Hi all! Guess I'll keep it short and to the point.
I am a courtesy clerk and while at first things seemed nice, I've been here for 7 months and things are getting pretty bad now, and I don't know what my rights are or if they're okay to do the things they are doing.
1st is the whole lot duty thing. I know that sometimes workers don't work as hard and I always clear it, but I think they took advantage of that. Am I supposed to be out there more than the hours I'm scheduled? Let's say I'm working 12-6 and for lot I am scheduled for lot at 1 and 5...not bad easy day...but it never goes like that for me. I usually would be outside from 1-somewhere before 4. And then I would like to hope someone takes my hour because it's pretty hectic, but I'd only get an hours rest before they send me back out because I'm scheduled...but yet..they never send other people out who are scheduled which is why I am out there all of the time.
Secondly, when I applied for the job, it says I am hard of hearing, I have generalized anxiety, and aspbergers.
Lately I've been getting yelled at for not amswering intercom calls but I don't always hear them. I don't have a hearing aide because well...I make 7.25 and work about 20-28 hours a week here and have to pay bills.
I have told my manager I don't know how many times I am hard of hearing and they just say they don't wanna hear it and fix it...I can't just fix my hearing. If I could I would. It's gotten to the point I'm getting written up for it and I feel that's unfair considering it's a disability...
A disability that I had mentioned countless times.
She even has proof because she stopped me one day and yelled at me because apparently she was calling me and I didn't hear her. She was swearing up and down I have headphones in and I told her no. I don't have pockets so there's no way for me to hide them. Right then and there i told her "See? Sometimes I just can't hear you."....but yet she writes me up for not responding and headphones.
Thirdly, I do have anxiety. Things go on, dramatics happen, sometimes I panic at work or get into bad moods. I do try my best to keep it together and so I haven't had a problem in weeks. But because work is so stressful, my anxiety levels are a bit higher, making it a bit easier to panic.
Yesterday while I was pulling carts a reckless driver actually pinned me inbetween two rows and was trying to force their car back even after they saw me. She didn't stop and drive back forward once she realized she couldn't force her car past the baskets because there's a body being smushed in the middle of them.
I went into shock I guess, especially since the person just sped off. And I went to the bathroom and yeah, I disappeared for 10 minutes because I was freaking out. I literally in my mind thought I was going to get severely hurt. When I told the manager this after she found me, she didn't file a report and she barely listened to anything I said. She just said I wasn't a model associate and I need to be and I can't disappear...but I mean. I can't communicate in a state of panic or shock. And other times I've disappeared I have told someone when they say I don't. They just don't communicate with each other at all and then blame the employees. I usually do go above and beyond for my job. I even have a key. Like now, my stomach is feeling all kinds of sharp pains and I'm still debating doing the 2 hour walk to work so I don't leave them in the dust like I know they do when someone calls out...but what's the point if my safety isn't more important than 10 minutes of me just standing around or being on lot?
Lastly, when you have Aspbergers...you need thing explained to you. My managers just expect me to know things and I don't, because no one explained it to me...I have told them this as well. But again, my manager just says she doesn't wanna hear it.
So then what do I do? I can't just poof and all the sudden I don't have these issues. If I could I would because they already wear on self confidence. Apparently my job is on the line but I can't do what she's asking of me if I'm disabled. And when a manager just ignores reminders of that...what do you do?
I liked my job, and I love my coworkers...but I can't deal with for lack of a better word neglectful management. They didn't even believe the accident on lot and acted like I was being dramatic. They could check the cameras to see. Just like how they probably checked the cameras to see that I was in the bathroom.
I really don't know what to do or what my rights are, because if I lose my job over this I can't pay my bills.
You should have got that car's tags number and reported it to the police. Also you should have banged as hard as you could on the trunk. I have seen someone almost kick someone's taillight out for this kind of thing. You will be OK if you somehow get their attention next time go Donald Trump on them. If Kroger fires you sue them.
The car sped off so fast that I couldn't get anything. But I did file a report with HR because apparently my manager should have filed a report. I would've beat or something but when I say I was pinned, I mean I was like pinned, smushed, couldn't move. Also just froze soon as it started happening.
Hi all! Guess I'll keep it short and to the point.
I am a courtesy clerk and while at first things seemed nice, I've been here for 7 months and things are getting pretty bad now, and I don't know what my rights are or if they're okay to do the things they are doing.
1st is the whole lot duty thing. I know that sometimes workers don't work as hard and I always clear it, but I think they took advantage of that. Am I supposed to be out there more than the hours I'm scheduled? Let's say I'm working 12-6 and for lot I am scheduled for lot at 1 and 5...not bad easy day...but it never goes like that for me. I usually would be outside from 1-somewhere before 4. And then I would like to hope someone takes my hour because it's pretty hectic, but I'd only get an hours rest before they send me back out because I'm scheduled...but yet..they never send other people out who are scheduled which is why I am out there all of the time.
Secondly, when I applied for the job, it says I am hard of hearing, I have generalized anxiety, and aspbergers.
Lately I've been getting yelled at for not amswering intercom calls but I don't always hear them. I don't have a hearing aide because well...I make 7.25 and work about 20-28 hours a week here and have to pay bills.
I have told my manager I don't know how many times I am hard of hearing and they just say they don't wanna hear it and fix it...I can't just fix my hearing. If I could I would. It's gotten to the point I'm getting written up for it and I feel that's unfair considering it's a disability...
A disability that I had mentioned countless times.
She even has proof because she stopped me one day and yelled at me because apparently she was calling me and I didn't hear her. She was swearing up and down I have headphones in and I told her no. I don't have pockets so there's no way for me to hide them. Right then and there i told her "See? Sometimes I just can't hear you."....but yet she writes me up for not responding and headphones.
Thirdly, I do have anxiety. Things go on, dramatics happen, sometimes I panic at work or get into bad moods. I do try my best to keep it together and so I haven't had a problem in weeks. But because work is so stressful, my anxiety levels are a bit higher, making it a bit easier to panic.
Yesterday while I was pulling carts a reckless driver actually pinned me inbetween two rows and was trying to force their car back even after they saw me. She didn't stop and drive back forward once she realized she couldn't force her car past the baskets because there's a body being smushed in the middle of them.
I went into shock I guess, especially since the person just sped off. And I went to the bathroom and yeah, I disappeared for 10 minutes because I was freaking out. I literally in my mind thought I was going to get severely hurt. When I told the manager this after she found me, she didn't file a report and she barely listened to anything I said. She just said I wasn't a model associate and I need to be and I can't disappear...but I mean. I can't communicate in a state of panic or shock. And other times I've disappeared I have told someone when they say I don't. They just don't communicate with each other at all and then blame the employees. I usually do go above and beyond for my job. I even have a key. Like now, my stomach is feeling all kinds of sharp pains and I'm still debating doing the 2 hour walk to work so I don't leave them in the dust like I know they do when someone calls out...but what's the point if my safety isn't more important than 10 minutes of me just standing around or being on lot?
Lastly, when you have Aspbergers...you need thing explained to you. My managers just expect me to know things and I don't, because no one explained it to me...I have told them this as well. But again, my manager just says she doesn't wanna hear it.
So then what do I do? I can't just poof and all the sudden I don't have these issues. If I could I would because they already wear on self confidence. Apparently my job is on the line but I can't do what she's asking of me if I'm disabled. And when a manager just ignores reminders of that...what do you do?
I liked my job, and I love my coworkers...but I can't deal with for lack of a better word neglectful management. They didn't even believe the accident on lot and acted like I was being dramatic. They could check the cameras to see. Just like how they probably checked the cameras to see that I was in the bathroom.
I really don't know what to do or what my rights are, because if I lose my job over this I can't pay my bills.
Someone help me out here?
Thanks for keeping it short. Welcome back frontendslave.
Hey there - let me reach out to you. First, I have read your post & understand the situation that you are in. It can be very uncomfortable. I do hope it works out for the best. I think you should approach the manager team and tell them your concerns. It's like going on a date - you have to take the risk and hopefully the reward from it will come. If it doesn't, then at least you tried on your end & now you have clear concrete evidence of the type of people you work for.
I am sure you have quite a few employee rights as well just based on being an employee for any company. Then you have rights due to the unique circumstances surrounding your particular situation. Go find out who the store Union Stewards are. Ask to speak to them about your situation. Even if you are not part of the Union, they should be willing to listen & help.
But I do believe the first step is to talk frankly with your manager(s). Tell them exactly what you said here.... how you do like your job & want to be viewed as a good, valuable employee. State to them what your handicaps are especially with hearing.
I reread the last part of your post. Probably best to first go find your Union Steward and request a conference with both the Store Manager and this particular manager who says "she doesn't want to hear it" and have the Union Steward be present for it
Good Luck
__________________
I am no longer part of the oppressed, evil workforce of Kroger! Can you say "Hallelujah"
I actually have done that...I wanted to call my union rep but it was said they just side with the store anyways. So now I'm unclear what tovdo really, if no one wants to or is able to help. But I recently did sit down with the front end and store manager to try and tell them this, that's when she said she didn't want to hear it.
I actually have done that...I wanted to call my union rep but it was said they just side with the store anyways. So now I'm unclear what tovdo really, if no one wants to or is able to help. But I recently did sit down with the front end and store manager to try and tell them this, that's when she said she didn't want to hear it.
Ignore what you heard about the union siding with Kroger. File a grievance anyway. If your shop steward won't file it or discuss it, then go to the district union steward. Filing a grievance will create a paper trail.
Ask the organizations that protect disability laws in the workplace. Federal Law can not be ignored without consequences.
