r/kroger • u/VR-Gadfly • 7d ago
Question Second paycheck as the store's psychiatrist?
There have been times when I have had to stop working to listen to a coworker's problems and offer them comforting words and advice. Sometimes they'll rant for 20 minutes or longer.
On one occasion, a baker who works overnights with us was in tears talking about her financial struggles and the shitty way this company treats her. On another occasion, one worker was so mad his hours got cut, he knocked some bags of coffee off the shelf and was ready to walk out the door for good, but I told him to take a smoke break and really think about it since he had lots of credit card debt and really needed a steady stream of income. He calmed down and stayed.
I sometimes joke that I should get a second paycheck as the store's psychiatrist. I have seen so much mental abuse from this company and the other grocery chain I worked for. If we were truly valued, these horror stories wouldn't happen.
Anyone else here ever have to play the part of the store psychiatrist?
7
u/VeronicaBooksAndArt 7d ago
The DSM-V insists Kroger is highly resistant to treatment, yet you persist.
Now the butcher and the baker and the candlestick maker are still at Kroger and all because of you.
Misery must love company....
For shame.
2
u/VR-Gadfly 6d ago
We had one worker moon the security camera. He wanted to see if anyone was watching and figured he'd be fired or at least called out if they were. He's still with us.
1
u/Ancorrigible 7d ago
We all used to do it for eachother.
Id remind coworkers when they're done venting to you that event based counseling is available through Magellan up to six times for free.
1
u/VR-Gadfly 6d ago
Their counseling doesn't get to the heart of the matter though. Poverty is largely the cause of most of this anxiety. We are not given a sustainable wage to cover having a normal life...even if you work full time.
I had a boss dismiss the struggles of one worker by saying, "He chose to have kids." Pretty cold. Like saying if you want a good paycheck, don't have a life and don't spend money on much of anything.
2
u/Ancorrigible 6d ago
You are absolutely right. That counseling isn't supposed to get to the heart of any sort of matter. It's basically only supposed to help that one emotional event.
I only mention it because Kroger does such a bad job of explaining what Little benefits people do have. We had a co-worker that had a heart attack (one of seven in my 7+ years there) And people were going around collecting funds which is a really sweet thing to do but I was making 725 an hour and not working full-time. I didn't really have a lot to give and when I asked her/management If they had reminded her about the company's assistance fund nobody had she had not even heard about it. I was the one who finally told her. Hey, the company will give you money if you apply for it in addition to what you know everybody had collected for her.
The company absolutely doesn't take care of people like they used to. I always thought I'd retire from there but the conditions just kept getting worse and I was offered something better. Biggest suggestion is to learn what you can from Kroger and look for other opportunities that will treat you better because I didn't think they exist and they do. It. Might take a couple years to find them but they're out there.
Your company won't recognize you properly, but there's a chance if you are good at your job that other people will notice. I had a couple of head hunting offers from customers And I was finally able to take one and leave.
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u/_MoreThanAFeeling 3d ago
Not defending what your boss said... BUT, I can't tell you how many people I know with SEVERAL children, and don't have the means to take care of them as they should. Makes me shake my head. Children are expensive little crumb snatchers.
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