On its was To Being Walmart. - Mate Trader Joe's Employee Review

1.0
Dec 3, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The work is very simple and can be done with little brainpower. There are opportunities to make your own work fun. Coworkers are usually friendly. Mates can be cool. Get paid to taste wine and food.

Cons

The squeeze from up high can be felt trickling down all the way to the new hires. I have seen a trend in my tenure here. Employees are having their benefits cuts, premiums on insurance raise, hours are being cut and becoming less flexible (which mostly affects students or employees with children). You can feel the half-heartedness in the Captains and Mates as they implement new rules from Coprorate which usually compromise efficiency upon implementation. Captains are becoming reluctant to hire new staff and are forbidden from allowing overtime, so the employees are being bullied to pick up the pace which leads to more injuries. The fewer hours people get, the more in-house theft increases. It's getting to the point where crew is suspicious of earth other, killing cooperation and moral. Yet stores keep opening and profits keep climbing. Products are becoming less healthy and more gimmicky - basically we are an adult candy store.

Explore other reviews about Trader Joe's

5.0
Jun 8, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent work environment and team.

Cons

Might not be a con for some but the job requires you to spend a lot of time on your feet moving objects so not recommended if you have any injuries or ailments.

4.0
May 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Great way to meet people, socialize, and learn customer service -Always tasked with different things every hour -Friendly crew who will always help you to learn and get better at your job -Get a slight pay raise every 6 months -No outside commitments and amazing benefits if you work full time (about 28 hours a week for every 6 months) -Will take time, but find your friend group, stay with them and have fun, you can't please everybody -Care for your body, do not overdo it with physical labor, its a retail job and you only have one fragile body for yourself, get help or insist about your pains

Cons

-Not many, unless you are stuck in a bad store with bad management -I had some good luck of working in 3 great stores, so YMMV -Sometimes can get cliquey like you are back in high school -Getting promoted up to store management may involve buttering up and being a "yes-person" -Care for your body, do not overdo it with physical labor, its a retail job and you only have one fragile body for yourself, get help or insist about your pains

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