About Accountability

Membership Focuses on Accountability

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Committee to Propose Manual Changes in January

PROPOSED:

After months of canvassing, the Membership Committee (MC) developed a proposal for re- “We have developed what we B One vising our Member-Owner manual; feedback believe is a fair and reasonable paragraph sessions are scheduled this month to encour- process by which Managers, will move age further conversation. MOs, and the MOC can move down. Revising the system Change takes time, and at any co-op it also, ing their time investment.” —Cara Benson, MC chair C optimally, takes many voices. At January Paragraphs 2020’s Membership Meeting, MC took the first steps by leading a lively conversation Revisions will give will be added (see website). around the topic of time investment, from department managers which it compiled a great deal of feedback. a structure to provide The two issues arising most consistently feedback. were lateness and absence, aka “chronic lateness” and “no-call/no-show” (missing a shift without proper notification). After that meeting (but prior to the pandemic), in-store tabling successfully garnered yet more suggestions from management, Staff, and Membership for identifying ways to remain responsible to each other in taking our time investment seriously. Next, the committee geared up for work sessions to create a proposal designated for a vote at Jan. 31, 2021’s Membership Meeting. MOs can help steer this proposal now by attending a feedback session (&or emailing comments to membershipcomm@honestweight.coop). It’s an excellent time to let your voice be heard by participating directly in policy discussion!

Membership Committee

Accountability Feedback Sessions:

Sat. Nov. 14 • Noon–1pm Wed. Nov. 18 • 7–8pm Then MC will review feedback, consider updates, and revise prior to sending the Board results for December’s Board meeting, with the intention for final voting at January’s Membership Meeting.

What’s the problem?

If you don’t call or show up and there’s no MO available to cover, your workload ends up on the shoulders of an already fully scheduled, busy Employee, which obviously creates unnecessary tension. In a cooperative relying on participants to run smoothly, MOs need forward if an MO is not respectto support operations thoughtfully so the message is to reinforce our cultural expectation. Belonging to a co-op means striving as individuals to preserve the organization’s well-being. We need to be accountable to each other. To date, time investment expectations have been without a system for dealing with infractions. If an MO is not adhering to expectations (i.e., being chronically late or absent without notice), there needs to be a consequence for the system to work fairly.

What’s the proposed outcome?

Assuming that there’s already been a conversation between an MO and their assigned department manager lacking resolution, the Manager has the ability to ask the Member-Owner Coordinator (MOC) to start a documentation process, informing the MO that their absence was unexcused. The process can be appealed, but two unexcused absences may result in disqualifying the MO from investing time in that department for six months, meaning the MO would need to find a different department to invest time in. MC’s proposal would let department managers decide what works for each of them and what’s reasonable. Naturally, a certain amount of leeway will be factored in. “We realized in talking to Managers that we couldn’t impose one policy for everyone,” Cara said. “What works for Grocery doesn’t work for the Front End. Cashiering requires CURRENT:

Like many Member-Owners, you may end up completing more hours than the minimum you need each month to reach your target discount. In that event, extra hours are banked so that absences and vacations won’t affect your discount. If your weekly scheduled time investment falls on a holiday and the store is closed, the hours do not need to be made up. These hours will be entered into your bank.

If circumstances arise and you must cancel your scheduled time investment, we expect at least twenty-four hours’ notice. Be sure to learn your department’s policies and procedures regarding absences and use of substitutes.

You may periodically take a break from your monthly or weekly time investment and rely on any banked hours to obtain your target discount. When you have depleted your bank of hours, you will revert to Owner status and to the Owner discount of 2%. In the event you take an extended leave of absence, the Co-op is not obligated to hold a time investment opportunity or time slot for you. When you return from an extended absence, you must complete the monthly or weekly hours needed for your discount to be effective the following month. However, you may place your account on hold by full calendar month by contacting the Member-Owner Coordinator or by talking to a Front End manager at the Customer Service Desk, preferably before the 1st of the month. In the event of sickness or disability, you must email the Member-Owner Coordinator if you wish to name a non-Owner to shop for you. If you are injured during your time investment, please complete an Accident Report which you can find at the Customer Service Desk.

In the spirit of cooperation and fairness, during a time-investment, all M-Os are expected to contribute to the best of their ability. M-Os are supporting the operation of the HWFC with their commitment. If circumstances arise and you must cancel your scheduled time investment, we expect at least twenty-four hours’ notice. Be sure to learn your department’s policies and procedures regarding absences and use of substitutes.

If an absence by a M-O is deemed unexcused by their department manager, the manager has the right to notify the MOC, in writing, to start a documentation process. The MOC will inform the M-O of such documentation as soon as possible. Two unexcused documented absences within 6 months may disqualify a M-O from continuing to invest time in that department for a period of 6 months. Chronic lateness that impacts the functioning of the department may be reported

as an absence. Membership Committee Action Timeline: • 06/19–02/20: discussed time investment issues, tabled, compiled feedback. • 11/20: hold Accountability

Feedback sessions, review input. • 12/01/2020: submit results for Board approval. • Now–01/21: seek input via more Zoom sessions and email. • Jan. 31, 2021:

Regular Membership Meeting VOTE a certain punctuality, [whereas] Grocery is more flexible and spontaneous.”

“We count on each other,” Cara continued. “There is always flexibility. What we’re proposing provides room. Sometimes the bus is late, or maybe you have an emergency” but unexpected events require communication. The emphasis is on accountability in relation to one another.

The committee is also addressing MO Manual revisions made prior to COVID-19 (previously proposed at the Jan. 2020 RMM but ineligible for voting due to ballot errors). Two items will be proposed for a vote: cleaning up some language around MO conduct training, and references to anti-harassment policy. MOs can offer feedback on these proposed revisions at November’s sessions or anytime via email.

The Membership Committee will make the proposed revisions available on HWFC’s website after Nov. 10’s Board meeting.