Under Their Thumbs - Customer Service Representative Stericycle Employee Review

2.0
20 Nov 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I worked part-time at one of their call centers for five months. Pay was $10.00 an hour, with no promise of a raise. On the plus side, they offer part-timers paid-timed off (PTO) after they survive the 90-day probationary period. If you have some phone service and computer skills, you will likely be hired. My interview was pretty basic, with some questions about how I would handle problem callers and answering one call after another. Nothing hard. The workers and some of the supervisors were great; my trainer was excellent. I enjoyed the classes, but we weren't given enough training before we were on the phones -- we had maybe a week. I failed a call -- got a zero -- on my first day because I was nervous trying to follow all of the steps and strict call protocols. We handled scheduling, rescheduling, and cancellation of patients' appointments for doctor's offices. We also handled billing calls and processing bill payments. For those looking for hours, it was busy, with opportunities to gain hours; many part-timers accrued 30 hours per week. Workers who score well regularly can mentor beginning reps. Other high-scorers are chosen to be recorded by the company as examples for their great service. Reps. who scored highly would get stars they could tape to a "Wow" board, and then have the opportunity to win extra cash in their paychecks. We could also win prizes.

Cons

Part-timers' schedules were carefully structured, so they couldn't take lunch breaks -- they wanted as many reps. on the floor at once. We were allowed up to 15 min. for bathroom breaks, and 10 min. breaks. Except for hard candy, food and eating weren't allowed at desks. Water was fine. This one was the strictest call center I've worked at regarding work procedures. Reps. had to closely follow strict scripts and protocols, which often changed. We couldn't say certain words, such as "files," which allegedly would have bad connotations to callers. A few calls each week were scored for Quality Assurance, and we had regular meetings. Their rules were pretty arcane, and I suspect they changed them frequently to control everyone, and because corporations like this one care more about earnings than employees' well-being. This isn't a job for those with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) -- my OCD worsened from all of the "stressure." I dreaded coming to work, and covered my computer clock to get through every shift. If you're strong mentally and can bear the rules, you'll survive. If you're sensitive and prone to nervousness, stay away. It's somewhat ironic that we served patients, when some of the workers could easily become patients. When I left five months later, only one worker among the five in my original training class remained.

avatar
Stericycle Response
10y
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with all that feedback. We’re sorry to hear that your experiences in the call center were not what you hoped, but please know that Stericycle values all of the hard work our Team Members put in to make this company successful. As an employer, we seek to make Team Members’ experiences as enriching as possible. Each position at Stericycle offers its own set of growth-promoting challenges in order to promote Team Member engagement and loyalty. Inspired Team Members are the backbone of this company’s progress, and we take every opportunity to grow and improve, not only as a company but also as an employer.

Explore other reviews about Stericycle

5.0
25 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great teamwork, engagement and collaboration

Cons

None that I can think of right now

avatar
Stericycle Response
4mo
Thank you for taking the time to share this! We’re so glad to hear that your experience here has been a good one. It’s feedback like yours that reminds us why creating a workplace where people feel respected, supported, and proud of what they do is so important. We're grateful to have you on the team.
2.0
1 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I worked alongside a team that was consistently supportive and always willing to make time to answer questions, which made a meaningful difference in my day-to-day experience. There was a real sense of collaboration, and having people who were approachable and dependable made it much easier to navigate a fast-paced, high-volume sales environment. It helped create a bit of stability and camaraderie even during more demanding or repetitive parts of the role. Overall, it was a company operating as a leader in the space, which added to the scale and pace of the experience

Cons

This was my experience working at Shred-it, which is a subsidiary of Stericycle.If you’ve ever wondered what zero autonomy feels like, this is your spot. The day was a nonstop loop of cold calls, cold walk-ins, and more cold calls, with a mandatory “smile and dial” every morning. On the Shred-it team selling waste bins, it often felt like creativity and independent thinking were… safely shredded. Management could be extremely hands-on to the point of micromanagement, with frequent check-ins and scripted role-play scenarios that rarely reflected real conversations in the field. Communication style could come across as condescending or patronizing at times, especially on team calls, which made for an uncomfortable environment when feedback felt more critical than constructive.

avatar
Stericycle Response
2mo
We really appreciate you taking a moment to reflect and share your journey with us. I’m sorry things haven’t gone as smoothly as they should, but your feedback is valuable and helps us make the improvements needed to create a better, more supportive place for everyone.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All