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That went out the window in the frenzy of cost-cutting that has taken over the grocery industry.
Grocery worker here. Started 8 years ago as the oldest bagger on the planet (I was 38) and now run the liquor department. When I started, baggers were sent to a 3 day course that taught company policy, bagging technique, customer service tips, etc. It was a pretty decent course and needed because most baggers are kids in their first ever job and who have never shopped for groceries before.
Back then, we were mandated plenty of hours for staffing the store and we always had good coverage in all the departments, in the checkstands and with baggers. Over the past 8 years, it has changed dramatically. Hours have been cut to the bone - the produce department where I used to work, used to have 3 more people than it does now yet they're expected to do the same amount of work. More, actually, because they serve as backup checkers and are often called because we run with a minimum of help in the front.
We now work under a new contract, one with a two tier system. New hires will never make as much as those hired under the old contract and their raises will come at a far greater interval. So the quality of help has declined as well - you just aren't going to get people to work their ass off for 8 dollars an hour with no shot at a raise for 3 years.
Our benefits have been cut drastically, we haven't gotten a raise in 3 years but we pay more for our health care than we ever did before. We are expected to do more for less. Kids are hired off the street to bag and put immediately to work with no more training than someone telling them, "stand here and bag." Apparently they think the overworked checkers are going to be able to train them and they try but have no time or motivation to do so.
But our CEO has not had to give up his private plane, thank goodness, or his several homes or his multi-million dollar salary. Bitter? Me? Nahhh.....
I don't blame anyone with being fed up with the service they receive at grocery stores. All I ask is that you please put the blame where it belongs - on the company, the industry and the political climate that allows big business to shit on the people who toil for their profits.
Thank you.
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