I've got to vent about an experience I had with a holier-than-thou member of corporate today during training.
Some background: They just rolled out a new ordering system at Smith's (Western US, not sure if this is company wide) called Order Evolution. They made it sound like this huge deal, but it's essentially just CAO that's supposed to predict sales better as well as set its own automated mins. Today was the day that we had training for it. I, being the freight crew lead, was a part of this training with all members of management. The meeting ran from 7 AM to around 11:30 AM. Everybody had initially been under the impression that I wouldn't be at the meeting until 9:30, but typical Kroger, miscommunication happened and it was at 7. This left the store without facing because they pulled me away 2 and a half hours early. So whatever, I tried to quick-face a couple of aisles and went to the meeting/training.
Now, there was a part of this meeting where we had to split off into teams; I was lucky enough to be teamed up with the store director, the assistant store director (guy also over HR for the store I guess, but not the HR person, whatever sense that makes) and the Grocery Coordinator for our district. Oh boy. So we all head to the sales floor to get hands-on training. We head to the paper aisle, and while the Grocery Coordinator is teaching the assistant store director how to use this new system, I was quietly facing part of the aisle while we went. You know, attempting to take action to make the store look good while I can. I had already had my time to learn the system, so I figured I'd stay right with the group and face the items next to us. I stepped literally MAYBE 2 feet away, if that, and the Grocery Coordinator felt the need to say, "Josh, you need to stay over here," and points to the ground right in front of him. This threw me off a little bit; I was only trying to take the initiative to get some facing done and I made it a point to stay close to the rest of the group. Also, to let you guys know, I don't do well with people telling me that I "need" to do something. I don't NEED to do anything. Anyway, a bit later, the Store Director was facing, and he strayed pretty far from the group. Guess what, though? The Grocery Coordinator didn't say anything to him. Isn't that funny? I almost leaned over and said, "Aren't you going to tell him to come back over here?" but I figured I didn't need to be making any kind of scene on the sales floor and while we were trying to get through this stupid BS.
This guy had no respect for me. I was so polite and respectful to him, and he felt the need to talk to me that way. His tone was rude and condescending, and I know that he did it because he felt like he could boss me around because I am a young man (21). He is on a power trip, as most of these corporate people are. I know that this is something so small, so minute, that it should just be brushed off. However, I do not take it lightly when I have offered my sincerest respect to somebody and they are this way in return. I have the address to the corporate office, and I will be writing a very professional letter to him and his bosses suggesting that it might be a good idea for him to take a class or 2 to learn how to talk to his employees. All 4 of these corporate people in the meeting were also playing on their phones during, which they specifically told us NOT to do. I will also be mentioning this in my letter. I know that that is very condescending of me, but I know that it is what will bother him; these corporate people are bothered when you suggest that they need more training. They take it very personally because it is their career. I will leave a return address on said letter so that he can feel free to get back to me with any comments, questions, or concerns. He will know who it is coming from, and should he have an issue with it, I am more than happy to work elsewhere :D What a prick.
Thanks for listening to my rant, guys.
All the best,
Josh
-- Edited by MrFreightBoss on Thursday 6th of April 2017 03:31:52 PM
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You had an employee bbq yesterday? Thanks for telling the night crew...
Don't waste your time with no letter bro; they're just gonna get a good laugh over it and then in the trash. Your letter ain't changing sh!t.
That there GC talked to you that way because that is the culture at Kroger, get used to it. I've seen worse.
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"Resistance is futile...you will be assimilated" - The Krog
Yeah, these corporate types have no respect for us, those who are paying their salaries in the first place.
I can't even keep track of what all the titles are but there's one person in my district who NEVER has anything good to say, every time she comes in. One time we had the bakery set almost perfectly, and her response? "Well it's a lot better than it's been, but you still have a ways to go"....excuse me?? This woman has never worked in a store a day in her life i'm sure, let alone one that is so small that we are running a bakery on 120 hours a week!!
At least my coordinator says i'm doing a good job, so i really don't even care what any of these corporate types say.
Don't waste your time with no letter bro; they're just gonna get a good laugh over it and then in the trash. Your letter ain't changing sh!t. That there GC talked to you that way because that is the culture at Kroger, get used to it. I've seen worse.
Oh ho ho, don't lose hope yet, my friend. Apparently there have been MANY HR issues with this guy. I discussed this letter with an immediate member of management that I trust, and he is putting me into contact with the HR Lead for our district, encouraging me to send a copy of the letter to him as well. Trust me, this letter will bother the guy. I've already written it, and while it's as professional as possible, it is condescending and questions the guy's ability to do his job. talking down to these corporate people is what gets to them. I am essentially telling him that I expected something much more professional from somebody at his level. And if nothing happens, I will write to him and HR once more about why I am terminating my employment with Kroger immediately. It will put a ton of pressure on my entire store and then on him in turn. I've got this in the bag, brotha. Lol.
The best way to get back at them is as professionally as possible with a taste of their medicine (the letter says "I suggest management training in order for you to learn how to better treat your employees"), does it get more condescending than that? Lol. The $hit storm will come. I've certainly been treated worse; this is practically nothing! I've been called a "F**king A**hole" on the sales floor before at another store lol. I'm just such a bitter Kroger douche at this point that I'll go the extra mile to burn somebody. He happened to wander into my sights. At best, he'll get a talking to. At worst, it will be on his mind for a bit, maybe almost ruin his day. With that, I'll be satisfied! Lol.
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You had an employee bbq yesterday? Thanks for telling the night crew...
Yeah, these corporate types have no respect for us, those who are paying their salaries in the first place.
I can't even keep track of what all the titles are but there's one person in my district who NEVER has anything good to say, every time she comes in. One time we had the bakery set almost perfectly, and her response? "Well it's a lot better than it's been, but you still have a ways to go"....excuse me?? This woman has never worked in a store a day in her life i'm sure, let alone one that is so small that we are running a bakery on 120 hours a week!!
At least my coordinator says i'm doing a good job, so i really don't even care what any of these corporate types say.
Isn't that great? Lol eff these douches on their power trips. I don't let anybody disrespect me at work; we're all people. I don't even listen to it from my own mother, why take it from them?! Lol. The moment I am disrespected while trying to do my job, I start coming up with ways to get even. Professionally, of course. If you guys want to see the letter, I've got it all typed up. I'll edit it to hide my name, the ****sucker's name, and the addresses.
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You had an employee bbq yesterday? Thanks for telling the night crew...
Spencer is actually alright despite what impression he left you with. He's not going to tell a store director what to do as he isn't his boss but the grocery coordinator is everyone in groceries boss. You really should be inclined to stay right there and learn the new system with your full attention since it's a ****ing training session lol. Facing isn't gonna do **** for you. Learning cao properly is gonna make your life easier as a freight boss. :)
Spencer is actually alright despite what impression he left you with. He's not going to tell a store director what to do as he isn't his boss but the grocery coordinator is everyone in groceries boss. You really should be inclined to stay right there and learn the new system with your full attention since it's a ****ing training session lol. Facing isn't gonna do **** for you. Learning cao properly is gonna make your life easier as a freight boss. :)
Looks like you didn't read the whole thing and didn't understand as well as missed the point. I was done with the learning part at that point. I've been a freight boss for a total of 5 years and I'm not an idiot. Been using CAO the whole time. I'm surprised Kroger hasn't promoted you to CEO with your non-attention to detail and thinking you know what's best for people, bud. Grow up.
-- Edited by MrFreightBoss on Saturday 8th of April 2017 11:57:30 AM
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You had an employee bbq yesterday? Thanks for telling the night crew...
I was over corporate the moment they came through and one of the dudes was like "thanks for making my retirement check possible". All big grins and that was it. No thanks for the hard work and the store is looking great or nothing(most especially as we had a mad scramble to get the floor as filled as possible and extra poifect for them to see). So I just think screw em.
I was over corporate the moment they came through and one of the dudes was like "thanks for making my retirement check possible". All big grins and that was it. No thanks for the hard work and the store is looking great or nothing(most especially as we had a mad scramble to get the floor as filled as possible and extra poifect for them to see). So I just think screw em.
Haha the nerve of these people... Ridiculous. I wanted to kick the **** out of the guy that talked to me the way he did. But, since violence wouldn't solve anything, I'll at least ruin his day with professionalism and intelligence haha.
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You had an employee bbq yesterday? Thanks for telling the night crew...
I was over corporate the moment they came through and one of the dudes was like "thanks for making my retirement check possible". All big grins and that was it. No thanks for the hard work and the store is looking great or nothing(most especially as we had a mad scramble to get the floor as filled as possible and extra poifect for them to see). So I just think screw em.
Haha the nerve of these people... Ridiculous. I wanted to kick the **** out of the guy that talked to me the way he did. But, since violence wouldn't solve anything, I'll at least ruin his day with professionalism and intelligence haha.
You've been a freight boss for 5 years, but you are a young man aged at the age of 21?
Hell yes. I was doing it while still in high school, without the official title. Go to work, get home, take a shower, go to school, get home and sleep, and repeat. It was rough for a while. I know the dumpy little store I was at had to pull some strings to allow me to even throw freight before I was 18, but they did it. This store was in the middle of nowhere, so we NEVER saw corporate. It was an interesting time lol.
__________________
You had an employee bbq yesterday? Thanks for telling the night crew...
Spencer is actually alright despite what impression he left you with. He's not going to tell a store director what to do as he isn't his boss but the grocery coordinator is everyone in groceries boss. You really should be inclined to stay right there and learn the new system with your full attention since it's a ****ing training session lol. Facing isn't gonna do **** for you. Learning cao properly is gonna make your life easier as a freight boss. :)
Looks like you didn't read the whole thing and didn't understand as well as missed the point. I was done with the learning part at that point. I've been a freight boss for a total of 5 years and I'm not an idiot. Been using CAO the whole time. I'm surprised Kroger hasn't promoted you to CEO with your non-attention to detail and thinking you know what's best for people, bud. Grow up.
-- Edited by MrFreightBoss on Saturday 8th of April 2017 11:57:30 AM
You've been a "frieght boss" for 5 years and you're 21? lmao, they dont let 16 year olds be cashiers, let alone managers. Story isn't adding up, and I don't buy it. You just sound like an ******* who is going to get a spotlight from corporate and management on you, and when management has a spotlight on you, they will do anything to write you up to eventually terminate you. I know because I actually am in management.
Spencer is actually alright despite what impression he left you with. He's not going to tell a store director what to do as he isn't his boss but the grocery coordinator is everyone in groceries boss. You really should be inclined to stay right there and learn the new system with your full attention since it's a ****ing training session lol. Facing isn't gonna do **** for you. Learning cao properly is gonna make your life easier as a freight boss. :)
Looks like you didn't read the whole thing and didn't understand as well as missed the point. I was done with the learning part at that point. I've been a freight boss for a total of 5 years and I'm not an idiot. Been using CAO the whole time. I'm surprised Kroger hasn't promoted you to CEO with your non-attention to detail and thinking you know what's best for people, bud. Grow up.
-- Edited by MrFreightBoss on Saturday 8th of April 2017 11:57:30 AM
You've been a "frieght boss" for 5 years and you're 21? lmao, they dont let 16 year olds be cashiers, let alone managers. Story isn't adding up, and I don't buy it. You just sound like an ******* who is going to get a spotlight from corporate and management on you, and when management has a spotlight on you, they will do anything to write you up to eventually terminate you. I know because I actually am in management.
So good luck with your unemployment!
Thanks bud!
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You had an employee bbq yesterday? Thanks for telling the night crew...
if the douchebag is 21, max would be 3 years as a manager. You can't work anywhere but the frontend unless you are at least 18 because you have to operate equipment and they require you to be 18 or older to operate it. douche had a bad day at work but what is the point of lying to make the story sound better.
Technically, from what i understand, i think you *can* work other departments if you are under 18, such as drug gm or produce, but you are VERY restricted on what you can or can't do. Like you can't even have a boxcutter to open boxes for crying out loud, lol.
