As stores face tough labor decisions, produce workers should show their value
The economic forecasts for 2023 are, shall we say, grim.
Even historically steady businesses such as Apple, Google and Tesla forecast impending layoffs in the new year. No business is immune to avoiding possible dire straits ahead. Grocery retailers are somewhat insulated from such threats. The inside mantra being: People still must eat, right?
Correct. However, we’ve seen this cycle in the past. The economy takes a dip after the holidays, and even the steady grocery business looks at its part-time-heavy labor force and admits that it’s time to trim back the head count. It’s disheartening, especially after a robust holiday run. But the accountants run their projections and admit that a certain percentage must be trimmed to make the numbers work. The grocery business may be recession-resistant, but it is not necessarily recession-proof.
The questions at store level are these: How much — and who gets cut?
Fortunately, there’s a little bit of time to prepare if this scenario fits your area, your store or your produce operation. While many grocers can weather a downhill slide, many others must face the prospect of layoffs.
Related: Read more insight Armand Lobato
When faced with such an unfortunate post-New Year’s scenario, I pose this question: Just how valuable are you? Meaning this is the time to make yourself indeed valuable to your store and company. Where do you stand?
Seniority aside, the average produce clerk, for example, could be at risk. However, your total sum value goes up appreciably if you can, for example, receive loads. Are you trained to cover in the checkstand? Can you fill in for the bakery when they need a break? Do you stay after your closing shift to help the night crew coverage when they have sick calls? Can you run the maintenance floor cleaning machine? Do you keep busy facing shelves or take on other tasks when things get slow during the day?
As far as produce operations go, are you qualified to step in and cover any shift? Can you set the wet rack in the morning or break down a produce load? Can you write and transmit an order? Tough as it may be, can you cover both the dry tables and the rack if the schedule gets lean? Have you ever had to cover the marathon shift — opened a store, worked all day and stretched it out to the closing bell? Even if you haven’t, you still may be the all-purpose clerk that a store just cannot do without — even in a a layoff situation.
And that’s what every clerk should work towards. Being the all-star person that a manager says, “He (or she) steps up even when no one else will. I cannot spare this one!”
It seems that the early part of any year spurs the advent of such a grim reality. But in watching the news, 2023 may be one year that labor gets put under the microscope.
I’ve seen the cycle many times, and it’s the all-around people that are the best protected. These individuals tend to not only have the widest range of skills but are also the least likely to call in sick, the most willing to go the extra mile, volunteer even for the unpleasant tasks and still strive to show the most positive attitude.
More than anyone in the store, these are also the ones most likely to be proficient in working in produce.
Armand Lobato works for the Idaho Potato Commission. His 40 years of experience in the produce business span a range of foodservice and retail positions.
