Pros
Can learn a lot about how to successfully (and unsuccessfully) make good business decisions when it comes to running a smaller store. Relatively easy to learn ins and outs of day to day store operations for those interested in running their own grocery store one day. Co-workers tend to be friendly and usually work well as a team. Most managers take pride in their work and try to be fair to other employees. You will walk away with a good work ethic if you choose to stay with the business. Hours can be flexible, and requesting time off (with reasonable heads-up) will usually be granted. Area is very safe and customers tend to be relatively friendly. Direct deposit payment method is offered. Schedule and some communication is done on the Homebase App (not payroll).
Cons
Extremely uncompetitive pay and benefits. Owners rely on secrecy so others won’t speak up about unfair pay or lack of bonuses. For example, owners have repeatedly asked to not share personal compensation with other employees in one-on-one conversations. Starting pay is minimum wage. Department lead starts (seemingly) at $18.50/hr. Store manager makes approx. $22.00/hour (this is the highest position). Owners will progressively try to stack more work or responsibility on employees without wage increases. Apparent lack of communication with co-owners (married couple) that creates tension and unnecessary difficulty for employees. Biggest obstacle to doing any task at this job tends to be one of the owners. Department leads have a weekly check-in on their department’s performance. This isn’t a con by itself, but it was discovered through fact-checking that the owners either lie or consistently misinterpret data for their assessment of certain departments. This causes frustration and undue need for improvements in areas that are actually meeting or exceeding standards. This may even “justify” their lack of raises (but there is no direct evidence of that). One owner is very ‘by the book’ and the other owner is not. This goes hand in hand with the previously mentioned lack of communication between them. One can easily find themself in a position where completing a task by one owner’s standards lands you in hot-water with the other owner.
