I work at Trader Joe's. AMA.

[Anonymous]

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??

[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??

I wish it were a joke, but it's not, and it's retroactive. I really hope media picks up on this.

2021 was a big FU from Trader Joe's to its employees. It's being talked about heavily on the private employee FB group, and on the more public reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/tjcrew/).
There were smaller FUs - no gift card in the new year (they would typically give employees a $25-$50 gift card in January), no regular raises, removed covid pay, removed hazard/pay, no masks for customers, and now slashing 401k benefits in half AFTER committing a year of an employee's life. This last one is going to be the nail in the coffin for many.

But we get a 20% discount only on purchases of over $20.

[Anonymous]

Not trying to defend TJs, but a bit of clarity on some of the points - discount is 10 percent for purchases under $20, 20 percent for over $20. The 401k has always been discretionary and given as a percentage of your pay, in addition your contributions. They never announce how much it is until the end of the year, so it was not really a bait and switch. And this year, the structure was changed which reduced it for some, but not all employees. (I don't work for TJ but know someone who does)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not trying to defend TJs, but a bit of clarity on some of the points - discount is 10 percent for purchases under $20, 20 percent for over $20. The 401k has always been discretionary and given as a percentage of your pay, in addition your contributions. They never announce how much it is until the end of the year, so it was not really a bait and switch. And this year, the structure was changed which reduced it for some, but not all employees. (I don't work for TJ but know someone who does)

It's very much a bait and switch. I know several people who are 9.5 years and are being stiffed.

Note the retroactive change announced after the alleged #1 core value ("integrity")

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not trying to defend TJs, but a bit of clarity on some of the points - discount is 10 percent for purchases under $20, 20 percent for over $20. The 401k has always been discretionary and given as a percentage of your pay, in addition your contributions. They never announce how much it is until the end of the year, so it was not really a bait and switch. And this year, the structure was changed which reduced it for some, but not all employees. (I don't work for TJ but know someone who does)

It's very much a bait and switch. I know several people who are 9.5 years and are being stiffed.

Note the retroactive change announced after the alleged #1 core value ("integrity")

but they never announced something different for 2021. That would be a bait and switch. Nevertheless, it's not great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TJs milk is cheaper but goes bad much faster than a traditional grocery store. Why do you think that is? Is it older?

I have no idea, sorry. I don't buy milk that frequently but when I do, I haven't had that problem. Is it all kinds, or a specific kind (like the organic 2%)? Maybe it's the specific store's refrigeration?

Different poster, but we have had this problem with TJ's milk for the last decade or two. It's less of an issue for us currently, as one of my kids drinks a lot of milk and helps us get through it fast. But before this, we'd avoid the milk.

Tangent but we also avoid FreshDirect milk.

I get my milk delivered from a local farm. It's extremely fresh and minimally processed, and it goes bad way faster than grocery store milk. Any milk that last a long time is heavily processed and probably has added preservatives.

Sigh. This is such a great thread. Milk that lasts is ultrapasteurized, which causes flavor loss but it is just heating. No preservatives. Let’s keep to TJs.

Original question asker here. We are very low volume milk drinkers. A regular quart from Giant can be fine for 2 weeks. A TJ milk is more like one. I have to say I have stopped buying milk at TJ so maybe my observations are dated. I really like TJ but not for milk, produce or bread.

[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??

I’m sorry, I work in this space (corp benefits) and that’s literally something that can’t happen.
You cannot retroactively change a matching, even if it’s in the plan as discretionary. Now could they have announced a profit sharing calculation would be lower than 2020’s? Absolutely.
But this sounds like this very generous OP with his time, may not clearly understand the benefit (like the majority of people we interact with)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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??

I’m sorry, I work in this space (corp benefits) and that’s literally something that can’t happen.
You cannot retroactively change a matching, even if it’s in the plan as discretionary. Now could they have announced a profit sharing calculation would be lower than 2020’s? Absolutely.
But this sounds like this very generous OP with his time, may not clearly understand the benefit (like the majority of people we interact with)

it is not a match. It is provided as a percentage of their pay, regardless of what the person contributes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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??

I’m sorry, I work in this space (corp benefits) and that’s literally something that can’t happen.
You cannot retroactively change a matching, even if it’s in the plan as discretionary. Now could they have announced a profit sharing calculation would be lower than 2020’s? Absolutely.
But this sounds like this very generous OP with his time, may not clearly understand the benefit (like the majority of people we interact with)

it is not a match. It is provided as a percentage of their pay, regardless of what the person contributes.

Yes, I saw the pic after I posted. It’s a (non-elective) contribution, determined at the end of the year, with no amount guaranteed. I’m sure there’s an expectation that they’ll get “last years” amount or better, but that’s perception not actuality. I’m sorry that OP feels co-workers were stiffed, but there is no expectation of forward applying calculation. Fwiw, the most common er contribution is 50% to 6% so 3% to the employee. 5% is a nice amount for retail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When is the new Bethesda store opening?

I asked a cashier this at the current Bethesda location and they told me February.

I hope the parking will be better than the current location !

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I can’t believe the people who are defending Trader Joe’s cheating their hardworking employees out of their 401k compensation. Solidarity folks!

Today it is the Trader Joe’s mate, tomorrow it is your white collar employee who says “hey guys, it’s been a lean year and unless we retroactively cut your retirement contributions our execs won’t get their million dollar bonuses. Todd’s second beach house ain’t gonna pay for itself.”

[Anonymous]

Do employees get to pick the music that plays in the store? I was really jamming out to a Grateful Dead song a few weekends ago and one of the employees said it was their playlist.

[Anonymous]

How do they source such great flowers? The prices are amazing and they last weeks for me.

[Anonymous]

My favorite TJ cereal was Good Friends, but they stopped carrying it and I miss it so! I just Googled it, and now the image shows Kashi above Good Friends. So maybe Kashi bought the brand and I'll be able to find it somewhere else!!

Milk posters: if you don't drink a lot of milk, buy ultra pasteurized milk. It will last much longer.