I am a part time cashier. When I was hired, I was told I would probably have no problem getting close to 30 hours a week. Most weeks my schedule averages between 12-18 hrs. I've asked the FEM and the Sup that does the schedule if I could get more hours. And still nothing changes. Most of my fellow cashiers say the same thing - very little hours. And yet, most days, there are never enough cashiers scheduled to deal with the volume of customers. More often than not, they have to pull people from the floor to cashier - or Sups and managers are cashiering. I will often get a call on my day off to come in or I am asked to come early/stay late. (Which is great, and I consistently will do just to get more hours.) The problem I have is that I end up having to re-schedule personal commitments and child care to be able to go in on such short notice. I can't figure out why they can't just schedule me for more hours in the first place. I know the computer does the schedules based on previous sale volume on that day last year etc. So I thought maybe there just wasn't more hours to actual give out. But, then today I saw they are hiring more cashiers!?! Why can't they give the existing cashiers more hours (like so many of us want) instead of hiring a bunch more people, and keep us all at 12 hours/wk? How does this even make sense? Would it look bad if I went to a manger and asked what the logic was here? (Obviously, I be more eloquent than I'm being here.)
Just kinda baffled, and unsure of what my next step (if any) should be. Thoughts?
How long have you worked there in comparison to your fellow employees? And how's your availability? At least in our store's front end, those are THE two key factors in getting a good amount of hours. If you're new, unless you open up your availability, you'll mainly be getting short and sucky shifts unless Kroger happens to be semi-generous with their overall hour budget that week (which is all too rare because of corporate greed). Aside from that keep on answering those phone calls and offers to stay early/late!
As far as asking, I'd politely ask your front end scheduler (probably the lead or back-up) if they can tell you why e-Schedule is giving you so few hours, and if there's anything that you could do to improve that.
-- Edited by Going 4011 on Wednesday 7th of October 2015 04:45:59 AM
Kroger is very picky about scheduling. Every week, you get a certain number of hours based on previous sales. No matter what happens, this number will not be enough to run the department. The front end is supposed to be using extra people to run the department. However, if they know that they need help for an extended period of time, they'd rather call someone up.
The best way to maximize hours is to keep your schedule limited to Monday Thursday. You will get fewer scheduled hours than now, but still probably 8-12. Then, on the weekend, they will need more people. I'd say at least 80% of the time. Pick up hours there. I've had multiple times where I picked up 24 extra hours than I was scheduled. Even if you only are scheduled 8, that puts you at 24.
Also look into what your store needs. Some stores lack office people and people who can run uscan. If you learn either of those and your store is short on them, you will get extra hours.
Where I was, I couldn't set unavailability for Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. My availability was open, and the hiring manager said I'd get 28 hours easily (but that was the max I'd get unless I picked up extra shifts). It worked out that way until about October, then I was getting even less than 20. Then, because they realized that they can't man a deli with only 4 people a day, they would call me in. I would do it if I didn't have anything else planned, but then it became too consistent, and it got to the point where I just stopped answering my phone. If they couldn't give me the extra hours before I made my plans to spend time with my family, then sorry. In our case, they weren't even hiring anyone else in, and there were 12 of us at one point, and the bottom 2-3 of us had 12 hours a week each.
You have a few options.
1) If you're in the middle of the totem pole, you can claim hours. However, you will probably be hated for it by those under you.
2) Hint to the scheduler that you're wide open (it seems like you are). It shows initiative, and shows that you actually do want to work, which is something that Kroger (and other retail/supermarkets/fast food places) have problems with given the turnover rate.
3) Wait. It is close to the holidays, so hours will probably spike for the next 3 months.
4) Start looking for something else. As I've said, it's close to the holidays, so everyone's looking for seasonal workers. And, depending on the place, they'll pay a ****ton more than Kroger will.
Where I was, I couldn't set unavailability for Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. My availability was open, and the hiring manager said I'd get 28 hours easily (but that was the max I'd get unless I picked up extra shifts). It worked out that way until about October, then I was getting even less than 20. Then, because they realized that they can't man a deli with only 4 people a day, they would call me in. I would do it if I didn't have anything else planned, but then it became too consistent, and it got to the point where I just stopped answering my phone. If they couldn't give me the extra hours before I made my plans to spend time with my family, then sorry. In our case, they weren't even hiring anyone else in, and there were 12 of us at one point, and the bottom 2-3 of us had 12 hours a week each.
You have a few options.
1) If you're in the middle of the totem pole, you can claim hours. However, you will probably be hated for it by those under you. 2) Hint to the scheduler that you're wide open (it seems like you are). It shows initiative, and shows that you actually do want to work, which is something that Kroger (and other retail/supermarkets/fast food places) have problems with given the turnover rate. 3) Wait. It is close to the holidays, so hours will probably spike for the next 3 months. 4) Start looking for something else. As I've said, it's close to the holidays, so everyone's looking for seasonal workers. And, depending on the place, they'll pay a ****ton more than Kroger will.
Good stuff; here's an additional thought.
One thing that's always impressed me when an employee wants advancement/extra hours is when they show HUGE flexibility and willingness to learn everything they can, i.e., ALL areas and departments, all shifts. To do all the things others are not willing to try.
Oh, and a HUGE bonus is GET LICENSED FOR ALL THE POWER EQUIPMENT. That not only bumps you up the food chain at Kroger, but gives you mad skills you can take to other (better paying) jobs!
Where I was, I couldn't set unavailability for Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays. My availability was open, and the hiring manager said I'd get 28 hours easily (but that was the max I'd get unless I picked up extra shifts). It worked out that way until about October, then I was getting even less than 20. Then, because they realized that they can't man a deli with only 4 people a day, they would call me in. I would do it if I didn't have anything else planned, but then it became too consistent, and it got to the point where I just stopped answering my phone. If they couldn't give me the extra hours before I made my plans to spend time with my family, then sorry. In our case, they weren't even hiring anyone else in, and there were 12 of us at one point, and the bottom 2-3 of us had 12 hours a week each.
You have a few options.
1) If you're in the middle of the totem pole, you can claim hours. However, you will probably be hated for it by those under you. 2) Hint to the scheduler that you're wide open (it seems like you are). It shows initiative, and shows that you actually do want to work, which is something that Kroger (and other retail/supermarkets/fast food places) have problems with given the turnover rate. 3) Wait. It is close to the holidays, so hours will probably spike for the next 3 months. 4) Start looking for something else. As I've said, it's close to the holidays, so everyone's looking for seasonal workers. And, depending on the place, they'll pay a ****ton more than Kroger will.
Good stuff; here's an additional thought.
One thing that's always impressed me when an employee wants advancement/extra hours is when they show HUGE flexibility and willingness to learn everything they can, i.e., ALL areas and departments, all shifts. To do all the things others are not willing to try.
Oh, and a HUGE bonus is GET LICENSED FOR ALL THE POWER EQUIPMENT. That not only bumps you up the food chain at Kroger, but gives you mad skills you can take to other (better paying) jobs!
Learn power equipment when you are a cashier? They never let you off the register. Don't know what kind of management team would agree to that!
