Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - 3RD ANNIVERSARY

Yep - as of August 17, 2014, this Blog celebrated it's third year of publication. 

Now it's not that I forgot about the date, quite the contrary, I just couldn't think of anything to post.  Happy Anniversary wasn't quite truthful, it was just an anniversary.  So, I reviewed all of the previous posts to see if I could pick myself up and put something together.  But that didn't work, it only depressed me. 

But, I did manage to come up with something - better late then never.  While reviewing the posts I noticed that some were rather blah, while others appeared a little cheezy but most of them added some insight and showed many attributes of the employees as well as customers.  These posts have given an idea as to what it is like to work in a grocery store and, at the same time, showed what it takes to provide Customer Service.   But what I have accomplished most with this Blog is that it shows these people, who work in this store, as the genuine, caring and hardworking people that they really are.  A business could ask for nothing more.

During the last three years, we have lost quite a bit of talent and many hardworking employees.  And, this family unit has started to come apart.  The atmosphere has changed and many loyal customers have chosen to go elsewhere.  Truly, the 'vibe' is gone.

In a way, though, this does not overshadow what this Blog truly has represented - the employees.

So, as I am about to reach my 12th Anniversary at this store, I can honestly say that I am glad that I had the opportunity to become a grocery store clerk.  I have learned a lot and worked with some of the finest people I will ever know.  And what of the future?  Well, I don't think that Cincigal will be celebrating a 4th Anniversary.  But that's okay. 

You see, although all good things may come to an end, this Blog will live on in cyberspace forever.

Talk at ya later!

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - HOW DID WE GET HERE?

We  had a visitor yesterday.  A former employee had stopped in and made it a point to say, 'Hi'.  I have to admit that it was really good to see an old, familiar face - especially one that was so well liked. 

The first reaction from our old friend was, "What has happened?"  She commented on how 'dead' it was, meaning both the traffic as well as the employees.  It was clear that she was remembering the old days and how we use to be. 

When you walked in the door, you could just feel the 'vibe'.  The hustle and bustle of a busy store and the employees who were not only friendly but, people that customers knew that they could count on.  The place had a definite air about it.  And in those days, this particular store was known for being the only one of it's kind that was associated with the company.

But as it has been captured in this Blog, things have changed.

The employees are truly beat down, we have lost a tremendous amount of talent, most of the loyal customers are gone, we have lost what we were known for - low prices, fresh produce - and the ever changing faces that now occupy the floor.  All of this has changed what use to be to, what it is now.  And these are just not my personal observances instead, these are the very statements made to me by customers; former and present.

The old, neighborhood grocery atmosphere is gone - so to speak.

This former employee was shocked as to what she was witnessing and then she left.

There was nothing left to say!

Talk at ya later!

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - IT'S NOT PERSONAL, BUT......

A few weeks ago, the company made the decision to take quite a few full-time employees and make them part-time employees  - hence, the 40-60 ratio.  With this decision each employee, that had their status changed, was given the opportunity to either accept the position or take a package deal which consisted of so many weeks of paid vacation.  I don't know how many stayed or left, I only know the one employee from our store that decided to leave.

I am sure that those that were given the grim news of their positions felt like the bottom had just dropped out of their immediate futures.  I mean, go to work one day and bam - guess what. 

As is the norm around here, the real devastating news is kept secret until the ball is dropped.  And although we have tried to undermine any future changes, we sometimes miss the real big changes - two to be exact.

So for the weeks leading up to the date of August 4th, the date given for all those departing, this one employee's co-workers tried to convince them that it was a mistake to leave.  "Part-time is better then no job at all." the employee was told.  Comments such as this, and others, became the typical conversation during these lingering weeks.

But the employee was firm in their decision.  So, I just had to ask what brought them to this decision and did they really feel that it was the best for their immediate future.  Their answer was a resounding, "Yes."

After having worked, I believe, nine years with no black marks against them this decision of eliminating their full-time position was like a 'slap in the face.'  And to be honest, they felt that there was no way that they would be able to come in and give 100% to their job anymore and that would not be right to do to their co-workers.

In knowing this employee, I know that they are going through quite a bit of anguish right now with a close family member fighting a debilitating illness.  And now, this latest action at work has just added more stress in their life. 

As for their immediate future, who knows what may come around.  But this employee is positive in the decision that they have made.

This latest decision does not affect me.  Back in February, I made the decision to retire.

There has been a couple of times since, that I have been asked if I had had an inside tip as to what would happen in the future.  My response was, no.  The decision that I made was due to common sense.  I had lost five hours, sales continued to drop, we had lost most of our benefits and the decisions that were being made had not helped to turn business around - it just kept declining.

Had I not made that decision, when I did, I have no doubt that I would have been dropped to part-time as well.  At which time I am sure that I would have stroked out and could only hope that I would have done it on company time.

Since this latest decision, we now seem to be faced with an ever ending parade of new faces coming into the store to replace those hours saved with this latest company move.  The time saved is replaced with minimum wage/part-time.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind - there will be more changes.  And when you take into consideration the morale, I'm not so sure that we care anymore. 

All of these changes that so many companies have incorporated into their business operations does not seem to be improving sales/profit.  There's a reason for that;

They have cut the spending power.

Talk at ya later!