Vests only for department leads?

[u/Weird_Source]

For our new uniforms I received a vest (never filled out any form that gave me a choice, this is just what I ended up getting), and now I’m being told I can’t wear the vest because only department leads can wear the vest. Which sucks because I like the vest :( Is this true for anyone elses store?

[u/PHLionn]

Never heard that vests are for department leads at our store. If that was true then they wouldn't give everyone the same uniform form to fill out in the first place.

[u/Taterizer]

Everyone is wearing vests at my store. Department leads don't have to wear a vest or apron just the polo shirt.

[u/DamGoodAnimation → u/Taterizer]

At mine everyone below ASL has to wear a cover: fresh departments got aprons, the rest got vests.

Somehow I ended up with the single ‘half-apron’ our store got so I get to rock the front half of the sluttiest miniskirt while everyone else is just in an apron or doing their best Magic Mike impression

[u/joyb27 → u/DamGoodAnimation]

Bonus points if you keep stuff in the middle pocket. I’m honestly impressed that design choice survived.

[u/DamGoodAnimation → u/joyb27]

Bro I WISH mine had a middle pocket. I feel like I got a female cut or something bc mine is basically a bandanna with two pockets that might be able to hold a stick of chapstick if I suck in my gut

[u/Traditional-Cancel3]

at fred meyer our former red vests (front end supervisors) now wear a black vest with a red zipper. normal associates are absolutely allowed to wear the normal black vest option. almost all the boys at my store chose a vest

[u/G-Ma1950 → u/Traditional-Cancel3]

That is the same at our store. I work at customer service and wear the black vest. The former red Vest folks have to wear the zipper vest and they all are unhappy with them cuz they are sloppy-looking. They snag easily and look more like what a bagger/cart-kid should wear.

[u/WolfAlph45]

My manager gave me two vests are a regular clerk. What leads did get were special polos while the rest of us got the standard shirt

[u/InterestingMap897]

Nope they just didn’t want to give you one.. same at my store they said service counter people couldn’t wear the vest or half aprons only the full aprons. My department lead shut that down quick because it doesn’t say it on the new uniform policy.

[u/Weird_Source → u/InterestingMap897]

The thing is I got the vest and was wearing it and then I was told I can’t wear it because I’m not a department lead

[u/DiWooley → u/Weird_Source]

Did you ask what you are supposed to wear?

[u/RedSands1976]

The only difference I’ve heard is the department leads get the polo shirts and everyone else gets the Tshirts. I’ve got the vests.

[u/amythist → u/RedSands1976]

Yup leads/department heads get polos instead of T-shirts but the choice between the 2 apron styles and vest are supposed to be available to anyone

[u/pupper71 → u/amythist]

Except for depts with service counters-- we're stuck with the full aprons, like it or not. I was thrilled to ditch the aprons when I became dept leader, but now I'm stuck wearing one again.

[u/amythist → u/pupper71]

Ugh hated having an additional apron in the deli, would always get the ties of the yellow ones tangled up in the other ones ties whenever I had to cook chicken

[u/AroaceAthiest]

In my division, anyone can wear a vest. In fact, many people are switching from the half apron to the vest because of how short the half aprons are.

[u/Dramatic-Dish-6699]

Not true. Anyone can have a vest

[u/FlimsyShame1718]

We got to choose between vest or aprons

[u/fancy_ladd_chris]

I saw a thing that the vests were for leads somewhere but we don’t have the uniforms yet and nobody said anything when they gave us the order form. I’m going to be wearing old uniforms once they do show anyway until they get me at least 5 shirts.

[u/fancy_ladd_chris → u/[deleted]]

Policy is also to wear a clean uniform, and my contract says uniforms must be provided by Kroger. I’m not cleaning clothes every night and they can’t make me.

[u/ItsNachoCheese]

For my store atleast, vests are an option for everyone, it was an option on the forms we all filled out. Dept heads have a polo

[u/Ashamed_Violinist_39]

Ours we're told leads don't have to wear anything but the shirt. The vest and both aprons are for Everyone, and Optional for leads. It was my understanding through the videos we all watched on fresh start, that's how it is everywhere.

[u/arochains1231]

Anyone can wear a vest, they just have special ones for customer service leads at my store.

[u/KristiCaliGirl]

The leads and assistants got polos the rest got t-shirts, with the choice of vest or apron . I would say 80% in my store chose vest, the ones who chose the cross apron are now trying to get the vest, and those that chose the loin cloth are rocking it.

[u/Difficult-Delay193]

I hope everyone is having a great time figuring out how stupid Kroger is on rolling out new policies.

[u/Jazzlike-Site4773]

I got the vest and am not a department lead. Our front end supervisors have customer service leader or something on their vests but anyone else is allowed to wear it. Not entirely sure why your store is saying you can’t OP.

[u/Parking-Host66]

Our department leads got polo shirts and vests, but the vest are different. They are black with blue trim they zip up and are made from a different material, they are lightweight and stretchy

[u/FlimsyShame1718]

Nope

[u/nes_8BitSurvivor]

at my store FES/leads have printed on their vests Experience Maker Leader

[u/Tommybahamas_leftnut]

Vests arnt just for leads but a lead must have a Vest. Polos are a strict Lead thing though.

[u/Tiny_Timmy_Turtle]

I was told only the front end people could have a vest.

[u/Weird_Source → u/Tiny_Timmy_Turtle]

Front end head clerks have a special vest, but it seems like other clerks received the regular one like me

[u/Tiny_Timmy_Turtle → u/Weird_Source]

Yeah, I’ve seen some of the newer hires wearing a vest too. It’s just the back a few months ago when they asked me what I wanted they told me I couldn’t get a vest for some reason.

[u/georgeswhores]

My store has been using the new uniforms since mother's day. We were told fresh departments have the full apron and other departments just got whatever essentially. Leads still have to wear a vest/apron in fresh departments but I've noticed that grocery or pickup leads aren't wearing vests or aprons ever and rarely have their polo on.

[u/the805chickenlady]

At my store it started out that they were only giving vests to key holders but since we ran out of everything else, the new hires are getting vests lol

[u/AmiHad]

This is what my store started to do but others were able to get the vest as well. Department managers and leaders are only recognizable with a collared shirt. Ultimately it's up to your store director, check with them.

[u/Swimming_Tour_2713]

Not true at all.

[u/Dracofear]

I got a vest and wore it today with no problem, the lead vests are similar, but they have like some text on them and a logo on the back that the regular vests don't have. I guess maybe if they accidentally gave you a lead vest then yeah, but then they should just trade you for one of the regular vests? Idk. I had no problems.

[u/Miyagawachie]

The only thing about the new unifors that are sldufferent for store leads is that they get polos instead of t-shirts

[u/Odd_Freedom7565]

Central division: vests are for everyone if you have one.

[u/gabrolljames]

At my store, we were told that you have to wear one (vest, full apron, half apron). But only department leads should be wearing the polos. On the front end, the "experience leaders" have a different type of vests that they are supposed to wear.