So glad to be done. - Anonymous employee Trader Joe's Employee Review

1.0
17 Sept 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

If you like to keep busy, it's that kind of place. I like being busy and not having to hunt for things to do. It used to be pay raises came fairly often, so if you worked there for five years or more, you probably make better money than most comparable jobs. Benefits used to come with 21 hours a week, but it's recently been raised to 30, which is still ok.

Cons

1. Serious age bias. 2. Backstock packed so tight that doing your job safely can be an issue. 3. If you do get hurt, expect a long workers comp run, because Trader Joes doesn't support light duty. 4. In recent years, you'll never be given time to finish any task, so if you're really motivated to finish, you'll have to hurt yourself to do it. 5. Disorganized, sloppy, inconsistent training. 6. Depending on the management and store, a lot of favoritism or gossip. Sometimes it's just Good Ole Boy style. 6. Expect your managers to drink on the job. Some have tastings, others have "tastings." 7. Passive aggressive harassment to misery an undesired employee to quit rather than firing them.

Explore other reviews about Trader Joe's

5.0
8 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Excellent work environment and team.

Cons

Might not be a con for some but the job requires you to spend a lot of time on your feet moving objects so not recommended if you have any injuries or ailments.

4.0
27 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Great way to meet people, socialize, and learn customer service -Always tasked with different things every hour -Friendly crew who will always help you to learn and get better at your job -Get a slight pay raise every 6 months -No outside commitments and amazing benefits if you work full time (about 28 hours a week for every 6 months) -Will take time, but find your friend group, stay with them and have fun, you can't please everybody -Care for your body, do not overdo it with physical labor, its a retail job and you only have one fragile body for yourself, get help or insist about your pains

Cons

-Not many, unless you are stuck in a bad store with bad management -I had some good luck of working in 3 great stores, so YMMV -Sometimes can get cliquey like you are back in high school -Getting promoted up to store management may involve buttering up and being a "yes-person" -Care for your body, do not overdo it with physical labor, its a retail job and you only have one fragile body for yourself, get help or insist about your pains

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