is essentially what she said is going to happen?
The store manager is "tied up in inventory" and so I got the HR lady.
She also hates me -- she is the one who controls the shirts and if you remember my post from about seven or so months ago, got pissed off at me when a "family member" allegedly called her boss and told him I needed a new shirt.
They wouldn't budge.
Basically, their perspective is that I have to find someone or I have to work the shift.
Maybe if I had gotten the hours i needed I would not have had to take a second job.
I guess I made a mistake in not saying I was sick.
The store manager is "tied up in inventory" and so I got the HR lady. She also hates me -- she is the one who controls the shirts and if you remember my post from about seven or so months ago, got pissed off at me when a "family member" allegedly called her boss and told him I needed a new shirt.
They wouldn't budge. Basically, their perspective is that I have to find someone or I have to work the shift.
Maybe if I had gotten the hours i needed I would not have had to take a second job.
I guess I made a mistake in not saying I was sick.
You didn't make that commitment, they did. They scheduled you outside of your new availability which you changed two weeks ago? I would put on my Home Depot uniform, and on my way to work at HOME DEPOT I would stop by Kroger and wander the isles, buy a cold drink, (slowly while fumbling for change, talking on cell phone, etc.) and exit the store with a smile on my face! Jerks! They are doing this on purpose to get you to quit.
I hate to say it, but even if you stay at Kroger, they are going to pile it on you! You think they treated you bad before? I guarantee it will get worse. I would write up a two week notice right now and drop it off. If they don't put you on the schedule claim hours for the next two weeks. You are going to be so much happier when you finally get rid of Kroger. The money truly isn't worth it. Home Depot will probably start getting busier with summer coming and hopefully you should get an increase in your hours. Write up a resignation letter and turn it in!!!!!!
I did write up a two week notice. I did drop it off, but I picked it back up before the management could find it.
A co-worker whom has been there awhile advised me to let the union know what was going on first, to see how much could be done.
Because apparently I am getting screwed. I did all the right things.
- Let the store manager know about two weeks or so ago that I had a second job
- Changed my availability
And for yesterday, I
- Gave 24 hours notice
- Let management know that there was a schedule conflict making me unavailable
I do like the idea of my FEM, whom is behind most of the trouble, getting the union on her for attempting to intimidate me / lying to me about proper procedures.
I think right now my idea is to go to the union, let them do what they do, find out I can keep my job, THEN give two weeks notice after I do.
Sort of a 'in your face' move.
Don't really know. But I do have a two week notice to drop on their desks if this crazy bullcrap doesn't get resolved.
Contrary to what my anon fan believes, I am not responsible for 99% of this.
And in fact I would even go so far as to say I'm not responsible for ANY of it.
Had I been able to receive enough hours, I would not have had to take a second job.
Kroger does not provide a living wage (so to speak).
And, in fact, it was my Front End Manager whom for awhile was giving me 12, 12, 12 in a row.
It took me going to store management (her boss) and asking about what was going on to get more hours.
Even then the next week I only had 16.
I hate to say it, but even if you stay at Kroger, they are going to pile it on you! You think they treated you bad before? I guarantee it will get worse. I would write up a two week notice right now and drop it off. If they don't put you on the schedule claim hours for the next two weeks. You are going to be so much happier when you finally get rid of Kroger. The money truly isn't worth it. Home Depot will probably start getting busier with summer coming and hopefully you should get an increase in your hours. Write up a resignation letter and turn it in!!!!!!
So how would i 'claim hours' if I am not on the schedule?
As I understand it, since I am in the union (UFCW Local 1996, Atlanta market...) I have to have at least 12 hours a week unless they fire me. And they can't fire me for calling out yesterday-today because I followed proper procedure. It's not job abandonment.
So, if I get taken off the schedule, and I'm not holding any paperwork in my hand, or getting anything through the US Postal Service, I can 'claim' those minimum 12 hours.
You have worked for Kroger for 14 months and you still don't know how to bump hours. What a pathetic piece of crap. The way you have always complained about hours, you should have figured that out 9 months ago. Why so many people feel sorry for you I will never figure out.
First you need to check online on the eschedule and see if your change in availability from 6 am to 1 pm has been approved. If it has take a picture of it with your camera or print a copy of it. You may need this later. Then when the paper copy of the schedule is posted, pick out a shift in the 6 am to 1 pm time frame that someone has been scheduled (they have to have less or the same seniority as you) and take it to the store manager and tell him you are claiming those hours. Claim as many days as you can per your contract. This is where you need to know your contract. Demand a copy of it asap!
If your availability was NOT approved, the claim whatever hours you can work according to your OLD availability.
This is where I would F$&%^ with them. If they did approve your change in availability I would try to claim different hours than the 6 to 1 just to see if they said "oh, you can't that's outside of your availability". Then you have them, you've caught them. Haha, they knew you changed it, scheduled you anyway and decided to harass you and lie to you. Give them hell. Then quit! But give them hell first.
You really need to call the union. Forget that union steward in the store. Mine never told me the right way to do things, if I would have listened to her I would have lost a whole week paid vacation. Talk to the business agent. He works for you. You pay his salary. Let him help you sort this out and the sooner the better.
^Depends on the store. The guy whos the union steward in my store is very knowledgeable and always sides with us over anything management tries to pull.
^Depends on the store. The guy whos the union steward in my store is very knowledgeable and always sides with us over anything management tries to pull.
He has had trouble with his store steward in the past I think.
You have worked for Kroger for 14 months and you still don't know how to bump hours. What a pathetic piece of crap. The way you have always complained about hours, you should have figured that out 9 months ago. Why so many people feel sorry for you I will never figure out.
Aw anon, you are always such a sweetie. Let's get together in the spaghetti aisle and snicker at the jars that say 'meat' on them.
First you need to check online on the eschedule and see if your change in availability from 6 am to 1 pm has been approved. If it has take a picture of it with your camera or print a copy of it. You may need this later. Then when the paper copy of the schedule is posted, pick out a shift in the 6 am to 1 pm time frame that someone has been scheduled (they have to have less or the same seniority as you) and take it to the store manager and tell him you are claiming those hours. Claim as many days as you can per your contract. This is where you need to know your contract. Demand a copy of it asap!
If your availability was NOT approved, the claim whatever hours you can work according to your OLD availability.
This is where I would F$&%^ with them. If they did approve your change in availability I would try to claim different hours than the 6 to 1 just to see if they said "oh, you can't that's outside of your availability". Then you have them, you've caught them. Haha, they knew you changed it, scheduled you anyway and decided to harass you and lie to you. Give them hell. Then quit! But give them hell first.
You really need to call the union. Forget that union steward in the store. Mine never told me the right way to do things, if I would have listened to her I would have lost a whole week paid vacation. Talk to the business agent. He works for you. You pay his salary. Let him help you sort this out and the sooner the better.
I had a co-worker provide me with a copy of our union guidebook on Wednesday afternoon. I am going over it today (Thursday).
"Does your schedule get posted today? Ours is supposed to be posted by noon on Friday and the final schedule (corrections, claimed hours) is posted noon on Saturday. Check out your contract about claiming hours and then go look at the new schedule and start claiming hours.
Some of my managers in the past gave me some attitude when I tried to claim hours, so I just started marking up the schedule myself, then took it to the manager and said "here, I claimed a 10 - 6 on Saturday, that gives me X amount of hours and leaves them with X amount of hours. It's fair, I need you to initial it please". Then you need to check again before the final schedule is posted to make sure nobody claimed any of your hours. It's a hassle but I look at it as "it's my money they are trying to give to someone else. It's rightfully due me!"
