Think they just fired me. Over the phone.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Think they just fired me. Over the phone.

Date: Apr 14, 2015

They can't fire you over the phone. You have to be at work and on the clock in order for them to fire you.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

They said they were taking me off of the schedule.

"They" being the total bit!h front end manager and the HR lady.

GenesisOne · Guru

Was it a member of management that said this to you? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought only the store manager/co-managers could officially fire someone. A department head can only "recommend" that a person be fired to management, but management has to okay it, and even then, if you're in the union, most union contracts don't allow a person to be be fired instantly like that, unless it's theft or something indefensible. I think you've said you're in the union... haven't you? If you are, and want to fight it, get with your union rep.

Date: Apr 14, 2015

You should still go in for your next scheduled shift.

It's past the point in the week for them to make unapproved changes in the schedule, anyway.

I think they are hoping you WON'T show up for your next scheduled shift, then they can fire you for that.

Show up. Like others have said, you can't be fired over the phone.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Yes it was management.
Front End Manager at first.
Then Human Resources Manager when the Store Manager was unavailable due to being "tied up in inventory."

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
You should still go in for your next scheduled shift.

It's past the point in the week for them to make unapproved changes in the schedule, anyway.

I think they are hoping you WON'T show up for your next scheduled shift, then they can fire you for that.

Show up. Like others have said, you can't be fired over the phone.

I can't show up --- that is the whole point.

If I show up, I have leave early and it's job desertion.

Home Depot pays me more and provides me more hours per pay period.

Kroger is $7.25.

Home Depot is $8.75.

I have to go with the one that pays the more and that is Home Depot.

I tried to negotiate, they would not take it.

Date: Apr 14, 2015

FrontEndSlave wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
You should still go in for your next scheduled shift.

It's past the point in the week for them to make unapproved changes in the schedule, anyway.

I think they are hoping you WON'T show up for your next scheduled shift, then they can fire you for that.

Show up. Like others have said, you can't be fired over the phone.

I can't show up --- that is the whole point.
If I show up, I have leave early and it's job desertion.
Home Depot pays me more and provides me more hours per pay period.
Kroger is $7.25.
Home Depot is $8.75.
I have to go with the one that pays the more and that is Home Depot.
I tried to negotiate, they would not take it.

Right. But for the shift AFTER this one, show up for it.

Also, you should call in 2 hours before this shift (the one you can't go to) starts, and say you won't be there. That's the standard protocol, 2 hours before it starts.

GenesisOne · Guru

FrontEndSlave wrote:
Yes it was management.
Front End Manager at first.
Then Human Resources Manager when the Store Manager was unavailable due to being "tied up in inventory."

Unless it's different in your division, the "Front End Manager" is not an actual manager. It's just another name for Customer Service Manager (CSM). Despite having "manager" in the job title, that person isn't a manager. Again, it may be different in your division/or I'm mistaken, but I think only the store manager and co-managers have the ability to terminate someone... and your "Front End Manager"/Customer Service Manager/Front End Department Head can't and the whole way it's being done isn't even the "proper" means of terminating someone. See, if you don't show up, they can call it an unexcused absence and use that against you, and that's what they're probably counting on.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Well that is the thing, I can't show up Saturday for the next shift either. It is a worse schedule conflict than tomorrow (Wednesday).
Saturday Kroger wants me at 9:45 a.m.
Home Depot wants me at 9:30 a.m.

And if I don't show up for tomorrow (Wednesday), and DO show up on Saturday, they will write me up for not showing up on Wednesday.

Date: Apr 14, 2015

FrontEndSlave wrote:
Well that is the thing, I can't show up Saturday for the next shift either. It is a worse schedule conflict than tomorrow (Wednesday).
Saturday Kroger wants me at 9:45 a.m.
Home Depot wants me at 9:30 a.m.

And if I don't show up for tomorrow (Wednesday), and DO show up on Saturday, they will write me up for not showing up on Wednesday.

So then show up on Sunday, or whenever the next scheduled shift is.

Sure, you will have 2 absences, but it's better than being fired.

I'd also suggest you quit Kroger, ASAP. It's better to QUIT than be FIRED.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
Yes it was management.
Front End Manager at first.
Then Human Resources Manager when the Store Manager was unavailable due to being "tied up in inventory."
Unless it's different in your division, the "Front End Manager" is not an actual manager. It's just another name for Customer Service Manager (CSM). Despite having "manager" in the job title, that person isn't a manager. Again, it may be different in your division/or I'm mistaken, but I think only the store manager and co-managers have the ability to terminate someone... and your "Front End Manager"/Customer Service Manager/Front End Department Head can't and the whole way it's being done isn't even the "proper" means of terminating someone. See, if you don't show up, they can call it an unexcused absence and use that against you, and that's what they're probably counting on.

I agree with you---but what do I do?

Yes I want to leave them but I didn't really want to do it in this way.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

HR person says if I don't come in that it's job abandonment.
So...

You're saying "So come in Sunday or whatever the next schedule is"

But THEY are saying "We're going to take you off of the schedule"

Meaning I won't HAVE another day to come in after Saturday.

I know for a fact I can't come in Saturday.
I have to go with my gut, and my gut says work for the one that pays more money. Provides more respect. And doesn't do a dick move like this company.

thestruggleisreal · Guru

Yeah, some managers are just stubborn about people with second jobs.

But they can't fire you over the phone.

GenesisOne · Guru

FrontEndSlave wrote:
GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
Yes it was management.
Front End Manager at first.
Then Human Resources Manager when the Store Manager was unavailable due to being "tied up in inventory."
Unless it's different in your division, the "Front End Manager" is not an actual manager. It's just another name for Customer Service Manager (CSM). Despite having "manager" in the job title, that person isn't a manager. Again, it may be different in your division/or I'm mistaken, but I think only the store manager and co-managers have the ability to terminate someone... and your "Front End Manager"/Customer Service Manager/Front End Department Head can't and the whole way it's being done isn't even the "proper" means of terminating someone. See, if you don't show up, they can call it an unexcused absence and use that against you, and that's what they're probably counting on.

I agree with you---but what do I do?
Yes I want to leave them but I didn't really want to do it in this way.

Technically, if you miss two days of work this week at Kroger, that's two write ups, if they want to issue them (clearly they do). Most, and I emphasize most, union contracts require three write ups for you to be terminated. They can't take you off the schedule completely because that violates (again, most) union contacts.

What do you do? Familiarize yourself with your local union contract and use that as a weapon. If they want to violate your rights as a union member, then Kroger is in breach of the union contract, and get the union involved. If your union contract guarantees a minimum number of hours, Kroger will HAVE to give you those hours next week, because you'll still be employed as long as your union contract states you must be written up THREE times for the SAME thing before you can be terminated.

Date: Apr 14, 2015

FrontEndSlave wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
You should still go in for your next scheduled shift.

It's past the point in the week for them to make unapproved changes in the schedule, anyway.

I think they are hoping you WON'T show up for your next scheduled shift, then they can fire you for that.

Show up. Like others have said, you can't be fired over the phone.

I can't show up --- that is the whole point.

Call in sick.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
Yes it was management.
Front End Manager at first.
Then Human Resources Manager when the Store Manager was unavailable due to being "tied up in inventory."
Unless it's different in your division, the "Front End Manager" is not an actual manager. It's just another name for Customer Service Manager (CSM). Despite having "manager" in the job title, that person isn't a manager. Again, it may be different in your division/or I'm mistaken, but I think only the store manager and co-managers have the ability to terminate someone... and your "Front End Manager"/Customer Service Manager/Front End Department Head can't and the whole way it's being done isn't even the "proper" means of terminating someone. See, if you don't show up, they can call it an unexcused absence and use that against you, and that's what they're probably counting on.

I agree with you---but what do I do?
Yes I want to leave them but I didn't really want to do it in this way.
Technically, if you miss two days of work this week at Kroger, that's two write ups, if they want to issue them (clearly they do). Most, and I emphasize most, union contracts require three write ups for you to be terminated. They can't take you off the schedule completely because that violates (again, most) union contacts.
What do you do? Familiarize yourself with your local union contract and use that as a weapon. If they want to violate your rights as a union member, then Kroger is in breach of the union contract, and get the union involved. If your union contract guarantees a minimum number of hours, Kroger will HAVE to give you those hours next week, because you'll still be employed as long as your union contract states you must be written up THREE times for the SAME thing before you can be terminated.

As if our union UFCW Local 1996 can really do anything for me.
At my store, the union rep is available but I do question her allegiance.

Remember, I wrote that post awhile back where the management took me into a meeting and told me not to post to Facebook?
And I was curious if I needed union representation?
And after the meeting was over, I walked downstairs and saw the union rep there, complete with union jacket on?
But how did she know that I may be wanting her there? I didn't tell her because things had happened so fast I didn't have a chance.
And, where was she when I was in that meeting? If she knew there was a possibility, why not just show up?
Did she hear through the grapevine and just was waiting to see if she would be paged over the intercom?

My Front End Manager told me straight out she was going to take me off of the schedule.

My Human Resources manager said she would support that decision.

I am down to work Wednesday and Saturday.
I can not make either day.
Therefore if they take me off the schedule next week there is not another day I could come in to work and be written up for a third time.
So does that put me in to a sort of "Kroger Limbo," or am I just being dicked around with by those above?

FrontEndSlave · Guru

I could go in later today and ask for a copy of the union contract. But if I do that I will try to do it after my FEM is off...and I don't know the hours she works today.

Also even if they couldn't terminate me for not coming in to work, the Front End Manager did say it would be job desertion, so couldn't they try to terminate me for that?

Anonymouse1 · Guru

I wish you the best of luck wherever you end up. If Kroger makes you miserable and you have something better set up, move on and be happy. Life is too short to be always wondering "what if, why me". Walk away from the black cloud syndrome. Sometimes it feels so good to walk away from a job and have a fresh start.

My next job has always been the best job. Kroger has treated me well so you must have a crappy management team.

Speak to your union steward. They can't fire you if you haven't done anything wrong yet. There should also be paperwork with it.

As GenesisOne said, call in sick both days. Write down name of person you spoke to. Ask specifically if you are fired if they tell you not to bother to come back. Do not read between the lines given by another peon. Makes a big difference on how you do it so you can file for unemployment. If they do not officially fire you, then you are underemployed. You put request in the Eschedule system. They knew their schedule would conflict with your new job. I know they don't give a crap so it won't make a difference. If anything, do it to be a pest.

If they take you off the schedule without officially firing you(signed paperwork), file for underemployment. Usually a week without hours to qaulify.

Again, best of luck.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Yes, I did put my request in through eschedule.
Two weeks ago TODAY I put in that I can only be available 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Whether that makes a difference or not I do not know, but clearly nothing much matters to these buttholes.

The idea was to be able to work Kroger in mornings and Depot in the afternoons and evenings.
Thus providing me with Depot as the one who would be able to schedule the most hours.
Thus allowing the one who provides more money to provide more hours.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Anonymouse1 wrote:
I wish you the best of luck wherever you end up. If Kroger makes you miserable and you have something better set up, move on and be happy. Life is too short to be always wondering "what if, why me". Walk away from the black cloud syndrome. Sometimes it feels so good to walk away from a job and have a fresh start.
My next job has always been the best job. Kroger has treated me well so you must have a crappy management team.
Speak to your union steward. They can't fire you if you haven't done anything wrong yet. There should also be paperwork with it.
As GenesisOne said, call in sick both days. Write down name of person you spoke to. Ask specifically if you are fired if they tell you not to bother to come back. Do not read between the lines given by another peon. Makes a big difference on how you do it so you can file for unemployment. If they do not officially fire you, then you are underemployed. You put request in the Eschedule system. They knew their schedule would conflict with your new job. I know they don't give a crap so it won't make a difference. If anything, do it to be a pest.
If they take you off the schedule without officially firing you(signed paperwork), file for underemployment. Usually a week without hours to qaulify.
Again, best of luck.

The thing is, if I'm making nearly $9 an hour at Home Depot and getting oodles of hours, I don't think I can file for underemployment.
I mean, I'd be working. Sure, part time still, but I'd be working...

Date: Apr 14, 2015

FrontEndSlave wrote:
Anonymouse1 wrote:
I wish you the best of luck wherever you end up. If Kroger makes you miserable and you have something better set up, move on and be happy. Life is too short to be always wondering "what if, why me". Walk away from the black cloud syndrome. Sometimes it feels so good to walk away from a job and have a fresh start.
My next job has always been the best job. Kroger has treated me well so you must have a crappy management team.
Speak to your union steward. They can't fire you if you haven't done anything wrong yet. There should also be paperwork with it.
As GenesisOne said, call in sick both days. Write down name of person you spoke to. Ask specifically if you are fired if they tell you not to bother to come back. Do not read between the lines given by another peon. Makes a big difference on how you do it so you can file for unemployment. If they do not officially fire you, then you are underemployed. You put request in the Eschedule system. They knew their schedule would conflict with your new job. I know they don't give a crap so it won't make a difference. If anything, do it to be a pest.
If they take you off the schedule without officially firing you(signed paperwork), file for underemployment. Usually a week without hours to qaulify.
Again, best of luck.

The thing is, if I'm making nearly $9 an hour at Home Depot and getting oodles of hours, I don't think I can file for underemployment.
I mean, I'd be working. Sure, part time still, but I'd be working...

My guess is that they are just pushing for you to quit. Show up on your next shift or don't. I would walk away. Not worth it anymore.

Anonymouse1 · Guru

FrontEndSlave wrote:
I could go in later today and ask for a copy of the union contract. But if I do that I will try to do it after my FEM is off...and I don't know the hours she works today.

Also even if they couldn't terminate me for not coming in to work, the Front End Manager did say it would be job desertion, so couldn't they try to terminate me for that?

Yes, they could. It would prove once and for all that they are heartless useless people and don't deserve you as an employee. Force them to fire you officially with paperwork. Make them work a little harder.

It might and might not look bad to future employers. Everyone knows retail is a revolving employer with high turn overs. You already have a new job so focus on that job and don't talk about how you left Kroger(if you do). You control how this works out.

If they take you off the schedule without officially terminating your employment, file a grievance thru the union. Make them pay you the hours for free or work to get you off their payroll.

-- Edited by Anonymouse1 on Tuesday 14th of April 2015 02:51:08 PM

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Anonymous wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
Anonymouse1 wrote:
I wish you the best of luck wherever you end up. If Kroger makes you miserable and you have something better set up, move on and be happy. Life is too short to be always wondering "what if, why me". Walk away from the black cloud syndrome. Sometimes it feels so good to walk away from a job and have a fresh start.
My next job has always been the best job. Kroger has treated me well so you must have a crappy management team.
Speak to your union steward. They can't fire you if you haven't done anything wrong yet. There should also be paperwork with it.
As GenesisOne said, call in sick both days. Write down name of person you spoke to. Ask specifically if you are fired if they tell you not to bother to come back. Do not read between the lines given by another peon. Makes a big difference on how you do it so you can file for unemployment. If they do not officially fire you, then you are underemployed. You put request in the Eschedule system. They knew their schedule would conflict with your new job. I know they don't give a crap so it won't make a difference. If anything, do it to be a pest.
If they take you off the schedule without officially firing you(signed paperwork), file for underemployment. Usually a week without hours to qaulify.
Again, best of luck.

The thing is, if I'm making nearly $9 an hour at Home Depot and getting oodles of hours, I don't think I can file for underemployment.
I mean, I'd be working. Sure, part time still, but I'd be working...
My guess is that they are just pushing for you to quit. Show up on your next shift or don't. I would walk away. Not worth it anymore.

That is what I am going to try to do.
Give two weeks and tell them to go to hell.
This is ridiculous the way they are treating me as an employee.
Add to everything else I have gone through (STILL waiting on a second shirt...) and this is not a company that gives a damn.

GenesisOne · Guru

FrontEndSlave wrote:
GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
Yes it was management.
Front End Manager at first.
Then Human Resources Manager when the Store Manager was unavailable due to being "tied up in inventory."
Unless it's different in your division, the "Front End Manager" is not an actual manager. It's just another name for Customer Service Manager (CSM). Despite having "manager" in the job title, that person isn't a manager. Again, it may be different in your division/or I'm mistaken, but I think only the store manager and co-managers have the ability to terminate someone... and your "Front End Manager"/Customer Service Manager/Front End Department Head can't and the whole way it's being done isn't even the "proper" means of terminating someone. See, if you don't show up, they can call it an unexcused absence and use that against you, and that's what they're probably counting on.

I agree with you---but what do I do?
Yes I want to leave them but I didn't really want to do it in this way.
Technically, if you miss two days of work this week at Kroger, that's two write ups, if they want to issue them (clearly they do). Most, and I emphasize most, union contracts require three write ups for you to be terminated. They can't take you off the schedule completely because that violates (again, most) union contacts.
What do you do? Familiarize yourself with your local union contract and use that as a weapon. If they want to violate your rights as a union member, then Kroger is in breach of the union contract, and get the union involved. If your union contract guarantees a minimum number of hours, Kroger will HAVE to give you those hours next week, because you'll still be employed as long as your union contract states you must be written up THREE times for the SAME thing before you can be terminated.

As if our union UFCW Local 1996 can really do anything for me.
At my store, the union rep is available but I do question her allegiance.

Remember, I wrote that post awhile back where the management took me into a meeting and told me not to post to Facebook?
And I was curious if I needed union representation?
And after the meeting was over, I walked downstairs and saw the union rep there, complete with union jacket on?
But how did she know that I may be wanting her there? I didn't tell her because things had happened so fast I didn't have a chance.
And, where was she when I was in that meeting? If she knew there was a possibility, why not just show up?
Did she hear through the grapevine and just was waiting to see if she would be paged over the intercom?

My Front End Manager told me straight out she was going to take me off of the schedule.
My Human Resources manager said she would support that decision.

I am down to work Wednesday and Saturday.
I can not make either day.
Therefore if they take me off the schedule next week there is not another day I could come in to work and be written up for a third time.
So does that put me in to a sort of "Kroger Limbo," or am I just being dicked around with by those above?

If you're paying union dues, then yes, the union has to do something for you. Just keep contacting people higher and higher up in the chain of command at your local union until someone listens. Why are you giving them money every week if they aren't interested in representing you?

Your "Front End Manager" can't take you off the schedule. That's a violation of your rights as a union member, assuming your contract guarantees you a minimum number of hours a week and requires three write ups for termination.

It doesn't matter what Human Resources says. Your rights as a union member supersede what some clueless HR person thinks.

You aren't in "Kroger Limbo". They are, however, trying to trick you into job abandonment, a reason for termination. Even if you were a No Call, No Show, you'd need to do that a total of three times before you could be terminated for it, which doesn't apply to those still in the probation period/non-union shop, and neither apply to you.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
GenesisOne wrote:
FrontEndSlave wrote:
Yes it was management.
Front End Manager at first.
Then Human Resources Manager when the Store Manager was unavailable due to being "tied up in inventory."
Unless it's different in your division, the "Front End Manager" is not an actual manager. It's just another name for Customer Service Manager (CSM). Despite having "manager" in the job title, that person isn't a manager. Again, it may be different in your division/or I'm mistaken, but I think only the store manager and co-managers have the ability to terminate someone... and your "Front End Manager"/Customer Service Manager/Front End Department Head can't and the whole way it's being done isn't even the "proper" means of terminating someone. See, if you don't show up, they can call it an unexcused absence and use that against you, and that's what they're probably counting on.

I agree with you---but what do I do?
Yes I want to leave them but I didn't really want to do it in this way.
Technically, if you miss two days of work this week at Kroger, that's two write ups, if they want to issue them (clearly they do). Most, and I emphasize most, union contracts require three write ups for you to be terminated. They can't take you off the schedule completely because that violates (again, most) union contacts.
What do you do? Familiarize yourself with your local union contract and use that as a weapon. If they want to violate your rights as a union member, then Kroger is in breach of the union contract, and get the union involved. If your union contract guarantees a minimum number of hours, Kroger will HAVE to give you those hours next week, because you'll still be employed as long as your union contract states you must be written up THREE times for the SAME thing before you can be terminated.

As if our union UFCW Local 1996 can really do anything for me.
At my store, the union rep is available but I do question her allegiance.

Remember, I wrote that post awhile back where the management took me into a meeting and told me not to post to Facebook?
And I was curious if I needed union representation?
And after the meeting was over, I walked downstairs and saw the union rep there, complete with union jacket on?
But how did she know that I may be wanting her there? I didn't tell her because things had happened so fast I didn't have a chance.
And, where was she when I was in that meeting? If she knew there was a possibility, why not just show up?
Did she hear through the grapevine and just was waiting to see if she would be paged over the intercom?

My Front End Manager told me straight out she was going to take me off of the schedule.
My Human Resources manager said she would support that decision.

I am down to work Wednesday and Saturday.
I can not make either day.
Therefore if they take me off the schedule next week there is not another day I could come in to work and be written up for a third time.
So does that put me in to a sort of "Kroger Limbo," or am I just being dicked around with by those above?
If you're paying union dues, then yes, the union has to do something for you. Just keep contacting people higher and higher up in the chain of command at your local union until someone listens. Why are you giving them money every week if they aren't interested in representing you?
Your "Front End Manager" can't take you off the schedule. That's a violation of your rights as a union member, assuming your contract guarantees you a minimum number of hours a week and requires three write ups for termination.
It doesn't matter what Human Resources says. Your rights as a union member supersede what some clueless HR person thinks.
You aren't in "Kroger Limbo". They are, however, trying to trick you into job abandonment, a reason for termination. Even if you were a No Call, No Show, you'd need to do that a total of three times before you could be terminated for it, which doesn't apply to those still in the probation period/non-union shop, and neither apply to you.

So let me see if I understand you here...
You're saying that even though they now know without a doubt I am not going to come in due to having a second job -- one I had to take, by the way, because KROGER was not able to provide me with enough of a living wage -- that they'd still have to wait for three days before they would be able to fire me for job abandonment?

Or could they fire me for job abandonment right now since they've spoken to me in person and I've made it clear I can not come in for tomorrow's shift?
If I read you correctly, you are saying that the fat whore who calls herself my Front End Manager, when saying she would take me off of the schedule -- meaning, next week's -- she can't do that? Because of union rules?

I am in the union, I lose around $7 per paycheck each pay. It is annoying. I basically lose one hour's worth of work for each paycheck due to union dues.
But I am in the union.

I am just trying to figure out what I should do when I look at my schedule for next week online and see nothing, then go to Kroger and examine the paper schedule to either see my name off of the sheet completely or see 'OFF' on all seven days.

thestruggleisreal · Guru

You only pay $7 for union dues? I pay over 10 bucks and they only gave me 9 hours this week because of my second job conflicting (they wanted to give away all my hours :/).

FES, you've been miserable with Kroger for a while now. If was getting paid $1.50 more at my second job, Kroger would get das boot real quick. They wonder why their turnover rate is so damn high-they don't know how to schedule.

Seeing as they clearly don't want to work with you, drop the 2 weeks. I know you wanted to hold off, but they're trying to drive you away anyways, so either way you probably wouldn't be working with them for long.

GenesisOne · Guru

I'm saying that you need to know what your rights are as a union member IF you want to keep this as a secondary job. Union contracts vary from area to area, so you need to get a hold of a copy of the union handbook and read through it. See if there is mention of guaranteed minimum hours per week. If there is, you can't be taken off the schedule, in all likelihood. Technically, the store shouldn't even be able to write you up for tomorrow because you called in and informed them that you can't work your shift. If you were simply a No Call, No Show, then yes, there would be grounds to write you up. Considering how this is your first call in though, and you called well ahead of the two hour window, it's unreasonable for you to be written up. They would have more ground to stand on to write you up for your other shift that you can't work this weekend, since that would be two call-ins within a week's period, but a good union rep could get the first write up tossed. Even if you get written up twice for the same thing, you can't be fired for it under most union contracts, but again, yours could be different.

So, what I suggest you do is either get a copy of the union handbook and study it so that you know what your rights are and you don't let Kroger lie and bully you into job abandonment or you get a hold of a union rep that can answer your questions honestly.

Ideally, if you could get a union rep to come with you to the store and have a sit down with the store manager, that would make a lot of this mute... for now.

If you're on good terms with the store manager, I would go to him/her directly (without the union rep is less recommended... but if you need to, go alone... better than being shoved out the door by someone that may be lying to you) and talk to him/her about the situation (calmly), and find out if you still have a job there.

Date: Apr 14, 2015

I wouldn't talk to Kroger without union rep present if I were you. And I would see if you can get your union rep to bring a copy of the contract if you don't have one. If you changed your availability two weeks ago then they were notified then of your availability and they chose to break the union contract by scheduling you outside of your availability. They cannot take you off the schedule or fire you over the phone. I wouldn't sign the write up, you notified them you couldn't work two weeks ago when you changed your availability. Take a picture of it on the website.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Okay, so here is the latest...

On advice from a worker in another department whom has been there awhile, I did not put in my resignation letter.

I am going to contact the union representative of the store (the guy who recruits 'newbies') and see what he thinks.
This person thinks that I can probably keep my job with the minimum hours since I have informed them that I could not come in due to a schedule conflict.

The management of the store, the FEM who is a complete bitc!, has already asked another courtesy clerk to work my schedule for tomorrow.
Whether this means I am off next week's schedule or not, I don't know.

But I am being advised that I should let the union know what is going on and see what happens. That I shouldn't "quit".

Date: Apr 14, 2015

FrontEndSlave wrote:
Okay, so here is the latest...

On advice from a worker in another department whom has been there awhile, I did not put in my resignation letter.

I am going to contact the union representative of the store (the guy who recruits 'newbies') and see what he thinks.
This person thinks that I can probably keep my job with the minimum hours since I have informed them that I could not come in due to a schedule conflict.

The management of the store, the FEM who is a complete bitc!, has already asked another courtesy clerk to work my schedule for tomorrow.
Whether this means I am off next week's schedule or not, I don't know.

But I am being advised that I should let the union know what is going on and see what happens. That I shouldn't "quit".

I wouldn't quit. That FEM probably set that schedule up to cause a conflict on purpose to get you to quit. I would learn that contract backwards and forwards and stick it to her big time. And when the day comes that you do want to quit, I would write up a resignation letter stating all the freaking problems you have encountered and list them one by one and state that those are the reasons you are leaving. Stick it to them with the truth!!!! If Home Depot is giving you hours I would be there early, ask if they needed me to stay late and basically bend over backwards for them. You just need to plan your exit from Kroger the right way. And I'd rip that hole in that damn shirt of yours a little bigger next time you show up for work LOL!! Cheap ass Kroger.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

By the way I am going to go with advice from this forum and from the aforementioned employee co-worker and "call in sick" on Saturday.
question is do I do it friday or saturday?

And obviously my management is going to know I am lying.
Can they hold it against me?

Employee-wise, I mean.
Obviously from what you have read so far you know that I work for a$$holes.

Date: Apr 14, 2015

FrontEndSlave wrote:
By the way I am going to go with advice from this forum and from the aforementioned employee co-worker and "call in sick" on Saturday.
question is do I do it friday or saturday?

And obviously my management is going to know I am lying.
Can they hold it against me?

Employee-wise, I mean.
Obviously from what you have read so far you know that I work for a$$holes.

Do you work at Home Depot on Saturday? If so don't call in sick, they could see you at work across the street. Can you get someone to cover your shift? If you do decide to call in sick, do it Friday. I just don't like the idea of you lying about being sick and being caught working across the street. I'd tell the truth. You changed your availability, you've tried to get someone to cover your shift, you won't be in is all you need to say.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

It's diagonal across the street, but I could potentially be seen by someone passing.
I can't come in on Saturday. The schedules conflict.
Home Depot pays more so, as with tomorrow (wed) I have to go with Home Depot.
But you see what I went through today in trying to let them know 24 hours in advance.

4hourrush · Guru

This is so messed up, I'm sorry they're doing this, but i think if you really wanted to stir crap up, get the union involved. Even if you call in twice, that's not job abandonment. Job abandonment would be if you showed up and left mid shift without permission.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

Both the HR person and my Front End Manager are calling it job abandonment.
From what is being said on here and from a few of those around me, it sounds like they are bullsh!tting me.

That they are just being vindictive and trying to intimidate.
A co-worker is going to try to get me a copy of the union handbook tomorrow.

4hourrush · Guru

They're trying to trick you into it. Shady as hell is what they are. They aren't union remember that, they don't know the ins and outs like your union steward SHOULD know.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

You know the fun part, I recorded my conversation with the HR person. She does not know that I did.
I put the phone on speaker, put a lens cap on the camera and hit the video option.
Call is recorded from my time dialing to hanging up on her.
So if the union gets involved, I have what she said to me.
I only wish I had thought to do the same with my mean b!tch FEM.

FrontEndSlave · Guru

well our union guy who recruits DID tell me awhile back that if I had a problem with my Front End Manager (who is one of the catalysts of all of this...) that I would have to go to the store manager because she (FEM) is also in the union...

Not sure how much that is true or what it may mean but I am going to the union. At least after I get a look at our handbook.

FuelGal · Veteran Member

FrontEndSlave wrote:
well our union guy who recruits DID tell me awhile back that if I had a problem with my Front End Manager (who is one of the catalysts of all of this...) that I would have to go to the store manager because she (FEM) is also in the union...

Not sure how much that is true or what it may mean but I am going to the union. At least after I get a look at our handbook.

Yeah since she's in the union you can't file a grievance against her.. But stick it to her any way you can! She definitely sounds like a b*tch; I have one at my store who's just the same. Snobby, rude and thinks she owns everything! Sorry hoe.. You're not a damn princess.