A Place Full of Empty Promises but otherwise good. - Photo Lab Supervisor CVS Health Employee Review

3.0
Jun 6, 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

CVS tends to pay its employees well compared to other retailers. Employees get a fair discount of retail merchandise (30% of CVS Brand and CVS Exclusive Items/ 20% Other non-prescription, non-sale items). Full-time employees get stock options and health care benefits, paid vacation and sick time. Computer and register systems are easy to use and understand. New PhotoTouch Systems help the Photo Lab to run smooth, keep track of customer information, keep track of various reports (Budgets, Waste Accountability, Up-sell Percentages, Production Logs etc). Employees are often recognized for excellent customer service by being awarded various Gift Cards (depends on store). Employees are encouraged to make their own decisions on transactions under $10 when it comes to customer service but are also encouraged to ask for help when needed.

Cons

Corporate has promised my location a new photolab for three years now. We are still running on an outdated Analog Machine and old Kodak G3 Units. Thus far they have given us three final roll-out dates as to construction for the new lab and two of those dates have already passed. There tends to be a lack of communication between management. Upper management tends to be overworked and when one approaches a DM about an issue with a manager you are most likely going to be told to go speak to your manager (DM's offer no insight or help even though you are encouraged to talk to them if you are uncomfortable talking with in-store management). CVS often tends to be short-staffed so Photo Lab Supervisors are often cashiers who happen to work in and be in charge of the photo lab. Thus most cashiers and supervisors are over-worked. PLS also have management abilities when it comes to register functions (can do approvals) and since they are often the lowest ranking management they are often called away from other tasks to answer management calls. This often tends to lead to a PLS who spends no time in the Photo Lab where they belong. Health Care packages have also been cut and now are absolutely horrible.

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5.0
Jun 12, 2026
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CEO approval
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Pros

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Cons

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5.0
Dec 13, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I learned a lot working there as far as how to run a business as well as how to develop a team. I had one of the most successful teams in the company ranking as the top store year over year in two separate markets, one in the Northeast one in the Southeast. I was a paragon winner with the company as well. My most recent DM was very supportive. I genuinely thank them for the opportunity and the knowledge that I acquired while working with them.

Cons

Work hours were excessive. To be successful hours worked were borderline slavery. While I willingly worked them to be successful, the week you didn't you were immediately behind. Vacations were almost non existent due to constant visitors from corporate stopping in to do reviews. Holiday weeks were paid 4 days regular 1 holiday and you worked all 5. The facade of the stores looking great when these people stop by versus the reality of the business is polarizing. There were always teams of people and excessive expenditures of payroll thrown into stores prior to their visits. While I understood the need to make an appearance, it was always will always be a backwards way off thinking. Company preaches quality of life for their clients while quality of life for their employees is non-existent. As a "manager" in your average store you will be "managing" a total of one person during your shift, with a total of 10 people at location. Location open hours will exceed total payroll hours ie Sun-Sat 7am-10pm = 15hrs per day x 7 days x 2 people = 210 hrs which excludes the need to have a person unload deliveries that come in during non opened hours. Your budgeted hours will be approximately 208 hrs. I will only mention that during the month of December that there are extended hours for the stores but no budgeted hours to accommodate. Stores are held to strict shrink targets with little to no control over external theft. Remember 2 people at location, if four people enter to steal there is nothing you can do to stop them. These are facts not personal prejudices.

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