I work at Trader Joe's. AMA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they treat you well as an employee?

They used to. These days no, and there are lots of whispers of unionizing. Pay is above minimum wage, but raises (and pennies half a year, if that) are capped and not congruent with inflation. The minimum hours for benefits has increased considerably over the years, 401k contributions decreased, and the work is very physical and often backbreaking. Everyone I know deals with some kind of on-the-job pain, from back pain to shoulder strain injuries to severe carpal tunnel. Hazard pay (pandemic related) has stopped, included covid pay if you must be out sick. Overtime pay is nonexistent, and many are looking for other jobs.

TJs used to have a reputation for treating their employees well, but they're riding out that rep while rapidly decreasing morale. This is, sadly, a common attitude among employees. Years ago they used to treat employees quite well.

Given the poor treatment and the cuts in benefits, do you think a unionization drive is possible? I've heard that they fire anyone who even suggests they might want a union.

Is UFCW or another union actively trying to organize the workers?

[Anonymous]

Why would I ask a grocery clerk anything? What's to know? It's a grocery store.

[Anonymous]

Can you name some of the brands that sell the same product for less with a tj’s name? I bet Carr’s crackers is one.

[Anonymous]

I want to give everyone a pat on the back for ignoring the probably one poster that has made several rude & condescending posts in reply to others. If we don't engage he/she will give up, maybe even on DCUM totally. Keep it up!

[Anonymous]

Why does TJ's have such a bad selection of organics?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do they treat you well as an employee?

They used to. These days no, and there are lots of whispers of unionizing. Pay is above minimum wage, but raises (and pennies half a year, if that) are capped and not congruent with inflation. The minimum hours for benefits has increased considerably over the years, 401k contributions decreased, and the work is very physical and often backbreaking. Everyone I know deals with some kind of on-the-job pain, from back pain to shoulder strain injuries to severe carpal tunnel. Hazard pay (pandemic related) has stopped, included covid pay if you must be out sick. Overtime pay is nonexistent, and many are looking for other jobs.

TJs used to have a reputation for treating their employees well, but they're riding out that rep while rapidly decreasing morale. This is, sadly, a common attitude among employees. Years ago they used to treat employees quite well.

Oh man, please unionize! I would be so thrilled to shop at a union grocery store.

❤️

Giant employees have a union, FYI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bread at TJ's definitely goes bad quickly too. I avoid buying bread products there.

Seriously? This is your complaint? This means that their bread is actually fresher!! Bread that last more than a couple of days is loaded with preservatives.

I've had bread get moldy in 2 days from Trader Joe's. That's unusable. Same thing with pita. This isn't freshness, something about how they store their bread is causing moisture problems. It may just be the store I shop at, but it's been a consistent issue.

I think they keep their bread frozen and then put it out on the shelves. Moisture builds up in the bag that facilitates mold.

Yes, I always see tons of condensation inside a lot of the bread bags so I don’t buy those.

Take it home, open the bag, let the condensation dry out, and use or freeze. This is not difficult.

If you leave food containers open, spores and bacteria can get in it making it spoil even faster, so I just don’t buy those. Fine if it works for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Love TJ's. LOVE the employees at the 14th St and West End stores. I always come with my toddler in a stroller and they are always so nice (beyond what one might expect toward a little kid).

It's also the only store where I have never had anyone pack the bread at the bottom and then proceed to squish it with milk and other heavy objects.

You can walk into the bathroom and it's never weird or gross in there.

Produces has improved by miles in the last 5 years. Birthday cards and flowers are actually within my budget.

I am sad to hear that pay isn't as good as it used to be. I'd totally pay 10% more in groceries at TJ's if I knew it was going toward wages.

Ok, question for OP:: what are the top three least busy times these days?

Weekdays opening-11am. Tues, Wed, Thurs probably least busy.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The bread at TJ's definitely goes bad quickly too. I avoid buying bread products there.

Seriously? This is your complaint? This means that their bread is actually fresher!! Bread that last more than a couple of days is loaded with preservatives.

I've had bread get moldy in 2 days from Trader Joe's. That's unusable. Same thing with pita. This isn't freshness, something about how they store their bread is causing moisture problems. It may just be the store I shop at, but it's been a consistent issue.

I think they keep their bread frozen and then put it out on the shelves. Moisture builds up in the bag that facilitates mold.

Yes, I always see tons of condensation inside a lot of the bread bags so I don’t buy those.

Take it home, open the bag, let the condensation dry out, and use or freeze. This is not difficult.

If you leave food containers open, spores and bacteria can get in it making it spoil even faster, so I just don’t buy those. Fine if it works for you.

Enjoy your plastic bread!

[Anonymous]

are all of the cashiers high?? literally every time I go it looks that way -- TJ on Rockville Pike.

[Anonymous]

How much do employees make? I read somewhere that the store manager/assistant managers make six figures?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How much do employees make? I read somewhere that the store manager/assistant managers make six figures?

The 'Captain' or main store manager makes 6 figures. The Mates (like assistant managers) and crew... lololololololo no. Nowhere close. They are not salaries, and you will be scheduled so that you do not come close to overtime (and thus overtime pay, and no holiday pay)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would I ask a grocery clerk anything? What's to know? It's a grocery store.

Why did I hear this in Estelle Costanza’s voice?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why would I ask a grocery clerk anything? What's to know? It's a grocery store.

Why did I hear this in Estelle Costanza’s voice?

Ahaha, now I can't u hear it in her voice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How long have you worked there and what led you to apply there?

A number of years. More than 2, less than 10.

I applied because it seemed like a fun place to work. People seemed to like their jobs, and I noticed that the same people would stay for years, so it must be a chill place to work. And I heard that the employees were treated well and with respect.

But as mentioned, the corporate attitude about employees has changed considerably.

For example: Today, they announced that 2021's 401k contributions would be cut in half. So we worked there a year, gave the company a year of our lives, and they tell us this now. Today in the employee bulletin. And it was posted under a reminder of their #1 core value, which the company states is "integrity."

As a company, Trader Joe's has changed a lot over the past few years.

As a corporation, it's like any other - profit first, people last.

This is outrageous! Is there an investigative reporter out there for the washington post or wall street journal or buzzfeed who could publicize this story?! All the hard work trader joe's employees did, putting their lives at risk during covid, only to get their 2021 401k contributions retroactively slashed in half??

This is sad. One of the reasons i love about TJ was its reputation that it treats its employees well.