Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - IT'S ALL ABOUT PRIDE

So, I'm coming back from my break and heading towards the elevator when I run into another employee, who is getting ready to go take her break; together we ride up the elevator.

There we are in the elevator when this employee starts explaining how she doesn't have the pride in her work anymore.  That's not her, she explains.  All the years that this employee has worked at this store, she always took pride in her work.  But now she is at a disadvantage and it bothers her.  With less help in her department, she goes on to explain, one has barely enough time to get all of the work done and things that use to get extra care no longer do.

Ironically, just last week another employee was venting the very same feelings.

You see, I would have thought that there would have been other things that perhaps would have frustrated these employees more then personal pride.

After all, within the last couple of years these employees have lost personal days, vacation time that use to depend on the amount of years worked are now figured according to the amount of hours worked, holiday pay is gone and hours have been cut along with more responsibility.

Every step taken in order to promote profit.

But instead of the factors that have cut their very livelihood, employees are focusing on the type of work that is now performed.

Does it affect the customers?  Oh yeah.

They no longer get the attention they were accustomed to and customers wait longer for what they are wanting due to lack of staff.

So, I guess, no matter how many cuts are made it will be the pride of the job that will be missed the most.

For the pride that they took in their jobs was their investment in where they work.

Talk at ya later!



 

 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - SOMETHING MISSING

It use to be that our store received compliments on a regular basis.  And it was the Bakery, Meat, Produce and Floral departments that scored high marks.  But with the changes that have occurred over the last few years, the compliments have been few and far between.

It was the service rendered and the selection provided that were the deciding factors.

The other day, a customer came through the store looking for a certain product that she had purchased here before.  Unfortunately, we don't carry the item she requested - anymore.  The customer went on to say, how beneficial that particular product was and how the substitute didn't match up.   

But it was what the customer went on to say that really hit home;

"You use to carry it when you were _____, but nothing is the same since you're not _____ anymore."
And with that, the customer was gone.

Unfortunately, this comment was a realization as to how most of our old customers have felt - and then they were gone.

There are two things to note about the people that live on this side of town, or so I have been told;
1.  "They don't like change", and
2.  "They don't like to be separated from their money".

As employees, we miss those compliments. 

The compliments represented more then how the public felt about our store. Instead, these compliments represented us and the hard work we put into the store to make it successful.

It was our achievement.

Talk at ya later!

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - MERRY CHRISTMAS

Some were wearing Santa hats while others chose to wear those funny looking antlers - all in the holiday spirit.  There was card giving along with some gifts and even the customers got in the act, giving cookies and candy.  Employees, and customers alike, were in good spirits and you could hear laughter and the phrase 'Merry Christmas' coming from each department and up and down every aisle.

And, well, I guess that is about all there is to say.

Except for maybe one thing - if one has to work on a holiday, or the eve thereof, then I can't think of a better place to be or a better group of people to be with, then here at this store.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - SOMETHING IN RETURN

All too often there have been moments of frustration, with this job, that just seem to keep building up.  And, as a matter of fact, I clearly know as to were these moments stem from.

It's from not being given the opportunity to improve things.

Things that are out of your control, when in fact you know of so many ways that things could be improved on.  But, no one is listening - at least not the ones that are in control.

I'm not the only one, about every employee I work with is going through the same thing.  But, even though they feel frustrated they seem to have resigned themselves to the way things are.   I, on the other hand, am out there wearing it like the name badge attached to my uniform.

Frustration is a funny thing, and it leads to a slight depression that can actually kill the spirit;  the spirit that pushed you to strive for the best.  And when that happens then sadness creeps in and takes over of what remains of that spirit.  There seems to be nothing to look forward to, which leads one to fear what might lie ahead.

So, I have come to the conclusion that this is what happens when a person not only likes but invests themselves in where they work - they care too much.

This only leads to a personal dissatisfaction.

The other day, while helping an employee with a task, I kind of let it get the best of me and found myself making a statement, "I think I have been here too long."

"Oh, don't say that."  she said.

Now, I can't give a direct quote but she went on to say something about how she thinks that I get something in return, for working here, and she was not implying the paycheck.

Most of these people that I work with, now and in the past, possess a strong character.  With each job that they do they provide an incentive to others to perform to the best of their abilities.  Their common sense approach and genuine personalities provides customers with the best service.They work their jobs as though they were working for themselves.

Amongst them, they share similar beliefs and feelings and are hard working and genuinely good.  And certain social aspects, that pose problems in the world, do not seem to exist within this store. 

There has never been any set policies that make these people the way they are, it is just the kind of people that they are which makes the difference. 

So having looked at my job in that respect, instead of the business itself, I would have to say that this employee was right.

For it is not just the job, that I do, but more importantly it is what surrounds me while doing the job that makes the difference.

Talk at ya later!


 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - IT'S ALL ABOUT US!

Considering that there  are less employees on the floor, these days, we do not always get the opportunity to hear the comments that shoppers make as they trek through our store.  And some of the comments we do hear are negative and not about anything that we, as employees, have any control over.

But I find that the things that the employees do have control over - well, we rate very high according to customers.

Usually in the evening there are new faces coming through the store, checking things out.  These people are easy to notice.  They walk slowly as they make their way through the departments eying the shelves, one by one.  Most usually these new customers are carrying a basket, instead of pushing a cart, and their heads seem to swivel back and forth.  Of course, you can't help but say, "Is there something I can help you find?"  Which is usually met with a smile and a nod of acknowledgement.

And since this was a week approaching a major holiday, there have been a lot of new faces along with some remarks as to what these shoppers think of our store.

I was stocking bananas when a customer came over to me and said, "You have a very nice Produce Department."  And later, as I was coming out of the prep room, I heard a comment as a couple passed me, "Yeah, but the store is so clean."

Sometime later I approached a customer, who seemed to be walking in circles, to find out if she was finding everything she needed.  "I must have that look." she said.  "Everyone here is nice and helpful."  "I have never shopped here before."

But, that's not all.

One of our weekly shoppers told our store manager that she had "a good crew here."  While another customer sent an email to corporate, praising the staff at our store.  The customer went as far as to say that they would never shop at K_____, as long as these employees, meaning us, were at this store.

To me, it is quite evident that what shoppers do like about our store is the cleanliness, assistance, personality and the department maintenance.

And when taking all of this into consideration, well - it kind of puts a whole new outlook on those so called, Mystery Shoppers. 

Don't ya think?

Talk at ya later!
 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - OPTION RECALL

It seems that everything going on, right now, is up for debate. 

No, I take that back - nothing seems to be up for debate, decisions are being made for me.

Be it at work, health insurance coverage (mandatory/cost increase), utility suppliers (chosen for you), phone service (services added w/o consent), to name a few.  Sometimes, I feel that I am only here to pay the bills.

And now another decision - this Blog.

I, like so many others out there in cyber-space, am now facing the wrath of Google Plus.  It took me awhile to figure that out.

Since technology is not my 'forte', I had to teach myself every aspect of not only putting together a Blog but also learning to put together a Youtube video.  Success was a long time coming but, as you can see, I managed to do it.

And then it changed.  Some of the options, that I had, were now gone.

The Blog page appearance had now changed.  No longer were the Followers posted on the page but instead I found them listed in the profile.  Now I am ecstatic to know that I have followers on this Blog, even if they are few, and I want others to see that, yes, some people do like to keep up with this Blog.  It's simply an ego thing.

And besides, it took me hours to figure out how to put all of this together - leave it alone.

But then I couldn't get into my Youtube account without my Laptop freezing up.  And then 'it' wanted me to use my name for the account, instead of the Blog title.  Of course, one cannot find another 'being' to talk to about these matters.

It was just one thing after another.

So I started asking around and searching on the web and found these problems to be normal and what they were related to and why- Google Plus.  In fact, mine were nothing compared to others which I read about.

So I searched and found out how to get rid of the headache and then ran into a different set of problems.

The Followers are now posted on the Blog page, but no comments can be made and the page cannot be recommended unless one is signed up with Google Plus.  No longer do I have Friends/Circles (I only knew 2).

Youtube is not posted on my tool bar any longer and I have to get into the account another way.

Within the last four days, and nights, that it has taken me to resolve part of this problem I have found that I am beginning to sympathize with customers.

I find that options are getting narrower and one must rely on the supplier, even when we don't want to.  And having it our way, is becoming an extinct notion. 

Nothing seems simple anymore.

Talk at ya later!



 

Cincigal Grocery Store Clerk - THE WORD; PASSIONATE

With all of the changes that have taken place, at the store, and certain events that have been witnessed - it would not be surprising to find employees becoming disgruntled.  This type of reaction would only be normal.

And to be honest, the mood has changed and the talk is different.   That is, until these employees begin their job.

Quite a few years ago, we had a manager that put a new word into the store's vocabulary - Passionate.  And that word came to be, because of me.

It was a usual working day and this manager had been given some instructions on how to change the Floral Department.  The change was that of a physical nature and not one that I was in support of.  The conversation between us, went back and forth; him with his instructions and me arguing the opposite.  And then finally, it was over.

He looked at me and said, "You are so (deep breath) passionate about what you do."  Later we realized that what he really was thinking was that of a different word (b----y), but was professional enough to use the word 'passionate' instead.  From then on, every time an employee would become argumentative in regard to their department the response would be, "Quit being so passionate."

Although I have not heard that word used in quite awhile I have, however, witnessed it being practiced.

We have gone through many changes these last few years, changes that have taken away the familiarity of what we were accustomed to and instead replaced with sadness, insecurities and financial loss.

But, for some reason, these feelings are not reflected in the jobs that these people do.

They still over extend themselves in their work performance, customer service and team work. 

And though their efforts may be overlooked, they choose to carry on as they have done for so many years.

Honestly, I don't think that it is a choice at all but instead it is just the type of people that they are;

Passionate!

Talk at ya later!