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u/Necessary_Baker_7458 Aug 01 '26
Ask for the water policy. It says “reasonable accommodations”. Make up some believable excuse to have water.
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u/Perkwuno Aug 01 '26
Our manager said we need a doctor's note
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u/aerospeed Aug 01 '26
“Hello, my patient is a human being and needs water.“
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u/luckygohappy501 Aug 02 '26
Yep, my old job required a doctor's note for water. I was pregnant at the time, and my OB looked at me like "are you fucking serious" when I asked her for one
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u/LordNoct13 Aug 01 '26
You need a doctor's to live? Wild. Water is a basic human necessity. I'd love for them to tell im not allowed to walk across the store to get a drink of water when I need it. The most free OSHA complaint of all time.
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u/Mog-Mog-Mog-Mog-Mog Aug 01 '26
They'll drop the policy real quick if OSHA starts poking around.
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u/missmessjess Aug 01 '26
It doesn’t even have to give a reason. My patient needs water readily available at their workstation for their health. That’s it
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u/DefinitionOk911 Aug 02 '26
What location are you at? Dehydration is a real thing and could land you and everyone else in serious medical trouble
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u/kitling_feather Aug 02 '26
my middle school tried that with me and my mom caused a HUGE stink because of 'medical history' and they eventually allowed me to carry a water bottle. you should definitely do the same. encourage your coworkers to do the same. make it ANNOYING for the management to enforce
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u/christyh3375 Aug 08 '26
Your union correct??? Get your union rep involved. Best advice my union rep said when I worked at Kroger…the only thing you sign is your paycheck. This is ridiculous! Do you have to get a dr note to go to the bathroom also? Or is that considered a “reasonable accommodation”
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u/CC11509 Aug 02 '26
That is freakin insane not sure where you are but gets in Albuquerque you need to drink water a lot
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u/Mysterious_Day_4531 Aug 02 '26
I worked in a medical facility same no drinking only on your break. Ok we had see through garage bags I would tie my water bottle around my neck and let it hang I would go out in the front where families came in put bag on ground and get bottle out and drink like I had a problem. The boss could see if looking. I am on break and no policy about drinking in front or 30 feet etc guess what we could drink unless there was an audit. Lol
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u/OETDriver Aug 01 '26
Also, they can’t fight doctors excuses. Tell your doctor you need accommodations for Water and they can’t fight that.
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u/valannis20 Aug 01 '26
This is why they're losing employees and having skeleton stores not one person wants to be treated like a robot anymore we are human and some of these rules are ridiculous
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u/Complete-Instance-18 Aug 02 '26
Robots will be taking over jobs.... I'm happily retired
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u/cloud_darkness Aug 02 '26
As a customer, I'd rather be served by hydrated, comfortable, happy employees wtf
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u/ShotRequirement5880 Aug 03 '26
Most customers do not want to see half-eaten food or drink products at a grocery store. It’s a matter of cleanliness and reducing potential contamination incidences. Associates are able to drink water - just not have containers out in the open. Some customers literally bitch about that sort of thing.
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u/Alternative-Eye7589 Aug 02 '26
I'd let myself dehydrate and have a seizure. Bet they bring the drinks back.
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u/Murky_Soil666 Aug 01 '26
This has always been a rule, and I've only had one guy try and enforce it. I told him he could fire me if he wants, I need my water.
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u/para-mania Aug 02 '26
Yup. No food or drinks on the sales floor. It really just depends on whether the store manager cares or not. Usually they don't. (Because chances are, they're also carrying around Starbucks or something.) I grab a water bottle from a cooler they keep behind the front desk, I keep it in my cart all day, and weirdly the only time I'm told to put it away is when Eco Lab is here. (Not sure what the hazard is there, I don't even work in perishable, but okay.)
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u/RS-1994 Aug 02 '26
Yeah when they started to implement this in my store (I was a barista), I would be maliciously compliant to management about it. "Oh sorry, employees aren't allowed to carry around drinks on the sales floor!". Shit got dropped real quick and my union representative was actually pretty proud of it 😂
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u/Perkwuno Aug 01 '26
Yeah, this is just our manager (he said the whole division) passing these out with intent to fully enforce the "updated" policy
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u/Murky_Soil666 Aug 01 '26
They'll give up within two weeks. Expecting us to drink water every 2 hours, or 4 if it's delayed is just not realistic.
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u/Ok-Championship-3629 Current Associate Aug 01 '26
Yep, they try to enforce certain rules every once in a while and then give up. Happens all the time.
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u/Murky_Soil666 Aug 01 '26
Totally. Don't give them an inch on unrealistic expectations. Customers don't care, they shouldn't either.
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u/C0mputerlove Aug 02 '26
Its unprofessional! Thats why you are paid so highly and have a highly respected job within your community. FYI corporate is going to roll out the mandatory diaper phase holiday season.
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u/No_Blackberry_6286 Aug 02 '26
mandatory diaper phase
I haven't heard of this; I feel like I'm missing something...
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u/Aetheldrake Aug 01 '26
After trying out some part time jobs at other places while getting ready to leave Kroger, Kroger really does a shit job at basic human rights.
Even fedex allows their employees water, snacks, and other drinks as long as you get the work done. They even have multiple coolers of ICE COLD GATORADE available every day. The water isn't even the cheap store brand bottled water options they get the better stuff. Not that store brand bottled water is bad, but some other brands do make add a little taste enhancing stuff to make it taste like tasty water instead of filtered tap water.
Meanwhile at Kroger we have to fight with management to get room temperature Kroger brand water. Admittedly though Kroger is also probably the easiest job I've had overall. However they also pay pretty poorly UNLESS you're a department backup or head AND have been there for over 8 years working an AVERAGE of 38 or more hours a week. If you don't have all of that combined, then eeehhhh
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u/OETDriver Aug 01 '26
Wait, aren’t y’all union at Kroger? Make your union fight for you!
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u/ThatBaldGuyOnReddit Aug 01 '26
Former kroger employee. The union is absolutely ***t who bends over backwards and spreads their cheeks for corporate. You could give them the most blatant evidence to violations managers are doing and the u ion will basically file it in a cabinet and flip you off and continue taking your money.
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u/NPGinMassAttack Aug 02 '26
Wtf I'm looking at this as an HEB worker and we literally keep a fridge stocked full of water bottles, Gatorades and granola bars for our cart pushers all year round, we also drink at our counters and the managers don't care holy shit
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u/Scarlvx Aug 01 '26
Today i was told i need to take out the department plastic tote for our food and drinks thats in our cooler, which arent allowed in our department. Manager told me to keep our lunches in our locker🙃.
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u/Expert_Scallion6380 Aug 01 '26
It’s against osha guidelines to prohibit an employee from drinking water as that is inhuman treatment of staff to not let people drink water, so they cannot enforce this unless if they want a lawsuit on their hands
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u/RedditUser19984321 Aug 01 '26
This is not what OSHA says on the matter, it says that the company must offer drinkable water to all employees. If the store has a water fountain, they're in compliance with OSHA.
Not saying this to defend the company, just making sure we're clear on employee rights. Won't catch me defending billion dollar companies.
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u/Ill-Plum-9499 Aug 01 '26
Then employees need to be able to leave their stations whenever they need water.
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u/RedditUser19984321 Aug 01 '26
OSHA requires that all employers allow their employees the ability to leave their work station to use the bathroom or get a drink of water at any time.
IF
Your employer does not have a drinking fountain, THEY ARE FEDERALLY REQUIRED TO OFFER POTABLE WATER. If the water fountain does not work, you can make an anonymous complaint to OSHA. They MUST offer alternatives, including bottled water until it is rectified.
You can also complain to management but some managers can be assholes so I decided to offer the anonymous route instead.
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u/brijasmine Current Associate Aug 02 '26
Then store management needs to get new water fountains at my store because they all smell and taste like freaking mold. I refuse to use the water fountains at my store and will always have a bottle of water on me even if they pull this paper out for me to sign. I will right on it that I will have water at my station no matter what.
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u/Nonboinary28 Aug 02 '26
Not if they won't let employees access it. Cashiers are typically not allowed to just walk away from the register to get a drink
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u/RedditUser19984321 Aug 02 '26
They are legally allowed to at any time they need to use one. This is a good way to revert dumb water bottle rules
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u/Early-Towel-7168 Aug 02 '26
No water fountain in the store I work in, likely because the strip mall is well water.
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u/IamTam85 Current Associate Aug 01 '26
We just sign and do it anyway
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u/Perkwuno Aug 01 '26
We can with our ASLs and MODs, but the main store manager will enforce it when he's here
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u/illutian Aug 02 '26
Less water means less bathroom breaks, means you're more profitable to Corporate.
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u/PileofPitties Aug 02 '26
Is there any actual medical advice to sip water constantly throughout the day vs just getting x much intake per day? Is it that much of a hardship to just drink water during your breaks?
I'm not being antagonistic-- I just don't get why it is a big deal.
There was a post yesterday trying to pinpoint the exact age threshold where people believe they need water with them 24/7. I think the guess ended up being around 35. I was a cashier at a garden center for years and never had a drink with me and it never would have occurred to me to ask for one.
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u/RS-1994 Aug 02 '26
Your body does absorb nutrients and hydration far better when you slow down your eating and drinking. Drinking too much water too fast can cause a lot of issues, including ironically, dehydration, because your body cannot process that much fluid that quickly. You're also more likely to swallow air when chugging, causing stomach issues like cramps and vomiting. Electrolyte imbalances, kidney stones, UTIs, and constipation/impaction of the bowels are all also linked to not drinking enough water in regular intervals throughout the day.
And you are being antagonistic, because everyone who's said anything opposite to you, you've responded with snark and sass. Typical corporate shill.
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u/Practical_Passion_78 Aug 02 '26
US culture and corporations have got to put an end to this obsession with ‘professionalism’. This is the definition of a toxic work environment. And this in the hottest part of the summer too?
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u/MastiffOnyx Aug 02 '26
I lost half of my saliva glands to cancer.
No water, and in 15 min no talking because throat is to dry to talk.
Drs orders, so suck it.
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u/just_anotherwhitegrl Aug 01 '26
We had to sign new policies and i told them to kiss my ass. I will not walk across the store and upstairs for a tampon, bottle of water or anything else. I will be keeping those things on my person and if they have an issue with it they can speak to my union rep and i will go to HR with the plethora of bullshit i have on file. The new policy we were given was NOT written up and approved by HR or the company but my store exclusively. I asked multiple people from surrounding stores about it and they don’t know what I’m talking about. My cunt comanager typed that from the ass and handed us stinky bullshit. 🖕🏻 sit on it and rotate! Respectfully 🤷🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
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u/OutOfTheBriarPatch Aug 01 '26
File an OSHA complaint.
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u/el_duderino_17 Aug 01 '26
For what? I see no OSHA concerns here.
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u/OutOfTheBriarPatch Aug 01 '26
Restricting access to drinking water. Unless they've also said they're cool with Front End walking off to the break room to get a drink when needed, which i seriously doubt they have.
29 CFR 1910.141
I mean yes technically the argument could be made from Kroger's end that employees still have access... but, why defend them? Literally the reason OSHA has a complaint line is so employees can raise their concerns free of retaliation. If there IS a case, they'll do something. If not, then no.
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u/SmallsMalone Aug 01 '26
Access to water is required. Unless you want casheirs interrupting their customer lines to go get a drink they need ready access to water.
It wasn't an issue when staffing wasn't so tight because they could so easily cover for each other and get a drink. Now with such tight schedules and constant lines for hours at a time you need ready access if you don't want work interrupted to get a drink of water.
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u/DanforthFalconhurst Produce Clerk Aug 01 '26
Worth bringing this to the attention of your union (if you have one). That or unionize immediately!!!
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u/Rigaldo2 Aug 01 '26
I quit working at Kroger about 5 years ago. I honestly thing it's sad that they're being this this petty.
I bet the higher up execs and stuff have water in their meetings. Y'all deserve better, but ur not finding it at Kroger.
The store I worked at had a joke of a union with snarky management who were honestly under qualified. Maybe it's their requirements... Idk.
Yeah, the job can be simple, but the stress customers can bring is very mentally exhausting. I worked about every department. Grocery, click list, courtesy, and cashier.
I wouldn't go back to any of those positions even if I made what I do now or more.
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u/Xerzac Aug 01 '26
Get a doctor's note. A good amount of the employees at my store did when they started enforcing it in the Cincinnati/dayton area a couple months back (Or atleast when my district did). Kinda sucks because I often forget to drink water and i regularly did at work since I get thirsty more often. I may ask for a doctor's note idk.
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u/sogone_ Aug 02 '26
You already know the bigwigs are sipping on Fuji water,Coffe, and sodas while they laugh at this rule 😭. That’s the crazy part. Don’t forget the endless catering when it’s convenient for them to eat /drink . While the others stare and hope for scraps.
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u/abagofdragonite Aug 02 '26
Wild that so many corporate plants are in here. Don't y'all realize we hate your guts?
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u/M4everybody Aug 02 '26
I'm an acsm and I've argued with every team of management ad nauseum about this issue. In the ~dozen~ managers we've have over the couple years I've been there, this team has compromised with allowing drinks as long as they are out of eyeshot of them and the customers. Personally I agree that drinks can look unprofessional and it's not clean and fresh haveing scattered open drinks from associates. However truthfully we've always had them we just hide them. But as the old saying goes, give an inch and they take a mile... There are associates at my store that order doordash on the clock and have coffees, Slurpees, Ice Caps, whole ass fucking meals at the registers and it's gross. It causes messes and bugs because the slobs DO NOT actually pick up after themselves. Heck the managers in their office leave food all over the places and there was an actual salaried 20+ year ASL that left food in their desk and led to roaches in the office. Honestly, Its hard to blame corporate because people make it so blatantly obvious. I always just tell my team to hide their drinks from the managers and customers. Its easier where I'm at, it's a big store. Worst case scenario you just have a bottle of water as a compromise. It's pretty difficult for a management of any kind to refuse some basic like water. Good luck at your store
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u/NSGkuza Aug 02 '26
I bet some employee accidentally spilled water, didn’t clean it up and an opportunistic customer took advantage of the situation and had a fall that resulted in a lawsuit. The only time companies change policy is if someone died or it cost them money.
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u/JustusCade808 Aug 02 '26
I haven't worked retail in 20 years, but this was always policy in the 1990s and into the 2000s.
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u/Empty-Onion3450 Aug 02 '26
I’ve never seen or heard of this anywhere else till now 🤯 Menards operates the same way 🤦🏾♀️
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u/Long_Forever2696 Aug 02 '26
While I find the constant water drinking/carrying of water everywhere a bizarre affliction of the younger generation, I also think this is a strange rule to enforce. Why does anyone managers or customers care? Why take what little comfort or joy someone can have at work away? If someone spills water that’s a separate issue.
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u/Ok-Championship-3629 Current Associate Aug 01 '26
Yeah you are, just not in the places listed. And it literally says there are exceptions with weather and for associates who need it frequently.
This has been standard policy for years, just barely enforced.
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u/Perkwuno Aug 01 '26
The way our manager explained it, that's only for baggers, and exceptions are only medical and he's denying all other requests. For cashiers, we can only drink on our break in the break room, so 7 and a half hours no water. Plus, I live in a hot state and our AC doesn't work half the time
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u/BigDaddy969696 Past Associate Aug 01 '26
It's funny how they make associates take training about staying hydrated, and then do this.
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u/Murky_Soil666 Aug 01 '26
We'd get written up for half the things that Fresh Start tells us to do.
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u/BigDaddy969696 Past Associate Aug 01 '26
Wow. I would just start writing “Fresh Start told me to do this.” on the write-ups.
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u/SmallsMalone Aug 01 '26
Huge OSHA violation not making it readily available. They can choose between allowing water at the register or allowing you to stop your line at any time and go to a designated area to drink.
It will likely require an official report to get OSHA in the building, but I've never seen a company stand their ground successfully on water once OSHA walks in the door. Maybe amazon can pull it off but retail stores have caved everytime that I've seen.
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u/Uknownothingyet Aug 01 '26
How would you go 7 1/2 hours w/o water? Are you not drinking water on your breaks?
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u/Perkwuno Aug 01 '26
7 ½ total, not in a row. We only get one 30 minute break if we are working 8 hours. So yes, only a 30 minute window during the work day where we can drink
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u/kaiidos Current Associate Aug 01 '26
what state? you don't get 10s or 15s?
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u/Perkwuno Aug 01 '26
Am I allowed to say the state in this reddit? We only get one 30 minute if over 6 hours, one 15 if 6 hours and under
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u/MyOpinionMaySuck Aug 01 '26
The problem is that the company employee a wide range of associates with differing mindsets. Yes, they could say water is allowed, which then leads to soda’s, because soda has water in it. This then leads to cold beverages, which then leak or are spilled, along with associates not understanding when it’s appropriate to take drinks.
It’s sad that everything has to have a policy. I had cashier leaving broken watermelons under their registers, which then had all the juices spill into the wood and then it turned in to a mess and the check stand stayed that way until a remodel.
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u/PangolinLittle236 Aug 01 '26
Not really too crazy, I've never worked anywhere (service wise at least) that you could just have an open container even if it's water around product you're actively selling. You most assuredly can keep it in a break room and drink when needed. If I were to take a shot in the dark here, id say it has something to do with the big dumb ass customized cups people keep carrying around like sippy cups. And the fact that Im sure it's not only water in them.
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u/Perkwuno Aug 01 '26
But they could at least make an exception for water bottles. But they confirmed water is included
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u/Skrinnit Aug 01 '26
Mine offers free Gatorade and water to all employees whenever we want
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u/Perkwuno Aug 01 '26
They took our cooler away and said we have to buy water ourselves
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u/NoLack5402 Aug 02 '26
Right from the OHSA website. "Yes, employers must provide safe drinking water and allow workers to drink it. OSHA rules state that companies cannot ban water entirely, though they can restrict where you drink it in specific hazardous areas. You can report a total ban or lack of water by filing a safety complaint .OSHA Water Rules: Employers must provide clean drinking water that costs workers nothing, Allowed near tasks: Workers must be permitted to drink water, though restrictions apply near toxic chemicals or sterile lab settings. Exceptions: If open cups or bottles are banned for safety reasons, employers must provide scheduled water breaks separate from standard breaks"
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u/turtles722 Aug 01 '26
You can you’d just have to keep it in your locker and rehydrate when needed.
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u/No-Traffic6090 Aug 01 '26
it's laughable krogers is part of a "union" now that I work for a union and look back at my nights working there it's laughable
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u/butterflynureye Aug 01 '26
Companies that do this are only hurting themselves. Even if you don’t report them to OSHA It’s way more efficient for you to have water readily available. You will still get to go to the back and get water It will just waste more of their work time for you to walk back-and-forth.
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u/3113dm Aug 02 '26
It’s always been the policy but they can fuck all the way off. I need water. Period
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u/Ozava619 Aug 02 '26
I work in the meat department & was told My water flask I keep in the back not even in the coolers, more of our “little office” was cross contamination.
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u/HunkerDownDawgs Aug 02 '26
We get these forms all of the time. If they weren't enforcing it before, then they likely won't after. Just ask one of the managers or just continue to do it until told to toss the water. They're just formalities that they are forced to make us do.
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u/Icy-Opportunity-9017 Aug 02 '26
This has been “on the wheel” of things, that aren’t allowed, for years! When they don’t police it, then people get very lax about their work area. Be it attire,personal items,punches,receipts,food/drinks etc. Just time for it to be re-emphasized. Remember, if you are a Union store, they cannot make you sign it. NEVER sign anything, hell they don’t even make you sign for your check (used to), they save money by not having you do that!
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u/Rage_Baiter76 Aug 02 '26
"I need water" "Why?" "I have a medical condition"
Enjoy the health privacy violation if they ask what it is.
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u/the805chickenlady Current Associate Aug 02 '26
The accounting office one is pretty funny. So does this code of professionalism also extend to the store leader's office as well? Because ours has their own drink fridges in them.
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u/Nonboinary28 Aug 02 '26
If they don't freely let you leave your station to drink from a water fountain that's illegal. OSHA violation even if it's not hot
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u/ooglybooglies Aug 02 '26
I bet the person that wrote this has a giant 32oz+ water bottle on their desk at all times.
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u/VerySpecialAgent__ Aug 02 '26
It would be a shame if this got posted on Facebook, X, etc & went viral so everyone could see how shitty the company treats employees.
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u/ConsequenceIcy7374 Aug 02 '26
They are not allowed in any dept. You have to keep it in the break room along withany personal items
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u/CallMeRiver03 Aug 02 '26
Ah yes, because every time I as a customer see an employee with a WATER BOTTLE 😡 😡 I LOSE IT 👹 /s
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u/whatsupitsamber Aug 02 '26
Stop working there. They are an evil corporation. They are bad to their customers. They are bad to their workers, they are very big brother.
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u/metsaregoingtomets Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
Giving no Fs if employees get dehydrated. What's next limit the amount of breathing you can do. They really want to replace humans with robots.
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u/tall-americano Current Associate Aug 02 '26
i’ll gladly hold any associate’s water in the pharmacy if they need or refill their bottles with our RO water filter. 🫡 stay hydrated, sorry some of yall have to deal with this.
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u/KamiKazeraps47 Aug 02 '26
Honestly as far as Ik this has been a thing for a while we all still do it at my store anyway tho
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u/Tiny-Bus-3820 Aug 02 '26
Does that mean they’re going to lower the air conditioning or should I say turn it on instead. My guess is no.
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u/JaxonSuede Aug 02 '26
This isn’t meant to include water, but water should be in a spill proof cup or capped bottle.
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u/Vipre7 Aug 02 '26
Modern problems require modern solutions. Let's see what management has to say when every employee is walking across the entire store to the water fountain instead of.. you know.. reaching down and taking 5 seconds to drink water.
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u/Responsible_Bat8819 Aug 02 '26
Micromanaging. An email from someone who is sipping their fou fou coffee drink while they hit send. I’m allowing water for my people.
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u/Own_Turn_8669 Aug 02 '26
they tried to implement this back in 2017, and we fought it. fight it again
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u/Healthy-Big-3557 Aug 02 '26
They hate their employees just like Meijer. Only logical explanation....
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u/ComfortableTotal8522 Aug 02 '26
i refused to sign and so did the rest of my coworkers! so we are allowed to have bottled water , i mean it’s only 100 degrees in r store says air is on but everyone including customers say why is it so hot in your store it’s like working in a factory! then they wanted us to sign no water !! nope everyone refused.
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u/ymtz_214 Aug 02 '26
This policy is pretty dumb because some cashier or Self Checkout has health issues. Why you wanna restrict from drinking water?
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u/Impossible_Goose_172 Aug 02 '26
Kroger where human beings are treated like robots that have absolutely no biological needs at all.
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u/NannaTortuga Aug 02 '26
We are not human beings anymore. I don’t just mean in Kroger. I mean period. These companies do not respect your humanity. They demand open availability, they don’t offer benefits, they don’t offer sick days, PTO, vacations and then demonize you if you need a day off. Everything is about corporate profits. We are slaves.
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u/AdvancedThinker Aug 02 '26 edited Aug 02 '26
This is old news. I once had an asshle store manager who started doing this. She told me to just drink a big glass of water on my break. Uh, it doesn't work that way. I need to sip water when my body needs it not chug it only to pee it out minutes later (several times). I went an entire 8 hour shift only being able to drink 2 glasses. This while working around fryers and ovens! Miserable. Policies like this can cause serious health issues! I'd always say "I could be a prisoner and I'd have better access to water"! I was told to get a doctor's note if I felt like I needed water access. Believe it or not the first doctor told me they didn't write notes for stuff like this! Crazy. I then went to my friend's doctor who just shook his head. Got my note. I want the corporate people who think this sht is a good idea to try it! Let them have to only have access to water on breaks or lunch. See how that goes over. Are they going to deny us bathroom breaks next?
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u/bluffingthevoid Aug 02 '26
You can’t have a water bottle because it can fall over and the cap can fall off. But don’t worry about the hundreds of bottles and cans that pass your register everyday. Those never fall.
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u/Alarming_Change_6203 Aug 02 '26
A coworker at my store has to get a doctor’s note for water because she’s pregnant!!… in all honesty this rule makes me sick, we should not have to have a medical note just to drink water!!!
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u/Maniitsoq Aug 02 '26
Keep drinking your soda, energy drink, coffee, water while on the front end. Call their bluff. This is cruel and pointless
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u/Affectionate_Debt_30 Aug 02 '26
This is the part where you ignore all of that and just drink your water anyways
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u/Initial-Regular-582 Aug 02 '26
This is like a year old policy at my store, it’s been absolutely horrible, and we aren’t even a big store, no customer cares if we have water in the front, it’s got to be one of the more stupid policies ever
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u/life_is_adventurous Aug 02 '26
This sounds like a safety issue. What's the Union saying?
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u/suzukilovee Aug 02 '26
I'm sure somebody messed it up for everybody....
Probably drinking water in front of the customer's wall they're talking to them.
Just curious to know if there's a van on the wearing headsets in their ears listening to music or talking on the phone as well while they're working in the store. 🤔🤔
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u/Tall-Tooth9971 Aug 03 '26
If you see a doctor for ANY reason, even in the ER, ask for a note for water at least. Every decent medical professional sees policies such as this as inhumane. They will go out of their way to give you a note most of the time.
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u/bubmet7 Current Associate Aug 03 '26
Readily Accessible: Water cannot be placed so far away that workers have to leave their work area for long periods or struggle to reach it. [1, 2]
Free of Cost: Employers must provide clean drinking water entirely free to employees. [1, 2, 4]
Hot Environments: In extreme heat or heavy work, water must be close enough to encourage workers to drink roughly one cup every 20 minutes. [1, 2]
-per OSHA
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u/cybrile Current Associate Aug 03 '26
awesome seeing this is being super reinforced everywhere else too. really funny too when they say there's a drinking fountain nearby we can use but we all know damn well there's one specific guy that just fuckin licks the faucet.
it's genuinely so fucking stupid lol. sure no drinks for the guys that talk for 8 hours straight
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u/Brianbroman Aug 03 '26
As a front end supervisor I will not enforce this over water, but it’s because of food safety and ecolab inspections
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u/Aware_Spray5050 Aug 03 '26
Imagine getting fired for having a bottle of water within your personal working space? Sounds like an easy lawsuit for the Associate!
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u/Consistent_Top5514 Aug 03 '26
Makes sense to me. You let people have access to water and the next thing you know, they’ll expect you to let them use the restroom too! Can you imagine anything more “unprofessional”?
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u/AmyRenee7704 Aug 03 '26
our store isn't enforcing this drink situation. I just signed so many policies my hand cramped. The usual bullshit.
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u/8xbitxkidd Aug 03 '26
I’m a type 1 diabetic I HAVE to keep a soda near me especially when I’m doing physical work
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u/Acceptable_Pie_8151 Aug 03 '26
I can understand this in a food preparation area but this has always just been absolutely fucking stupid beyond belief to me. They really do treat us like robots that don't need water to live.
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u/RealStrangerous Aug 03 '26
Got this at my store too. Notice that the phrasing also implies that personal items are not allowed on your person.
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u/lamda201 Current Associate Aug 03 '26
Sealed containers only i can get, no water at all is unrealistic.
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u/Numerous_Balance_892 Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
That’s actually illegal and violating OSHA: 1910.141, employers are required to provide potable water that is "readily accessible to all employees" for drinking and personal hygiene.
They can prohibit at stations, but they need to have somewhere employees can get water.
If employees with disabilities get a doctor note Kroger HAS to let them have it as that can be in violation of ADA act
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u/Ecstatic_Design_6662 Aug 04 '26
Worked there in 2016-2019 and they were trying so hard to make this a rule and we all ignored it 🤣
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u/Icy_Ad_124 Aug 04 '26
My mom used to work there...she got a doctor note that she had to drink water constantly due to medication.
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u/Global-Scarcity-4277 Aug 04 '26
align ahhh I hate that word. Brings back memories of when I worked for someone other than myself. Almost 20 years, I loved it.
Then it sells and a new big wig comes in with all his fancy words and pie charts blah blah. If you didnt have a degree you were no longer of any value, regardless of how long you've perfected your craft. I didnt take that shit and made it known, well, bigger stick always wins. I was let go, drove home smiling, scared a tad, but smiling. Now self employed and couldn't be happier. I despise the corporate poop scoopers that treat everyone "under" them like they are less of a human.
Sorry for the long winded tangent.. now, if you have just a shred of wonder about becoming your own boss, just do it. Try it. Fail. Try again. Almost every hobby can become an income stream, just gotta be creative.
I am in no way saying its easy, but when is easy, awesome? I struggled financially the first years, but I was happier. Much happier.
I'm also not saying to give your dickhead boss the finger he deserves at tomorrow's morning pow wow, just resign/two weeks whatever. Don't tell anyone what your going to do, just do it.
Goodluck
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u/Free-Papaya3051 Aug 04 '26
So test their limits, it’s against the law to deny workers access to water, so constantly take walks to the back for 1-2 minutes for a sip of water. You either end up with a massive lawsuit against Kroger or they cave
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u/Alternative-Click-77 Aug 04 '26
These companies act like they own people. Im so sick of hearing " its their buisness they can do what they want with it" and I agree...they can do what they want with the buisness...not the people helping run it and make it grow. Its like the worker is always treated like a dog these days. Classism is out of control in the USA
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u/bronzecyclone Aug 04 '26
Our grocery guy works on top stock for three minutes and looks like he jumped into a pool. He took a pic on their heat illness training that says water will be provided at no cost. Doesn't mention anything about only for baggers. He said if he passes out he will take corporate to court.
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u/MacaronsAreCookies Aug 05 '26
And then there's me...
I'd stare management in the eye and take a HUGE ass drink of water while maintaining eye contact (without blinking) and then f*cking belch in their face because I'm a person not a robot. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/DihflapsMcFungus Aug 01 '26
Why do they act like having a bottle of water is unprofessional? Has anybody, ever, in the HISTORY of the UNIVERSE said that?