Has any one ever changed depts. in order to get full-time? I ask because right now our Deli has had some people quit and some get fired over there. And when I was over there last night closing for them. I was told that I could get more hours over there and even ask to be put over in their dept. altogether.
However, when I talked to one of our managers, she said if I did go over there. I'd still be part-time with just more hours. Which to me would seem kind of silly to move over there for just more hours if there is no guarantee that I'd have a bit more of a chance to get closer to making full-time. Unless I'm missing some advantages to a situation like that...
Also learned last night that to get full-time have to work 32 to 36 hrs for 16 consecutive weeks to get full-time. But I wonder does that have to happen only times when there are no major holidays going on? Or could it apply to then too? As I noticed last year when we were getting closer to Thanksgiving and Christmas times I was getting like 30+ hrs or so at that time. I never counted to see if it was ever up to 16 weeks or so mind you. But I'm curious does it matter when and how those 16 consecutive weeks fall on the calendar.
Oh and also that, if the managers don't give you full-time once you got the 16 weeks, can go to the union about it. But I wonder how often that occurs.
Depends on how desperate your store is really. They will give you full time if they schedule you enough and sometimes you can slip by on it. But Kroger tries to avoid giving out full time status whenever possible.
Also as far as switching departments, that's up to you, i've never worked deli but if you like it, go for it. But if you hate it, i'd stay in the bakery.
Depends on how desperate your store is really. They will give you full time if they schedule you enough and sometimes you can slip by on it. But Kroger tries to avoid giving out full time status whenever possible.
Also as far as switching departments, that's up to you, i've never worked deli but if you like it, go for it. But if you hate it, i'd stay in the bakery.
Well in the last few weeks they have been pulling people over to work in the sandwich shop already. Before they even asked me to do closing yesterday. So although they may not necessarily act desperate, from what I've heard they are often under staffed in the Deli just as much as in the Bakery too. Probably even more so, as it seemed like 5 or so peeps had called off at one time or another.
And although I've only been over there 3 times and value that I can take my breaks and at times the work load seems far lighter. But there is still something that makes me wonder what in the world is going on, that so many peeps are calling off so much over there in the first place. I mean I can see if they had hired a bunch of teenagers that just didn't want to work or something. But they didn't. So I don't know what could have been going on for 4 peeps to quit and 4 to get fired.
The firings and so forth alone make me kind of leery. I mean bakery can have it's stressful moments, but so far as I have seen. Nobody over there has been fired since I've been hired on. And don't get me wrong, Deli isn't too bad with slicing meats and cheeses. But I like the creative atmosphere of seeing what the pastry chef will make next or the decorators doing the cakes. And even seeing how to frost different stuff myself. Kind of the main reason I chose bakery in the first place really. That and the fact that the smell of most deli meats turn my stomach in the first place, lol.
I don't work in the deli (or bakery, for that matter), but it sounds like you have a preference to the kind of work done/the products you handle in the bakery versus the deli. If the smell of lunch meat is unpleasant to you, then you may not want to go to a department where you'll be handling it and working around it on a regular basis. If your only incentive to switch departments is in the hopes you'll get full time... I wouldn't. Kroger is selective as to who gets full time status because it costs the company more money. Stores are only supposedly "allowed" a certain number of full time employees and store managers are encouraged/pressured by division and regional higher-ups to maintain a certain ratio of full time to part time help. Even if you manage to get full time hours, a difficult task in itself, over a certain number of weeks, an alert e-mail will show up in your store manager's/ASP's inbox informing them you are getting close to achieving full time status. It's very hard to "sneak in" full time status.
Since you were already told you'd still be part time if you go over there, there's no reason to assume you'll get full time hours and eventually obtain full time status, even if the department is short-handed, so I wouldn't base a department transfer decision on the hope that you'll get full time.
Oh, and your contract may be different, but under mine, it doesn't matter what time of the year it is, if you work forty hours over the course of twelve weeks, you get bumped up to full time. What doesn't count is overtime (those aren't qualifying hours), vacation/personal time (neither of which can be taken during that twelve week stretch because it won't count and will reset your qualifying number of weeks for full time status back to zero, so you'll have to start over on your twelve weeks if you're trying to get full time status).
The best way to get full time status is to have your store manager sanction it. Like, I knew I was getting close, so I disclosed that to my store manager, to which he responded in surprise, "don't you want full time?" and I was like, "sure, but I didn't know if you'd be okay with it," and he was like, "of course I am!" and yeah, that's all there was to it for me, but it's going to depend on your store manager, ultimately.
I don't work in the deli (or bakery, for that matter), but it sounds like you have a preference to the kind of work done/the products you handle in the bakery versus the deli. If the smell of lunch meat is unpleasant to you, then you may not want to go to a department where you'll be handling it and working around it on a regular basis. If your only incentive to switch departments is in the hopes you'll get full time... I wouldn't. Kroger is selective as to who gets full time status because it costs the company more money. Stores are only supposedly "allowed" a certain number of full time employees and store managers are encouraged/pressured by division and regional higher-ups to maintain a certain ratio of full time to part time help. Even if you manage to get full time hours, a difficult task in itself, over a certain number of weeks, an alert e-mail will show up in your store manager's/ASP's inbox informing them you are getting close to achieving full time status. It's very hard to "sneak in" full time status.
Since you were already told you'd still be part time if you go over there, there's no reason to assume you'll get full time hours and eventually obtain full time status, even if the department is short-handed, so I wouldn't base a department transfer decision on the hope that you'll get full time.
Oh, and your contract may be different, but under mine, it doesn't matter what time of the year it is, if you work forty hours over the course of twelve weeks, you get bumped up to full time. What doesn't count is overtime (those aren't qualifying hours), vacation/personal time (neither of which can be taken during that twelve week stretch because it won't count and will reset your qualifying number of weeks for full time status back to zero, so you'll have to start over on your twelve weeks if you're trying to get full time status).
The best way to get full time status is to have your store manager sanction it. Like, I knew I was getting close, so I disclosed that to my store manager, to which he responded in surprise, "don't you want full time?" and I was like, "sure, but I didn't know if you'd be okay with it," and he was like, "of course I am!" and yeah, that's all there was to it for me, but it's going to depend on your store manager, ultimately.
Thank you! I totally appreciate all this information. Honestly, I haven't assumed anything thus far in this job really(other than some peeps have shared waaaay too much of their biz at work). Much double talk happens at times and never quite sure what is going to actually happen vs. what really IS happening, til last minute. So yea, not hedging any bets on anything.
Oh and another question, can you still be in the position you were hired for if you obtained full-time status? Meaning could I still remain a bakery clerk or would full-time status bump me into a back up managerial position?
I only ask cause during the performance review we had a few weeks back, my DH asked if I was interested in staying with the company and doing work like our current back ups are doing. And I said sure eventually, after I've learned enough about all aspects of the job and I feel confident about doing my job sufficiently enough to take on that level of responsibility. To which he said that's good and that at another store like 20 mins away from where our division is/where I live, has a nice store that he might be able to put in a good word for me there. As it's kind of a jump off store for him, since he's promoted so many people out that way.
But yea it got me to thinking, if I ever did become full-time at some point, would I have to automatically be bumped up to co-manager level too? Or could I still just be a clerk? Or eventually do some of the baking.
Yes, you can still be in the position you were hired for even if you status changes from part time to full time. You can be a full time bakery clerk... it's not easy to become one, but it's possible.
Back-up positions tend to be full time positions. Even if you get full time status, you wouldn't automatically become a back-up. The process involving becoming a back-up involves a lot more than just becoming full time.
What your DH may have been getting at is a possible promotion down the line where you could train to become a back-up and actually be classified as one, which comes with a pay raise. You have to complete a training course and classes and such, as well as pass to be certified. Those that choose to enter the ADH program (assistant department head program) do train at other stores for extended periods of time.
You can't be bumped up to co-manager. To become a co-manager, you must first become a department head. Once you're a department head, you can put in an application for the MD-1 training program. Not everyone has their applications approved though because there's a list of qualifications that must be met. Despite what some may say or think, Kroger actually doesn't just let anybody that wants to become a co-manager become one.
Again thank you so much for this information. Does put things in perspective about the hierarchy of things too. And also that I could keep being a clerk as well. No shade to the managers and so forth. But yea that is a lot of stress at times it would seem. And definitely don't think that would be my cup of tea.
If you ever are interested in becoming a department head, at least in the Cincy/Dayton division, you go to a month long training program in Cincinnati where you attend 10 different classes. The other days, you will go to a training store where you get to do a ton of computer modules. Then if you have any extra time on top of that, you might work in the department a little bit. That's what happened when I went to my training store, i think i actually only worked like 1 or 2 full shifts there. But it was nice to see how the big marketplace operates.
Yea, something I might consider down the road when I'm ready for more responsibility. But given, how they do things from the explanations I've read here. It sounds like it might just be a good call for the moment to just find a second part-time gig like most of the rest of my co-workers to help with my student loans. Just I have to find one flexible as hell, with the way my schedule is all over the place at times.
