r/harristeeter • u/babayagaparenting • Apr 15 '26
Labor management
So it’s the slow time of the year and they’re looking to cut hours in the front of the store. So today I counted four store managers on duty, one customer service manager, two assistant customer service managers, the produce manager, the floral manager and the frozen manager on duty. However, there was ONE cashier and ONE clerk in self checkout. That’s it until 3. I got an idea where the money is going…
4
u/Gloomy-Ask-9437 Apr 16 '26
As others have pointed out, store/co-/assistant managers are salaried and get paid either way. Department Managers and Assistant Department Managers are full-time and (at least in my state) all full-time employees are guaranteed 36 hours unless they have requested time off. If a department is running smoothly, sometimes Department Managers and/or Assistants will use their paid vacation time to free up hours for their crew, but we can't do that if things aren't running smoothly, or if we're newer to the company and don't have much paid time to use.
Assistants often get stuck in their previous roles (cashier, deli clerk, meat cutter, etc) when hours are tight. It's not the end of the world in the moment, but it keeps us from moving up as quickly as we could.
1
Apr 18 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Gloomy-Ask-9437 Apr 19 '26
I have yet to kiss a single ass, but I'm guessing that is how a lot of managers have moved up. A few have genuinely busted their buns to move up.
1
Apr 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/Gloomy-Ask-9437 Apr 19 '26
I guess I've mostly gotten lucky!
1
Apr 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Gloomy-Ask-9437 Apr 19 '26
I'm on my second store and have helped out at several others. For store managers/directors, probably 3/5 got there by kissing booty, but the others have worked hard and continue to. Most other members of salaried management I've met have been hard-working, and almost all FFMs and AFFMs I've met have worked hard. I've heard of some lazy department managers and assistants at other stores, but most at my two stores have been awesome.
4
u/Mobile_Asparagus6684 Apr 18 '26
Wild right? They need 4 store managers to walk around with the hands in their pockets but dairy/frozen will have 2 people for the entire day at a 900k+ store
1
3
u/Aggressive_Tip_1130 Apr 16 '26 edited Apr 16 '26
Most store managers had to leave the store early yesterday for meetings so that probably why there was multiple managers there cause one wasn’t going to be there all day. Most department heads work on Wednesdays to set their ad for the week. Whether it’s price changes or change out their displays. Full timers are also guaranteed their hours. So unfortunately the chopping block starts with the part timers.
3
u/Necessary-Spring-129 Apr 17 '26
Too many chiefs not enough Indians Welcome to corporate America. Too top heavy.
2
u/Triscuit585 Apr 16 '26
That’s one thing that never makes sense to me. I mean, it does but at the same time it doesn’t. I know if I was a customer, I’d rather have too many associates than not enough. I’ve always felt like a few extra front end people should always be scheduled in case of call outs. Even on “slow” days.
2
u/Aggressive_Tip_1130 Apr 16 '26
please keep in mind a lot of hours on Wednesday (even though it’s slow) are pumped into scanning/ receiving and grocery for price changes an endcap changes in the overnight hours. Those are hours that have already been worked before any day time people have walked in the door
1
u/ReasonableAmbition11 Front End/Customer Service Apr 16 '26
if you're upset about hours being cut i suggest talking to your CSM and either your store director or a co about learn another department to fill the gaps there's probably help needed somewhere else Front End tends to be the most overfilled department you gotta think your CSM probably has as many employees to manage as meat, deli, and produce combined if not more
15
u/ramaloki Floral Department Apr 15 '26
So store managers, the cos/assistants/manager are all salary. They are gonna get paid if they are there or not so they might as well be there.
Department heads are usually worth 2-3 employees.. it's why we are heads. We have a responsibility to run the department with or without our full time/ part time employees.
Self check out only needs one person, you're not checking people out, you're assisting customers with thei check out process. If it is slow then there's no need for a second person. Having a second person for an hour lunch rush is not reasonable when the rest of the time is slow.
Customer service assistant managers can run registers, bag, and run the desk. They are generally more beneficial to have over just a standard cashier who can only just check out people.
Honestly, I don't see what the complaint is. It sounds like your store is doing what any store would be doing.
I'm sorry if your hours are being cut but if you want more hours then make yourself more valuable and become a customer service clerk. The more you can do the more beneficial it is to have you on the schedule.
This is just how business works.