‘I was dumbfounded’: Grocery store manager Karen tries to cut employee's hours, so he uses her own words against her and ends up with a higher hourly pay

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Aug 20, 2024 12:00 PM EDT

"They only have hard-working employees in their departments. You wouldn't fit in."

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  • Karen customers are one thing, but Karen managers are a whole different ballgame.

    When you're trying to make ends meet, the worst thing you can hear from a manager is that your hours are being cut. How are you supposed to support yourself? It's even worse when the manager offers you alternatives and then rips them away from you because they deem you incompetent and a less-than-hard worker. That's exactly what happens to this grocery store employee, but he decides to get creative and use a Karen manager's advice anyway.

    The employee in this story is sick of Karen's bullying, so he decides to go to every department in the grocery store and ask if they have hours available for him so he can continue making a liveable income. Of course, both the meat section and the grocery section tell him they'd love to offer him some more hours. Karen is not happy about this, so she decides to fire him. Come the next day, the overseer of the store calls the employee and tells him they'd love to have him back and he would not be reporting to Karen. The employee manages to negotiate a much higher hourly pay and gets to see the shocked look on his ex-manager's face when he walks in for work the next day. 

    Scroll to read the rest of the story, as the OP makes sure to really immerse you in the story.

  • 01
    If you don't like it the leave! Okay I will
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 02
    Title was supposed to say then leave oops Cast Karen Manager Store Manager Meat Manager Grocery Manager
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  • 03
    This story takes place about two months before I quit my job at the grocery store and started my first year of college. This story has a bit of exposition so please bear with me I was glad when I got to put my Karen Manager in her place.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 04
    Things had slowly started to cool down and for the next few months it was buisness as usual. The old store manager had to open another store so they brought in a new one. This one was very professional and quite kind. This store manager always recognized various employees in different departments for their hard work.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 05
    This recognition of us "lower employees" made our Karen Manager less then happy. I had started to notice a lot more people being hired and everyone's hours suffered because of it. I found out later they did this because part-time employees could be paid less and they wanted to cut costs (tis the life of a retail worker).
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 06
    I wanted to keep making money in preparation for college so I went into Karen Manager's office and said Me: Hey, Karen Manager. I noticed my hours were being cut and I wanted to see if I could pick up some extra shifts.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 07
    She scoffed at me and said Karen Manager: It's a department wide decision. If you want hours go to another department. I wouldn't waste your time though. I looked at her confused and asked Me: Why not?
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 08
    Karen Manager: They only have hard working employees in their departments. You wouldn't fit in. I was dumbfounded. I thought Karen's BS bully routine was over but boy was I wrong. I stood there unsure what to say, meanwhile Karen Manager had another Umbridge smile plastered on her face. I just turned around and walked out of her office.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 09
    I didn't know if Karen Manager had already lied to the other managers or not but I might as well ask. I first went to the meat department and explained my situation. I told the manager that our departments hours were being cut and asked if I could do anything to help them out.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 10
    The meat manager smiled warmly and said Meat Manager: I understand how frustrating low hours can be. We have a guy on vacation for a few weeks and we have had to stay late to wash all the pans and plates for our meat. It's simple washing and drying. You get to wear headphones within reason and you would make what a starting meat associate would. Want the job?
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 11
    I was beaming and immediately took the offer. The job was simple as he promised and I took it seriously. I wanted to show other managers that I was a hard worker and reliable. Three weeks passed by with no issue. Inevitably their missing associate came back and I had to be let go from that position.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 12
    Luckily I had spoken to the Grocery Manager the day before and our conversation was somewhat similar. I explained my situation and she understood. She said
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 13
    Grocery Manager: You just need to tidy up the shelves, put out product on aisle labeled carts, and held unload trucks when they come in. Your pay will be a starting grocery associate pay. For context both types of associate pay were an increase from my normal department.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 14
    I took the offer and immediately helped the grocery department. Everything was fine until grocery hired a full time employee and I had to go back to my normal department. I expected buisness as usual but I got one helluva surprise.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 15
    The first day back Karen Manager yanked me in her office. The conversation went like this. Karen Manager: What the do you think you are doing, OP? | told you our departments hours were cut.
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  • 16
    Me: I know, you said I could try working with other departments. You also said some other nasty things but I don't care to repeat those. She glared at me and said
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  • 17
    Karen Manager: OP, you are making our department look bad. We are trying to cut costs and you are burning through hours we don't have. I decided to correct this smug Karen and said
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  • 18
    Me: I understand you want to cut costs and you only have so many hours. I didn't take up any extra hours from our department. I took your suggestion and worked for other departments that were short staffed and had an abundance of hours. I did nothing wrong. She growled at me and said
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 19
    Karen Manager: Listen OP, It's not fair to others in our department if you get full time and other employees don't. I held my ground and said
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 20
    Me: This system of hiring tons of part timers is stupid and it's hurting quality full time employees who need the hours. If you insist on hiring all these people there is nothing stopping them from doing exactly what I did. There are plenty of departments that could use help.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 21
    I was fed up with Karen's attitude and spoke my mind Karen Manager: If you think my management practice is so ridiculous you can just leave! I was tired of her BS and just smiled Me: Okay I will.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 22
    I turned in my effects and clocked out. I said by to my friends and drove home. The next day I was enjoying sleeping in for once when I got a phone call. It was the new store manager. I answered
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 23
    Me: Hello Store Manager, how are you this morning. Store Manager: Sorry to bother you OP but could you come back to the store. I looked over the firing of you yesterday and Karen Manager was totally out of line. I talked to other managers you have worked for and they all had glowing reviews of your work. We are pretty short staffed and we need you back.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 24
    Me: I smiled (it was always nice to be needed after all). If you transfer me to grocery effective immediately with the pay bump to boot. I will help your department when needed but I want Grocery Manager as my new boss.
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 25
    Store Manager: Done. I just pulled up your file and transfered you over. You have my word Grocery Manager is your new boss and Karen Manager has no authority over you anymore. I will be having a long talk with her over her managerial practices believe me. I smirked and said
    via Icy_Wing_1782
  • 26
    Me: I will see you in ten minutes I drove to the store and walked in. I picked up my effects from the Store Manager and shook his hand. I saw the shocked form of Karen Manager and snickered. I turned to a nearby customer with a smile. These last few weeks were going to be the best.
    via Ice_Wing_1782

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