Does Kroger Have an Attendance Policy? A Deep Dive into Rules, Discipline and Time Off

As one of the largest grocery chains in America, Kroger relies on having consistent and reliable staffing at its 2,800+ stores. That‘s why attendance is such a priority in Kroger‘s employee policies.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll explore all aspects of Kroger‘s attendance rules so you can understand what‘s expected of employees. I‘ll draw on my inside expertise as a former Kroger manager to provide additional insights beyond what‘s in the written policies.

By the end, you‘ll have an in-depth understanding of:

• Defining absences
• Call-in procedures
• How attendance is tracked
• Disciplinary actions
• Paid time off benefits
• And more key attendance guidelines

Let‘s get started exploring what every Kroger employee needs to know about attendance!

Defining Absences at Kroger

Before we dive into the nitty gritty of call-in procedures and discipline, let‘s start with a clear understanding of what Kroger considers an "absence."

According to Kroger‘s policy, any failure to show up for a scheduled shift is documented as an absence. This includes:

• Missing a full shift
• Arriving late (tardy)
• Leaving early

It doesn‘t matter whether you call in ahead of time to notify the store or have a legitimate reason. On the books, it‘s still counted as an absence.

The only exception is scheduled time off that was requested and approved in advance, such as vacation, sick leave or holidays. Otherwise, even a last-minute call-in due to illness or emergency gets marked down.

Tracking "Occurrences" Rather Than Days

Here‘s a tricky aspect of Kroger‘s absence policy—they track attendance based on "occurrences" rather than number of days. For example:

• Calling in sick for two days in a row = 1 occurrence
• Arriving 2 hours late = 1 occurrence
• Leaving 4 hours before end of shift = 1 occurrence

So extended absences are not counted more harshly than isolated incidents. However, each occurrence still accumulate and can lead to discipline if excessive.

Now that we‘ve defined absences, let‘s look at the proper call-in procedures.

Calling in Sick or Late to Kroger

When an unexpected absence comes up, you must call Kroger promptly to notify management. Here are the key protocols to follow:

• Call your store at least 1 hour before your shift starts
• Speak directly to a manager on duty—don‘t just leave a voicemail
• Provide your name, department, scheduled hours, reason for absence and expected return
• Call in every day you‘re absent unless approved for extended leave

Calling in late or failing to speak to a manager directly count as attendance infractions. So be sure to call early and ask for a manager!

What if I Wake Up Sick Right Before My Shift?

I know sometimes illness or emergencies come up suddenly. If that happens within an hour of your start time, call the store ASAP.

Explain the situation and that you just woke up ill. The manager will appreciate you notifying them right away even if it‘s past the 1 hour window.

Can I Text My Manager Instead of Calling?

While texting is more convenient, Kroger requires employees to call the store directly. Texts can be easily overlooked by busy managers.

When you call in, be sure to get verbal confirmation from the manager on duty that your absence is documented. Don‘t just leave a voicemail and hope for the best.

Okay, now that we‘ve got call-in procedures down, let‘s look at how Kroger tracks attendance issues.

How Kroger Tracks Attendance Points

Kroger uses a point-based attendance tracking system to monitor absenteeism and tardiness patterns. Here‘s how it works:

• 2 points for each unscheduled absence
• 1 point for arriving late or leaving early

These points remain active on your record for the following time periods:

• 2 points expire after 60 days
• 1 point expires after 90 days

So attendance violations don‘t necessarily stick with you forever. But new points can accumulate if attendance problems persist.

Discipline Kicks in at 6 Points

Here‘s the crucial thing to know—if you reach 6 points within a 6 month period, disciplinary action can begin.

So even though points eventually expire, they can still build up to get you in trouble if you‘re not careful. Having inside experience as a former Kroger manager, I‘ve seen employees lose their jobs for accumulating too many points.

Now let‘s go over the disciplinary process in more detail.

Consequences of Excessive Absences: Kroger‘s Disciplinary Policy

If you go over the 6 point absence threshold, Kroger implements a system of progressive discipline. Here are the typical stages:

Verbal Warning

• Issued when an employee reaches 4-6 points
• Advises you that your attendance is unacceptable and needs improvement

This is your first sign to fix your attendance issues before they escalate further.

Written Warning

• Issued upon reaching 6-8 points
• Goes in your personnel file
• States continued issues may result in suspension or termination

This written notice is very serious. It‘s your last chance to correct problems before harsher discipline.

Suspension

• For employees with 8+ points
• Typically an unpaid 1-3 day suspension
• Final warning that termination may be next

Suspensions signal the end of the road is near if you can‘t get your attendance back on track.

Termination

• When previous discipline fails to resolve attendance issues
• May also occur immediately for serious offenses like no call/no show

At this point, the company feels it can no longer rely on you as an employee. Excessive absences or blatant policy violations result in being let go.

I want to emphasize that the exact sequence of discipline is case-by-case. The key is to avoid escalating points so you never have to go through this process!

Utilizing Paid Time Off Benefits

One of the best ways to avoid attendance issues is by using Kroger‘s paid time off (PTO) options appropriately. Here‘s a quick overview of what‘s offered:

Paid Vacation

• Accrues based on years of service
• Can be used for any personal time off
• Must be approved in advance

Paid Sick Leave

• Allotted per year for illnesses, doctor visits, etc.
• Accrues over time to a maximum cap

Paid Holidays

• Kroger observes 10 paid holidays each year
• Full and part-time employees eligible
• No need to use vacation

Unpaid Personal Leave

• For essential personal matters
• Must be approved by management

Strategically using these benefits prevents you from having to call in sick unexpectedly or take unapproved time off.

Key Takeaways on Kroger‘s Attendance Policies

After going in-depth on Kroger‘s rules, discipline and time off benefits, let‘s recap the key takeaways:

• Any absence, even if called in, gets documented
• You must call the store at least 1 hour before shift when missing work
• Attendance points accumulate and can trigger discipline
• Verbal and written warnings precede possible suspension or termination
• Utilize vacation, sick leave and holidays to avoid attendance issues

The bottom line is that Kroger expects reliable attendance. By understanding these policies and communicating with your store, you can avoid unnecessary absences and stay in good standing.

I hope this guide has helped demystify Kroger‘s attendance rules and set you up for success. Let me know if you have any other questions!