The head of our department was on a rant yesterday about people's availability. She started saying she was going to schedule people outside their availability and they were just going to have to deal with it or quit. She told me specifically that I was going to have to work at a time when I just can't work. I've been working at Kroger for 9 years and had the same availability for the entire time (I was hired with that availability) so I'm pretty annoyed.
Can the union do anything about this? If not I'm just going to have to call off every time they schedule me at that time.
Not sure but I am dealing with the same thing in my store, I have also had the same availability since I was hired almost a year ago (I have another job and work part time, I am off sunday, wed, and thurs. My availability is 11am-7pm). The main store manager we had when I was hired was a great person, we sat down in length and talked out a schedule that benefited both him and me, but since this new HR manager (or whatever she's called) has come in (she isnt the "big boss" but has the most experience within our store), she's been messing with everyone's schedules, she even tried to schedule me 2pm-10pm which is WAY outside my availability. I said "oh hell no" and came in anyway at my normal time and asked for an override. She also tried to schedule me this past sunday but I called and told them that just wasnt going to work, the main manager answered the phone and said "well, you're scheduled today so ..." and he trailed off, basically implying that i was just going to have to come in, no dude, no i dont, and I didnt, I was firm and told him that was outside my availability, and told him I wasnt going to be there.
I will have to ask my in- store union rep about this and see if they can really do this, from what I remember reading from orientation, they can schedule full time people outside their availability but not part time people, but I might be wrong.
Yeah, it's ridiculous. I get that they're short handed but if they try to force this on their employees, they're going to be even more short handed than they were originally. I'm already sick of this place. One of the only reasons I stick around is for the flexible scheduling. If they start making me come in when I can't, I'm going to have to quit.
Another thing is that she said "everyone is replaceable." That might be true, but good luck hiring people and getting them to stay with that attitude.
Call the union now. If you were hired with restrictions, and u have 9 years in with no problems with it, you are safe. Be sure you let the store manager know before because they don't want union problems.
