In Safeway in order to get ahead, it comes down to "who you know", not "what you know".
Pros
It is a big company with a lot of clout with their vendors. Your annual doctor visits for routine preventative care is 100% paid for. You can get a new pair of glasses every year. Challenging work.
Cons
There seems to be a pattern of annual downsizing every January for the past five years. Safeway doesn't have a policy to try to hire from within. As a result when outsiders enter the company they tend to bring with them the people they know and use to work with. There is also a wage freeze every couple of years. There is no 401K matching, in order to get reduced health care premiums you must subject yourself to testing and pass: weight/BMI, nicotine, blood glucos, cholesteral, blood pressure. All good tests, but I don't like my employer having this information.
