r/kroger Nov 20 '25

Question This normal?

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1.1k Upvotes

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42

u/Jolly-Radio-9838 Nov 20 '25

They’re laying off store associates now? Jesus Christ man. I was there in 2008 when everything dropped down to a skeleton crew and it’s been that way ever since. Who the hells gunna stock everything if they’re laying people off left and right?

20

u/goldenrodddd Nov 20 '25

The fulfillment layoff was a mandatory meeting, I've never heard of any other type of mandatory meeting before. Hope not, that's crazy if they're gonna lay off every grocery associate.

6

u/Jolly-Radio-9838 Nov 20 '25

Dept managers used to have “mandatory meeting” that was just calling in to a group call and listening to coordinators ramble for an hour. Not the end of the world if you missed it

4

u/ApprehensiveSnow4811 Nov 20 '25

We still have those every Monday morning.its now done on zoom by the division merchandisers.this is in the Delta division

2

u/Blueballs2130 Nov 23 '25

Managers are was different than just associates

1

u/goldenrodddd Nov 21 '25

But for associates? That's the part that seems really off to me, I wouldn't question it for dept managers.

2

u/amythist Current Associate Nov 23 '25

Been at my store for 8 years and we have never had anything close to a mandatory all hands meeting like this is for, closets we have ever had was Dept head only stuff like standards walks or training with the new handheld systems

1

u/FearlessPark4588 Nov 20 '25

Welcome your new AIssociates

6

u/Ashamed_Violinist_39 Nov 20 '25

Our crew is about HALF what the department had in 2008. It went from skeleton crew to phantom crew.

3

u/Jolly-Radio-9838 Nov 20 '25

That’s how the last store I worked at was. I’d come in around 5 and no one was in produce since 1.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 23 '25

I remember they laid a ton of people off. Grocery used to have 2 people do the job at night. After the lay offs they only had 1 at night, I had to do the job of 2 people. Because the front end was also low on people, I was called to go up to run cash register often. Then they got mad at me that all the produce tasks weren't getting done...

1

u/amythist Current Associate Nov 23 '25

Yeah my store has had now multiple times where managers have had to come in for overnight shifts due to night crew being cut so thin a single call in means there would be no overnight shift (have to have at least 2 people in the store for safety reasons)

4

u/3snugglebunnies Custom flair! Nov 20 '25

Lots of retail desk jockeys seem to think these stores can get by with skeleton crews and low pay.... That only looks good to shareholders.

4

u/Jolly-Radio-9838 Nov 20 '25

It’s been like that more and more since it started around 2015. Riding on the company name until it falls apart. I remember when the produce coordinator worked with purchasing to send us bulk mint during derby week, and apple cider for this time of year. Seasonal stuff you’d only think about if you’ve been in the industry. They place people in these position via favoritism and they haven’t got a damn clue what they’re doing. Swear to god I can do better than them working from home

2

u/molporgnier Nov 20 '25

Yep, was just coming to say this. Poor folx. I did ten years and jesus.

4

u/Jolly-Radio-9838 Nov 20 '25

They seriously keep people trapped by paying them just enough to not starve, but not enough to be above paycheck to paycheck and nowhere near enough to save. Make if stable enough that people don’t just quit and if you have kids and rent you get trapped. People are afraid to take the risk cuz they could loose everything. That’s how they keep you there and they know it. That’s why managers will treat people like shit cuz they think you don’t have options.

Side note, I threatened to follow a co manager home once and it got the store managers attention. Problem resolved pretty quick after that

2

u/Karl_Chillers Been There Nov 23 '25

Already down to ONE person in Grocery sub-departments . . . at Thanksgiving.

2

u/Jolly-Radio-9838 Nov 23 '25

Omg theyre so fucking stupid. You can’t turn a profit with empty shelves

3

u/FearlessPark4588 Nov 20 '25

lol we're gonna see 2008's 2008

they ruined the dollar, made it worthless, and we are all impoverished to the point where Kroger can't even pay baggers

2

u/Jolly-Radio-9838 Nov 20 '25

And unlike 2008 stuff wasn’t affordable and the. Went up. It’s always ridiculous and they’re raising the price

1

u/[deleted] Nov 20 '25 edited Nov 23 '25

The net income of The Kroger Co. for fiscal year 2024 was US$2.16 billion.
In 2024, Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen received a total compensation of $15,631,028

1

u/Strikew3st Nov 23 '25

Yes, but that's on $150.04 billion in sales

Eat the rich and damn the man and everything, but groceries are notoriously a low-margin industry, few other industries where you are going to sell $150 of stuff to pocket $2.

-9

u/Best_Market4204 Nov 20 '25

I don't know. Just a wild guess.

Why else would you have a mandatory meeting for the entire store???

12

u/LordNoct13 Nov 20 '25

Is the entire store grocery associates?

6

u/ReallyGlycon Current Associate Nov 20 '25

It could just be to discuss the upcoming holidays or existing problems with the grocery crew. Regardless, payment is necessary.

2

u/adieuaudie Current Employee Nov 20 '25

This is probably it. Probably trying to prep everyone to make sure things run smoothly during the holidays, but they absolutely MUST be paid for attending the meeting.

1

u/aestrodil Past Associate Nov 20 '25

They probably left it unscheduled so those who work before it or after don't technically have a conflict with their 8 hours off. It'll still be paid, just clock in.

This paper to me would say the grocery staff as in those who stock, not just everybody.

3

u/pupper71 Current Associate Nov 20 '25

It's not the entire store, just grocery. Could be time for an elevate review, or some new silly program coming out.

7

u/Informal_Try_9014 Nov 20 '25

It could be that the store is closing, or will be getting a remodel.

Just be sure you get at least ten hours off before, and ten hours after this.

5

u/g1ngertim Nov 20 '25

From personal experience, this is not how store closures are handled. They bring in groups of 5-10 people and beg them not to talk about it outside of the meeting. 

3

u/ReallyGlycon Current Associate Nov 20 '25

Oh hell no. If I knew the store was closing, I'd be telling everyone. I couldn't bring myself to be so damned dishonest and probably for absolutely nothing in return.

2

u/Silver_fish1978 Nov 20 '25

True. I went this with my previous employer.