I thought remote positions were gone for good? I keep hearing people becoming remote that live, in my opinion, a commutable distance from the office.
How are these people getting remote approval?
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@11q I actually managed an offshore budget before for a other company. We paid the same amount, but the difference was we didn't pay for health care or other benefits. It wasn't worth the drop in quality of work
People in India cost much less and will work for a much lower wage. You all are asking the wrong question. And remote work was never about being more effective or productive, it is about control and reducing headcount.
I wonder how the KCC is going to enforce the in office "culture" 12 hours away....
You gotta love it, why is it wrong to just do the work here in the states. Why do we have to go in to the office, but they will offshore everything. Greedy people ruin everything.
It's weird how the company pays contractors and consultants to work remote, doesn't force them to be in a Kroger office.
They're ACTUALLY not effective.
@cj I believe they are doing the same in Blue Ash. I have noticed cubes that were once used by remote people now have “hotel” instead of their names…..although their stuff is still in the cubes.
They are also working to free up more space downtown by moving people between buildings. Not sure if they are intending to lessen the real estate portfolio or bring more people downtown.
@b3 it's a company problem, not individual. No need to get butthurt. Tons of remote jobs out there if you want it.
I'll personally never go back into an office.
Medical exceptions are a thing. I know at least two people that got a documented HR exemption because of allergies and disability.
@ax very helpful, thanks. I’m sure your team is thankful you are remote with that personality.
It's all about who and/or what you know. Sorry if you are on the wrong side of those.
Try to have fun in the office anyway
@ac every recent exemption in my department are from people who are not in leadership and live within 30 minutes of the office. Multiple people in Covington or closer.
It's impossible to run a Fortune 30 without significant remote posture. You cannot compete for talent without recruiting outside of your business centers. To top it off Kroger is paying below market rate at every single level.
It has been an issue for the 20 years I've been here. There will always be remote workers no matter how hard they try to drag us back to the 80s. They're only doing it because of municipal tax incentive contractual obligations, which do expire eventually. Most exemptions are from folks living more than 2 hours from an office or Senior engineers threatening to quit.
@a6 no one seems to know or give a straight answer. It’s incredibly frustrating. It seems to just be based on who you are.
@OP
I know there is an HR process for exceptions, not sure what that involves.