Don't work for a grocery store
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
United States
January 30, 2016 6:40pm CST
I am not saying that all grocery stores are bad, but if you are trying to make it a career? I would recommend not doing so. I've been working for my store for five years but it seems I've had a complaint about it for around four years.
I realize it's a big business and with big business comes greed. The department I work for is small, probably one of the smallest department compared to other locations.
We are getting more people in but there is no telling how long they will stay. I've had them cut my hours to twice per week so that I don't have to deal with the stress that was causing me a lot of problems. Now I am able to stay at home more and am trying to carve out a good routine for online income as secondary income.
It used to be that if one of us was out sick or on vacation? We all hurt. We had to pull more weight because we didn't have anyone available to come in to pick up the slack. That is partially because of the company and partially because of the greed of the manger of the store.
I really can't abide by fake people and he is one of those. He only cares about running the place as smoothly as possible without any care for his workers.
It is one reason why I have decided to get away. I need to be in an environment where my efforts do matter and are appreciated if not rewarded.
I will not quit but I have decided that I will not put myself out there anymore. I will come in and do my job but will not do extra (come in more) just because I am a nice person. I have done that for far too long there.
23 people like this
23 responses
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
It has taken me far too long to realize that.
3 people like this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 16
I've felt the same a couple of times.
I don't think it's necessarily the industry you're in I think some managers treat people badly across all industries.
The most people I've ever been in charge of was 15 and I like to think I was a half decent line manager.
That being said middle managers are a bit stuck sometimes.
They're above the workers but below the level where they get a say in actual policies so I have some sympathy with middle management.
I know when we had people off on holiday managers would step in and take some of the load but that doesn't always happen.
From your post I'd say it may be time for you to get a new job where your efforts are more appreciated.
I remember you saying you want to travel...ever thought of looking on international recruitment sites?
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I wish I could work in another country. I do not have the skill level to obtain a job in another country though. I've only ever been an hourly worker. Where I work our direct manager does the same thing we do and more. He doesn't have much say but tries to argue our case. It's not done any good.
2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum do you have a specific country you'd like to work in or maybe a specific area such as the EU?
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15505)
• United Kingdom
31 Jan 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum PS...you do have a skill which is speaking English...you'd be surprised what that can open up for you.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
31 Jan 16
It sounds like the store sucks. I don't blame you for not doing more than what is your job. Even if you try you may not be recognized for it. You need to do what is good for you. Our local stores do not seem to be to bad of a place to work. It seems the larger stores don't treat their employees very well.
1 person likes this
@mommaj (23112)
• United States
31 Jan 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum In this job market it is always good to find something before you leave unless you can afford to leave without having another job lined up. Good luck with your search.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I just do not think it is the right fit for me anymore. I am trying to be sensible though and not outright quit. I want to wait it out a wee bit and in the meantime explore my options.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
@mommaj Even if you can aford to leave it's best not to before another is lined up. There is no telling how long it might take to get another job and that can look bad on employment history and resumes for sure.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I don't work with the public anymore. I work at night when it's just me and my coworkers. It can be a very pressure filled job, especially when someone isn't there and is supposed to be.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
It does not seem as if appreciation is for offer in many places now. 
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
31 Jan 16
They should give value to your loyalty.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
Unfortunately Should and Do mean two different things :(
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
31 Jan 16
My son started out at a grocery store for his first job. At the time I told him do what people will always need and he gained good work experience from it. He has since moved on to a different type of job.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
Grocery stores are a good first job. I have seen many teenagers come and go from the store. I was always taught to go beyond expectation and you'll go far.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13454)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I worked in one, it is all about the business for them, if the employees are not there the store can't operate. When business is slow, they have to cut hours, just how it works. Those managers are told how much they can budget for the week .
I worked as an employee in the store, then I was supervisor there, but it was not a career for me either. I switched careers, there is a lot of theft in stores and a lot of other things to deal with.
Another boss I had, did not care about the employees or get to know them, it makes it easier to fire them , if you don't get too attached to them
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
1 Feb 16
I understand somewhat the politics of it. Especially when it comes to profit margins and needing to cut hours. What gets me is that some arent' doing their jobs and it's pawned back on us and then we get yelled at for it if it's not done, even though we aren't the ones responsible for it, and the ones who are aren't getting disciplined.
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13454)
• United States
3 Feb 16
@ScribbledAdNauseum , one of the guys in the store, was crazy, he came to work one day threatened to shoot us, I didn't take it lightly told the manager they called him in he says he was just kidding, they didn't say no more about it.
This same employee would get sick every night , while we were supposed to be stocking, facing, he would be in the aisle passed out(faking) the other works would step over him to do their work. He would say he was light headed, but when you watched on the camera, you would see him laying down slowly on the , knowing we were near by. Knowing this they still had for the night crew and we had to do his work and hours. Between the theft , and employees did steal, and the crazy hours, low hours, I had to end up leaving there. A lot of it was due to health issues, but it was time to go.
@softbabe44 (5816)
• Vancouver, Washington
31 Jan 16
Each are different I think we get tired of doing and doing not being appreciated i don't blame you one bit.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
Thank You, I appreciate it. I hope so too, or at the very least, I hope this place will start to appreciate me more soon.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116936)
• Anniston, Alabama
31 Jan 16
I have been there before the more you do the less other will and its their job. I hope you find something that you love to do and get paid for it.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)
• United States
31 Jan 16
I can understand that everyone in my department is tired, it is when they start slacking and cause others to pick it up that annoys me. Not only that but when the management doesn't care as long as the job gets done. All annoying, annoying, inconsiderate habits.
2 people like this
@prettypothead (37)
• Germany
31 Jan 16
My boyfriend has a likely problem.
His manger felt like a king. There was no "Good morning" or "You done a great Job". No apprecation for my boyfriend or the other employers. My boyfriend done everything for the store. When somebody was ill he worked even harder because he wanted that the costumers find a clean and assorted market. He did work which wasn't his work (like cleaning everything or helping in the office).
Now he has a back injury. He asked if he could work at the cash register or fulltime in the office because he can't heft anymore ... Do you think the manager has any compassion? No! He said: "You can do your old job with pain or you can go!" ...
My boyfriend is on the scout for a new job now. Till he gets a new job he will still works there - but he will not do more than his job is. He will not show that he is loyal. He will not make any overtime and he will not help out to do the clean-up. Before he gave 180% - now just 80% and I can totally understand why!
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I'm sure that what you done is right! You should always do what is the best for you. You have to feel good to life a good life. Do not let ruin yourself through a company like this! Go your own way and become happy 
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
31 Jan 16
Managers are there because they can make the bottom line profitable. Some very good ones do it by working hard themselves and caring about employees, but others do not. One manager I had at Wal Mart, who let me go in one week when I gave two weeks notice explained it. Oh and it was fine by me, but others were angry. Of all the factors that are expenses in retail, the only one in his actual control was employee hours. So to make the whole store more profitable they had to work with as few hours spent as possible. It is awful for people who are at the whim of the system, the lower tier employees.
In the long run, disregarding the harder working employees actually cuts their own throat, as in your instance.
@swissheart (6482)
• Romania
31 Jan 16
I heard that working in a groccery store involves a lot of stress and a huge amount of work and sometimes the salary isn't that good
@LeaPea2417 (37353)
• Toccoa, Georgia
31 Jan 16
The grocery business is a hard business. My husband worked in it for 15 years over a decade ago. He worked his way up to Assistant Manager and do you know, if he wanted to be promoted to manager, they would have not promoted him in the store he worked at? They would have sent him to another grocery within the district of the chain. He stayed as Assistant Manager because we have a house and we didn't want to be forced to move in order to be promoted. He luckily got out of that job and works somewhere else now.
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
31 Jan 16
Maybe looking around for something better and not so hard on you is a good idea. You can do it slowly while you are still working to make sure you make the right move.
@hellopeeps (403)
• United States
31 Jan 16
Stress is the worst thing in life what do you think you will want to do now?
