Safeway reviews

3.1

40% would recommend to a friend

(10,564 total reviews)
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Susan Morris

23% approve of CEO

31% positive business outlook

Safeway has an employee rating of 3.1 out of 5 stars, based on 10,564 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Safeway employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

11K reviews
2.0
Jul 3, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The Union sets rules that keep corporate/management from outright abusing their employees. We also get health benefits. A lot of co-workers make great friends and become "part of your family," in a way.

Cons

We work way too hard for too little pay. Managers frequently give terrible schedules, either cutting everyone's hours or flipping people's daily hours around so they have to keep changing their sleep schedule multiple times a week. Technology is outdated and frequently breaks or glitches, causing stress for both employees and customers. Safeway keeps pushing the whole "world class service" but makes it difficult for employees to deliver when there aren't enough people scheduled and all the customers are yelling at us because they have to wait in line. If customers become verbally abusive, management often solves the problem by giving them free stuff (and occasionally berating the employees). We are often given conflicting orders and get chewed out by someone no matter what we do. Morale is low and people frequently call in sick or quit.

2.0
Jun 22, 2014

Don't waste your time.

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You get paid once a week.

Cons

Over worked, underpaid, and unappreciated. Also a lot of favoritism.

3.0
Jun 11, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The great things about Safeway is if you have good management they will work around your school, kids, etc. schedule. You get paid vacations (1 week after 1 year, 2 after 2, 3 after 5), and benefits for yourself with 16 hours per week or your family with 20 hours per week (pay and benefits can vary depending on which union you belong to). It is difficult to lose your job because you have the union to back you up. Grocery business is strong regardless of economy conditions, so job security is good. Advice to future employees: if you plan on working with the company for a few years become a checker or back-up checker, checker scale gets you a better rate of pay than helper clerk or most department positions.

Cons

You often have to work weekends, evenings, and holidays. It can be very difficult to get 40 hours per week regularly (unless you are a department manager). Can be wearing on your body (repetitive movements, lifting). The uniform is not attractive or comfortable. You have sick-pay but cannot use it unless you are ill for 3 consecutive scheduled work days or in the hospital.

Viewing 412 - 414 of 10,564 Reviews

Glassdoor has 10,872 Safeway reviews submitted anonymously by Safeway employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Safeway is right for you.