The side help policy must go. Center store departments can't function properly if everyone is pulled to the front end to bag customers groceries or pick up for over half their shifts almost every day. Front end manager needs to staff and schedule the associates hired for their department the right way so they don't rely on side help to cover their ass and failure of leadership. Front end leaders need to talk to associates from other departments like adults, Kroger is not grade school. When did Kroger become a "service only" company? They don't seem to care if product is available or ready to sell upon receipt. Pallets are collecting dust for days because center store departments are not important. If you work in apparel at marketplace stores you are from nowhere and are treated like a nobody by management. Store management needs apparel training then they will get a clue. Kroger tells us they can't afford more hours to fully staff stores but they can afford paying dividends, executive/management bonuses, new computers in stores, store remodels, etc. The company priorities are questionable.
Kroger has become a clutter f* mess. The company started this program a long time ago to reduce the working hours of the front end. When I first started the front end was on its own contract (my area) and they could not call side help because it was a union position. Since they did away with this practice it's gotten bad. Our store is nothing but side help for cashiers and the one or two real cashiers on duty operate sco. If someone wants a cashier they request one.
