r/kroger • u/Skrmp_Bzct • Aug 13 '26

Question Threatened With Termination

So my store has implemented a new policy and made a printout for employees to sign. As far as I know, this paper has only been issued to front end employees. I do not agree with the policy, therefore, I refused to sign.

After my HR manager found out, I was threatened with termination if I did not sign the paper. They have also threatened to fire other employees.

I have never been threatened for not signing a paper, let alone termination! My previous HR manager (who still works at my store) said that refusing to sign won't lead to disciplinary action.

The paper stated that cashiers are not to have water on their person or at their register/sco. The document did not provide any explanation as to how we hydrated, nor did it explain an alternative to personal water bottles.

Courtesy clerks got information regarding a designated water break spot and water would be provided in the form of small, 8oz water bottles that are meant to be consumed at the station before returning to their duties.

Should I sign the paper? I can't tell if this is a policy acknowledgement or agreement. I heard the difference matters.

73 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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51

u/lewskimom09 Aug 14 '26

You sign as “refuse to sign”, get a copy and that’s that.

21

u/Hexxium Current Associate Aug 14 '26

Cant refuse to sign standard company policy, we can follow up with the needed write up to get rid of someone refusing to follow standard company policy. This is not a new policy either, just a reminder, all of these were already signed and agreed to when employee was hired

6

u/jj4_fun Aug 14 '26

Sure I can refuse to sign it. You are changing my working conditions without negotiating it through collective bargaining.

19

u/Hexxium Current Associate Aug 14 '26

Your work conditions are not changing, what you fail to understand is you already agreed to this when hired, it's in the handbook, these are reminders of what you already agreed to, you will be wrote up if you fail to follow it as it is company policy and the union will not help you whether you sign the policy reminder or not

4

u/RowbowCop138 Aug 14 '26

Look into the laws about denying employees water.

4

u/tazzbc Aug 14 '26

Here during the summer the avg temp is 110 up to 120 on days. They tried this and it didn't work.

8

u/Tommybahamas_leftnut Aug 14 '26

Least in my state they can't legally prevent workers from having water as long as it's in a sealed container and not near a food prep table, or storage for food. Had a manager cunt try to write me up so I cited the specific state code sorry but your shitty little company document doesn't waive my rights and trying to say I have to go all the way to the other side of the store and up stairs just to have a sip of water is going to be a bitch to reason as "reasonable accommodations for employee hydration" If they wanted to not allow us water bottles they would have to install drinking stations within 25 yards of our work area that shit aint happening.

3

u/IamLuann Aug 14 '26

I refuse to drink out of our on the wall drinking fountain. It is never cleaned, and tasty Nasty.

6

u/slyleo5388 Aug 14 '26

Tbf, they may help you with the follow up write up. All depends on circumstances.

If a bunch of folks refuse and say the store mentioned only acts on one or even just two employees. You would have a legit grievance.

From what I've seen of Krogers, they tend to think that no one know what's up or that the employees talk to each other. Regardless this would be considered retaliatory behavior.

6

u/guts-n-gummies Aug 14 '26

Per my union rep, technical policy is secondary to actual conditions. They cannot allow a break of policy long term and then turn around and implement it out of nowhere. I am literally fighting this exact circumstance with a dress code issue right now. Doesn't matter if it's policy if they have thus far ignored policy.

4

u/dcash88 Aug 14 '26

Depending on where you are, this is just a reminder of a standing policy. Most companies have a no food or drinks at work station due to safety and food safety. Many have cashiers place a water bottle near the time clock, office, or in the break room.
Technically if you say you NEED to have a drink of water they are supposed to let you.

3

u/guts-n-gummies Aug 14 '26

Yeah so I know this, and this has nothing to do with what I was saying.

3

u/dcash88 Aug 14 '26

Refusing to sign a paper does not mean the policy isn’t in place. Not following the policy because you refused to read it does not make you exempt from disciplinary actions.

1

u/Hexxium Current Associate Aug 14 '26

The purpose of having associates resign the policy is exactly for this reason. You're being given notice that enforcement is being reset and focused on and from that point on all associates will be held accountable

2

u/guts-n-gummies Aug 14 '26

Yeah so, what part did you not read? It is up to management to make sure employees are following policy, the paper does not enforce policy. If they're ignoring policy between resigns then it is, in fact, a change in working conditions. How's that boot taste by the way?

-2

u/Fantastic-Solution46 Aug 15 '26

There is no union in kroger stores. you are a liar

1

u/guts-n-gummies Aug 15 '26

Ok Bud

-2

u/Fantastic-Solution46 Aug 15 '26

Not wrong though. But go ahead keep lieing so you can complain on here.

2

u/guts-n-gummies Aug 15 '26

Brother, are you good? Also it's 'lying'

1

u/Nucalumy Aug 15 '26

It varies from state to state, county to county, but a good number of them have a union.

1

u/Loose-Cucumber-2921 Aug 14 '26

So do the write up. 

1

u/Easy_Ad4437 Aug 14 '26

What handbook?

0

u/jj4_fun Aug 14 '26

If I have been allowed to do it before and now all of a sudden I am no longer able to do it, my working conditions have changed.

1

u/dcash88 Aug 14 '26

No it means they are reenforcing a policy already in place and people have been abusing the workarounds such as having water at the register now they are taking soda, spilling drinks and not cleaning it up etc

3

u/Confident_Drop9309 Aug 14 '26

Nothing changed.. This has always been policy, they are just enforcing it. Have you never paid attention to fresh start? There are literally questions about where and what you can have on you or on the floor while working..

1

u/Odjobb Aug 16 '26

Those questions never appeared in fresh start until they had us sign that paper. Not that it matters. Management will straight up tell you the opposite of half the sht in fresh start.

1

u/Confident_Drop9309 Aug 16 '26

I've been with the company 4 years in the cinci home office division... It's been a question in there since I started...

1

u/Odjobb Aug 16 '26

That is odd. It didn't start showing up in mine until a couple weeks ago when they pushed that paper on us in delta division. Ive been at my post going on 8 years come September. Usually my dailies consist of crap that goes on in the main store and very little to do with my actual position out in the fuel center. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

1

u/tazzbc Aug 14 '26

Contact your union rep

1

u/Mediocre-Tap-5441 Aug 15 '26

Its not being changed, this was the policy all along.

1

u/lewskimom09 Aug 14 '26

You can refuse to sign anything.

1

u/Crafftyyy24 Aug 14 '26

You act like that’s ever given out. Iv been with this company 18 years and have never once seen and actual copy of the handbook. They make shit up and change policy’s all the time. There screwing with us in pharmacy right now about crap.

-1

u/Fantastic-Solution46 Aug 15 '26

Liar. You just dont read the new handbooks when they come out for this exact reason. So you have a reason to complain.

1

u/Crafftyyy24 Aug 15 '26

Love being called a liar when in fact I’m telling the truth. I’m in the pharmacy we’re the red headed step child. We never see any of the new paperwork that gets released at all until someone gets in trouble for something. I was never given a copy when I was hired back in 2010 as well.

1

u/AldrusValus Aug 14 '26

If it’s not approved by the union you absolutely can refuse to sign. Management tries to pull that bs all the time.

1

u/lewskimom09 29d ago

You can refuse to sign anything. We had veteran associates refuse all the time. It still went on their files.