All departments here have had to wear them since 2014 including CCs pushing carts). Michigan division.
I think it might have been sooner than that for the Columbus division. As I think even our meat dept. peeps wear them under their white jackets. And I've always seen the CCs wearing them even with their black shorts during the summer. About the only time I don't see any one wearing them that you don't think would be the norm wearing them in my store is the floral dept. save for one or two of the younger guys that work there, apparel, and the Clicklist peeps as the majority of them wear the smocks.
they posted a big stupid sign in the break room that ALL DEPARTMENTS MUST WEAR THE BLACK APRON! well, i work when the store is closed and there are no managers, so unless you want to be the pettiest manager on earth (not unheard of at kroger) then give me a write up for not wearing that stiff inconvenient apron when im throwing stock.
There is no "rule" about wearing aprons at my store, but a number of the employees across several departments here wear aprons, including myself. Deli, bakery, Meat & Seafood, and Produce have employees that wear aprons.
I personally feel very comfortable wearing an apron, (having worn them for years in other jobs), here in Produce (my dept) which can be relatively "clean", I still find myself getting somewhat dirty from picking up and moving boxes and crates,(thus rubbing against them), and prepping, culling, stocking, rotating product such as the more "sloppy" fresh leaf lettuces, greens, etc, as well as dumping trash and other side work.
A good-quality cloth apron (black or dark blue is good) worn with pants and shirt looks neat and professional (to me) , not bad or "uncool" like it might be to some. Anyway I don't come to work to appear in a fashion show, I come to get my job done efficiently and get a paycheck to pay my bills.
I have known some people who work in the deli area and refuse to wear an apron. No real reason, but I suspect that it's because they want to "show off their figure" and not cover it up. I think that's one of the reasons why some front end employees don't want to wear them..........(besides feeling they are unnecessary or uncomfortable), they are afraid they will look frumpy or unsexy. So what, it'll keep your clothes cleaner.
Cashiers/Front End Clerks - White Shirts, Black Vests. Courtesy Clerks - Polo (I don't understand why they don't wear a bright color. Yellow, Orange, Red, Green would be ideal of when Cart Retrieval is happening)
All other departments, wear Polo's unless they need a apron for protection purposes (Deli, Meat, etc)
-- Edited by EUID_Unknown on Tuesday 19th of September 2017 12:40:50 PM
As a cashier, I like them since it makes it easier to manage a name tag, pens, and a calculator (and snacks and boredom toys). Unless it's too hot.
For others, I agree they can be impractical. Especially for baggers.
See if you can get a copy of the dress code if there are problems. However, this may be impossible since neither the store/company nor the union really want you to know anything.
Our HR guy tried pushing them on us for a while. Then he gave up. It's an optional thing now. And some guys wear them just to get out of tucking their shirts in.