Back in 2006 I started out as cashier at Kroger making $7.10 when minimum wage was $5.15. By the time I left just over 2 years later I was making, if I remember correctly, $8.93.
I needed a job recently and decided to reapply to work at a Kroger on the other side of town. Got hired in as a fuel center cashier and did my week of training. Last night I received my first check. Hourly rate, $7.40 an hour, minimum wage or really less because you must pay into the untion. I was disheartened by that and went online to check my Kroger page. I saw a part where it said in one years time I would be eligible for a .60 raise. LOL, I did. What a slap in the face and I felt so disheartened with this company.
It slipped my mind to ask what wages were and they never told me but I thought I would be paid decently from my prior experience. I was thinking around $8.75 at least to start, being that it was over 7 years since I had first started and cost of living, yada yada yada is all completely different these days.
Anybody else have an experience similar to this? Do I have any options, such as contacting the union? I enjoyed working at Kroger and that is why I came back but this is not the same company I left. It is so obvious being gone these 5 long years.
Yup, those are the wages and anyone hired after 2010 is on a really crappy contract. Their pay is capped at $10.50 until hired full time(which appears to be never).
You can try to ask the store manager or the person that hired you if they could add experience pay to your hourly rate. Not likely, but if you know your stuff, you might get something extra. Then again you might get a nickel so they can say they gave you experience pay.
With all due respect to the OP, I just don't know how you can not discuss what your pay will be. That (like your title says) shocks me. And now here you are a couple weeks into the job griping about your pay. Yes, Kroger pays pretty much slave wages. But damn! You got to be just a little bit diligent when accepting a job anywhere. Sorry to rag on you but you got to admit you sort of deserve some of the blame don't you
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I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
Go to your union and ask them for your experience pay. They'll owe you backpay by the time its settled. Did someone tell you that you would be starting out at a higher wage than minimum?
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My Views and Opinions do not reflect that of the Kroger company. I'm an indivdual expressing my 1st amendment right.
I need a job I need a job is correct and I am thankful for it. I shouldn't have assumed a higher wage than minimum but I did because of my prior experience. That is totally my fault.
By going to the union do you mean calling or the in-store rep? The consensus I am owed experience pay?
Thanks for the answers. This forum was a great help instead of asking around the store and looking like an idiot.
With all due respect to the OP, I just don't know how you can not discuss what your pay will be. That (like your title says) shocks me. And now here you are a couple weeks into the job griping about your pay. Yes, Kroger pays pretty much slave wages. But damn! You got to be just a little bit diligent when accepting a job anywhere. Sorry to rag on you but you got to admit you sort of deserve some of the blame don't you
Totally, agree 100% with your post. Learning experience, have to be happy for a job these days.
