I am a seafood lead and under the local 540 union. Long story short, my coordinator has told me he's transferring me to a store further away and if I don't go I will be demoted. Currently I am a 10 minute drive from home and don't even have to take the highway. I do not have a valid driver's license, and my car is in the shop once a month (and I've put in about $4k into it at this point) and is an absolutely unreliable nightmare. Currently as things stand I can't afford another car, and when my car doesn't work I take a bike to work. I had expressed these concerns to my coordinator and that I didn't agree to going, but he is saying if I don't go I will be demoted. Not only is my car and my license an issue, but I have scheduling needs that have to be met that I have legal documentation that they have to be complied with (can't work nights or inconsistent shifts, and I have a second job on Saturdays) which my current store team is perfectly happy to comply with. My express HR file also states I am unwilling to relocate. My understanding was that as a lvl 3 employee, I cannot be forced to transfer without my consent, but lvl 4s do (market managers, deli managers, produce managers are all lvl 4) mini dept heads (as I call them) like seafood captains and nutrition leads, can't be forced to transfer.
I'm very upset that my concerns aren't being heard. If my car breaks down I will be unreliable to the company and could lose my job, if this new store doesn't comply with my scheduling needs, it will be an absolute disaster on both our parts. My coordinator is aware of all these issues but still insists I have no say in the matter or I get demoted and then I will lose my apartment. My union rep wasn't much help to me.
What can I do? What rules am I protected by according to my union or labor laws? What do you recommend?
All you can do is go with the flow or talk with your District HR Coordinator. Are you being moved because of department conditions or a request of your current Store Manager?
Neither. I have excellent numbers and my store manager doesn't want me to transfer either. I'm the promise team leader and I'm recognized daily for the numbers I produce and for my treatment of customers. He's wanting me to transfer because someone is stepping down or something. He didn't really explain. There are plenty of other seafood managers who have reliable transportation and don't have scheduling issues, and there are even more folks who want promotions who deserve it. It's not just a matter of "I don't want to" it's a matter of it's not logical for me to do so. He's trying to find literally ANYONE he can force over there. He keeps telling me I'm too "high profile" to be at the store I'm at.
I have a personality disorder which is why I have my scheduling problems and have already had a meltdown once during my time with Kroger due to being overstressed and understaffed at the largest store in the district.
I am a seafood lead and under the local 540 union. Long story short, my coordinator has told me he's transferring me to a store further away and if I don't go I will be demoted. Currently I am a 10 minute drive from home and don't even have to take the highway. I do not have a valid driver's license, and my car is in the shop once a month (and I've put in about $4k into it at this point) and is an absolutely unreliable nightmare. Currently as things stand I can't afford another car, and when my car doesn't work I take a bike to work. I had expressed these concerns to my coordinator and that I didn't agree to going, but he is saying if I don't go I will be demoted. Not only is my car and my license an issue, but I have scheduling needs that have to be met that I have legal documentation that they have to be complied with (can't work nights or inconsistent shifts, and I have a second job on Saturdays) which my current store team is perfectly happy to comply with. My express HR file also states I am unwilling to relocate. My understanding was that as a lvl 3 employee, I cannot be forced to transfer without my consent, but lvl 4s do (market managers, deli managers, produce managers are all lvl 4) mini dept heads (as I call them) like seafood captains and nutrition leads, can't be forced to transfer.
I'm very upset that my concerns aren't being heard. If my car breaks down I will be unreliable to the company and could lose my job, if this new store doesn't comply with my scheduling needs, it will be an absolute disaster on both our parts. My coordinator is aware of all these issues but still insists I have no say in the matter or I get demoted and then I will lose my apartment. My union rep wasn't much help to me.
What can I do? What rules am I protected by according to my union or labor laws? What do you recommend?
You expect them to follow rules when you dont have a valid drivers license?? Get the **** outta here.
I used to run the largest stores in our district, and when I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder had a massive breakdown and was at an inpatient program for days. I was overworked and stressed and understaffed, and since then I cannot physically handle the high stress of massive stores anymore, which is why I have scheduling needs now. Not to mention completely unreliable transportation and no drivers license. All my coordinator is trying to do by threatening me with demotion, is use it as a power move to make me go without my consent. There's no reason to power move me with demotion besides as retaliation for not wanting to transfer. He says I'm too "high profile", have fantastic numbers and excel at customer service. Why would someone like that be demoted except as retaliation? It's not right. I am extremely stressed out about the situation.
They would not agree to make you a Lead unless you agreed to transfers. Leads and management have to agree to tranfers. They get transferred all the time You're just going to have to transfer or be demoted.
This is true, however when I was first promoted I was promoted in store with no training or forms signed. I didn't even ask for the position.
But again, if things were different in my life currently i would agree to a transfer. However I would think that because of my current circumstances there would be an understanding and consideration that a transfer isn't liable for myself OR for another store that would take me in due to what is going on. How can a coordinator think it is a good choice to move someone to a different store who currently has unreliable transportation? Then threaten demotion if it isn't done?
I'll take the transfer, but if my car breaks down and I have no way to get to work, then I'll just be fired for not coming in? Hopefully my coordinator informs the new store of my schedule requirements as well, and they agree to it or they'll also be in for a rude awakening. It seems very irresponsible on their part, instead of just finding someone else. I mean if we have to agree to it no matter what, there are literally tons of other people who could take it or be promoted for the job tbh.
I'm not saying your coordinator is in the right, but in my district at least it's always been known that department heads can be moved to a different store at any time. To be promoted, you have to be willing to transfer stores. I've worked in 3 different stores now, as a dept. head in 2 of them. We also have to be willing to work one night a week (two for assistant department heads).
Kroger causes a lot of BS and stress so i definitely feel you there. I'm pretty bad at getting anxiety sometimes when it comes to this place.
I'm just not surprised they want to move you to another store, if they feel you are a good seafood lead, they probably want you to "fix" one of their poorer performing stores.
But you say you have a car but no license? Wtf is up with that?
If you do not have transportation (no license, car issues) you should not place yourself in jeopardy transferring. Call the Coordinators bluff, in reality the Store Manager can go over the Coordinators head to the District Manager. I just question why your Coordinator and yourself are not already on the same page. I know all the Coordinators I have every worked with would not move someone with your different needs unless they basically want you to step down. I do not understand using the "High Profile" terminological unless the the Coordinator is transferring you to is higher volume, because of your success. But again, all the Coordinators I have known would not have done something like this if they knew your situation.
I am a seafood lead and under the local 540 union. Long story short, my coordinator has told me he's transferring me to a store further away and if I don't go I will be demoted. Currently I am a 10 minute drive from home and don't even have to take the highway. I do not have a valid driver's license, and my car is in the shop once a month (and I've put in about $4k into it at this point) and is an absolutely unreliable nightmare. Currently as things stand I can't afford another car, and when my car doesn't work I take a bike to work. I had expressed these concerns to my coordinator and that I didn't agree to going, but he is saying if I don't go I will be demoted. Not only is my car and my license an issue, but I have scheduling needs that have to be met that I have legal documentation that they have to be complied with (can't work nights or inconsistent shifts, and I have a second job on Saturdays) which my current store team is perfectly happy to comply with. My express HR file also states I am unwilling to relocate. My understanding was that as a lvl 3 employee, I cannot be forced to transfer without my consent, but lvl 4s do (market managers, deli managers, produce managers are all lvl 4) mini dept heads (as I call them) like seafood captains and nutrition leads, can't be forced to transfer.
I'm very upset that my concerns aren't being heard. If my car breaks down I will be unreliable to the company and could lose my job, if this new store doesn't comply with my scheduling needs, it will be an absolute disaster on both our parts. My coordinator is aware of all these issues but still insists I have no say in the matter or I get demoted and then I will lose my apartment. My union rep wasn't much help to me.
What can I do? What rules am I protected by according to my union or labor laws? What do you recommend?
If they transferred you, wouldn't that leave your store without a seafood lead? Why doesn't the other store promote from within?
I don't understand why he isn't on the same page as me either. I believe he just wants a strong manager over there but he has to understand what's going on in my life currently, and that I can't help him at this time in my life. I feel like he's just trying to give me a hard time. This is not a responsible move out of all his other options. I don't understand who would take my place and why he can't take literally anyone else or promote someone.
And I do not have to work the "one closing a week" due to my rights as someone with a mental disorder protected by the ADA. Inconsistent schedules make my disorder flare up, which has been seen happen at Kroger. I have to maintain consistency in my life to keep myself balanced. When in therapy, my psychiatrist wrote a note to my employer informing them of this along with a few other things I needed. Because I could prove I was a successful manager, who could make a Dept function without the closing once a week, it makes it a "reasonable" accomidation that my employer cannot say they can't do and they have to fire me because it will make the company unsuccessful. All the stores I've worked at for the most part, have been perfectly understanding of this and it's never been an issue. I also work a second job on Saturdays to help out my father and mother in law, due to a family health crisis they're going through. Again, I haven't run into many issues with this.
And I have a driving permit. Someone 21 or older has to be in the vehicle with me at all times who has a valid license. I took drivers Ed but never the physical driving test. I'm still pretty young, but most people my age have drivers licenses by now. The test itself flares up my anxiety to be debilitating, and I'm still working on being ready for that. The license isn't so much of the issue as my car is. I have had to take a bike multiple times to work because my car is so messed up. Currently can't afford a new one as I'm paying many people back as well as helping my family through this rough time.
Dumb question, is the store manager really given more authority than the coordinator? Like if the store manager says they don't want a department head transferred, can they really override the coordinator? I thought coordinators were the ones with the final decision.
I am a seafood lead and under the local 540 union. Long story short, my coordinator has told me he's transferring me to a store further away and if I don't go I will be demoted. Currently I am a 10 minute drive from home and don't even have to take the highway. I do not have a valid driver's license, and my car is in the shop once a month (and I've put in about $4k into it at this point) and is an absolutely unreliable nightmare. Currently as things stand I can't afford another car, and when my car doesn't work I take a bike to work. I had expressed these concerns to my coordinator and that I didn't agree to going, but he is saying if I don't go I will be demoted. Not only is my car and my license an issue, but I have scheduling needs that have to be met that I have legal documentation that they have to be complied with (can't work nights or inconsistent shifts, and I have a second job on Saturdays) which my current store team is perfectly happy to comply with. My express HR file also states I am unwilling to relocate. My understanding was that as a lvl 3 employee, I cannot be forced to transfer without my consent, but lvl 4s do (market managers, deli managers, produce managers are all lvl 4) mini dept heads (as I call them) like seafood captains and nutrition leads, can't be forced to transfer.
I'm very upset that my concerns aren't being heard. If my car breaks down I will be unreliable to the company and could lose my job, if this new store doesn't comply with my scheduling needs, it will be an absolute disaster on both our parts. My coordinator is aware of all these issues but still insists I have no say in the matter or I get demoted and then I will lose my apartment. My union rep wasn't much help to me.
What can I do? What rules am I protected by according to my union or labor laws? What do you recommend?
You can refuse. He would need just cause to demote you.
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Have u reached out yo your union rep ??? I can't see them forcing you to another store unless this store was closing or shutting down their meat/seafood dept.
I'd talk to your union about this as it sounds like retaliation. Remember meat/seafood positions are fewer in number so there are not as many positions around. You have two options, accept defeat and prove them wrong by making your new location like you and want to move you up. Another option is to quit but please line up a new job before hand unless you have financial means to carry you through 6-12 months. Another thought is to step down from seafood go to meat and still keep your pay. Or if you are not jrnyman pay consider the transfer back to grocery. (keeping in mind if you transfer out of meat/seafood it's like quitting so you're starting bottom again.) If you're low in seniority not jrnyman pay this shouldn't matter. But if you're contracted into old contract rights just be aware you will lose that privilege's. So be cautions when transferring out of meat/seafood back to grocery.
I recall a few of your posts on reddit.
Your best bet is to contact your union rep and file an ethics report. If they are not telling you why you're being fired from that position you need someone to ask why.
