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Post Info TOPIC: New store manager is forcing everyone to learn checking
Anonymous

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New store manager is forcing everyone to learn checking
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So our new store manager is forcing everyone to learn how to check. He already made the entire grocery and four of the overnight grocery team to check yesterday. Ive been working for Kroger for 4 years as a produce clerk because I'm not great with registers or the stress that goes with checking. my fears are him finding away to put some long term non front end people permanently on the register and front end schedule. Like a secret forced move to another dept. can he do this if people say no, and has this happened to you guys? I'm in the southwest division in krogers (Texas)



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Here's what you could try.

I've known people who were absolutely NOT cut out for checking, but like yourself, were forced into that situation. Get a doctor's note for things like (but not limited to).......1.) scoliosis. 2.) sciatica 3.) dyslexia (seeing numbers backwards---not good when handling $$)....4.) acute plantar fascae-itis (problems with the bottoms of your feet where you can't stand in one place too long...such as at a register).

The list can go on and on. Point is, cover yourself in such a way that they'd open themselves up for legal action if they forced you on this. That should back your new S.M. off.

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Anonymous

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nocturnia wrote:

Here's what you could try.

I've known people who were absolutely NOT cut out for checking, but like yourself, were forced into that situation. Get a doctor's note for things like (but not limited to).......1.) scoliosis. 2.) sciatica 3.) dyslexia (seeing numbers backwards---not good when handling $$)....4.) acute plantar fascae-itis (problems with the bottoms of your feet where you can't stand in one place too long...such as at a register).

The list can go on and on. Point is, cover yourself in such a way that they'd open themselves up for legal action if they forced you on this. That should back your new S.M. off.


 Do you have any idea how much it would cost to get a doctor's note for the above?  Let's take scoliosis for example:  MRI - nuff said.



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Oh. Well, have fun on the register. And you're welcome that I tried to help. NUFF SAID.

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* FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO CAN REFRAIN FROM UNGRATEFUL SNARKINESS:

All you need to do is find a doc in the box. Present your complaint by saying things like "I've been diagnosed with this in the past; I don't have any access to the records, I just need you to write me a note that says I've come in with ________." And the doc doesn't care. Why should they? It's a meat factory, they're paid either way.............I've seen this work. Try it out. Or don't. I really don't care; I've been in an uncharacteristically good mood since I left retail

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i'm sure there are a lot of quacks out there but not everyone has the time or money to doctor shop until they find the perfect quack. :(

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Anonymous

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nocturnia wrote:

* FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO CAN REFRAIN FROM UNGRATEFUL SNARKINESS:

All you need to do is find a doc in the box. Present your complaint by saying things like "I've been diagnosed with this in the past; I don't have any access to the records, I just need you to write me a note that says I've come in with ________." And the doc doesn't care. Why should they? It's a meat factory, they're paid either way.............I've seen this work. Try it out. Or don't. I really don't care; I've been in an uncharacteristically good mood since I left retail


 It's probably good you've left retail and are away from the public.  Giving someone the advice to lie to get out of work is just wrong!  Then to complain someone is being snarky?  Wow!  You were a good fit for Walmart.



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Anonymous

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nocturnia wrote:

* FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO CAN REFRAIN FROM UNGRATEFUL SNARKINESS:

All you need to do is find a doc in the box. Present your complaint by saying things like "I've been diagnosed with this in the past; I don't have any access to the records, I just need you to write me a note that says I've come in with ________." And the doc doesn't care. Why should they? It's a meat factory, they're paid either way.............I've seen this work. Try it out. Or don't. I really don't care; I've been in an uncharacteristically good mood since I left retail


 The most a doctors office would do would be a note saying you were seen by the doctor on such and such day.  They won't give you permission to miss work or be put on light duty.  Plus, how is a regular MD supposed to write a note excusing someone from work for a disease or something that is clearly outside of his field of expertise?  It's just not going to happen.



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Anonymous

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nocturnia wrote:

Here's what you could try.

I've known people who were absolutely NOT cut out for checking, but like yourself, were forced into that situation. Get a doctor's note for things like (but not limited to).......1.) scoliosis. 2.) sciatica 3.) dyslexia (seeing numbers backwards---not good when handling $$)....4.) acute plantar fascae-itis (problems with the bottoms of your feet where you can't stand in one place too long...such as at a register).

The list can go on and on. Point is, cover yourself in such a way that they'd open themselves up for legal action if they forced you on this. That should back your new S.M. off.


 Legal action?  Kroger might just win when they sue the dishonest employee and the lying doctor lol!  So, good advice you idiot.



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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:
nocturnia wrote:

Here's what you could try.

I've known people who were absolutely NOT cut out for checking, but like yourself, were forced into that situation. Get a doctor's note for things like (but not limited to).......1.) scoliosis. 2.) sciatica 3.) dyslexia (seeing numbers backwards---not good when handling $$)....4.) acute plantar fascae-itis (problems with the bottoms of your feet where you can't stand in one place too long...such as at a register).

The list can go on and on. Point is, cover yourself in such a way that they'd open themselves up for legal action if they forced you on this. That should back your new S.M. off.


 Legal action?  Kroger might just win when they sue the dishonest employee and the lying doctor lol!  So, good advice you idiot.


 OH come on! You think Kroger has that kind of drive?! They have amazing lawyers for sure, but they will not go to any lengths to dispute a doctors note. We're talking about Kroger here man. HA!



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To the douche jets impotently running their man pleasers in my direction:

Whatever anything anyone else wants to say bad about me...........................


When i worked in retail I was a manager. If I'd been in your store, I'd have been your BOSS.
You're not. And likely never will be.

I don't work in retail anymore, and I don't have to ever again, and I'm thoroughly enjoying my life. But you're stuck at Kroger and likely will continue to be until you're fired, and taking shots at me is one of the few pleasures your life affords you.


Have a nice day!



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Anonymous

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I don't come here all of the time, but this is the first that I heard of you not being at Walmart, where are you working now? Glad to hear that you are out of retail!!!!



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Anonymous

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Chill out Nocturnia. Your advice was stupid, get over it. 

Now, something that might actually help:

1. Talk to your store manager and tell them you're not comfortable with checking. Be willing to give it a try, but ask if you can maybe be a last resort sort of thing.

2. Giving it a try won't hurt. I used to be afraid to ring, for similar reasons. I was shy, I didn't move fast, I was terrible with numbers and money...it seemed too difficult. But when I got promoted to the Photo lab, I had to learn the register and they trained me up front for a while, and it turned out that it wasn't as bad as I thought. Still didn't make for the best cashier, but I could do it, and they only called me up when they really needed me.

3. Check your contract. In my division, the front end is allowed to pull from every department except for Non-foods; our contract is different or something, so we're not allowed to ring or bag at all. (Anymore. They changed it a few years back, hence my ringing.) It might be the same for you, so look into that and maybe switch departments if it really bothers you that much.

They shouldn't be calling up people from other departments all the time, and I don't think they'll just switch you permanently to the front end without asking you. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

 



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Your store still has a photo lab? They took ours out a couple years ago...

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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
nocturnia wrote:

Here's what you could try.

I've known people who were absolutely NOT cut out for checking, but like yourself, were forced into that situation. Get a doctor's note for things like (but not limited to).......1.) scoliosis. 2.) sciatica 3.) dyslexia (seeing numbers backwards---not good when handling $$)....4.) acute plantar fascae-itis (problems with the bottoms of your feet where you can't stand in one place too long...such as at a register).

The list can go on and on. Point is, cover yourself in such a way that they'd open themselves up for legal action if they forced you on this. That should back your new S.M. off.


 Legal action?  Kroger might just win when they sue the dishonest employee and the lying doctor lol!  So, good advice you idiot.


 OH come on! You think Kroger has that kind of drive?! They have amazing lawyers for sure, but they will not go to any lengths to dispute a doctors note. We're talking about Kroger here man. HA!


The point being made is that the employee would file a lawsuit against Kroger.  If that happens, then yes, Kroger would have to answer the complaint or settle out of court.



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Anonymous

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nocturnia wrote:

To the douche jets impotently running their man pleasers in my direction:

Whatever anything anyone else wants to say bad about me...........................


When i worked in retail I was a manager. If I'd been in your store, I'd have been your BOSS.
You're not. And likely never will be.

I don't work in retail anymore, and I don't have to ever again, and I'm thoroughly enjoying my life. But you're stuck at Kroger and likely will continue to be until you're fired, and taking shots at me is one of the few pleasures your life affords you.


Have a nice day!


 No, you would not have been my boss.  You don't even know anything about me.  I probably would have been your boss.  I'm also not some stupid young man, and I do not work at Kroger. Your advice to lie and deceive is wrong.



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Anonymous

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4hourrush wrote:

Your store still has a photo lab? They took ours out a couple years ago...


 Oh no, it's been long gone. cry I miss it so.



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Anonymous

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op they're training other departments so they can slash front end hours but like the photo lab person said, give it a try and if you really suck at it without being deliberate, they won't call you up as much

that said i hate the way front end takes precedent over every! other! department! but we get no hours to do it so we're poaching from other departments all day. if having cashiers is so important, schedule some!



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Anonymous wrote:

 

They shouldn't be calling up people from other departments all the time, 

 


 Thats not true. There are some shifts that I spend 75% of my time running a register. 

Its not fun trying to break down a 1000 piece double truck when you are on a register for 3 out of the 5 hours you are scheduled while having managers breathing down your neck for not having anything done.



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Ideally, the front end should be allotted enough hours to run without having to rely on other departments, but that's never going to happen.

With that in mind, what your new store manager is doing makes sense. The more people that know how to surge check, the better. This prevents one or two or three people from being the one(s) always called. All of drug/GM, produce (including floral - if a customer needs assistance in floral, produce can handle it or send someone up front to relieve the floral clerk), nutrition, grocery, wine stewards and so on should be trained. The only ones that should be excluded are pharmacy, meat market, deli and bakery, due to those departments having a service case, or in the case of pharmacy, a drive-thru/prescriptions to fill, etc... The more people trained, the easier it gets because it's not always one department having to surge check. If surge help is needed, produce can go up once, and then when surge help is needed, drug/GM can go next, and then, it would be grocery's turn, and so on, this way two or three surge checkers aren't spending a big chunk of their shift up front while they fall far behind in their departments.

Quite frankly, if you can handle counting your own money, you can handle counting customers' money and giving out change. Learning how to operate a register isn't hard. Most stores either have a roller attached to the register with most of the PLUs or have touchscreens with a built in produce look-up. Once you do a check a few times, it's really easy. When you're a surge checker, the odds of you being alone on the front end are almost non-existent, so if you need help, you can always ask a cashier, floor supervisor, or simply make a page for assistance. 

I'm a bit tired of employees making up excuses for not wanting to be trained to surge check. Have work to do? So does everyone else. No reason why someone that can learn how to check should simply be able to say "I don't want to," and get to stay in their own department for their entire shift while someone else agrees to learn and gets repeatedly pulled out of their own department to surge check because there is "nobody else" scheduled that knows how to. That's unfair, that's just plain BS. Some employees may indeed have a valid medical reason for not wanting to check and that's fine... but those that don't need to chip in and help out more and I wish management would be more aggressive in pushing more people to be trained in stores. The more people that are trained, the less time you'll be up there anyway.



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Anonymous

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It's funny how they want people in other departments to help out on the front end but they never think about returning the favor.  If it's slow on the front end, then why not send some of them to dairy, frozen, or grocery and help stock the shelves that are empty because the people who normally do those jobs can't do them because they're stuck in a checklane?



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To misquote a KEFfer,

If front-end folks are so important, schedule some.

 

 



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