Meat/Produce
I am very passionate about the meat and produce department. Its something about culling and making the wall look full and colorful. I was working it under my team lead for my first 8 months at walmart before she got swapped to cap 1. She could take 2 employees with her so she grabbed me and another one. I didnt like cap 1 so I eventually went to overnight but our store decided to make a produce overnight position. I swapped back to that after almost 2 years of not being in that department
The bins were a mess. You could look up and see 10 boxes of salads or cup fruit not tagged
The floor is constantly bad. I found 4 squashed underneath new ones that had been thrown on top tied together by a fro of black and white mold
And the crew? Airheads. Attitudes. Eyerolls. Moving slowly.
The current team lead has vocally stated he doesnt give a fuck about the department and is currently on vacation but expressed his joy that I had joined the team back.
I was working so hard because a meat team lead position became available and I wanted to prove I was fit for it. I worked so hard that when 4am rolled around all 6 pallets produce was done! The team didnt know what else to do. So 3 days went by with this routine and pace. News flash: the interviews were a facade. They already know who they are picking and its a used to be coach from a different store who was currently working as a regular associate in ogp.
Heartbroken but okay. I still love produce/meat.
I found myself attempting to lead and give instructions today to these clueless people on the last 2 pallets because I decided to stop working so hard and finish everything for them and I attempted to explain to keep the door close to preserve the temperature.
Today was the day I left 2 hours early.
I did 4/6 pallets and the last 2 pallets were left on the floor for an hour and 15 minutes. I went to see what was going on and all 4 associated were crowded in the tiny room talking about a box of fruit.
Pallets half worked on the floor and them in the back. Cooler door WIDE open as they discuss a tag on a box of fruit.
I just looked, sighed and asked could we put the pallet freight on carts quickly and into the cooler. They literally acted like what I was saying was crazy because they were trying to figure out this mess of a bin they created in ONE SINGLE BOX OF FRUIT.
I clocked out and went home vowing today that I would not give instructions, suggestions or anything anymore. I will just do my job and leave at 7am
End.
Edit: i am a very soft spoken person so my words or instructions were more of “can we” or “could we”. I think everyone has a moment in time where their passion for something can be felt by the way they work and direct.
I still love where I work but I don’t think I will try again for a team lead position