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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - TIMES GONE BYE

When I was clocking out last night, an employee said that they had been on my Blog but noticed that I hadn't published anything new lately - thought that maybe I was taking a break.  I assured the employee that I hadn't taken a break but instead had not seen anything around the store to write about.  Unless of course I would write about what the employees had been going through.

Not too long ago, a manager told me that they found it hard to look into the faces of the employees.  "The morale", they said, "is gone."  And that it is.

All of the hard work, the customer service, loyalty etc., somehow seems like it was a waste.  As one person put it, "It's a slap in the face." 

So many employees are now faced with finding healthcare and at the same time trying to make ends meet on their new found Part-time positions.  Not an easy task.  Especially if they cannot find another Part-time job with hours that can be coordinated with their positions at the store. 

New people are being hired, what seems to be, constantly - Part-time/minimum wage.

The store has truly lost that wonderful 'vibe' and so many of our local customers; patrons of the store since it opened almost 20 years ago.

We could talk this out and what went wrong and first one thing and then another.  But, that would not provide us with any solution only make us feel more miserable.  We, the employees, know what brought us to this point but there is not now or ever has been anything that we could do to avoid the problems.  It was out of our hands.

But thinking back on a published interview with the CEO of this company, I recall a statement made by the CEO that he never asks employees to do anything that he, himself, would not do.

Guess it's time for him to take a pay cut, too.

Talk at ya later!

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - TALK THE TALK - WALK THE WALK

I don't know the origin of the phrase, which I have cited for the title of this post, but I find it to definitely define what is currently taking place in the job market. 

On one side of the spectrum there is the 'fast food workers', that are rallying for a wage increase.   And while the workers step up the for their cause, the employers argue of what that would do to business.  Yep, less profit.  And in order to fill the gap between cost and profit, the employers would have to pass the increase of their expense on to the consumer.  Which definitely gives the consumer a thought on the matter.  Like 'you want more money, get a better job', or 'get a real job', or 'these jobs are not meant to be permanent.'  Anything to save the cost of a burger.

The wage increase that is being sought by this workforce is basically due to increased living expense; utilities, food, home.  The very same things that everyone is being hit with.  And the part about finding another job well, you might just be surprised as to how many are working two jobs in order to make it.  And finding the higher paying jobs is not as easy as it is made out to be; with or without a degree.

I would think that the public might be a little more supportive since they seem to criticize these very workers for collecting government assistance in order to make it.

Now on the other side, there is a grocery store chain, approximately 71 stores, in Connecticut and neighboring states that is going through change.  A change that is being brought on by it's very own employees.  This company is family run, non-union and it is nothing for employees to be there up to 32 years or more.  Let's just say, the employees who work for this grocery chain really do love their stores and customers.

But, for quite a few years, there has been a struggle between two of the family members which ultimately ended up with one family member gaining control and firing the other family member.  Now this is a corporate struggle and it seems that the one CEO that got fired was the one that the employees are devoted to.  Meaning they refuse to work for the other family member.  They are so strong in their feelings on this matter that they took a stand - strike.  And here's the best part, the customers are backing them and boycotting.

When the company asked the employees to return, they refused to negotiate until the former CEO is reinstated.  They feel that should they be under a different management, then their futures would be jeopardized.  And the thoughts are the same for the customers.

And, they are right.  We have witnessed it first-hand.

So to all of these people, who have taken a stand, whether they win or lose they will have gained something - attention.  And it is the attention that sooner, or later, brings change. 

Personally, I wish them all the best and hope that  they are successful.  Because it takes a lot of guts to take a stand.

Keep walking,

Talk at ya later!
 

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - BREAKING TRADITION!

Well, another manager has come and gone.  Not only gone, but has left the company. That was Saturday. And three days later, we're still missing her.

I would say that when she came to our store, it was a little bit of a culture shock.  The building is somewhat in need of repair and outdated,  the coolers are most generally going down on a regular basis and as if that were not enough well, let's just say that the place didn't seem very appealing.  Until she got in the door and met us.

Word for word, action to action - she fit right in. 

But here is the clincher - she brought back memories of what we use to be.  She added incentive and hard work to the store.  Just like we use to do.  And her outgoing personality and down to earth nature was exactly what our customers were accustomed to.

So in sending her off, we had to be different.  A cake?  Please, she's the Bakery Manager for goodness sakes.

I decided that we should get her a six pack of beer.  So, Glenn and I hunted through the beer aisle and he picked out what he thought she would like.  Me, I'm an Import girl myself.

 I got a big bow and put it on top while the employees got out their Sharpies and pens and wrote their names and farewell messages on the beer carton.  Then we put it on her desk.

Well, we were a success.   And of course some employees shed some tears.

Although we will miss her, very much, we like her enough to want her to be happy.  And, we think this move will make her happy.

So Gaby, from all of us,

'te deseamos lo mejor'

Talk at ya later!