I wanted to let all the customers know that you are not the only people who suffer.
I am a Cashier at Kroger, and I have been for about nine months, everyday, and at irregular times. I walk 3 miles to work. I clock in, walk to my register and try to fake a smile for all my customers awaiting my service.
I do this because it is the Kroger way. I watch my supervisors and managers walk by glancing at each cashier, wishing they would see something to complain about. Sometimes they will ridicule us, by saying things like, “you sure are looking nice for not feeling well!” or “Your moving awfully slow for having had a day off yesterday” or “I wish I could just scan stuff all day.”
Just today, I told a supervisor I was thinking about going back to school, she replied, “well we have enough problems scheduling people already!”
Our customer service crew is constantly making fun of the rest of the coworkers and finding little ways to make us feel awful. Like today, it was raining and I had to walk to work so the bottoms of my pants were a little muddy. It is already embarrassing enough that I have to walk because I wrecked my car, let alone have someone point it out.
My supervisor walked up to me and said “Your pants are muddy, they have been like that for awhile, you have been wearing the same pants for weeks.” Customers began to stare and I started to fight back tears. I didn’t have the guts to stand up and tell her exactly why they were like that. Plus, she wouldn’t listen. I have been wearing different pants but they are all the same style, and I don’t have a washer so I do a lot of my laundry in the tub.
So I suppose they are stained at the bottom, and they are dirty by the time I get there, but I can only do so much. About the only thing I got out before she rolled her eyes was “I walk.”
Tonight I cried a little while rewashing all my jeans, paying special attention to the bottoms, I don’t want to go back tomorrow. I love my job, but I just can’t take it anymore.
Pedestrian
Dear Pedestrian,
I’m sorry to hear that your supervisors don’t appreciate your dedication and committment. It takes a special kind of employee to walk 3-miles to work and back each day and still have a smile to share with others.
Every one has rough times now and then, you not alone. Just remember that what doesn’t kill us, will make us stronger. At least that’s what I’ve always been told.
Perhaps you could make up a flier to put on the local bulletin board to help you hook up with someone to carpool with at least that way you would have a ride and could help someone else pay transportation costs. If you have a locker at work, maybe you could take an extra pair of pants to work and keep them in your locker.
It sounds to me like there is a great deal more going on at work than just your transportation problems. You need to try to find another job where your talents are appreciated. Working a job that causes stress and makes you cry can lead to physical illness and other problems.
I do hope that things work out well for you and that you find happiness on your job. You sound like a helpful person who loves the work you do. You shouldn’t have a problem finding someone to appreciate those skills.
Hang in there,
~Annette
I used to be a floor sup before I transfered to nights and I know what you mean, and I bet it was one of the office back ups because I dealt with all that shit as a cashier, so when I became a floor superviser from 2 to 10 every day I tried my best to make the kids feel important. Because most of them don’t need this job, if they want they can quit and go work with one of there friends or something. And it sucks when ppl don’t appreciate you.
I never felt appreciated and thats why I moved to third shift. Whats funny is all the kids tell me on facebook how they wish I still ran the floor. lol
I’ve only been doing nights 2 months and 4 ppl quit because they just don’t like there job anymore. 3 of them directly told me they quit cause I left the front, which made me feel good and bad. But trust me it will get better. Keep your availability open, be positive and never work in the office.