Big Y Foods Reviews

Pros

Excellent benefits
Flexible scheduling, time off whenever you need it
Open to new ideas, and constantly implementing more efficient procedures
Free membership in the Silver Savings Club, along with employee discounts

Cons

Education does not guarantee success here.
Constant evolution of procedures often results in back-tracking.
It is clear that those "in charge" have not worked on store level for quite some time, especially when they "script" certain customer interactions.

Advice to Senior Management

Please respect the education level of your employees, know and appreciate all of their resources, as they are yours as well. You do a great job at creating a community culture on both a store level and company-wide, take this into consideration when promoting from within.

Pros

If you are lucky, the people you work with can be great, very flexible schedule when it comes to availability and going to school, great first job for high school students.

Cons

FAVORITISM, if you don't get in with the "in crowd" you might as well quit, promotions are only given to those that the csm's like and shifts are only awarded to the ones that are considered there fellow clique. It's very difficult to achieve much from working there besides a head ache from the lack of knowledge from certain csm's and the different approaches everyone wants to take to handle situations. It's as though everyone wants to impress and prove themselves, but there is no one to impress because the management is too busy hiding in their offices or making you feel dumb for asking them a question. Very rarely are there compliments given out to the employees and there is a lack of cooperation when it comes to the different departments that make up Big Y. When new employees are hired they always seem to hire students instead of hiring those who actually need the jobs. When school comes around they find themselves understaffed "shooting themselves in the foot." Overall i would only recommend this job for students going through school or those that just want a hobby.

Advice to Senior Management

I would highly recommend that the managers and different departments get on the same page as far as what it takes to run this company. Also the favoritism needs to end so that those who are working hard can get the compliments and promotions they deserve. Scheduling could be worked on as well.

Pros

employee discount
flexible schedules for students

Cons

you will never go anywhere in this company, unless you are part of the "incrowd or related to a manager" when i was hired 3 years i was promised all kinds of growth, i am trained in many areas of the store, but i keep seeing relatives of mangers being promoted or worse someone from outside you train, most jobs not posted for current employees to even apply and next thing you know someone from off the street is in, because of who they know. UNFAIR

Advice to Senior Management

Take care of your current employees, they are what make your company successful. there is alot great people that work for your company

Pros

They're great about requesting time off. If you request a day off, no matter what time of year, it will be approved. They do encourage and help you to cross train if you aren't happy in your department.

Cons

Management is so disrespectful towards employees, particularly on the front end. If an honest mistake is made, you'll never stop hearing about it. Nothing is ever said to your face, but you always hear about slander going on behind your back. The place is like a high school, cliques and drama and all. The pay is terrible. Managers play favorites. Not just department managers, store managers as well. I wouldn't recommend working here to anyone.

Advice to Senior Management

Management needs to get to know employees better. Give hard-working employees a shot at advancement, even if they aren't one of the "favorites."

Pros

employee discounts on food
very sociable atmosphere
no time clock to punch in or out-honor system
let leave work early alot of times and you still get paid for the full 8 hours

Cons

Downsizing-hundreds got laid off;less help and more work for all
Managers hide in their offices all day on a computer
Managers look down on employees
very low once a year raise

Advice to Senior Management

Review your managers and just because they been there along time doesn't mean they are good at what they do

Pros

Ok hours, decent pay raise

Cons

The dress code is freakin unnecessary. Why is a tie, black dress pants, or black dress shoes crucial when honestly the customer won't care about any of those things just as long as they get their order?

Advice to Senior Management

Try not to be such nazis with the dress code. Why should I wear a tie when 2/3 of it is covered by an apron?

Pros

good first job, get treated very well. would recommend for anyone looking to get in the door at a good local company

Cons

lousy pay raises if you have to actually make a living. not a whole lot of cons to tell ya the truth

Advice to Senior Management

Better raises, maybe not as much looking down on the front end employees and their competence as employees. not much to say tho.

Pros

They will cross train, and they do have benefits for both part and full timers.

Cons

Rotating schedules constantly and very reluctant to upgrade to full time, good for high school or college students.

Advice to Senior Management

Show appreciation for hard work and be clear on what is wanted/required.

Pros

benefits, non-union, co-workers, and employee perks

Cons

the salaries and some of the customers

Advice to Senior Management

higher salaries

Pros

-Management is hit or miss. There were some really great managers and some terrible ones.
-Silver coin employee discount.
-They allow and encourage you to change departments if you're unsatisfied.

Cons

-No choice between cashier and service clerk. If you're at this level, you're both.
-Some terrible management.
-Mindless work.
-Not enough promotion opportunities, even for the best cashiers. Seems like promotions are based heavily on favoritism.
-Have to sell random items at checkout.

Advice to Senior Management

Cashiers asking customers if they'd like to buy a tub of sprinkles at checkout is annoying for both parties. Either increase the quality of the items pushed at checkout or do away with the program. Do a better job of recognizing talent and rewarding it.