I really wanted to like it at Kroger. It was close to home, I knew and liked some of the workers there, it was a "retirement job" of sorts. And I kept an open mind going in.
But after only 4 months of working close to 40 hours at $8.10 and hour and closing the deli along with one other person until almost 11pm 6+ nights in a row, I am DONE.
Not because we had horrible hateful managers, believe it or not. But because there is WAY too much work to do and still be expected to wait on customers who endlessly line the counter while we are closing, cleaning, etc. while being underpaid, overwhelmed, and constantly scrutinized that we are not working fast enough or efficiently enough.
Not only that, but I have watched elderly workers who have been there for over 10 years just treated like nothing. The expectations that are put on them, the way they are shuffled around on the schedule, removed from set schedules that they need because they are caregivers to sick spouses or grand-children, etc. It is heart-breaking to watch their loyalty and see them treated like this. It really makes me angry!
To Kroger, their lives and loyalty means nothing. And these are about the only ones who stick around. In the 4 months I've been there they have hired and lost about 5 new hires. In one day, out the next.
Many people get by with being late all the time, calling off, not showing up, multiple times. There is no consequence, no back up plan. If you get a day off you'd better turn off your phone or you will be called in.
Some people eat all the way through shift-from the hot food line and even slice their own meat and cheese snacks as they work. Some disappear for periods of time, leaving others to be the sole clerk waiting on multiple customers. Some spend the time on their phones or playing ITunes in the back instead of working out front with the customers. I am sick of being the one out front getting "the evil eye" from disgruntled customers because I can't wait on 10 people at one time.
Now also the deli is "being watched" and the other night 4 co-managers walked through with clipboards, taking notes on who knows what. Someone in "the front" has complained that the deli workers are not doing their jobs and I know that most of us are busting our butts to keep it afloat.
I, for one, am tired of it. Tired of being exhausted all the time, standing for 8 hours+, always being short-staffed, pitifully underpaid, and definitely under-appreciated.
The only thing that kept me coming in was my great co-workers, and now that is changing too. An arrogant, obnoxious, oppositional new transfer, who thinks she is the manager, is making closing the deli down and waiting on customers into a very unpleasant ordeal. The "fun" and "comradery" of struggling together with great co-workers is gone. It got so bad that I reported this person to management and left shift early with permission because I had reached my saturation point of tolerance.
So I am done, folks. And I've read your stories and shared your frustrations and I've got to say, even though I feel a bit sad, I am GLAD that I am going to be out of Kroger. There is and never was any future in it and who wants to sacrifice their family life and health for a job that sucks your soul and pays so little? NOT ME!
Four months in, especially having witnessed the holidays, you've seen it and done it all by now. It doesn't get any better, so if you're going to ditch, best get on it.
Sure, with more experience, you'd get more efficient, and that does indeed make the job easier, but really... closing deli shifts are horrid. I've definitely done my share of them.
All those things you mentioned.. They won't change, no matter how good you get at it because other people will always come along to drag it all down... dumb it all down.
First: GOOD FOR YOU! Sincerely and truly. I'm just glad you had the where-with-all to bump out as quick as you did.
I very recently ended my Sentence in Hell 'career' in retail; 15 years in the belly of the loathsome, evil beast known as Walmart. Everything you describe jibes 100% with the rage, frustration, depression and general suck-ness of my pitiful existence in that terrible company. I only wish my friends still trapped at Walmart in particular, and retail in general, could do like-wise and get the hell OUT.
I truly applaud you and wish the very best in your future goals.
Sorry to hear that you went through that. Good for you getting out of there though. I have worked Deli/Bakery for 18 years now (Right now I'm only classified as bakery) and this place is just getting more and more ridiculous by the day. I am at the point that I would just love to walk out and never come back but being at top pay and with bills, I really can't afford to. I don't think I get paid enough at top pay to put up with the crap I do and the people that are working minimum wage definitely don't get paid enough with all that is expected. Everyday I watch as certain people in our department get away with things that we aren't supposed to be doing, eating in the department, using cell phones, wearing their ear buds and listening to their own music(and when I need to ask them something I need to wait for them to take their ear bud out so I can repeat myself) screwing around and just standing around doing nothing while I am working my butt off to get everything done. I know your frustration and I really don't blame you for getting out. When I first started 18 years ago I worked 2 weeks and then decided I was never going back and actually told them that I quit. The next day I had a manager call me and beg me not to quit and me being young and stupid, decided to give it another chance. I really wish I hadn't though and now I'm stuck here for the time being. I think it's pretty bad that here lately a few customers in my store actually see what is going on and comment to me about us being over worked and not being paid enough
I really wanted to like it at Kroger. It was close to home, I knew and liked some of the workers there, it was a "retirement job" of sorts. And I kept an open mind going in.
But after only 4 months of working close to 40 hours at $8.10 and hour and closing the deli along with one other person until almost 11pm 6+ nights in a row, I am DONE.
Not because we had horrible hateful managers, believe it or not. But because there is WAY too much work to do and still be expected to wait on customers who endlessly line the counter while we are closing, cleaning, etc. while being underpaid, overwhelmed, and constantly scrutinized that we are not working fast enough or efficiently enough.
Our issue as courtesy clerks was always "go backs". So many of them on a shelf near the bags of ice storage. But of course we could never get to them. Management essentially had the attitude of "unless you are asked, don't bother" because we never had enough labor up front to bag. Usually the unfortunate CCs who had to "close" ended up doing go-backs at 10-11 p.m. If it got really bad where it was an eyesore--and management frequently let it--they'd pull a courtesy clerk or possibly two and have them work on it.
Basically the stockers overnight and the shelvers would put the items found where they shouldn't be into carts, then roll them up front. But, that was a small percentage. Most of our 'go backs' were from the Front End. And of course we would have CCs who would put cold items in there.
Sorry to hear that you went through that. Good for you getting out of there though. I have worked Deli/Bakery for 18 years now (Right now I'm only classified as bakery) and this place is just getting more and more ridiculous by the day. I am at the point that I would just love to walk out and never come back but being at top pay and with bills, I really can't afford to. I don't think I get paid enough at top pay to put up with the crap I do and the people that are working minimum wage definitely don't get paid enough with all that is expected. Everyday I watch as certain people in our department get away with things that we aren't supposed to be doing, eating in the department, using cell phones, wearing their ear buds and listening to their own music(and when I need to ask them something I need to wait for them to take their ear bud out so I can repeat myself) screwing around and just standing around doing nothing while I am working my butt off to get everything done. I know your frustration and I really don't blame you for getting out. When I first started 18 years ago I worked 2 weeks and then decided I was never going back and actually told them that I quit. The next day I had a manager call me and beg me not to quit and me being young and stupid, decided to give it another chance. I really wish I hadn't though and now I'm stuck here for the time being. I think it's pretty bad that here lately a few customers in my store actually see what is going on and comment to me about us being over worked and not being paid enough
Yeah, SO many times I visualized myself walking out, but I came to like my co-workers so much and they struggled just like I did to maintain, that I hung in there for them and the little dab of money that it brought to my household. With the "new" deli worker bee I just got to my breaking point and had had enough. I mean, who could put up with her drama and rudeness on top of trying to survive the shift as it was? Not me. It was too much to put up with and life is too short. Yeah, I'll be crunching the penny here until I get something, but I could probably EASILY make at least that $200 a week and work a whole lot less, even if pet sitting or selling on Ebay. I don't see how some of you "long-termers" stay like you do, but you are a special breed and I have nothing but admiration for how you put up with it all.
I really wanted to like it at Kroger. It was close to home, I knew and liked some of the workers there, it was a "retirement job" of sorts. And I kept an open mind going in.
But after only 4 months of working close to 40 hours at $8.10 and hour and closing the deli along with one other person until almost 11pm 6+ nights in a row, I am DONE.
Not because we had horrible hateful managers, believe it or not. But because there is WAY too much work to do and still be expected to wait on customers who endlessly line the counter while we are closing, cleaning, etc. while being underpaid, overwhelmed, and constantly scrutinized that we are not working fast enough or efficiently enough.
Not only that, but I have watched elderly workers who have been there for over 10 years just treated like nothing. The expectations that are put on them, the way they are shuffled around on the schedule, removed from set schedules that they need because they are caregivers to sick spouses or grand-children, etc. It is heart-breaking to watch their loyalty and see them treated like this. It really makes me angry!
To Kroger, their lives and loyalty means nothing. And these are about the only ones who stick around. In the 4 months I've been there they have hired and lost about 5 new hires. In one day, out the next.
Many people get by with being late all the time, calling off, not showing up, multiple times. There is no consequence, no back up plan. If you get a day off you'd better turn off your phone or you will be called in.
Some people eat all the way through shift-from the hot food line and even slice their own meat and cheese snacks as they work. Some disappear for periods of time, leaving others to be the sole clerk waiting on multiple customers. Some spend the time on their phones or playing ITunes in the back instead of working out front with the customers. I am sick of being the one out front getting "the evil eye" from disgruntled customers because I can't wait on 10 people at one time.
Now also the deli is "being watched" and the other night 4 co-managers walked through with clipboards, taking notes on who knows what. Someone in "the front" has complained that the deli workers are not doing their jobs and I know that most of us are busting our butts to keep it afloat.
I, for one, am tired of it. Tired of being exhausted all the time, standing for 8 hours+, always being short-staffed, pitifully underpaid, and definitely under-appreciated.
The only thing that kept me coming in was my great co-workers, and now that is changing too. An arrogant, obnoxious, oppositional new transfer, who thinks she is the manager, is making closing the deli down and waiting on customers into a very unpleasant ordeal. The "fun" and "comradery" of struggling together with great co-workers is gone. It got so bad that I reported this person to management and left shift early with permission because I had reached my saturation point of tolerance.
So I am done, folks. And I've read your stories and shared your frustrations and I've got to say, even though I feel a bit sad, I am GLAD that I am going to be out of Kroger. There is and never was any future in it and who wants to sacrifice their family life and health for a job that sucks your soul and pays so little? NOT ME!
Move on and DO NOT look back. This company will burn people left and right and put of the "ACT" that there this great company. While i was there i saw similar things that you saw. Unreal work loads that no person can get done during there shifts. People with no management skills put in positions of leadership only for it to fail JUST AS FAST as they put the person into that position. This company "does not" train anyone for their job not matter who many times to your face they say it.
This company is going to destroy itself. Your out of there now "MOVE ON"!
I really wanted to like it at Kroger. It was close to home, I knew and liked some of the workers there, it was a "retirement job" of sorts. And I kept an open mind going in.
But after only 4 months of working close to 40 hours at $8.10 and hour and closing the deli along with one other person until almost 11pm 6+ nights in a row, I am DONE.
Not because we had horrible hateful managers, believe it or not. But because there is WAY too much work to do and still be expected to wait on customers who endlessly line the counter while we are closing, cleaning, etc. while being underpaid, overwhelmed, and constantly scrutinized that we are not working fast enough or efficiently enough.
Not only that, but I have watched elderly workers who have been there for over 10 years just treated like nothing. The expectations that are put on them, the way they are shuffled around on the schedule, removed from set schedules that they need because they are caregivers to sick spouses or grand-children, etc. It is heart-breaking to watch their loyalty and see them treated like this. It really makes me angry!
To Kroger, their lives and loyalty means nothing. And these are about the only ones who stick around. In the 4 months I've been there they have hired and lost about 5 new hires. In one day, out the next.
Many people get by with being late all the time, calling off, not showing up, multiple times. There is no consequence, no back up plan. If you get a day off you'd better turn off your phone or you will be called in.
Some people eat all the way through shift-from the hot food line and even slice their own meat and cheese snacks as they work. Some disappear for periods of time, leaving others to be the sole clerk waiting on multiple customers. Some spend the time on their phones or playing ITunes in the back instead of working out front with the customers. I am sick of being the one out front getting "the evil eye" from disgruntled customers because I can't wait on 10 people at one time.
Now also the deli is "being watched" and the other night 4 co-managers walked through with clipboards, taking notes on who knows what. Someone in "the front" has complained that the deli workers are not doing their jobs and I know that most of us are busting our butts to keep it afloat.
I, for one, am tired of it. Tired of being exhausted all the time, standing for 8 hours+, always being short-staffed, pitifully underpaid, and definitely under-appreciated.
The only thing that kept me coming in was my great co-workers, and now that is changing too. An arrogant, obnoxious, oppositional new transfer, who thinks she is the manager, is making closing the deli down and waiting on customers into a very unpleasant ordeal. The "fun" and "comradery" of struggling together with great co-workers is gone. It got so bad that I reported this person to management and left shift early with permission because I had reached my saturation point of tolerance.
So I am done, folks. And I've read your stories and shared your frustrations and I've got to say, even though I feel a bit sad, I am GLAD that I am going to be out of Kroger. There is and never was any future in it and who wants to sacrifice their family life and health for a job that sucks your soul and pays so little? NOT ME!
This is me. I wasn't registered at the time I wrote it. Just wanted to clarify my identity.
I will be posting on here to continue to encourage people to GET OUT of Kroger. Kroger does not deserve quality employees and people need to leave in droves. Or better yet, don't apply there!
