Are There any Benefits to Working as a Bagger in a Commissary?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:18:43 PST

Flexi-time

Many employees are stuck in the rat race and they can see no way out. They have to beat the daily morning commute to work, face a stressful job and an employer whom they do not like. Add to that the fact that not all employees are able to ask for flexi-time whenever their child is sick or they have to visit the doctor and that can heighten a person's stress levels. But many people choose to work as baggers because they can take time off when they need to run errands, go to the dentist or attend an important function at their child's school. As baggers are not DeCA employees, they do not have to apply for time off from work months in advance and then hope that they get the time off that they want.

Paid Daily

One of the biggest incentives that baggers recognise is the opportunity to be paid on a daily, rather than a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. Ready cash is useful for baggers who could do with the extra cash to do their family's shopping, pay for incidentals and other smaller expenses without having to delve too deeply into their bank account. Of course, "cash in hand" should not mean tax-free money for baggers. They should still keep good records of their earnings so that they can declare their earnings to the IRS.

Family Shopping

Another benefit that baggers can utilize while working at the commissary is the ease with which they can do their own shopping during breaks, before or after work. Working in a commissary gives baggers an insight into the price of items, when the latest manager's special is on or when the next case lot sale will be held. They can then take the time to either shop for a few items each day or do a larger shop towards the end of the week. This can save the whole family money in the long run and help conserve extra petrol costs as well.

These are just some of the reasons why some people choose to work as a bagger in their local commissary. It gives them the opportunity to make use of flexi-time, they are paid on a daily basis by customers and they can take care of the family shopping while they are at the commissary.

Should Baggers in a Commissary Mention to Customers That They Work for Tips Only?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:14:48 PST

Baggers who work in commissaries in the United States and abroad all have one thing in common, they work for tips only. But should they mention to customers that they work for tips only?

Unlike DeCA employees such as cashiers, who receive an hourly or salaried pay, baggers in the commissary are not DeCA employees with any of the rights, or benefits that DeCA accords its employees. As such, they do not receive any financial compensation for the work that they do. While some commissaries have tried to combat the problem of non-tipping customers by posting signs by the exit stating that baggers work for tips only, many baggers still spend part of their day working for free.

Unknown Customer Response

Looking at it from a customer's point of view, how would you feel if the bagger who had just bagged your groceries and then loaded up your car mentioned that they work for tips only as you are about to get into your car? While some customers feel ashamed of themselves for not reaching into their pocket to offer a tip to the bagger for bagging two carts' worth of groceries, others might feel offended. Some customers are so offended at the mention of tips that they voice their complaint to the commissary manager.

Correct Thinking

However, some commissary customers are not at all aware that there is any distinction between DeCA employees and baggers, who work on a tip only basis and rely on each and every customer they assist to compensate them for any services rendered. That is the reason why some customers do not offer a tip to baggers, as they feel sure that DeCA already pays them to bag people's groceries. So while the bagger may be fuming at the third customer in a row who has failed to tip them, the customer may be driving away oblivious to any wrong action on their part. But baggers who are forthright enough to politely mention that they are not being paid by DeCA can do much to improve the situation for themselves and for their colleagues who regularly have to deal with some customers who do not give them a tip.

Some commissaries around the world have taken action to try and improve the work environment and overall experience of baggers by posting signs at the cash registers as well as the exits to alert customers of the fact that baggers work for tips only, whereas other commissaries do not offer the same level of support to baggers and it is left to baggers to use discernment before mentioning to customers that they rely solely on tips during their usually work day.