So I've been noticing competitors encroaching on Kroger's territory lately... kind of a LOT, actually. WinCo, Aldi's... even the Wal-Mart Neighborhood stores have been sprouting up. And Kroger is reaching for a 5% increase in sales. Don't see that happening when the competitors offer lower prices for quality food.
On a side note, working at Kroger makes me a little too cranky to shop there when I'm off. I'm happy about these alternatives! I spent a fortune shopping at Kroger for ~20 years. Now all that money is going to the competition!
This also hurts on the hiring front. Why come and work at Kroger when even struggling grocery chains like Albertsons will typically start you out around a dollar above what Kroger pays? Tom Thumb too, which is struggling, still somehow manages to pay its employees better. WinCo and Aldi? Forget a dollar or two more an hour, try three or four dollars more per hour. Sam's Club and Costco? Even higher. Now Hiring signs are posted at Kroger stores almost constantly now and on the off chance they get taken down, they're back up usually in a week or so. To be fair, Walmart stores in my area have plenty of Now Hiring notices posted regularly too now; something I didn't see too frequently just a year or a year and a half ago, so it seems to me, at least in my area, Walmart and Kroger are the two struggling the most to get applications in.
In my area, meetings that I've gone to highlight Aldi, WinCo and Costco as being the most "immediate" threats, and all three companies are planning further expansion into the area. The "distant" threat and supposedly the biggest one of them all is H-E-B. Supposedly, and I only have what customers tell me as "evidence" of this, but H-E-B drives Kroger and Albertsons both out of areas in which H-E-B stores are built. Not too long ago, a customer told me that where he's from, there used to be Kroger stores, but now, all that is there is Walmart and H-E-B.
Until Kroger executives realize it's the employees, more than anything else, that matter, and starts investing in the employees, the future of the company is a lot less certain. It's not like retail giants haven't fallen in the past. Invest in the employees today, and at the same time, expect great things from them (meaning, raise the pay, but also raise the expectations), and employees will overwhelmingly treat customers with world class service. Dissatisfied employees that don't feel valued by the company that they work for will generally be less inclined to do everything within their power to ensure as many customers possible leave highly satisfied.
A simple concept that is sadly disregarded because of corporate greed.
There's a Sheetz across the road from my store offering $11.00 an hour to start for a shift supervisor. It's taken me over 10 years to get to that wage.
There's a Sheetz across the road from my store offering $11.00 an hour to start for a shift supervisor. It's taken me over 10 years to get to that wage.
Thank the union for fighting to get you a "living wage" all those years. HAHA.
GenesisOne wrote:Until Kroger executives realize it's the employees, more than anything else, that matter, and starts investing in the employees, the future of the company is a lot less certain. It's not like retail giants haven't fallen in the past. Invest in the employees today, and at the same time, expect great things from them (meaning, raise the pay, but also raise the expectations), and employees will overwhelmingly treat customers with world class service. Dissatisfied employees that don't feel valued by the company that they work for will generally be less inclined to do everything within their power to ensure as many customers possible leave highly satisfied.
A simple concept that is sadly disregarded because of corporate greed.
There. That's the common sense that should echo throughout the store's management. Getting paid crap, getting yelled at all day, constantly pushed above and beyond the limitations of a human being -- is that going to create a lot of loyalty? After days like that, who wants to return to Kroger to shop??
Perhaps management assumes that BECAUSE the donkeys get paid so little that they are insignificant as customers. Do they not consider spouses? Family members? Friends? My spouse makes north of $70,000 a year - do you think that money is going back to Kroger with all the bad word of mouth I bring home? Kroger cares about the customers... pish posh... It's very liberating to yank hundreds of $$$ away from them and into the arms of their competition. 20 years of shopping erased by 2 years of working. What a damn shame.
So I've been noticing competitors encroaching on Kroger's territory lately... kind of a LOT, actually. WinCo, Aldi's... even the Wal-Mart Neighborhood stores have been sprouting up. And Kroger is reaching for a 5% increase in sales. Don't see that happening when the competitors offer lower prices for quality food.
On a side note, working at Kroger makes me a little too cranky to shop there when I'm off. I'm happy about these alternatives! I spent a fortune shopping at Kroger for ~20 years. Now all that money is going to the competition!
I can buy lemons at Food Depot for around $1.20 cheaper than at Kroger. Aluminum cans of Arizona-brand tea are ten cents cheaper there as well. And there are at least several other staples that I can find cheaper at Food Depot. Even with their "10% added at the register" randomness.
Until Kroger executives realize it's the employees, more than anything else, that matter, and starts investing in the employees, the future of the company is a lot less certain. It's not like retail giants haven't fallen in the past. Invest in the employees today, and at the same time, expect great things from them (meaning, raise the pay, but also raise the expectations), and employees will overwhelmingly treat customers with world class service. Dissatisfied employees that don't feel valued by the company that they work for will generally be less inclined to do everything within their power to ensure as many customers possible leave highly satisfied.
A simple concept that is sadly disregarded because of corporate greed.
Kroger will never learn this lesson. They will fall, probably before 2020, if we are lucky. And all because the executives were conjured straight out of a Dilbert comic.
The most generously-compensating stores are the biggest threats. Coincidence?
Until Kroger executives realize it's the employees, more than anything else, that matter, and starts investing in the employees, the future of the company is a lot less certain. . . Invest in the employees today, and at the same time, expect great things from them (meaning, raise the pay, but also raise the expectations), and employees will overwhelmingly treat customers with world class service. Dissatisfied employees that don't feel valued by the company that they work for will generally be less inclined to do everything within their power to ensure as many customers possible leave highly satisfied. A simple concept that is sadly disregarded because of corporate greed.
More insight and wisdom there in a few sentences than in an entire blabbering, rah-rah conference call this week.
Store management seems to see it, but can't fix it. Had a regional in for a department meeting spotting off this and that. I looked around and a good quarter of the department didn't bother to show. They'll be wondering why they didn't make OSAT numbers. I could tell 'em why, but its not worth.
Store management seems to see it, but can't fix it. Had a regional in for a department meeting spotting off this and that. I looked around and a good quarter of the department didn't bother to show. They'll be wondering why they didn't make OSAT numbers. I could tell 'em why, but its not worth.
I've talked with co-managers on the subject and they agree the poor pay (embarrassing for a supposed "leader" of the grocery industry) is one of the top reasons for the problems Kroger stores face on a daily basis. Sadly, co-managers, and even a store manager, have surprisingly little "control" over what goes on in a store, so although they see the problem, there's nothing they can do about it. I know my division missed a big OSAT goal which has been discussed since 2013... and that's 80% on the receipt tracker. We were supposed to be there (as a company) by the start of 2015, but it's not happening and making it happen doesn't seem likely at this point with how employees are treated, no matter how many times it's reiterated during the daily huddles.
Corporate doesn't want to hear our "reasons". Our "reasons" are only seen as "excuses".
I can tell you that when I get my whopping $60 next week for two days of 12.5 hours worked, the thought of pleasing this company or being happy to work for it will not be on my mind.
Store management seems to see it, but can't fix it. Had a regional in for a department meeting spotting off this and that. I looked around and a good quarter of the department didn't bother to show. They'll be wondering why they didn't make OSAT numbers. I could tell 'em why, but its not worth.
I've talked with co-managers on the subject and they agree the poor pay (embarrassing for a supposed "leader" of the grocery industry) is one of the top reasons for the problems Kroger stores face on a daily basis. Sadly, co-managers, and even a store manager, have surprisingly little "control" over what goes on in a store, so although they see the problem, there's nothing they can do about it. I know my division missed a big OSAT goal which has been discussed since 2013... and that's 80% on the receipt tracker. We were supposed to be there (as a company) by the start of 2015, but it's not happening and making it happen doesn't seem likely at this point with how employees are treated, no matter how many times it's reiterated during the daily huddles.
Corporate doesn't want to hear our "reasons". Our "reasons" are only seen as "excuses".
Store management is really just administration. We were told that there would be a reprieve from the 80% this year, but it was expected in '16. I think 60% would be attainable, but I don't think they'll drop it. Honestly even if they paid better I don't see them making that 80%l. Im suppose to say hello to every customer in the department? Suppose to look like a showroom all the time? Goals are suppose to be realistic, Kroger just has wishes.
The most generously-compensating stores are the biggest threats. Coincidence?
Until Kroger executives realize it's the employees, more than anything else, that matter, and starts investing in the employees, the future of the company is a lot less certain. . . Invest in the employees today, and at the same time, expect great things from them (meaning, raise the pay, but also raise the expectations), and employees will overwhelmingly treat customers with world class service. Dissatisfied employees that don't feel valued by the company that they work for will generally be less inclined to do everything within their power to ensure as many customers possible leave highly satisfied. A simple concept that is sadly disregarded because of corporate greed.
More insight and wisdom there in a few sentences than in an entire blabbering, rah-rah conference call this week.
This company has shown time and time again that its workers dont mean anything to them. No real incentive to work hard and show for it but the "brilliant" 5 cent raise. So many things wrong but as long as those higher up/management are making money those matters dont exist. Majority of management is living in a fairy tale, have they been on the floor dealing with the chaos, stocking, etc. Nope all i have seen them do is bark orders.
As long as this goes on people will come and leave this company FASTER!
