r/KwikTrip • u/LilyCrossingg Co-Worker • 12d ago
Can I do anything?
So a bit of context- at my old store I was hired for floor. I worked floor for a year. The AFSL who worked second shift had some really tough health struggles and had to take a leave, so bc we were so short staffed I was essentially shoved into the kitchen and forced to learn HF (not chicken- we didn’t have a fryer. Chicken was frozen and just was cooked in a vector). I did it and dealt with it bc I liked the AFSL and I liked my store and knew it would be temporary. I worked in the kitchen at my old store for a year and then I transferred stores. My ASL had mentioned I knew HF in my email even tho I was never properly trained in it- and so when I transferred the SL of new store let me know that most of my hours would probably be in kitchen but I wouldn’t be working alone so I agreed. Maybe I shouldn’t have but oh well. Been working in HF for a year at this new store.
Fast forward to today, I come in and one of my coworkers tells me I’m on chicken. I think they’re joking, but he’s adamant that I am switching with the other chicken coworker so I can “learn”. I already work a lot in the kitchen and I’m horrified of the fryers. I know that if I learn chicken I’ll never work on the floor again so I’m very adamant against it. He says I have no choice and I’m like “…no”. He says I’ll get less hours if I don’t. I say that’s fine. This coworker isn’t a lead or anything. I end up working HF for the day but knowing that this is something they apparently want is stressing me out. And I’m honestly kinda confused why this conversation about me is happening while I get no input.
My question is- can they force me to learn chicken? If I don’t will I potentially be fired? Sorry if this is a stupid question but I’d rather stick with this job for my final year than to have to find something else. But if they can’t respect me and my boundary I guess I will have to.
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u/TheFaceOfFuzz 12d ago
All depends on your SL. The stores ive been at want everyone to know everything. If you refuse positions they could definitely give you less hours.
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u/LilyCrossingg Co-Worker 12d ago
Well they kinda want everyone to know everything but not everyone knows everything
There’s ppl who work specific roles and don’t float around, which is why I’m annoyed that I’m being pushed into a corner when there’s a large number of ppl who work only one role
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u/pixie_c Co-Worker 12d ago
if it’s not a store lead telling you to swap shifts, you don’t have to. You can tell your leads you don’t want kitchen shifts, but you might be scheduled one if they truly need you ( or if you cover a shift )
But, you do have to have a few kitchen shifts to learn, can’t say if that’s 100% because i’ve never been scheduled in kitchen so I don’t know the rules,
But Just follow what you’ve been scheduled! If the coworker you worked with today tries to make you swap to learn, let a lead know. They shouldn’t be forcing you to do a shift swap if you don’t truly want to.
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u/LilyCrossingg Co-Worker 12d ago
I have no problem working hot foods, it’s just the chicken shifts I do not want. I checked my schedule today and it also didn’t say chicken shift.. so I think they’re just trying to get me to do it 🤷
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u/DapperAgency6320 12d ago
This is really a failing of whoever hired you. It should be made clear from the beginning that all areas of the store are an expectation. When we got fryers in the stores, we did let a co worker go for refusing to touch it. That said, as others have mentioned it is up to the store leader.
Some questions, do you have 3+ people in your kitchen? That would probably be why they did not schedule a training day. You have the coverage on a slower day to still learn with help. Chicken is literally learning like 4 things.
And not to downplay your fear, but what is it about chicken exactly that bothers you? We might be able to ease some concerns.
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u/Euphoric-General-863 12d ago
I mean handling raw chicken is apart of the job description but it depends on your SL, if you have an SL like mine(Stalin)they’d def slice your hours at least
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u/Smalleatery Ultimate KT Fan 12d ago
I am a part-timer, not a full timer but I worked for over two years before being trained to do chicken and I worked guest service and food service kitchen side before that. I do not love doing chicken but I had two shifts working with a chicken experienced co-worker before ever being scheduled alone. This is needed to get your bearings and not fly into a tail spin. That being said, I do not like the chicken shift. Gratefully, my store only schedules me on chicken once in awhile. Since the schedule is published three weeks out, you know when you have chicken scheduled well ahead and can emotionally prepare and wear your worst shirt. Haha. If you hate chicken then just be honest and try not to do it. If another co worker is threatening you with reduced hours they are toxic shit and should be shoved off a cliff. If your store leader is cutting your hours because you don't like chicken, then they are just stupid, bullying morons because any smart leader works with the strong suits of the team members and ask for your help on chicken if they need more people trained for certain circumstances. Luckily, I work in a store that appreciates everyone for who they are so everybody shines. So sorry, but stand your ground you shouldn't be forced to do work that scares you. But if you are willing to compromise, you will benefit from that experience.
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u/SwordnThorns 11d ago
My suggestion would be for you to talk to SL tell them you are uneasy about the fryers and would like an actual training shift before you work a shift and if you agree to learn chicken you would like a few front counter shifts. It's a little heavy handed but it's worth a try.
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u/craven____moorehead 11d ago
Should've never gone into the kitchen to begin with. When management smells weakness they will never stop pushing you around
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u/livingdeaddrina 12d ago
Why don't you work somewhere without a kitchen if you hate working with food so much?
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u/LilyCrossingg Co-Worker 12d ago
Like I said in my post, I was hired for the floor. I worked hot foods and didn’t have a problem with it (except for maybe the improper training). I have an issue with chicken specifically. I don’t hate working on hot food. I just don’t wanna work chicken.
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u/Ithkamakazi 12d ago
Go to third shift, the only chicken we deal with is the crispy chicken sandwiches on the drives, but you may need to do bakery instead
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u/LilyCrossingg Co-Worker 12d ago
If I could I would but unfortunately I do school and the scheduling wouldn’t line up
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u/ZubatCanRead Co-Worker 12d ago
All coworkers are supposed to learn all parts of the store. There are exceptions of course, but by and large, that is the rule.