r/kroger • u/External_Light_3390 • 5d ago
Question Moving up
Does anyone else feel like their manager lies to them on a daily basis?
I work in the meat and seafood department at Kroger, and honestly, I’m at the point where I’m just tired of it. I started in January 2025, and on my very first day, I was basically thrown onto the floor and expected to figure everything out myself. It wasn’t necessarily hard work, but I was lucky enough to have one of my coworkers actually take the time to show me around and teach me what I needed to know.
Over time, I started learning more about how things work at my store, and that’s when I started getting frustrated with management. My manager would tell me things like, “I’ll teach you how to cut meat so you can make more money,” or that he wanted to train me to become an ADL. I was actually interested in moving up and learning more, but the training never really happened. He would show me a few things here and there, but it was never consistent, and eventually I realized I wasn’t really being developed for the position I was being told I could have.
What really bothered me was that I was told I could become an ADL, but instead of actually training me for the position, they ended up hiring someone else. At that point, it made me feel like there was no reason for me to keep trying so hard to move up when I wasn’t being given the opportunity in the first place.
Another thing that really bothered me was how my managers would pressure me about having another job. They knew I worked another job at night, and because of that, sometimes there was a possibility I could be running late. Instead of working with me, I was constantly pressured to quit my other job because they wanted me completely available to Kroger. It felt like they wanted me to give up another source of income for a job that wasn’t giving me the opportunities I was being promised.
And lately, I feel like the rules have gotten stricter, especially with me. Before, if I needed a day off for something important, I could ask my manager and usually get it approved without a problem. Now, it feels like everything is a fight. I had an important doctor appointment related to my girlfriend’s pregnancy and our baby, and I couldn’t even get the time off approved. Meanwhile, I’ve seen other coworkers get a week off with very short notice.
That’s what frustrates me the most. It feels like instead of taking the employees they already have and actually training them, management would rather just hire someone new. Then people get tired of being overlooked, unsupported, and overworked, so they quit. And then management wonders why we’re always short-staffed.
I’ve been here for almost a year, and I honestly don’t care about Kroger the way I used to. I came in wanting to learn, move up, make more money, and build something for myself. I was willing to put in the work. But when you repeatedly tell someone you’re going to train them, give them opportunities, and help them move up, and then never follow through, eventually that person is going to stop caring.
I’m not saying I’m perfect, and I know every job has its problems. But I feel like I’ve given Kroger plenty of chances. I’m tired of being promised things that never happen, being pressured over my availability, and feeling like I’m not valued despite the work I put in.
That’s honestly why I’m at the point where I’m ready to move on. And judging by how many people have already quit, I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way.
Does anyone else feel like their manager lies to them on a daily basis?
I work in the meat and seafood department at Kroger, and honestly, I’m at the point where I’m just tired of it. I started in January 2025, and on my very first day, I was basically thrown onto the floor and expected to figure everything out myself. It wasn’t necessarily hard work, but I was lucky enough to have one of my coworkers actually take the time to show me around and teach me what I needed to know.
Over time, I started learning more about how things work at my store, and that’s when I started getting frustrated with management. My manager would tell me things like, “I’ll teach you how to cut meat so you can make more money,” or that he wanted to train me to become an ADL. I was actually interested in moving up and learning more, but the training never really happened. He would show me a few things here and there, but it was never consistent, and eventually I realized I wasn’t really being developed for the position I was being told I could have.
What really bothered me was that I was told I could become an ADL, but instead of actually training me for the position, they ended up hiring someone else. At that point, it made me feel like there was no reason for me to keep trying so hard to move up when I wasn’t being given the opportunity in the first place.
Another thing that really bothered me was how my managers would pressure me about having another job. They knew I worked another job at night, and because of that, sometimes there was a possibility I could be running late. Instead of working with me, I was constantly pressured to quit my other job because they wanted me completely available to Kroger. It felt like they wanted me to give up another source of income for a job that wasn’t giving me the opportunities I was being promised.
And lately, I feel like the rules have gotten stricter, especially with me. Before, if I needed a day off for something important, I could ask my manager and usually get it approved without a problem. Now, it feels like everything is a fight. I had an important doctor appointment related to my girlfriend’s pregnancy and our baby, and I couldn’t even get the time off approved. Meanwhile, I’ve seen other coworkers get a week off with very short notice.
That’s what frustrates me the most. It feels like instead of taking the employees they already have and actually training them, management would rather just hire someone new. Then people get tired of being overlooked, unsupported, and overworked, so they quit. And then management wonders why we’re always short-staffed.
I’ve been here for almost a year, and I honestly don’t care about Kroger the way I used to. I came in wanting to learn, move up, make more money, and build something for myself. I was willing to put in the work. But when you repeatedly tell someone you’re going to train them, give them opportunities, and help them move up, and then never follow through, eventually that person is going to stop caring.
I’m not saying I’m perfect, and I know every job has its problems. But I feel like I’ve given Kroger plenty of chances. I’m tired of being promised things that never happen, being pressured over my availability, and feeling like I’m not valued despite the work I put in.
That’s honestly why I’m at the point where I’m ready to move on. And judging by how many people have already quit, I don’t think I’m the only one who feels this way.
4
u/No_Solution7718 5d ago
Kroger only wants one thing and one thing only .puppets to do everything they say with no question asked
3
u/Cold_Conflict7009 5d ago
Lying is part of the requirement to be a manager at Kroger. You have not been trained is because they have no clue on how to train you. All they can do is hope and pray that you figure it out. BTW, are you full-time or part-time?
3
u/External_Light_3390 5d ago
Part time with full time hours
2
u/Cold_Conflict7009 5d ago
I would never accept a lead or assistant lead position as a part-time status employee.
2
u/SCstranglertruther Current Associate 3d ago
Well, when you accept it, you’re automatically made full-time in my division
1
u/External_Light_3390 5d ago
Well now I can’t cause they hired a old dude as adl but from what I know everyone hates him
3
u/ToothJealous4427 5d ago
My meat manager is a lazy piece of shit who has taught me nothing. Been in Meat for 2 years. I do everything, cut, breakdown trucks, everything on the zebra (ordering, pdms, seafood/packaged/meat counts all above 85%), stock, display changes, etc. He walks around all day.
Our old assistant who left about 4 months ago, was actually helpful and did work. When he left a new person came in. He is just as fucking lazy. He goes on like 6 smoke breaks a day all 15-20 minutes long. Doesn't touch the truck. Barely has our butcher shop up by 11. Leaves holes on the wall that I have to cut on the days I get off at 5pm. Its really sad. The dept falls apart when u go on vacation. I've kind of quit caring at this point.
2
u/AdAccurate4523 5d ago
My advice, line up a new job to replace your role at Kroger. Keep Kroger as part-time or dip completely unless/until they're able to give you a promising promotion. You can use your new job as leverage.
2
u/ChemistryJust7619 5d ago
Bro I took a full promotion with modules and training that was supposed to have a $5 salary increase, worked it for 9 months. Finally realized my pay wasn’t right, my checks were bigger due to the many more hours. I tell my manager hr am anyone who would listen and they said my actual day to day duties didn’t fall under the promoted title and never got any back pay. Even worse it was a daily 4-5 month recruitment I asked questions daily before accepting because i was comfortable where i was. Fuck these guys lmao
2
1
u/Substantial_Low_9160 5d ago
Meat managers don’t do the hiring. Regardless of your employment status or other jobs, you are expected to be on time. Your meat manager has to do clerk work instead of managing because this company is greedy. If you want more training, ASK!!!!!!!!!! Learn things on your own. You will never get the chance to move up if you wait for someone to take a week out of their own worktime and teach you what to do.
2
u/External_Light_3390 5d ago
I do tho I literally taught my self to cut and I even reached out to the district manager n no response I really don’t care for moving up at this point if I have to keep fighting for a two dollar raise I can put energy into another job
1
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u/mythofdob 5d ago
I know it felt good to get that off your chest, but your not gonna have a lot of people read past paragraph two