Absolutely one of the worst experiences of my professional career. - Forklift Operation Trader Joe's Employee Review

1.0
13 Oct 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Full Time hours and discout on food items.

Cons

I have to say I used to be a fan of Trader Joe's but after working in there distribution center in Stockton California for just a few weeks I came to realize how bad of a company they are. First off we have old outdated products being sent out to various stores from our "Order pickers" who take the online orders and send out. Salad's in the wharehouse are Never Rotated by the morning Shift crews and to save the company money the "Leads" Will actually send out expired or "last Day" products to various stores in hopes of saving costs. Trash is everywhere and Sometimes the food spilled in the back is not cleaned up for Days until the smell gets so bad or mold starts to grow. Food and produce is spilled over and over with no one taking ownership of what happens, accidents are prevalent almost on a Daly basis, workers are Not properly Trained on how to use equipment. When I first got hired there the agency stated there is No onsite training or management who can train new employees who come in. Basically if you say you "know" How to use the equipment, your hired with No background check, No references or No Equipment license. Rodents (mice & rats) are Everywhere and tearing into dry good, produce and boxes in the building. Some of the Rat traps are right above the food boxes with dead corpses stuck in those traps sometimes for days on end until they begin to smell. There is No leadership and employees basically do as they please, most take time in the break rooms and nothing gets done on the floor, pallets are dropped, damaged and Not safely moved with no shrink wrap. I have hundreds of photos I'm sending into the Business headquarters to try and get a response back on why the distribution center is ran this way, 90% of employees don't speak any English so when you need something done, there is a severe lack of communication. If you see this review, ask the management in the stores how carefully there products are sent to there stores for consumer use.

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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