Trader Joe's Employee Job Reviews in the United States

"I worked at Trader Joe's for four months. I was thrilled to be hired. Crew members are great people. However there is a great deal of dissatisfaction. Workers feel under-appreciated and find it difficult to deal with management and constant changes in days and shifts. There is no rhyme or reason to scheduling. I thought that in the future scheduling would be more consistent and that the culture of the store would be more positive. However after having to be on light duty by my orthopedist, I was so disappointed by the response I received. My condition is temporary and I needed to have Physical Therapy for my arm due to a previous fracture of my elbow. Also, the only restriction was to not lift heavy boxers, etc. There are plenty of things to do in the store that don't require physical strain. At this time I also had to adjust my schedule due to the fall semester of college beginning. I did not get my schedule before mid August because I needed to make a payment, which I was working hard to save that summer. When I discussed this with my manager she was not happy and told me to take a leave. I didn't want to do this and asked her to let me continue to work for the next two weeks on my regular schedule until school started. She was annoyed at me and walked away from me while I was still speaking mid-sentence. I never thought a place with a supposed positive culture would treat me this way for going to school and having a medical issue. And I was a good worker and had great rapport with my co-workers. Anyway, I started my shift that day after our discussion. About thirty minutes into my shift my name was called over the store intercom. When I reported to my manager I was told to "call it a day because I just have too many obligations." I still can't believe it . Was I terminated? Because I couldn't lift some boxes? Or because I want to attend college? And no one in management cared as I walked out humiliated. I expected more from Trader Joe's. I still do."

"I have worked for TJ's for almost 8 years. I love the people I work with, but room for advancement, especially in California, is very limited. Seniority means nothing in regards to advancement. There is a strong sense of nepotism and it's easier to move up if your co-workers or managers are also part of your social circle. The pay is very good, however, unless you are a manager hours are not guaranteed. Although I make nearly $20 an hour, sometimes I am only scheduled for 3-4 days for 7 hour shifts. I was dropped from my health insurance recently after I took more unpaid days off than I normally do, due to family obligations. I have loved my time and Trader Joe's, but after all this time with no promotion to management after being one of my store's top producers, I have started to look for management jobs outside of the company."

"I've worked for TJ's for 3 years, and aside from going up from $10/hr to $13/hr in that time, everything else has gotten worse. They used to offer excellent health insurance to all employees who worked half time or more; now you have to work nearly full time for it. Raises used to be up to a dollar, twice a year- but now it's about 50 cents. I don't understand how such a successful company that has expanded so much can't afford to treat its employees as well as it started out treating them. Profits are higher than ever, but employees are being paid less than ever with fewer benefits."

"I've worked for TJS for 14 years and I for the most part love my job. I have made this my career and feel I am well compensated for the work I do. The hardest challenge for me is balancing work and life. I work over 50 hours and have to commute an hour each way. This is stressful on my family."

"Trader Joe's is a good company to be a part of. They are in the process of growing nationally and they work hard to empower all employees."

"Nepotism is a big issue . The store is run likea PT boat not a business . One person makes all the decisions . That would be ok if thisperson ( the captain ) new what his is doing . Every single decision that come from corporate is a farce . The review system promotes mediocrity . TheWOW U is a joke , the mentor system is an even bigger joke and the double bubble gives the captain another tool to reward his buddies . Overall if you area hard worker who cares T J's is won't care much about you ."

"Trader Joe's was a good place to work when I was a student. However, the management doesn't often communicate well with the employees. Also, nepotism is a problem within the company. Managers give their favorite employees all of their desired shifts, while those who aren't favored struggle to get the shifts they need."

"Trader Joe's is a very lean organization and career advancement simply does not exist in IT department as flat as we have it here. I spent 13 years doing the same job with excellent reviews without any possibility to advance."

What do you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"The pay and benefits are decent, and the crew are generally good people."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Don't get sucked into this store. Maybe it's better in other regions, but not here in Indy."

What don't you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"Promotions are given to those who kiss ass the most. We have more competent, intelligent, educated and genuine people among the crew than among the managers. Hours are cut for crew members so that our 15 (yes 15!) merchants and mates can be paid to do very little work. Crew members are overworked and tired. We have to have a completely open availability in order to get any hours, which leaves us with a poor quality of life and little sleep. Even with an open availability, some of us are still losing hours. A second job is out of the question because it would limit your availability."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"We have 15 bosses. This is ridiculous. Most of them are uneducated and unable to work their way through basic critical thinking. You have more qualified people among your crew. Stop promoting based on favoritism."

What do you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"too much of the same old stuff: picking up slack for other people"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"have a genuine love of helping people, an interest in food, and a knack for hard work"

What don't you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"the company strings people along with the hope of advancement. those who do advance plunge into 50+ hour weeks (not counting their commute)"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"more transparency with management staff and entire company. lacks a strong central voice"

What do you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"It offers wonderful benefits and I can be active all day"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Be personable! Charisma ranks very highly. Also, don't be afraid of doing physical work."

What don't you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"Unless you aspire to run a store, it feels a little stagnant after too many years."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I'm Not sure, I can't see thing from his perspective."

What do you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"Crew interaction, Food & Wine Tastings, Benefits & Regular Customers"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Don't belive the line about we only promote good work. It's all who you know and how much you kiss ass."

What don't you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"Lack of direction in the management team, directives changing rapidly and without reason."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"I would allow the crew to perform on their own merit, and stop the favoritism"

What do you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"Talking to customers, physical work, everyday is a little different"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"You have to want to do this job. If you're just looking for a part time job you'll be unhappy"

What don't you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"our management team is inconsistent setting rules/standards/expectations and is also inconsistent enforcing them"

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Decisions are made up high by people who have little perspective of how practical it is on the store level"

"Fun, but challenging place to work. Physically demanding."

What do you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"Fun environment, challenging. Good people. Great place to learn and grow for a while."

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"Learn about the culture, and the importance of enjoying/loving food. Focus on customer relationships you have developed."

What don't you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"Behind the times in terms of technology; unwilling to spend money for upgrades in this regard."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Realize that not all employees should be treated the same; some positions warrant more time and energy than others."

What do you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"Fun environment, active, nice customers, many opportunities, good values, interesting"

Do you have any tips for others interviewing with this company?

"It's a great place to work if you get a good group of managers running your store. Otherwise, it's hard to move up and kind be a bit of a buzzkill when your managers aren't working together."

What don't you like about working at Trader Joe's?

"The management is often not on the same page and are often against each other. Hard to move up."

What suggestions do you have for management?

"Weed out the slackers and give opportunities to the people who work hard."