Pros

We get free samples of things on a fairly regular basis. However, this does not make up for other problems, which are huge issues at the company.

Cons

Incompetent managers, low pay, belitting employees by doing things like creating "naughty lists" of everyone and forwarding them to the entire department and the higher-ups are just some of the problems at Supervalu HQ. Supervalu has created an entire corporate culture in which people are focused on staying off these "naughty lists". There are, as others on this site have mentioned, ongoing communications problems within the company. Everything is done in inefficient circles. In fact, "circle back" is a popular catch phrase within the company. I kid you not.

Everyone always has to prove that what they say is true. No one is ever believed without having some form of proof, unless you are in upper management, of course. Our word means NOTHING to these people. They basically assume that everything we say is a lie unless we can prove otherwise. We have to have signed copies of EVERYTHING just to prove that we did what we were told. You also have to archive every single e-mail just so you can prove that you did your job, repeatedly. This company uses e-mail like some teenagers use instant text messages, so you can get anywhere from 20-50 e-mails a day. This goes for permanent employees, as well as temps, so it's not just a temp thing. If you're not in the higher echelons of management, you are treated like dirt.

Let's see. When management can't fix their mistakes, they eventually fall onto the lap of us peons to deal with. By that time, usually too much time has passed to do much about it anyway.

The banners frequently call us and give us push back for doing what we have been told to do by our managers. All we peons are able to do is to do what we are told, and nothing else, and we still get a pile of crap for it at the end of the day.

Management is too focused on who is on the naughty list of the week, rather than how to fix problems without pointing fingers at people. Problems just get forwarded on to the next person to deal with until they wind up on the lap of the lowest rung employees.

Employee morale is quite low. Most people are too busy looking for better jobs to care about what is happening at Supervalu. Turnover is fairly high. The only real motivation we have is to continue getting a pay check.

Oh, and the company never fires anyone for incompetence, only failing to show up or sexual harassment. Incompetence is rewarded by incompetent people getting to keep their job for years. So if you are incompetent and are good at finding someone to blame, you may do well at Supervalu. However, stay away if you are competent.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop treating your employees like paid slaves or prisoners. Show a little respect for those who have been around at least a year. Pay them better. Also, weed out the incompetent people. Firing people who repeatedly make mistakes is what companies are supposed to do, not keep them around for years and years.