assistant store manager

store manager

pharmacy technician

retail sales associate

deli associate

Kroger

I worked at Kroger’s Harpers Point Marketplace location for 6.5 years.
Having never worked in retail (restaurants in high school and then corporate during and after graduating college), I thought I would like to work for a store that I have spent thousands of dollars in most of my life and have always liked their services and selections. OMG....was that a huge mistake! I came from corporate life and that was probably my first disillusionment. Thinking that the caliber/quality of management and professionalism would be anywhere NEAR the same is improbable to say the least. The moment I stepped into the Pharmacy where I was assigned, it was unsupportive (except for a few coworkers and ONE Pharmacist out of 4), impatient, stressful, and such low pay it was shocking ($7.70/hr in 2012, at that time I was unemployed and was DESPARATE to get "some" income, hoping that this would only be temporary, since I was laid off at my corporate job in 2009 and unemployment checks had run out a few months before and I did side/odd jobs till 2012 and those type of jobs had dried up!). 
I don't believe that is truly their expectations of any new hire with no background. I do believe that the Lead Tech (who had the personality of a brick wall and was of  Russian decent AND has been employed by Kroger since the 90’s….as of 2019 is NO LONGER the Lead Tech, just a regular tech at this time…ONE intelligent move by Kroger) just didn't want me in there or ANY male that was not a Pharmacist or a male going to college on their way to Pharmacy school. Throughout my time there I had worked at many Kroger locations in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area picking up overtime (and also a BIG point to consider, Kroger does NOT start Pharmacy Techs out full time; only about 20-25 hrs/wk. Pharmacy is one of two departments in their stores that IS NOT UNION! They may ask you to work more hours if you can, but you will only be considered part time. It took me 1.5 years to become a full time employee and other coworkers that started before me had become full time before me because it matters how many hours you are given to accrue to get full time status/benefits, not time employed at Kroger (another nepotistic move by the Lead Tech) so if you work only 15-20 hours a week and want full time it will take you a LONG time to be eligible for full time if you desire it. The only option to get more hours was to work at different locations that needed help to build up hours needed to become full time. This also gave me the insight that each pharmacy location at Kroger is run a bit differently. “Do as I say, not as I do” was a constant theme throughout the stores.
My experience with the Pharmacist I worked with when I was there was mixed. And as with all places, there are good and bad employees. The younger Pharmacist were inexperienced (in life AND being a Pharmacist) unless they had been with Kroger at least 10 years+ (ages 23 – 45) and on their way to be burned out/stressed out ready to quit and the older ones who stay (ages 50 - 65+) were tired, slow and just biding their time till retirement with a large 401k pension from Kroger in their future.
ONE BIG POINT I observed while working in the Pharmacy at many Kroger locations was Pharmacists are not “Managers” and actually should be required to have strong interpersonal and management skills (as they hire many straight out of college making 80k+ and they haven't even bought their first car or house). Regardless, a typical day was very busy and it was extremely stressful. It was a challenge to learn all of the products, where they were stored and how, terminology, and cashiering under pressure (Drive Thru included) while a customer is tapping their credit card on the counter or on their cell phone because you are not quick enough to their liking or complaining about their mistreatment by the Pharmacy, their doctor, insurance company or just their life in general. There are more exceptions to the situations you will encounter than there are normal transactions. You will need to understand insurance issues (also no background besides my personal ones) with those and have the ability to learn them quickly. 

You will be expected to take a week+ of computer based learning and apply it, hit the ground running in a fairly complex software system used throughout. So take notes and keep them on your person to refer to. Most customers (NOT ALL) were for the most part impatient, irrational with the expectations that ALL processes in the Pharmacy should be MUCH quicker than they actually are. Most had a condition what I call PSI (Perceived Self Importance). I was encouraged to ask for help and told that within 3 - 6 months it would be so much easier. It was used against me, but there were a few GOOD coworkers who without them (Libby is the best!), I would have been fired, or regulated to a cash register forever in the pharmacy or moved to another department…Deli perhaps (BTW, cashier's out in the store checking out groceries are union and at the time made about $3 dollars more than Pharmacy Techs starting out). I now understand why the Pharmacy was a revolving door of "technicians". HR needs to do a much better job of understanding what they need in a candidate and the Pharmacy Manager should be interviewing EVERY person they consider BEFORE they step into the Pharmacy. It can't be efficient for Kroger to spend money training (that took 3 weeks of computer training altogether so 3 weeks before the actual work could start!!) people and investing in them to only give them enough stress/reasons to quit weeks/months later. I enjoyed learning new things but with little negative feedback, just constant yelling/attitude at me to "go faster" I thought I was actually making progress, which I did eventually, but with great sacrifices physically AND mentally (My feet, knees are in need of surgery and my attitude towards the general public will NEVER be the same). If you are working to become a Pharmacy Tech which is your life's ambition or going to school to become a Pharmacist, this is the place for you. If not, DON'T EVEN THINK about taking it on. Decades as a manager in the Multimedia field and this is what Kroger had to offer it is so embarrassing and a little sad. I even attempted to get into Kroger’s corporate area in their multimedia division at KTV (Kroger Television) with over 35 years experience, but was shunned I believe because of my age (not enough tattoos or long enough beard, I guess). It's such a shame because I was really looking forward to learning this industry, hence starting a possible new career that I would enjoy.

So you must be saying to yourself, why did I stay? Well I had tried for YEARS to look for a position back in my field. They just were not available or my experience/age wasn’t what they were looking for. Going to another retail pharmacy (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, or Meijer) was out of the question because I just would have encountered the same issues. Mail order/call center pharmacies are just as brutal (usually if you cannot meet expectations by 90 days or you are not part of the “click”, you are on your way out the door or they make the situation so miserable, you quit!). So at the time the only option was to stay until something else came along or get into ANOTHER field with NO experience starting over at a REDUCED pay than I had built at Kroger (Hey, just a thought, McDonalds is ALWAYS hiring!). 
In 2012 my starting pay was $7.70 per hour, I left 6.5 years later at $11.10 per hour, a permanent beaten up body and a scarred attitude towards the general public and that most young “PHARM D’s” are young, entitled, immature, overwhelmed children….…sad. The job I have now is an increase in pay by $8.00 per hour, better hours, better insurance and MUCH LESS stress.
 
I just wish it wouldn’t have taken 6.5 years to get here.

What is the best part of working at the company?
Coworkers, and the union giving a lot more flexibility, comfort and job security which isn't typically the norm for retail. The opportunity to grow, learn and possibly move up in the company is an option that a lot of people can take advantage. Supportive of long-term endeavors that may not include Kroger themselves such as seeking higher education, or enlisting/commissioning in military in which they would hold your position until completion of contract which is extremely rare to hear about. In general gives quite a bit of benefits and flexibility that are uncommon in the industry, especially within the US

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Meeting quota, even though you may be an experienced employee you are still expected to meet certain thresholds ESPECIALLY during your first 30 days. Before you join the union, you're kinda balancing on a tight rope trying not to lose your job due to performance, attendance, or a variety of other things. Also, the slight inflexibility on disability accommodation felt like pulling hairs to get anything done on that, having to talk to so many different people, and having to worry that it might cause me to lose my job security even talking about it.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Everyone is one big family there, and you should always try to look happy and enjoying yourself there. You're constantly reminded to smile, and say certain lines to customers. Trainings are said to be very important, but at times can feel like they're on the docket of endless things management has to do. The work environment can be rife with gossip, and talking behind others backs and made myself and others uncomfortable. In general it can be good, especially for those that prefer retail, and maybe want to branch out and possibly build a career in retail as the store I was in was next to a lot of other stores constantly hiring for a variety of positions.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
You are expected to clock in early or on time at least. There is a grace period of 5-7 minutes depending on who you ask, and if you use that grace period you will be hounded about it if it becomes even a slight pattern. Immediately check-in with your department leader (either a manager/asst manager, or a department lead.) and have them assign you a task. Sometimes if they're not present they might have a note, or refer you to a store manager for task assignment. I started working as a dairy clerk and usually would stock milk in the main doors, and then start working pallets with product expected to go on the floor. Intermittently, it's also advised to face shelving and check expiration dates on dairy products and re-arrange product to have more recent (in order from least recent to most recent, about to expire) expiry most forward facing. Also discounting prices for various items on shelving about to expire within a certain time period. Usually there is some kind of plan in which you're re-arranging products/shelving to get things ready for sale or seasonal specials.
During your shift, you're (or at least 1  member of your department) expected to attend a store wide meeting in which the store manager wants to communicate a variety of things and take down things employees have to say about the day, tasks ahead or current, and possibly opening the floor for feedback/suggestions.

I eventually got promoted to cashier, in which I primarily did cashier work but would occasionally be asked to work Dairy if they were understaffed due to my previous work, even though I was told I was a poor performer and possibly fired for said performance. The start of a cashier's day is similar, reporting to your manager/lead and being assigned a task which is typically a register or self-check out in which you'd be the 1 of 2 that have to be constantly there unless relieved by someone else qualified to run SCO (self check-out). At times you might be asked by management throughout your shift to help out the grocery department with either facing or helping unload pallets/carts of product. You're not 'required' but management will make it sound like it is required, even though the union states that you can't work more than 1 department unless you're scheduled as such in order to promote hiring more people. During your cashiering duties, you're expected to smile and greet every customer that comes your direction and if you can ask if they need help with anything. It's a busy store, and you see a lot of people. You will not be able to do this for every single person that walks by you, so holding a smile is the bare minimum. If a customer asks you for help, you are required to either personally help them with said task or get another associate that is working in said department they need assistance in, or a manager regardless of the task you are given. Your breaks are required to be given, but during your 15's they CAN ask you to get off your break as they need help. If it's cut short, they usually have to offer you another opportunity to take that 15, especially if you didn't get to take most/all of it.

The days vary a lot, given different management, season,  and specials you have to juggle memorizing and adjusting to regularly.

I've been working at this warehouse for a while now, and I can confidently say that it is the best warehouse I've ever worked at. One of the major advantages is that the heavy lifting is primarily done by robots. Additionally, the schedule is quite appealing, with a four-day work week and rotating weekends off. Let me provide an overview of the different positions for Warehouse Associates.

Bagging (Ambient): This is the easiest task in the warehouse. Your main responsibility is putting bags into totes, and there is minimal heavy lifting involved. The downside is that you have to stand in one spot for long periods, which can strain your neck.

Dekit (Chill): This task involves recycling totes back into the system. There is more movement involved compared to bagging, but you are emptying totes instead of filling them. The downside is that there can be downtime due to full belts and storage areas.

INBOUND: In this role, you bring products into the building and add them to the system.

Decant (All Zones): The nature of decanting varies based on the assigned location. Compared to bagging, there is more room to move around, making it a more productive task. The weights and heights of items differ, depending on the zone.

Ambient: This zone handles heavier products like banana boxes, water, sodas, and pet items.

Chill: This zone deals with produce, meat, dairy products, and juice.

Freezer: The freezer zone requires manual labor since extreme temperatures prevent the use of computers and robots. You have to briefly move products from the freezer to the chill zone before storing them systematically. The freezer area is 100% manual labor and is more physically demanding compared to the other two zones.

OUTBOUND: This involves taking products from inside the warehouse to outside.

Pick (All Zones): This is one of the most physically demanding jobs in the warehouse. You fill the bagged totes with products to fulfill customer orders.

Ambient: Similar to decant, this zone handles heavy and large products, requiring you to maneuver items in limited space. You fulfill three orders simultaneously, following instructions from robots. While it may sound easy, the constant twisting and turning can take a toll on your body in the long run.

Chill: Same as ambient, but with chill products.

Freezer: This zone lacks robotic assistance, so all the work is manual. There is an incentive program called PaidPerMinute (PPM) that compensates for the additional effort required. The freezer is a fast-paced environment with constant walking and increased risk of slipping due to ice build-up.

Frameload: After completing an order in the pick area, totes are sent to the Frameloading stations, where they are systematically scanned into dollies. These dollies can hold up to 20 totes, with weights distributed to ensure balance. The downside here is similar to bagging and ambient/chill pick, with additional strain comparable to decant.

Vehicle Loading: This task involves unloading dollies from vehicles, which are then sent to Dekit for recycling. After completing a vehicle order at Frameload, the loader assigns the orders to the vehicle and loads the dollies accordingly. The vehicle is then sent off for delivery.

As the title suggests, everything in this warehouse is relatively easy, but it often becomes more complicated due to a lack of work ethic, confusion, and disrespect among the associates. On the management side, there is hypocrisy, a lack of presence, and a disregard for genuine concerns. Management tends to take breaks early and return later than everyone else but expects others to adhere to different standards. Moreover, they tend to delegate most of their work to leads and trainers who only receive a slight pay increase compared to other associates. Although there is a board to voice concerns to upper management, action is rarely taken on the issues raised. This counterproductivity leads to an increasing workload while losing both workers and equipment. Favoritism is also evident, with individuals being promoted without a clear understanding of their responsibilities. It is also challenging to identify leaders as the vest colors are similar for associates, trainers, and leads. All management personnel wear black, making it difficult to distinguish their positions without direct communication, resulting in a perceived imbalance of authority.

This job can be worthwhile if you can overlook the typical warehouse drama and if you are comfortable with standing all day. I highly recommend adequately warming up and considering regular visits to massage therapists if you choose this job and don't plan on moving up the ranks. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that the compensation does not align with the overall stress this job entails.

My position is an overnight part-time Deli Service Clerk who generally restocks, pulls outdated food, and identifies/processes markdowns. Located in SE Michigan. Appx. 2 months in and a teeny raise about 30 days in, I earn $17.15/hr.  Not bad for what I do. My pay includes a 3rd shift pay differential.

What makes this job work great for me now is that I am naturally geared towards 2nd/3rd work, I can be trusted to work independently, I've done plenty of office work, but don't mind general labor work, my store is super close to home (1.5 miles so a 5 min. drive, 10 min. bike ride & 30 min. walk), I've been a longtime Kroger customer w/ a loyalty card who knows how to work the sales, gaming + fuel points & I have school-age kids that don't require a sitter at this point + aren't wild cards. With that, I am generally a social/friendly customer service oriented person, but have become much LESS so in my middle age. Was dx'd w/ADHD as an adult + have some hearing loss, so I greatly appreciate working by myself now, especially compared to my experience training for a week during days + having to attend to customers. It was doable, but a good stressful reminder of what works/doesn't work for me. That said, the other 3rd shift minimal departmental coworkers at my store are pretty helpful + friendly. Adjacent workable positions are overnight bakery + produce (I would personally work these depts. outside of deli), general stocker (although they deal with pallet use where I don't 90% of the time) + price sticker adjustment person.

Interview was pretty easy for me + not long (in & out in 10-15 mins). I gathered if you pass their background check, are breathing + have some kind of customer service or retail background you will skew on the hireable high end. I did send a short f/u thank you text to the HR guy an hour or 2 after the interview as per Ask A Manager & got an immediate reply/offer.

PROS: Weekly paychecks. Up to 1st 2 are paper checks that are mailed before direct deposit kicks in. Payday is Friday, but my pay drops on Weds or Tues depending if it's a holiday week through my 'bank' (PayPal Prepd card). You can maximize your food + gas budget. Great discounts on Kroger brand food/items that land in the 10%-20% range. These increase to 15%-30% during 2 periods leading up to Thxgiving & Xmas. Plus additional deals are offered w/in certain departments & thru 3rd party vendor partnerships advertised through their Feed employee info site. Kroger truly fails at promoting this in their hiring ads + online information. This is a big bonus if you're a low level nameless faceless NPC drone who knows how to work the 2x-4x shopping deal digital coupon fuel points thing (1000 accumulated points = $1 off per gal at their fuel centers). I paid $1.70/gal. for gas today. Remainder fuel points over 1000 remain usable. Good if you have other drivers in the fam. 

MORE PROS: Very LGBTQ+ friendly & flexible w/ alternative presenting looks (like Goth). 1 free cash register withdrawal after your pay drops up to $3.50 (another hiring promotion fail, I only noticed this by chance).  Multiple departments put out briefly outdated food/non-picked up orders in the breakroom to nosh on. Broken packs of water or coffee pods are available on occasion as well. You can request/pick up extra shifts, esp. close to holidays. I've learned with retail not to commit to f/t if you're not seeking benefits. No control of your schedule that way. Set yourself at 20-30 hrs & pick up shifts at will. Someone is always quitting or calling off in retail.

CONS: Junky, non-straightfoward, non-intuitive  timekeeping app & desktop software. Be very careful keeping up with your schedule + worked hours. Hate that I can't see (or wasn't trained to see) a log of any requested changes or adjustments (by design?). I would suggest not to work extra hours unless you SEE the days/time added to your schedule + trust your dept. manager a/or admin people who process payroll. Work schedules are made 2 weeks out. POP merch is lame/limited. Seriously, no ballcaps, coffee mugs, or H2O bottles at least? Lastly, the disability disclosure within the initial application process is suspect + makes you think it will count against you forcing you to lie. They don't tell you why they ask and if accommodations will be available. I didn't trust it.

If you need a job for health insurance this job works great.  However if you need a full time career I would look else where.  Having four years with the company; I have compiled a long list of pro's and con's:

Pro's:

•	The balance between work and life is wonderful.  
•	Excellent health insurance.
•	Time off is generally honored but is based on seniority.  (Just say "appointment" on your request and they have to give you the day off.)
•	Reimbursed college tuition.
•	Hours are not set and you can usually pick up more.
•	Open door policy when dealing with issues.  (You have to be very open if it's your manager.)
•	Certain stores allow Thanksgiving and Christmas off.  Other stores force you to work Thanksgiving.
•	Many locations to transfer to around the country.  (If you move to another location there's no need to worry about starting at the bottom.  Your seniority transfers to the new store.)

Con's:

•	College education, disabilities and prior work experience do not allow faster promotion.  Being female does not allow faster promotion.  I feel this company is very gender-bias despite what they say.  For example:

I have a disability and successfully completed collage.  I have an AA in Business, enough training to be an entry level book keeper, strong data entry and five years cashiering.  I strongly believe this company is gender bias because it took them 3.5 years to make me a checker.  They promptly promoted all quick learning males with less than 6 months on the job to cashier.  With this being their: first job out of school, with no training and little education.  Every six months since year one I requested training in cashiering.  Being female they threw me in the morning courtesy clerk cleaning position.  They never answered my question or left me hanging.  That's all they allowed me to do for three years. Until three senior cashiers quit/retired.  With this company being gender bias I'm seeking employment else where.  Why didn't I leave sooner?  My other option was unemployment with no home.

•	With the 2010 contract new hires no longer receive 1.5 Sunday pay and holiday pay is eliminated for the first six months.
•	Parking isn't always plentiful.  Some locations force you to park off site which means a 1/4 mile walk.  If you have difficulty with mobility; think twice about your location.
•	Part time work is favored at this company.  You have to work six day work weeks to receive 35 hours.
•	Pay raises take for ever.  They keep you at minimum wage as long as possible then when you get promoted to checker pay it takes six months for your fist 0.50 pay raise.  (By then minimum wage has gone up and your pay raise means nothing.) Then six more months for another.  Then one year for the next.
•	Thanksgiving is a forced work day and they usually try to schedule you if you have a plane ticket.  They made me feel very guilty for going out of town that week.
•	Some managers I've worked for have no leadership abilities.  At my current store I had to work for a manager that screamed, yelled and told you how to do your job and belittled you when you didn't do it here way.  She's off at another store now and I'm glad she's gone.  She verbally harassed everyone even though no one saw it that way.  Who do you talk to when she's "best-friends" with higher up's?
•	Broken/damaged items around the store don't get fixed when courtesy clerks mention it to management.  Certain items require fixing or touching up since I started here and there beginning to become noticeable to even customers.

I for one do not care for QFC any more.  It was great until the Kroger effect rippled down through QFC.  Now they are:

•	Cheap
•	Gender-bias
•	Offer few promotions
•	Enjoy minimum wage
•	Keep trying to remove health insurance
•	Keep removing premium pay benefits with each contract negotiation
•	Make you feel guilty about over time and polity verbally harass you when you do have over time.
•	Cut hours to senior employees (on purpose so they quit)
•	Union protects employees that can't do the job

There's a lot more I could mention but that's a start.  If you need health insurance and a part time job I would recommend this company.  If you need a full time career to make ends meet: look else where.  Why should the big shots be getting big yearly bonuses when the peons are surviving on welfare, food stamps and government funded programs?

Kroger is a great first job! You can get hired on at 16(15 is mentioned but our location never does) to work on the front end but you technically have to be 18 for all other departments.
You'll generally start out making $7.35/hr with 10 cent raises every 6 months but our store is planning to up the base pay soon.

The hiring process is as follows:
1. You apply online at their jobs site.
2. You wait about a 5 - 10 days for a phone call.
3. You'll go in for an interview then wait again for a second call.
4. Once you get called back to sign papers and get a background check, you're basically hired.
5. Time for your THIRD phone call!!!
6. You go back for a store walk through and basic orientation(paid).
7. You'll be asked to come back a few days and take ACTs(computer training tests) [also paid].
8. You'll be thrown into the job with fellow co-workers training you for about 3 days but you'll always be learning more and taking more tests for quite awhile longer.

Sometimes, they'll hold job fairs at the store in which you'd go to after submitting an application online on which you may get an email about to go in for a quick interview.
I went to one but didn't get hired till the next time I applied online without a job fair.
You'd pretty much be expected to work every Sunday.

Probation is 3 months and it's hard to get fired(especially with union but I never joined it) but I'd just be careful.
Upper management is very nice most of the time unless you somehow do something to make them mad.
Some department heads may be a bit more strict but everyone is secretly watching you to make sure you get thr job done right and on time.
The front end in generally an extremely relaxed and fun area to work but it gets real busy a lot(sometimes stressful), especially on the weekend & holidays.
They don't ever schedule enough employees to cover everything so they call people and management up front to help quite often.
But the turnover is like a revolving door! Courtesy clerks(baggers) hardly ever stay the same but we do have several people who've been here awhile.
Late at night(8:30 - 12), it gets kinda slow so you don't have much to do but may end up just cleaning the area and waiting for customers.
A lot of workers goof off(They still work) and have fun on the job(mainly front end and in the breakroom so it makes the insanity more pleasurable.
It's hard to get a full time job though. Especially on the front end. Part time hours range from 10 - 30 a week but they really aren't supposed to give you less than 16. You can adjust your availability and all your requests for days off(technically they just don't schedule you the day you request) are most always accepted.
Front end managers are easy to work with and aren't as stern as you'd expect but respect is needed.
You're always on call if they need another worker on a day you're off but don't be afraid to say no. Or just don't answer.
Co-workers will be happy to cover your shifts, trade, or take hours off your hands.

Breaks and lunches used to be the same for everyone, then they gave more to minors, then they kept changing it up and now I honestly have no idea what I'm going to get each shift...
But don't expect breaks "every 2 hours" although you will get breaks.
All other departments can take theirs whenever they want but the front end has to do it on a schedule. They're ALWAYS behind on breaks but they try their best. Sometimes you may have to remind them but just don't nag them about it.
Sometimes if you only get a 15m lunch(depending on your shift) you'll have to combine it with a break.
Kroger also doesn't give lunches(at least to adults) unless you work OVER 8 hours(8hr, 15m to 9hr).

Nothing stays a private!
Word spreads like wildfire in retail! Along with a huge slice of drama to go with it!

Customers can be very nice and outgoing to downright rude and disrespectful and angry but I don't let them get to me. I always try to be nice to everyone and try to like the job.
If I learned anything, it's made me a little more outgoing than I was.
Plus you'll have all kinds of stories to tell!

This is from my point of view being a cashier/bagger on the front end part time so I don't know everything.

Typical day at work - Came in at 6PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays (hours were limited due to schooling) and immediately began cleaning the room where the meat was ground and cut. This consisted of breaking down all the machines in the room and in the cooler, spraying it down with water, covering the room in soap and letting it sit for 20-30 minutes, and spraying it off again. After this, I would wash all the dishes and tools that were used throughout the work day. When 8pm rolled around, we had a service counter where we served pre-portioned slices of meat and fish. If a customer wanted an item, I would serve them with a sense of urgency and professionalism. Once these counters were broken down, they were properly stored in the cooler. The last thing I did at night was to break down the delivery truck. We had 2, sometimes 3, pallets of boxes of meat, lunch meat, potatoes, etc. come in that had to be sorted by brand, type of meat, etc. before the night was up.  

What I learned - I really learned what it took to work with people. When I started at Krogers back in June, I was on the shy side. I wasnt very talkative, I was in my own shell so to speak. But being around customers and interacting with new people day in and day out really opened my eyes. It taught me what it took to keep the customer happy, and how to diffuse a potential volatile situation with an enraged customer. It also showed me life in a bigger picture. There would be times that people would walk to Kroger, in the pouring rain, just to go through our plastic bottles so they could get some spare change. It made me a lot more thankful for the opportunities I've been blessed with, and it definitely showed me that those opportunities shouldn't be taken advantage of.

Management - For the most part, management was awesome. We had one main store manager, whom I got along great with. We had two other managers who I also got along very well with. Towards the end of my time at Kroger, things started to get rocky. The two managers who I mentioned before were transferred to a different store, and we received two brand new managers. One of them introduced himself to me, talked to me, got to know everybody in the store. The other manager never even acknowledged me, never introduced herself, anything. At that point I knew things were going to be a little rough. On my last day at Kroger, my employment was terminated due to accusations of "stealing company time", which could not be farther from the truth. I am currently seeking legal ramifications against Kroger seeing as the Union system didn't do myself any justice.

Co-Workers - I loved my co-workers. I knew plenty of them before I was even hired into Kroger, so being around people I knew made me much more comfortable in such a new environment.  They were always there to help me when I needed it, with whatever task I was faced with that day. I forged many friendships with people at Kroger that nobody can take away from me, no matter how much or how little we may talk now. 

Hardest Part of Job - The hardest part of the job, to me, was the breaking down of the pallets at the end of the night. These pallets were often 8 - 9 feet high and had upwards of 60 - 70 boxes of meat on them, some of which weighed over 70 pounds. It wasn't hard at first, but by the 10th or 11th 70 pound box you started to get a little winded. And everything had to be in a specific place, so moving those 70 pound boxes around a confined space was no easy task either.

Easiest part of job - The easiest part of the job was most certainly the customer service. I'm an excellent people person, very friendly and very punctual. I can get along with anybody and can strike up a conversation with whomever. I just gained so much satisfaction out of helping a customer in need and just talking to them, asking them how their day went. I think its awesome to find out a little bit about everybody you come across. 

While Kroger may be a good place for people to shop, the exact opposite can be said for how the place is run. The management, whether it be top level management or supervisors is poor at best. They treat their employees as though they are below them and do not offer any positive feedback for any good work performed. Instead, they berate employees over simple, miniscule things that any other normal person would either overlook or not prioritize. Everything Kroger employees do is based on customer satisfaction, which management takes to extreme and unreasonable levels. If a customer comes into a store and starts getting frustrated about something that an employee may not have done, management will always believe what the customer says and will not give the employees any opportunity to defend themselves. Also, if you do a great job there, expects management and supervisors to asks you to perform other people’s jobs for them. As a bagger, I would often have to move between five plus checkout lanes by myself as well as clean up empty cart garages by myself.

My department heads did not have any understanding of just how busy my store was. The store that I was employed at, in Centerville, Ohio, is one of the largest in the whole nation, and therefore one of the busiest. Yet instead of giving hours to plenty of people, my supervisors would cut them and give people as little as 8 hour weeks. There were times in which my checks were a “whopping” $80 or less. That kind of money is ONLY good if you do not have any bills to pay and just need a little extra side money. Otherwise it cannot cover hardly anything. This happened especially in the summer when all of the college students would come back from year-long absences and be given the majority of the hours. The cut hours would also make the unfortunate few who would have to work on extremely busy days have to perform the work of 4-5 people. A good example of this is with minor cashiers. Since they are under 18, they can’t scan alcohol. Instead they have to call for a cashier who is of age to do so for them. That’s not only doing two jobs but also abruptly leaving a customer to do something that wouldn’t have to be done is minor cashiers weren’t hired in the first place. Only full-time workers are spared from having their hours cut, at the cost of having to work whatever days management sees fit.

Rest periods are another reason why I stopped working at Kroger. Lunch periods are only required for minors who work over 5 hours a day. Since taking a lunch requires an employee to stay 30 minutes extra to make up for the pay (lunches are unpaid) most adults choose not to take one so they can just work 8 hours and be done with the day. I am almost 21 years old and up until the day I left I would only be able to work 8 hours days if I had a lunch on them. Not only was I never given a reason for this, but the supervisors who were in charge for that particular day would be busy covering for the lost hours, they would completely overlook the lunch and the break schedule as a whole, yet still try to keep me for that extra half hour. I also would constantly have to remind my supervisors about my paid 15 minute breaks, as it was not uncommon for them to be an hour or more late.

Other sources of frustration include low wages, union dues, long working hours outside, uniforms policies, favoritism towards certain employees and so forth. If I went into detail with anyone of these, the review would probably be several more paragraphs long. I do not recommend this poorly run company to anyone as it is only going to get worse with employee treatment and not any better. If the three paragraphs are not enough to convince you that it’s a bad company to work for, then I don’t know what more I can say.

I wrote a lengthy and detailed review of Fred Meyer Jewelers Corp. Office in Portland, Oregon, and so did many current and former employees, only to find that they've removed their "Indeed" profile and linked it to the larger Kroger profile. It's just like them. Hide behind the walls of the big brother and pretend like they're not the worst in the industry. If you just delete it, they'll go away. Likely due to the large amount of negative reviews and employees calling out the insane amount firings, fear culture and abuse at the FMJ corporate offices. Under pressure to quite the truth? 

You can try and hide from the reality of your poor management and terrible treatment of your staff but cheaters never win. 

A typical day at Fred Meyer Jewelers' corporate office consisted of fear. Everyone was afraid to exist here. You worried about getting written up for anything and everything. Being scolded for being a human. People would be running from the parking lot to the time clock because you were required to be -on-the-dot- no excuses. Portland traffic, you should have left 2 hours early. Sick kids, you shouldn't have had them. Punch in early, written up. Punched in 2 mins late, written up. They had zero work life balance. If you couldn't get it done in 8 hours, or 40 hours a week... no matter what you failed. Don't be late, but don't dare work over. Every person paid the same, no matter your responsibility level - one single pay scale across all hourly employees. And very few were paid salary. You didn't challenge status quo...certainly never questioned why the business was moving away from "fine jewelry" 10K or 14K quality product and a standard the customer long appreciated, to the majority of merchandise moving towards sterling and fashion product  with lab created gems or crystals. Along with changing products, they failed to put any money into their people, their systems, stores, website, infrastructure or innovation. 

That lack of putting people first, was their first and most devastating mistake; historically Fred Meyer was known for being one of the best places to work. People were encouraged and developed into great managers and loyal staff that built a strong and successful business. 

Under FMJ's Senior Leadership (one guy at the top) constructed a fear culture. He fired, "early" retired (forced) and wiped a majority of the work force out under the radar without having to make a public statement. About 40+ over a 5 year span. They removed full time staff and replaced with temps so they no longer had to offer competitive wages and benefits. Hiring throw away employees who have zero loyalty or appreciation for the business. Who could literally be there one day, and then gone the next. No hope for growth for anyone. Employees with over 10, 15, 20, 30+ years gone. With zero remorse at ending people's long standing careers. 

There were a lot of work place violations that HR and Management tried to hide under the rug, just like hiding their Fred Meyer Jewelers profile.  

You had loyalty and hard work holding up the walls... if you'd only invested in the "people first", you would have continued to see great success. The yes men under the current leadership are too fearful to challenge status quo.

Kroger has an amazing opportunity with the jewelry division but  unfortunately, the big brother lacks any understanding of the complex model and industry. Take the appropriate steps and bring in a new and fresh leadership team! Reinvest in your employees by removing the fear culture of yesterday. Revitalize the company with fine jewelry (great products) and a culture that screams and thrives around positivism and employee development.

I started around 2 years ago as a Courtesy Clerk (bagger, cart collector, trash, bathrooms, various chores in the front end), and promoted to Grocery (stocking shelves, keeping the backroom clean and organized, handling deliveries) after around a year. When I was hired, base pay was state minimum wage. About 8 months in we had a new contract that reset the base pay to $11 for clicklist, meat/seafood, and pharmacy, and $10 for everyone else. There is a 30c raise every six or so months that is automatically put into your wages until you reach a cap at $14 or so and hour unless you're promoted to a management position.

They are willing to work with your hours unless there's nobody else available on a certain day, which I found out when I tried to change my availability to swap my day off from Thursday to Saturday. 

If you're a student, especially still in High School, they will definitely work with your schedule, considering half of my school's marching band worked there and their schedule was very hectic in the fall. They offer a education leave for those pursuing higher education as well, and offer tuition assistance for those majoring in a field that would help the company.

Customers aren't *that* terrible, most of the time they just need directed to an isle. Though there are the few who come in these days to yell at a manager for the mask requirement that is currently store policy or the fact that the customer service desk closes at 9pm.

Every employee receives one fifteen minute paid break for a 4 hour shift, and two for any shift exceeding six hours. Minors are required to have a 30 minute unpaid lunch break over 6 hours as well, and if they are under 16, they cannot work any longer than a 4 hour shift.
To get full time pay you have to reach or exceed around 35 or so hours a week for six months to even be considered for it, and even then it's shoddy whether or not you will actually get it due to the amount of hours the store is allowed to dish out. 

Every position with exception of the Courtesy Clerks earn a paid week vacation after about two years. Because the Courtesy Clerks usually are students and likely not going to stay with the company very long their vacation is earned every 4 years.

OT is given out on a scale of time and a half, and sets in once you work any longer than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours a week. Overall, pay is based on 15 minute intervals, rounding up to the next fifteen after seven minutes.

The culture among employees is fun and enjoyable. Almost every other employee has been nice and easy to work with, with a few outliers who just tend to themselves and their job before heading home.
Really the hardest part of the job is when it's slow and you have to find something to do for the next few hours - especially when you're working 8 or more hours.

Employees get up to 15% off on seasonal and store brand items, and a 7% discount on drinks from the starbucks in the store. I'm also pretty sure associates default to double fuel points with every purchase, though I'm not positive on it. 

The work environment is competitive, but promotions are based on tenure. Nobody who was hired after you should be promoted before you.

The main downside that I have encountered throughout my tenure was the management. Some of them can be really genuine people who are fun to work with, and others very obviously don't care about the employees and push them too far. They also pick favorites when it comes to promotions. It may depend on the store.

Overall, Kroger is a good company to work for as a teenager/young adult, but I would strongly recommend finding a more stable job with better pay beyond that unless you're applying for management.

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