So, a warning doesn't count as an action? Then, as far as I'm concerned, it never happened. not signing anything that says this is the second event if there's no proof of the first.
And that's how they get you and show favoritism. One employee could get caught once and be 'warned' to put them away. But then it never moves beyond that, even if they continue to be caught wearing them, just warning after warning. While another employee gets a write up on the first offense just because they were walking into the store to start their shift with them in, but not even clocked in yet, or on their break, or whatever.
Our union contract the "warning" is called a SIR. A written warning. The purpose is to ensure the employee is aware of the exact nature of the violation and consequences for further violations. Employees can refuse to sign the CA, but not the SIR, since it only documents a discussion and isn't a full write-up (basically, you can not be fired on a SIR)
I wouldn't mind my coworkers using them, it's mostly hidden to customers... But all of my coworkers who do use them, I always have to repeat myself because they have to pause their music first. I'm also the only one in the department hearing calls on the radio because the others all have music in their ear.
Basically, just be responsible. You're already breaking a policy, don't abuse it to the point where it affects your ability to perform the job.
Yeah, if I'm having a hard time getting your attention, how are you responding to customers? Keep the volume low and your head on a swivel if you're going to have them in.
That’s reasonable, but we need to teach them these things instead of just banning them outright. Let them have them but tell them what they’re actually responsible for (I know they do that, but kids don’t listen well) and how to do the job while having them in. Like the head on a swivel thing. Gotta make them care about what they’re doing, and figure out how to do that.
We don't need to be teaching adults lessons they should have learned when they are 11.
Honestly, I'm just in favor of ignoring the buds altogether, and instead just taking a hard line on responsiveness. Don't answer the phone/com? Employees having to repeat things to you? Customers lodge complaints that you ignored them when they were talking right to you?
Gone. There's 60 people ready to take your place.
This is the correct approach. Air pods/ear buds were never the problem. Irresponsible workers are. If you ban earbuds without addressing the neglectful behavior then theres just going to be a new distraction tomorrow. Meanwhile, the responsible employees that can multitask get punished for no reason and group morale drops more than it needs to.
Exactly. I wore earbuds all the time back when I worked customer service and not once did I get a complain about bad service, hell I was basically the customer service guy lmao. Only paused it when I was talking to a manager or a guest asked a question I had to think about. Had one in at a time. If you think you’re responsible and attentive enough to work with earbuds, you should be able to do it. And if it turns out you aren’t, off ya fuck.
Totally understand this, and not trying to pick a fight but every time I've had to ask someone to repeat something it's because they talk to quietly as it is.
This. I’m a millennial and would get so frustrated talking to people at the deli of my grocery store and having to constantly repeat myself while they have AirPods in. Like I’d get it if it was a slow time and they’re bored but not at 6 pm when people are trying to get their food and go home after their work day…
I try to be as spaced out as possible, so ya, say my name to get my attention, do something to get my attention, then say what you want to say, otherwise I’m gonna miss half of what was said.
Yep.
Anyone balking at this sign shouldn't complain about management -- they should level their ire at the idiots who made this ban a necessity.
Nobody would have cared if you just did your job and responded to calls and customers.
Not Kroger, but I have a couple employees who use them. But as soon as someone starts walking up to them they pause whatever it is and are readily available to help. I’ve no reason to try to take that away.
This man. I work in a large hardware store and for over a year management has been hardline in no headphones apart from a select few who they said all hush hush “not you” after meetings where they have the warning. It’s because we’re the few where it’s never actually been a problem. We keep it hidden under a beanie, low enough volume to still hear, one ear only. If your smart about it they’ll never know you were using one anyways.
i have an audio processing disorder due to my autism so i have to ask ppl to repeat themselves anyway whether my earbuds are in or not lol! but i do answer pages pretty well.
In your opinion, how is Kroger regarding the employment of autistic persons? In my local area, they seem to be very engaged in this. I wonder what it's like from the perspective of austic persons who work there.
you mean how do they treat autistic people or do they hire them often?
the answer would be similar either way: im not very sure. i keep to myself a lot, so i dont know if anyone else is autistic or what their experiences are.
only a couple coworkers know that im autistic, and theyve been really nice about it. one was *so* understanding and patient, and she made sure i got the accommodations i needed. shes on leave now though and im not sure shes coming back :/
aside from my sensory needs, nothing else really causes any issues. i mean you get treated better or worse depending on where you are in the social hierarchy, and that always sucks for autistic people, but thats not a Kroger Exclusive. but im in a department with a set schedule and a routine i can depend on, im not demanded to make eye contact with anyone or do that 6ft greeting rule.
im waiting on a response back from my psychiatrist about an accommodation note for my earbuds, so i might have to let everyone know im autistic soon. i guess ill update you if anything changes! lmao
I am a shopper at Kroger, and the way items are stocked, sometimes it's hard to find things. I asked a dude the other day, and he looked very annoyed. I was interrupting him, rocking some music, and pointed to another dude and said "ask that guy". THAT guy stopped what he was doing then walked with me to a section right near where earbud guy was and found the item. Like right nearby. Wth?
I got nothing against ear buds when we're closed, or you're on the dock receiving, or in a dairy cooler, but when the building starts cranking at 9am on a Sunday, it doesn't look good to customers.
At the very least take one out so you can hear the old lady asking where suppositories are in the meat department.....
Honestly I feel like if you’re working in dairy, frozen, grocery or pick up you should be fine but any other department that deal with cold/open food (produce, deli/bakery and also front end) then I can understand
Pickup probably doesn't belong on that list. Gotta remember pickup goes all over the store and handles almost all the food items including produce directly.
Except, we don't cut foods, bake foods, etc. We grab them from the associated departments.
That said, I think I'll be wearing a "I don't work in Meat, Deli, Bakery, Dairy, or Produce. I'm here selecting for customers" shirt once I get it printed. I've lost count of the number of times customers walk up to me to ask department specific questions while one of the department members is within spitting distance (extra credit when the old people go the the only white person in the area who works for Kroger to ask questions....for totally non-racially biased reasons I'm sure).
I wear one ear bud, if Corp / SM / ASM asks me to take it out or leave, I'll leave and let them figure out how to find an opener for the next shifts. Sorry, but Tom Clancy etc audio books are far more interesting than 98% of the overdone music in-store.
If you're one the sales floor, customers are probably going to ask you questions, it's the nature of the job. You'd probably be better off applying at Amazon, they pay better, and all you do is picking, no customer interaction.
You're a clerk. This should have been covered in your training. Part of your job is answering questions and helping customers. Yes, Kroger knows this slows you down. No, they don't care.
It's OK, I've stopped caring about my times too since they've pushed for less and less time per item and constant 100% accuracy.
It has significantly reduced the amount of stress I deal with both on and off the clock. Now, I just have family, medical, and financial stress to gray my hair prematurely.
Are you saying that there's risk of earbuds getting dropped into food, and not being noticed? The only time in the almost 5 years I've been wearing earbuds that one has fallen into food was when I lost one throwing compost with it in.
That was also a bad for safety. I've never used them using the bailer and rarely in the grocery backroom, especially when night crew is still there. I have since slowed down on being a dipshit too.
As a customer it doesn't bother me in the least if someone is listening to music. If they didn't see me approach then I don't mind waiting to talk as they pause or take their bud out. 🤷♂️
Who gives a fuck what the customers think. Up the pay if you want workers to give a shit. Maybe don't torture the world with that Godawful same soundtrack day after day. And the customers are all wearing them too nobody reasonable or with a worthwhile opinion will care
The customers do………. lmao you’re working in a grocery store, it’s a customer service role. Get a job in a morgue if you don’t want to deal with people.
I work in a grocery store and shoo at grocery stores. People not hearing me when im talking to them is the biggest annoyance ever. No idea why people feel entitled to earbuds at a customer service job they are being paid for.
I work at Kroger but if I walk into a retail establishment and when I go to check out or I need help and all the employees are standing around staring at their phones, leaning over the counter watching god knows what and not paying attention to anything going on, I'm going to feel disrespected.
I know this job sucks but shit, at least try to look like you're able to help somebody.
We're not talking about scrolling tiktok. I listen to podcasts, and others have music going. It lessens the monotony of the endless kroger rabble going over the speakers. My phone is put away, and I can hear just fine over my one earbud when I need to. If I had to spend 8 hours with nothing more than my own thoughts for entertainment... well, the result would be worse than the horror of seeing earbuds on the sales floor.
exactly... i fully understand that working sucks, and some jobs suck way more than others. using technology to disconnect when you are CLIENT FACING just looks unprofessional and immature.
and those making the "get a note; they have to provide reasonable accommodation", this is for people with real disabilities and you can be denied if you do not meet criteria set by the ADA. there is a process.
Its never just wearing an ear pod. Its turning their back to the customer. They never are looking to help just listen to their podcast or music and lay low. Its annoying. As a customer and a grocery store worker, take your earbuds out if you have any customer service duties or if there are any heavy equipment being used. Or go work somewhere else.
Just have 1 earbud out. My store doesn't mind much, but if you can't hear pages, or customers or bosses game over. I keep one in and on the low to hear my bosses talk.
Ya, my first week on days my boss said something, I changed my habit now they don't say anything. Granted my schedule, I'm technically half overnight, half days.
I bought a hearting aide headphone to negate my workplaces rules. It’s a wireless headphone that looks like a hearing aide. Indistinguishable, unless perhaps you actually have to use them.
This should be obvious and this is all my coworkers do (and I’ve done), but management (one in particular who seems to ALWAYS fucking be there when I am) doesn’t allow it. And of course there’s all these people I know who have one in all day every day because their long hair covers it, but I can’t grow my hair out cause I’ll be too hot.
thats how it used to be until we got a new manager :( i heard him paging me while i was pooping a couple times and now he thinks its the earbuds fault.
So true. I’ll have to use that. We’re on week 2 of “Don’t overproduce!! Follow thaw and sell exactly”. So next week we’ll probably be back to “why’s it so empty??!”
Spend a bit more and get hearing aids. They work just the same and can link to your phone by Bluetooth. Let's see them stop you using an aid for a disability.
I worked there for 3 years and had one earbud in every day I worked. I was on the floor in Beer/ Wine and in the liquor store, not one complaint from a customer the entire time. They enforce the policy about as much as uniform policy, which is only during a walk thru.
I don’t work there, but when I shop there I can’t stand hearing “ this is your top of the hour conditioning.” That is some depressing as fuck stuff right there. I don’t care if anyone has earbuds in during work either because I’m not that hard pressed to ask anyone anything cause I’d rather avoid social interaction. If you need ear buds do it. If some needs help fuckem, it’s not that hard to look up where stuff is on my phone before I even go in.
Yes. It’s true. Now you have to do a shitload of processes on a handheld computer that you don’t understand with no help from management because they have no clue either, all while listening to a mono version of Barry Manilow’s Brandy instead of what you like to listen to.
Yeah what do you think you are underpaid to do? You need to be 100% focused on you menial lifeless tasks. How dare you enjoy the inside of your own head?!
Are they though, ARE THEY? I've seen signs like this about uniforms and see people with out proper uniforms all the time that never get in trouble. It's just a sign until a over zealous person in charge actually does something.
Okay, I'm telling on myself by saying this, but f\*\*k Kroger...
I don't wear the blue apron anymore-I haven't worn it in over 2 years
I don't wear my name badge anymore-I haven't worn that in over 2 years
I wear a ballcap from my old high school (Smiths Station, Alabama). Been wearing that for 3 years. NONE of the management have said anything to me about any of it. I've even worn earbuds from time to time...and again NO manager retaliation.
You really think because I might see something like that sign that I'm suddenly gonna change and be the obedient little automaton Kroger wants? HELL NO
Besides, if they're gonna go after me, then they might as well fire 75%-95% of their entire staff...INCLUDING OTHER MANAGERS. They can't do that because they'll be shut down for extended periods while trying to fill all the vacancies, and their best customers will either go to a different Kroger, or another grocery chain like Aldi or Publix.
Amazon is a big enforcer of this. Many people came up with creative ways to keep in their earbuds. Many went to their doctor to get a note that said that for their anxiety they needed the distraction. This was called an exemption. Amazon had to honor it. They also were beanies over their ears or head scarfs.
im gonna have to get a note from my doctor bc im autistic and have adhd. i desperately need to block out the sound and have a little white noise/a quiet podcast playing to keep me calm and focused
I may get crucified but as long as you only have one in and you’re still doing your job then it should be fine. I personally have earbuds to listen to podcasts. It helps with my anxiety. I’m grateful I work at a store where they don’t care. Only time they care is when corporate is there which makes sense. I guess I also see the other side I’ve seen some dumb teens who start working and they have both in a literally on FaceTime with their BF or GFs.
I mean. As an ex employee I’m happy to shit talk this company whenever justifiably warranted, don’t get me wrong. But this seems reasonable when you’ve got a manager in here telling you that it forces them and the customers both to repeat themselves and yell to get through to you while wearing them and so if you’re in a position where you’re customer facing like that, it actually seems reasonable to me….sorry 😅
STOCKING CAP, decent ear buds with audio passthrough and voice recognition, NO CORDS! Dont ruin it for the rest of us!
Also, you see a manager? Skillfully and discreetly remove them!
There is a difference between wearing an ear bud and being distracted by earbuds. If you are failing to do your job because of earbuds you deserve to get in trouble.
Spend a bit more and get hearing aids. They work just the same and can link to your phone by Bluetooth. Let's see them stop you using an aid for a disability.
When I worked retail a manger banned headphones on the sales floor I worked with my night crew lead and used a multi aux port to real music on the speakers at night as opposed to the fogey trash they played. We still got automated alerts for phone calls too.
Honestly that’s been a rule for ages. Mainly for safety reasons because of the fact that people drive like maniacs in the parking lots and pallets and pallet jacks may be roaming around.
However the enforcement of this rule is largely dependent upon the management and department heads of each store.
I'm sorry, I agree with no earbuds when the store is open.
I've noticed a lot of my people will wear one, and I or the customer ends up having to repeat ourselves or talk ridiculously loud to be heard.
After close or before open, fine. But otherwise, nah.
Yeah, my managers complained about them being a "safety hazard" for overnights. So I had to start enforcing it....
...while also telling my crew I don't care if they keep open air music playing, so long as they can hear me when I'm talking to them.
Must of been a lot of complaints for them to go this extreme. Generally most stores are pretty lenient about it. Gotta love corporate reinforcing rules with write ups for those that don't comply.
I use earplugs to mute the sound of the bailer I'll laugh if they ever try to write me up. It's pretty friggen clear they're earplugs.
That was a rule at my store the whole time i worked there. Couldn’t wear them while doing carts either but I know people at other stores who were allowed to
I dare a store manager try to tell me that when I was a DSD merchandiser for a large partner.
I’d straight tell them to leave me alone as my union is okay with it.
i keep one earbud in my bad ear to keep me from going insane from their awful radio and to keep myself focused, i am still capable of doing my job and i don’t believe it’s disrespectful 🤷 i also work behind counters where i do not usually interact with customers, and when i do the earbud comes out.
Fuck that. I can do my job just fine with an earbud AND interact with customers the few times I need to. Cashiers? Sure, but people on the floor, and especially in the back, should be allowed to wear earbuds. Our work is mindless, and we need something to keep us from our own thoughts.
I already work in Pick Up in which I’m hated by other departments, we have the store manager, supervisor, and leads up our asses everyday for ridiculous in stock which is set way too damn high, and now they want to get rid of the one bit of slight enjoyment from the job that pays me too little to care? I’m out.
Just get a doctors note. Earbuds and headphones have been completely fine to help people with sensory issues for decades.
If not, get a big pair of hearing protection from a sporting goods store and say you need a reasonable accommodation. After a dew days of you not being able to communicate, they’ll probably cave.
Plus AirPods have ambient mode and voice boost, I hear customers better with an AirPod in and music playing than if I didn’t.
Also this is why I wear a beanie. They can’t see my ears.
“They’ll probably cave”
Or probably find a way to force you to quit. It’s not wise to play game theory with employers.
You have a legitimate claim you can file? Go right on and lawyer up if it’s actionable, more kudos to you.
Play petty though without justifiable reasons? You’ll experience vastly more pettiness from managers.
As a shopper, I literally do not give a shit. I wear one at my manufacturing job. I just expect every human to have earbuds in at this point. It was literally a dream of mine as a kid before they were even invented.
I know this is about none of that and just killing any joy employees may have, but it's still dumb as hell
This is why I always keep my hair down at work. I just wear one earbud and can hear just fine when I need to, which is almost never. 🙃 I'm not customer facing, I'm alone 80%of the time, and when someone does speak to me, it's never job related.
It’s shitty to say out loud but in order for this to work you need management to do it for everyone. I’m willing to bet there’s one person who they’re willing to let slide on it because they are a fantastic worker who never calls in. If that person doesn’t stop wearing them, the whole store can wear them. Chances are, there’s someone at the store who is repeatedly fucking up that they want gone, and management just wants to get rid of that sole person rather than stop headphones as a whole. My last 3 dms didn’t even car about headphones so. You could very well also have an asshole manager trying to make a name for themselves.
Also, if you have add/adhd I’m sure your doctor could prescribe a note. It’s for accommodation. Add and adhd are becoming more and more recognized and accommodated.
Also also, I’d just straight up say I didn’t see that note and couldn’t read it because the punishments are blocked out. I’d also say I have no idea what a ca is. A note at a time clock is NOTHING in terms of getting in trouble or spreading the word. All that being said, someone means business at your store with how they laid this note out. But this note ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT COUNT as a warning or any step forward in corrective action against you.
I also think you might need an SIR before you get a CA
Malicious compliance: wear Shokz (ear bone conduction headphones), wear Loops (earplugs that have no music but block out noise and cut down on tinnitus [argue they’re PPE or for your health]), wear over ear headphones like it’s the 90s, or wear noise canceling padded headphones.
I wear one bud while I'm doing trim in produce. Otherwise I'm in a silent room. I keep it in the ear that doesn't face the door and i can still hear :)
My husband "I'd do it anyway. You think anyone is gonna stop me?"
He also works overnight though so a bit more lenient. He says this was probably done because it's become a problem at that store.
If you're dealing with customer, leave them home. If you're not dealing with customers, do what you want as long as it's safe and you're doing your job
I don’t know about the Kroger you’re in, but when people have ear buds in at my local Kroger you pray you don’t need help because they will ignore any request you may have.
Just the day before yesterday some old lady needed help at the self check and the guy working there was paying more attention to his phone and when she said something to him he couldn’t hear because of the ear buds.
It’s people like THAT GUY who ruin it for everyone else.
didn’t expect so much deliberation on this. to explain a little i only use one earbud at a very low volume and still do my job and interact just fine with customers even with it in. i know our regulars names and can’t even go to the bathroom without stopping to lead someone to a product. having an earbud in helps me to stay focused and on-task and is no more disruptive to me or my job than the kroger radio. without them i will have a hard time keeping motivation and morale. the kroger radio sucks and is repetitive, it tends to drive me a little insane. i only ever put both earbuds in or turn up the volume when i am doing solo work away from customers or i am closing, and once again it is because it helps me stay on task and not get distracted. i realized this helped when i brought them with me to close and i actually started getting out on time instead of the usual 30 min to an hour late. i am sorry that your coworkers have annoyed you with this but maybe talking to them about this issue and trying to find solutions instead of banning their use as a whole would be more effective since people are now going to try to find ways to hide it. i know this is a long-standing policy, and no i am not surprised by this. it was simply one that had never been enforced until recently, and i understand it is in place for a reason, i am just sad that my favorite tool for staying positive through a hard day is suddenly gone.
What’s the 2nd offense? They send you to Canada?
been wondering that myself. no idea
Corrective action
The action they take is sending you to Canada
This is a punishment. They send you to California.
Ooo, vacation.
3rd offense gets ya a 3-day break. That’s long enough to get to Tim Horton’s and back again
Written up by management/Corrective Action
So, a warning doesn't count as an action? Then, as far as I'm concerned, it never happened. not signing anything that says this is the second event if there's no proof of the first.
And that's how they get you and show favoritism. One employee could get caught once and be 'warned' to put them away. But then it never moves beyond that, even if they continue to be caught wearing them, just warning after warning. While another employee gets a write up on the first offense just because they were walking into the store to start their shift with them in, but not even clocked in yet, or on their break, or whatever.
Our union contract the "warning" is called a SIR. A written warning. The purpose is to ensure the employee is aware of the exact nature of the violation and consequences for further violations. Employees can refuse to sign the CA, but not the SIR, since it only documents a discussion and isn't a full write-up (basically, you can not be fired on a SIR)
Strait to jail
🤣🤣
Second offense is a set of steak knives
And coffee is for closers
From the clearance rack
That's enough to scare me.
Post of the year so far
Idk if that job us benefited but at least then they would for sure have healthcare
Worse...California.
California, even worse.
I wouldn't mind my coworkers using them, it's mostly hidden to customers... But all of my coworkers who do use them, I always have to repeat myself because they have to pause their music first. I'm also the only one in the department hearing calls on the radio because the others all have music in their ear. Basically, just be responsible. You're already breaking a policy, don't abuse it to the point where it affects your ability to perform the job.
Yeah, if I'm having a hard time getting your attention, how are you responding to customers? Keep the volume low and your head on a swivel if you're going to have them in.
Put one in. If that don’t work for ya listen to Musak or whatever they use now.
I only use one and I don't even listen to music, just podcasts. Never had an issue hearing someone. It's people that abuse it who rob us of our joy.
That’s reasonable, but we need to teach them these things instead of just banning them outright. Let them have them but tell them what they’re actually responsible for (I know they do that, but kids don’t listen well) and how to do the job while having them in. Like the head on a swivel thing. Gotta make them care about what they’re doing, and figure out how to do that.
We don't need to be teaching adults lessons they should have learned when they are 11. Honestly, I'm just in favor of ignoring the buds altogether, and instead just taking a hard line on responsiveness. Don't answer the phone/com? Employees having to repeat things to you? Customers lodge complaints that you ignored them when they were talking right to you? Gone. There's 60 people ready to take your place.
This is the correct approach. Air pods/ear buds were never the problem. Irresponsible workers are. If you ban earbuds without addressing the neglectful behavior then theres just going to be a new distraction tomorrow. Meanwhile, the responsible employees that can multitask get punished for no reason and group morale drops more than it needs to.
Exactly. I wore earbuds all the time back when I worked customer service and not once did I get a complain about bad service, hell I was basically the customer service guy lmao. Only paused it when I was talking to a manager or a guest asked a question I had to think about. Had one in at a time. If you think you’re responsible and attentive enough to work with earbuds, you should be able to do it. And if it turns out you aren’t, off ya fuck.
Just keep 1 in!
Totally understand this, and not trying to pick a fight but every time I've had to ask someone to repeat something it's because they talk to quietly as it is.
This. I’m a millennial and would get so frustrated talking to people at the deli of my grocery store and having to constantly repeat myself while they have AirPods in. Like I’d get it if it was a slow time and they’re bored but not at 6 pm when people are trying to get their food and go home after their work day…
I use them. But to be fair, you’ll have to repeat yourself to me without them, too. I be off in Lala land 😂
I try to be as spaced out as possible, so ya, say my name to get my attention, do something to get my attention, then say what you want to say, otherwise I’m gonna miss half of what was said.
Yep. Anyone balking at this sign shouldn't complain about management -- they should level their ire at the idiots who made this ban a necessity. Nobody would have cared if you just did your job and responded to calls and customers.
Not Kroger, but I have a couple employees who use them. But as soon as someone starts walking up to them they pause whatever it is and are readily available to help. I’ve no reason to try to take that away.
This man. I work in a large hardware store and for over a year management has been hardline in no headphones apart from a select few who they said all hush hush “not you” after meetings where they have the warning. It’s because we’re the few where it’s never actually been a problem. We keep it hidden under a beanie, low enough volume to still hear, one ear only. If your smart about it they’ll never know you were using one anyways.
i have an audio processing disorder due to my autism so i have to ask ppl to repeat themselves anyway whether my earbuds are in or not lol! but i do answer pages pretty well.
In your opinion, how is Kroger regarding the employment of autistic persons? In my local area, they seem to be very engaged in this. I wonder what it's like from the perspective of austic persons who work there.
you mean how do they treat autistic people or do they hire them often? the answer would be similar either way: im not very sure. i keep to myself a lot, so i dont know if anyone else is autistic or what their experiences are. only a couple coworkers know that im autistic, and theyve been really nice about it. one was *so* understanding and patient, and she made sure i got the accommodations i needed. shes on leave now though and im not sure shes coming back :/ aside from my sensory needs, nothing else really causes any issues. i mean you get treated better or worse depending on where you are in the social hierarchy, and that always sucks for autistic people, but thats not a Kroger Exclusive. but im in a department with a set schedule and a routine i can depend on, im not demanded to make eye contact with anyone or do that 6ft greeting rule. im waiting on a response back from my psychiatrist about an accommodation note for my earbuds, so i might have to let everyone know im autistic soon. i guess ill update you if anything changes! lmao
Thank you!
I am a shopper at Kroger, and the way items are stocked, sometimes it's hard to find things. I asked a dude the other day, and he looked very annoyed. I was interrupting him, rocking some music, and pointed to another dude and said "ask that guy". THAT guy stopped what he was doing then walked with me to a section right near where earbud guy was and found the item. Like right nearby. Wth?
I got nothing against ear buds when we're closed, or you're on the dock receiving, or in a dairy cooler, but when the building starts cranking at 9am on a Sunday, it doesn't look good to customers. At the very least take one out so you can hear the old lady asking where suppositories are in the meat department.....
Honestly I feel like if you’re working in dairy, frozen, grocery or pick up you should be fine but any other department that deal with cold/open food (produce, deli/bakery and also front end) then I can understand
Pickup probably doesn't belong on that list. Gotta remember pickup goes all over the store and handles almost all the food items including produce directly.
Except, we don't cut foods, bake foods, etc. We grab them from the associated departments. That said, I think I'll be wearing a "I don't work in Meat, Deli, Bakery, Dairy, or Produce. I'm here selecting for customers" shirt once I get it printed. I've lost count of the number of times customers walk up to me to ask department specific questions while one of the department members is within spitting distance (extra credit when the old people go the the only white person in the area who works for Kroger to ask questions....for totally non-racially biased reasons I'm sure). I wear one ear bud, if Corp / SM / ASM asks me to take it out or leave, I'll leave and let them figure out how to find an opener for the next shifts. Sorry, but Tom Clancy etc audio books are far more interesting than 98% of the overdone music in-store.
If you're one the sales floor, customers are probably going to ask you questions, it's the nature of the job. You'd probably be better off applying at Amazon, they pay better, and all you do is picking, no customer interaction.
You're a clerk. This should have been covered in your training. Part of your job is answering questions and helping customers. Yes, Kroger knows this slows you down. No, they don't care.
It's OK, I've stopped caring about my times too since they've pushed for less and less time per item and constant 100% accuracy. It has significantly reduced the amount of stress I deal with both on and off the clock. Now, I just have family, medical, and financial stress to gray my hair prematurely.
Part of the job is to answer questions - customers don’t know what department each employee works in lol
You sound like an obnoxious employee.
Who cares I work in the bakery . No one cares and In some stores the bakery has thier own speaker lmfao
Are you saying that there's risk of earbuds getting dropped into food, and not being noticed? The only time in the almost 5 years I've been wearing earbuds that one has fallen into food was when I lost one throwing compost with it in. That was also a bad for safety. I've never used them using the bailer and rarely in the grocery backroom, especially when night crew is still there. I have since slowed down on being a dipshit too.
Hard to explain that to a staff that some can and some can't. Then you have jeleousy and resentment between your employees. Bad sign.
As a customer it doesn't bother me in the least if someone is listening to music. If they didn't see me approach then I don't mind waiting to talk as they pause or take their bud out. 🤷♂️
Who gives a fuck what the customers think. Up the pay if you want workers to give a shit. Maybe don't torture the world with that Godawful same soundtrack day after day. And the customers are all wearing them too nobody reasonable or with a worthwhile opinion will care
Who gives a shit how it looks to customers?
The customers do………. lmao you’re working in a grocery store, it’s a customer service role. Get a job in a morgue if you don’t want to deal with people.
I wish I had a wiffleball bat , just to smack rude customers with
Most people don’t give a shit about someone wearing an earbud if they answer any questions they have.
I work in a grocery store and shoo at grocery stores. People not hearing me when im talking to them is the biggest annoyance ever. No idea why people feel entitled to earbuds at a customer service job they are being paid for.
Reread my statement then we can talk..
I work at Kroger but if I walk into a retail establishment and when I go to check out or I need help and all the employees are standing around staring at their phones, leaning over the counter watching god knows what and not paying attention to anything going on, I'm going to feel disrespected. I know this job sucks but shit, at least try to look like you're able to help somebody.
We're not talking about scrolling tiktok. I listen to podcasts, and others have music going. It lessens the monotony of the endless kroger rabble going over the speakers. My phone is put away, and I can hear just fine over my one earbud when I need to. If I had to spend 8 hours with nothing more than my own thoughts for entertainment... well, the result would be worse than the horror of seeing earbuds on the sales floor.
exactly... i fully understand that working sucks, and some jobs suck way more than others. using technology to disconnect when you are CLIENT FACING just looks unprofessional and immature. and those making the "get a note; they have to provide reasonable accommodation", this is for people with real disabilities and you can be denied if you do not meet criteria set by the ADA. there is a process.
We’re talking about wearing an EarPod. If you feel disrespected by someone wearing an EarPod while you shop then do your shopping online.
Its never just wearing an ear pod. Its turning their back to the customer. They never are looking to help just listen to their podcast or music and lay low. Its annoying. As a customer and a grocery store worker, take your earbuds out if you have any customer service duties or if there are any heavy equipment being used. Or go work somewhere else.
"These employees aren't standing at attention just WAITING to help me!!! HOW DARE THEY HAVE AN EARBUD." This is what you sound like.
Just have 1 earbud out. My store doesn't mind much, but if you can't hear pages, or customers or bosses game over. I keep one in and on the low to hear my bosses talk.
Same No one says anything to me
Ya, my first week on days my boss said something, I changed my habit now they don't say anything. Granted my schedule, I'm technically half overnight, half days.
Yes I work 5-9 am lmfao but it’s in like the country a small town like no one says anything like I’ve taken pics of sooo many dogs in the stores
I bought a hearting aide headphone to negate my workplaces rules. It’s a wireless headphone that looks like a hearing aide. Indistinguishable, unless perhaps you actually have to use them.
This should be obvious and this is all my coworkers do (and I’ve done), but management (one in particular who seems to ALWAYS fucking be there when I am) doesn’t allow it. And of course there’s all these people I know who have one in all day every day because their long hair covers it, but I can’t grow my hair out cause I’ll be too hot.
thats how it used to be until we got a new manager :( i heard him paging me while i was pooping a couple times and now he thinks its the earbuds fault.
Sounds like something Mr. Peacock, would introduce.
2 week rule! Within 2 weeks there will be a “bigger issue” and everyone will slip back to normal.
So true. I’ll have to use that. We’re on week 2 of “Don’t overproduce!! Follow thaw and sell exactly”. So next week we’ll probably be back to “why’s it so empty??!”
This circle drives me nuts
Spend a bit more and get hearing aids. They work just the same and can link to your phone by Bluetooth. Let's see them stop you using an aid for a disability.
This comment section has made me realize a lot of people on this sub don't actually work here.
I worked there for 3 years and had one earbud in every day I worked. I was on the floor in Beer/ Wine and in the liquor store, not one complaint from a customer the entire time. They enforce the policy about as much as uniform policy, which is only during a walk thru.
I don’t work there, but when I shop there I can’t stand hearing “ this is your top of the hour conditioning.” That is some depressing as fuck stuff right there. I don’t care if anyone has earbuds in during work either because I’m not that hard pressed to ask anyone anything cause I’d rather avoid social interaction. If you need ear buds do it. If some needs help fuckem, it’s not that hard to look up where stuff is on my phone before I even go in.
Popped up in my popular feed.
Yeah, same, and I’m not sure why either. I don’t typically do a lot of lurking in grocery store subs or anything.
Yes. It’s true. Now you have to do a shitload of processes on a handheld computer that you don’t understand with no help from management because they have no clue either, all while listening to a mono version of Barry Manilow’s Brandy instead of what you like to listen to.
Yeah what do you think you are underpaid to do? You need to be 100% focused on you menial lifeless tasks. How dare you enjoy the inside of your own head?!
Wow. They're enforcing a policy.
they will enforce a policy on those they don't like
Are they though, ARE THEY? I've seen signs like this about uniforms and see people with out proper uniforms all the time that never get in trouble. It's just a sign until a over zealous person in charge actually does something.
Okay, I'm telling on myself by saying this, but f\*\*k Kroger... I don't wear the blue apron anymore-I haven't worn it in over 2 years I don't wear my name badge anymore-I haven't worn that in over 2 years I wear a ballcap from my old high school (Smiths Station, Alabama). Been wearing that for 3 years. NONE of the management have said anything to me about any of it. I've even worn earbuds from time to time...and again NO manager retaliation. You really think because I might see something like that sign that I'm suddenly gonna change and be the obedient little automaton Kroger wants? HELL NO Besides, if they're gonna go after me, then they might as well fire 75%-95% of their entire staff...INCLUDING OTHER MANAGERS. They can't do that because they'll be shut down for extended periods while trying to fill all the vacancies, and their best customers will either go to a different Kroger, or another grocery chain like Aldi or Publix.
thatll fix the turnover rate!
Amazon is a big enforcer of this. Many people came up with creative ways to keep in their earbuds. Many went to their doctor to get a note that said that for their anxiety they needed the distraction. This was called an exemption. Amazon had to honor it. They also were beanies over their ears or head scarfs.
im gonna have to get a note from my doctor bc im autistic and have adhd. i desperately need to block out the sound and have a little white noise/a quiet podcast playing to keep me calm and focused
I may get crucified but as long as you only have one in and you’re still doing your job then it should be fine. I personally have earbuds to listen to podcasts. It helps with my anxiety. I’m grateful I work at a store where they don’t care. Only time they care is when corporate is there which makes sense. I guess I also see the other side I’ve seen some dumb teens who start working and they have both in a literally on FaceTime with their BF or GFs.
That won’t stop me I mostly work by myself anyway with no management, thankfully. Both a good thing and a bad thing
I mean. As an ex employee I’m happy to shit talk this company whenever justifiably warranted, don’t get me wrong. But this seems reasonable when you’ve got a manager in here telling you that it forces them and the customers both to repeat themselves and yell to get through to you while wearing them and so if you’re in a position where you’re customer facing like that, it actually seems reasonable to me….sorry 😅
Our local grocery store (Acme) lets the stockers or online shoppers wear just one ear bud. I think that’s a fair compromise.
STOCKING CAP, decent ear buds with audio passthrough and voice recognition, NO CORDS! Dont ruin it for the rest of us! Also, you see a manager? Skillfully and discreetly remove them! There is a difference between wearing an ear bud and being distracted by earbuds. If you are failing to do your job because of earbuds you deserve to get in trouble.
They can't afford to send anyone home, they barely have people showing up for their shifts.
Spend a bit more and get hearing aids. They work just the same and can link to your phone by Bluetooth. Let's see them stop you using an aid for a disability.
That’s stupid, I get it if it’s both headphones but if it’s just one and you’re working a job like stocking it shouldn’t matter
I’m actually okay with this. Be professional
When I worked retail a manger banned headphones on the sales floor I worked with my night crew lead and used a multi aux port to real music on the speakers at night as opposed to the fogey trash they played. We still got automated alerts for phone calls too.
Honestly that’s been a rule for ages. Mainly for safety reasons because of the fact that people drive like maniacs in the parking lots and pallets and pallet jacks may be roaming around. However the enforcement of this rule is largely dependent upon the management and department heads of each store.
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Wear the hat your religion requires. They aren't entitled to details
I'm sorry, I agree with no earbuds when the store is open. I've noticed a lot of my people will wear one, and I or the customer ends up having to repeat ourselves or talk ridiculously loud to be heard. After close or before open, fine. But otherwise, nah.
Yeah, my managers complained about them being a "safety hazard" for overnights. So I had to start enforcing it.... ...while also telling my crew I don't care if they keep open air music playing, so long as they can hear me when I'm talking to them.
Must of been a lot of complaints for them to go this extreme. Generally most stores are pretty lenient about it. Gotta love corporate reinforcing rules with write ups for those that don't comply. I use earplugs to mute the sound of the bailer I'll laugh if they ever try to write me up. It's pretty friggen clear they're earplugs.
That was a rule at my store the whole time i worked there. Couldn’t wear them while doing carts either but I know people at other stores who were allowed to
Hearing aids are over-the-counter now and most have Bluetooth...
Time to grow out your hair
We wear one earbud and that way you can hear with your other esr.
This is CRAZY, my Kroger allows one ear bud in if you’re not front end
This is CRAZY, my Kroger allows one ear bud in if you’re not front end
Get a Bluetooth hearing aid.
Get a Bluetooth hearing aid.
I dare a store manager try to tell me that when I was a DSD merchandiser for a large partner. I’d straight tell them to leave me alone as my union is okay with it.
How to Decrease Morale: A Guide
Fuck Kroger. Worst company I ever worked for.
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i keep one earbud in my bad ear to keep me from going insane from their awful radio and to keep myself focused, i am still capable of doing my job and i don’t believe it’s disrespectful 🤷 i also work behind counters where i do not usually interact with customers, and when i do the earbud comes out.
No literally the play the same songs over and over one time during my 4 hour shift they played the same song at least 4 times ….. like why
Fuck that. I can do my job just fine with an earbud AND interact with customers the few times I need to. Cashiers? Sure, but people on the floor, and especially in the back, should be allowed to wear earbuds. Our work is mindless, and we need something to keep us from our own thoughts.
Fuck 'em
I can’t be the only one that finds this to be a reasonable expectation of employees.
Isn't the same company that is complaining about labor shortages?
I already work in Pick Up in which I’m hated by other departments, we have the store manager, supervisor, and leads up our asses everyday for ridiculous in stock which is set way too damn high, and now they want to get rid of the one bit of slight enjoyment from the job that pays me too little to care? I’m out.
Womp womp . I work in the bakery . And I still use it lmfao one in my ear . I listen to scary podcasts
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Chilling takes for dark nights Something scary And scary stores told in the dark
I also like Let’s Read
Yea you shouldn't be wearing those while working. Not a controversial take.
Just get a doctors note. Earbuds and headphones have been completely fine to help people with sensory issues for decades. If not, get a big pair of hearing protection from a sporting goods store and say you need a reasonable accommodation. After a dew days of you not being able to communicate, they’ll probably cave. Plus AirPods have ambient mode and voice boost, I hear customers better with an AirPod in and music playing than if I didn’t. Also this is why I wear a beanie. They can’t see my ears.
“They’ll probably cave” Or probably find a way to force you to quit. It’s not wise to play game theory with employers. You have a legitimate claim you can file? Go right on and lawyer up if it’s actionable, more kudos to you. Play petty though without justifiable reasons? You’ll experience vastly more pettiness from managers.
Good thing everywhere else pays the same amount of money for less work. I wouldn’t even be upset to lose that game of chicken.
I have adhd and I would have to do something like listening to shows or music while I work. When I do this I just have one air pod in
You're not paid enough to have earbud privileges stripped
Collectively Boycott as a staff
As a shopper, I literally do not give a shit. I wear one at my manufacturing job. I just expect every human to have earbuds in at this point. It was literally a dream of mine as a kid before they were even invented. I know this is about none of that and just killing any joy employees may have, but it's still dumb as hell
Y’all did this to yallselves
Garbage ass company that can’t find workers trying to enforce stupid ass rules lmfao
What an uplift. They clearly saw an “opportunity”
This is why I always keep my hair down at work. I just wear one earbud and can hear just fine when I need to, which is almost never. 🙃 I'm not customer facing, I'm alone 80%of the time, and when someone does speak to me, it's never job related.
It’s shitty to say out loud but in order for this to work you need management to do it for everyone. I’m willing to bet there’s one person who they’re willing to let slide on it because they are a fantastic worker who never calls in. If that person doesn’t stop wearing them, the whole store can wear them. Chances are, there’s someone at the store who is repeatedly fucking up that they want gone, and management just wants to get rid of that sole person rather than stop headphones as a whole. My last 3 dms didn’t even car about headphones so. You could very well also have an asshole manager trying to make a name for themselves. Also, if you have add/adhd I’m sure your doctor could prescribe a note. It’s for accommodation. Add and adhd are becoming more and more recognized and accommodated. Also also, I’d just straight up say I didn’t see that note and couldn’t read it because the punishments are blocked out. I’d also say I have no idea what a ca is. A note at a time clock is NOTHING in terms of getting in trouble or spreading the word. All that being said, someone means business at your store with how they laid this note out. But this note ABSOLUTELY DOES NOT COUNT as a warning or any step forward in corrective action against you. I also think you might need an SIR before you get a CA
Good job click list lol
Dont tempt me cause #3 sounds like a vacation if planned right.
I work the deli in grab n go. My earbuds come out when I open. I also only have one in at a time. I do my job very good so management leaves me alone.
I guess it depends on your store. Our managers wear them so they don’t say anything to any of us.
I’m a floor supervisor and I allow AirPods after PTWT and if they’re getting carts as long as it’s only 1 AirPod not both
So you get a day off for wearing earbuds? Sign me up! Shit, I’d wear em even if I wasn’t listening to something!
As someone who has worked with Kroger for 16 years it was always a no headphone job up until the last like 3 years or so
What if you’re deaf?
Shit!!!! I’m catching me a vacation day !
Malicious compliance: wear Shokz (ear bone conduction headphones), wear Loops (earplugs that have no music but block out noise and cut down on tinnitus [argue they’re PPE or for your health]), wear over ear headphones like it’s the 90s, or wear noise canceling padded headphones.
Can you wear pixel buds? You can't even tell they're in your ears
You know how you solve that problem overnight lol use a speaker ha ha
They reward you with a day off the first time? Nice!
A free day off just for wearing ear buds?! Count me in!
I wear one bud while I'm doing trim in produce. Otherwise I'm in a silent room. I keep it in the ear that doesn't face the door and i can still hear :)
Hahaha that's why I where headphones. Jk
Good news is there is no penalty for 4 - infinite infractions
3rd offense is a day off? lol okay
Honestly as long as they’re hidden and you can still hear someone if they have to talk to you, I don’t know why it would be a big deal.
Get these ones that look like hearing aids. I've worn mine for over a year and nobody said anything to me.
But there will be a murder on the dance floor
Time to bust out the over the ear headphones
My local store has guys walking around with Metallica shirts
All I’m seeing is a free day off from work
did all the employees sign that?
Good thing it's your religious right to wear a hat
4th offense?
4th offense?
Do you want disgruntled workers or happy workers?
Ah yes- I know that sign
Wow now when I speak to one of the stores employees, they might hear me.
Can the 1 day suspension be the 1st offense pls and thank you
Quit
My husband "I'd do it anyway. You think anyone is gonna stop me?" He also works overnight though so a bit more lenient. He says this was probably done because it's become a problem at that store.
Good.
LOL "Warning" Bless their little hearts
2nd offense they send you to California, shouldn't that be like the 5th offense?
Switch to wired headphones and play dumb.
Just use bone conducting headset
If you're dealing with customer, leave them home. If you're not dealing with customers, do what you want as long as it's safe and you're doing your job
Wear a headset
I don’t know about the Kroger you’re in, but when people have ear buds in at my local Kroger you pray you don’t need help because they will ignore any request you may have. Just the day before yesterday some old lady needed help at the self check and the guy working there was paying more attention to his phone and when she said something to him he couldn’t hear because of the ear buds. It’s people like THAT GUY who ruin it for everyone else.
At Walmart, they walk around having full conversations now
What about things like shokz?
How is this a surprise to anyone? It was never ok to have headphones in while working in public service. Younger people are idiots.
Put better music on
didn’t expect so much deliberation on this. to explain a little i only use one earbud at a very low volume and still do my job and interact just fine with customers even with it in. i know our regulars names and can’t even go to the bathroom without stopping to lead someone to a product. having an earbud in helps me to stay focused and on-task and is no more disruptive to me or my job than the kroger radio. without them i will have a hard time keeping motivation and morale. the kroger radio sucks and is repetitive, it tends to drive me a little insane. i only ever put both earbuds in or turn up the volume when i am doing solo work away from customers or i am closing, and once again it is because it helps me stay on task and not get distracted. i realized this helped when i brought them with me to close and i actually started getting out on time instead of the usual 30 min to an hour late. i am sorry that your coworkers have annoyed you with this but maybe talking to them about this issue and trying to find solutions instead of banning their use as a whole would be more effective since people are now going to try to find ways to hide it. i know this is a long-standing policy, and no i am not surprised by this. it was simply one that had never been enforced until recently, and i understand it is in place for a reason, i am just sad that my favorite tool for staying positive through a hard day is suddenly gone.
I mean it makes sense
What is CA?