A Multi-State Survey of Kroger Grocery Store Employees
A multi-state survey of Kroger Grocery Store Employees has been was conducted by researchers at the Economic Roundtable and Occidental College. The independent research report is data-based evidence of Kroger’s treatment of workers, workplace conditions, impacts on workers’ lives, and company profits. Kroger must address report findings and do better! The report can be downloaded at: https://economicrt.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Hungry_at_the_Table_2022.pdf
Key findings from the report on wage impacts, food insecurity, housing and homelessness, working conditions, and COVID impacts, include:
- WAGE IMPACTS
- The real value of worker wages has declined 6% since 2010. 90% of Kroger workers report that food and rent increases have far exceeded pay increases.
- 67% of Kroger workers say they do not earn enough money to pay for basic expenses every month. 29% are below or near the federal poverty level.
- FOOD INSECURITY
- 78% of the workers report they are food insecure. They run out of food before the end of the month, skip meals and are hungry sometimes.
- 85% of single parents who work for Kroger are food insecure.
- Very low food security is a predictor of homelessness. 27% of Kroger workers with very low food security are, or recently have been, homeless.
- HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
- 44% are unable to pay for rent and 36% worry about eviction.
- 14% are homeless now or have been in the past year. Even 9% of full-time workers have been homeless.
- 44% live in inadequate housing (overcrowded quarters, autos, etc.).
- WORKING CONDITIONS
- 67% of the workers report that Kroger has increased their workload and 75% say they can’t complete all of assigned tasks.
- Over 58% have work schedules that change at least every week and 30% of the workers with young children are negatively impacted.
- COVID IMPACTS
- Over 67% reported COVID-related customer issues, 25% were confronted by customers who threatened violence.
- Store managers did not support workers in 57% of cases where workers were confronted by abusive or violent customers.
- 45% of the workers report manager favoritism and 33% report managers retaliating against those who question or complain.
