pharmacien

cashier

assistant technique en pharmacie

deli associate

pharmacist

Safeway

Pros:

-Coworkers are generally pretty nice and helpful. They are what makes the job bearable.

-Most customers are kind people and the really friendly ones can make your day. It's nice to have people genuinely smile at you.

-It's unionized.

-Always hiring, even in the bad economy. They will literally take anyone. If you're in dire straits, then you can work for minimum wage and not freeze to death while you wait for even McDonalds or Walmart to give you a call.

Cons:
Where to begin... long rant ahead.

-Training was awful. They sent me to a store 20km away from the store I was to be employed at, which was ridiculous. The trainer was a nasty sexiest woman who took pleasure in knocking people down and then kicking them while they were down there. She only critiqued women who were training (particularly overweight women) and either ignored questions or got angry when you did ask. She wanted people to jump in with only a minute or two maximum of instruction, but if people made mistakes, she chewed them out. All-in-all, it was a miserable experience to be involved in. There were times I felt like throwing my uniform in the trash and quitting in a fantastical manner and this was only the first week. It got worse from here.
--You get treated much the same in your store (although your supervisor is unlikely to be as bad as the cruel egomaniacs that they have who do the training), only you're expected to do much more without ever asking for guidance.

-They expect you to know everything very early on (think within ten minutes of your first training day) and to not make any mistakes or inconvenience people by asking for assistance, particularly one-on-one assistance.

-They tell you to ask questions when you need help, but often times they ignore you.

-You work on your own very early on which is incredibly stressful

-The pay is terrible, there are no benefits, and the hours are really long.

-It hurts to be on your feet all day.

-Company rules and policies about things like earrings and other piercings, tattoos, hair colour, scruff and beards, social media, etc. are ridiculous and outdated. Having to believe in the brand without ever critically discussing it is incredibly wrong. No wonder safeway is losing tons of customers to Walmart.

-The store and breakroom are outdated; the lockers are all busted (and thus there are no safe places to store valuables), there are no windows, the chairs are uncomfortable, small and crowded fridge, etc.

-Management uses secret shoppers which is a really nasty thing to do, particularly to new employees who are just learning. I've seen people sobbing in the washroom from this treatment. It sucks to tell them about this practice that the company denies but clearly does. Most of these people quit within a month which results in extremely high rates of turnover and resulted in even more stress.

-Mean customers who act like you exist to wait on them hand, foot, and finger. Thankfully this is rare; you might get one person like this out of fifty during an eight hour shift.

-The store is dirty; greasy floors in the deli area (so bad that I almost slipped even with brand new non-skid shoes with grip tape on them) with tons of garbage on them and on the counters. Handwashing and proper glove procedure is rarely enforced and when you inadvertently make a hygiene mistake (which could have been prevented with proper reinforcement early on) that someone notices, they will be harsh in their treatment of you, be it a know-it-all customer or lazy supervisors who pick that one moment to humiliate you in front of others.

-They throw out a ton of food and keep the ovens on 24/7 which is terrible for the environment. No matter what I said, they were never willing to look at alternatives.

-Things were very disorganized. The clock in machine rejected people half the time, the schedule varied like crazy, there were always either too many or too few people working. There were never enough medium and large sized gloves. Breaks tended to be at random times and varied from shift to shift. Always tons of turnover which makes keeping up hard. Can't see the labels on the products which means that people who don't or can't memorize what products look like constantly have to ask customers for help which can be very annoying for them.

-This is petty, but the uniform is ugly and uncomfortable. I got a rash from where the seam rubbed my shoulder.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working at this company for me is that, as my first job since immigrating, it has helped me get more comfortable with the new community and build connections, since there are many customers and coworkers at the workplace. It has also helped me become familiar with the work culture and routines in this new society.


What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The onboarding process was not conducted in a complete and transparent way. While the general onboarding was acceptable thanks to a series of videos on the company’s platform, the role-specific onboarding for the position I was hired for was incomplete and unclear. In my experience, I was placed next to a senior team member without being told how long the training period would last, and I was expected to learn by observing their work. After about a week, I was expected to take full responsibility and handle all tasks like a senior, including knowing all procedures, food names, and workflows. The department manager was constantly busy and did not dedicate any time to formally introduce or support the new hire. Based on my experience, the weak role-specific onboarding has been accompanied by a focus on mistakes rather than recognizing the efforts made to perform tasks correctly.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Based on my experience, the company demonstrates diversity in its hiring practices, and people generally treat each other with respect. However, one of the weaknesses in our department is that management does not communicate feedback or expectations directly with team members in a professional setting. Instead, these messages are conveyed through others, which can lead to misunderstandings and unnecessary tension in the workplace. Additionally, the way shifts are assigned means that, as a new employee, you are often scheduled for only closing shifts for several months. I don’t have experience with other departments, so I can’t comment on how things are handled there.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
A typical day for me starts by entering the department and asking the supervisor or coworkers what tasks need to be done. Sometimes there’s a list available, and if not, I begin by checking which products are out of stock and start preparing new ones. While preparing items, I also assist customers, who may place orders for meals, sandwiches, or deli products. Some days are busier than others in terms of customer flow. From around 7 p.m. onward, I start getting ready for closing. Depending on how the tasks are divided, I’m responsible for closing either the front or back of the department along with another team member. Since we are required to finish closing by 11 p.m., there have been multiple occasions when both I and my senior colleagues have had to skip our breaks to ensure everything gets done on time.

If I'm opening up (at 5:00 am), all items that have an expiry date as of the next day (ie. today is the 5th, the expiry date on product is the 6th), are to be removed and 'distressed' (which means that they will be either thrown out or composted) and then marked with a reduced price of 50% for consumers to purchase. These reduced products are put out for half a day and then either thrown out or composted. Removing all 'expired' bakery goods and marking them with a reduced price takes approximately 2 hours. The hearth oven breads are taken out and displayed for purchase in the 'hut'. Once the reduced items have been dealt with and the 'hut' has been set up, the morning baked goods (bagels, french breads & muffins) are cooled enough to package and put out. This takes approximately half and hour to an hour. While these items are being packaged and put out, I'm also serving/assisting customers. After the morning baked goods have been taken care of, bread needs to be sliced and put out. A second worker usually starts about 8:30/9:00 am, at which time I would take my first break of 1/2 hour (this is considered my lunch break because I would punch out and then punch back in). After the lunch break, it would be packaging, slicing or assisting customers. Also would be taking cake orders or writing on cakes. Once all the packaging has been done, would assist wherever needed.

If doing a closing shift (11:30 am to 8:00 pm), the main job would be slicing, packaging, and stocking bread while serving and assisting customers. Slicing bread is approximately a 3-hour job. After the bread has been dealt with, assisting with any other baked goods that require packaging and stocking. The closer is usually on their own by 5:30 pm and then starts the clean-up. Clean-up entails removing any of the hearth oven breads for slicing and packaging. The 'hut' is wiped down as well as the slicers. The bagel bins are compressed and the bagel trays are washed and dried. The bun bins are then compressed and also wiped down. The majority of donuts are packaged and put out and the donut case is then wiped/washed. The floors are swept and the garbage is taken out just before leaving. While doing the above, customers are the first priority and must be served. All items that need to be done, is done in between serving/assistance customers.

Sometimes the most difficult part of the job is trying to get all the cleaning done when there are a lot of customers to assist. Organizing and multi-tasking is a feature that is used quite frequently. My co-workers and I work very well together. We cover each other and try to make sure that all areas are taken care of.

I enjoy the multi-tasking and trying to 'juggle' every aspect of the duties required. I'm happy when there is a lot of work to do and have no problem with having to work by myself and try and get things done. I enjoy serving/assisting people. It makes me feel useful and appreciated.

You punch in, get your paper work and keys, get your truck, hook up to a trailer and deliver the skids to the various stores in Calgary and the surrounding area.  Usually a driver will do a 2-4 trailers a night.   Most of the shifts are afternoons, 4pm until 1am.
The work is generally clean, most stores have power jacks and most stores have great people whom you get to know and like.   The driving is generally local and there are postings for out of town and over night runs but it takes time to get those postings.   Its generally 5 days on and 2 off, some get 4 on and 3 off.   
I found the work generally mundane and that I was under utilized.  Its a pretty good gig if you don't want a challenge, to advance or work hard.   The union contract pays time and a half after 8 hrs, double after 10 and double on call ins.  Over time and call ins are very rare in an effort to slash expenses.
The management was challenging to work with.   I don't think they have much education or training, a lot of people worked up from entry level jobs and scored the opportunity by being at the right place at the right time.  They are great people if they like you.   However I have had the chance to work with well educated industry leaders and I feel there is a lot left to be desired in this aspect of the company.
The co-workers are mainly senior citizens, close to retirement.  I had the chance to meet many good people and make a few good friends too.  There are some fantastic guys there and some not so fantastic. The median age is probably around 50.   I think there were 3 guys under 40.  About 30-40+ guys over 40.   So a good place for older, near retirement age people.  I felt my co-workers and management were generally condescending towards me.
The most difficult parts of the job are the toxic culture and office politics.  As well as unspecified goals and no positive feedback.  Its generally a very negative place and the city drivers are treated terribly.  Its never good enough, fast enough, smart enough.  Yet there are no specific targets or objectives for people to reach for.  There is no incentive structure here either.   I've found most successful companies have at least some kind of incentive and post some objectives clearly.   Not here.
The most enjoyable parts of the job were the steady and predictable hours.  Everyone gets paid for the hours that they work which is only fair as some companies try to play games with drivers pay.   I enjoyed being busy as it made the shifts go fast and getting to talk to people at the stores or at the warehouses.   Being isolated as a long haul highway driver can be difficult so having some social interaction was good.
The company, in my own opinion, is at a cross roads.  Its been bought up by Sobeys and they are looking at out sourcing the transportation unit to a third party, most likely Canada Cartage.  The future looks very unsure to say the least.

I worked at Safeway over a yea ago, but feel a pressing urge to say something about my experience. I will never forget what I was told on my very first shift: "oh you seem really positive! That'll change, don't worry." While I was offended by this, the employee wasn't wrong. Surrounded by such a negative environment, I genuinely felt my mental health distinguishing. I felt somehow obligated to carry the heaviness of everyone else in the department, pushing for positivity and optimism throughout the workday, when no one else would. But shouldn't that be the face employees are expected to wear for customers? The people who by the product a worker sells should be greeted by pleasant people who actually would like to help them, and no one can say that that doesn't exist, because I was so frequently told that "its nice to see someone smiling here for a change." I discovered that something as little as remembering a regular customers order, or even their name can completely change their attitude. I just think that before an employee complains about the demeanor of a customer, they should first ask themselves if they are giving the customer reason to feel joy. I remember hearing a coworker say "I won't serve you until you're off your phone." to a customer that was obviously having to take an important phone call. While even I can admit that a distracted customer can be aggravating, I don't think that as employees we have the right to decide who is served, especially when we don't know what the situation is. I wont sugar coat it- it was bad. I pretended like it wasn't for the purpose of proving their negativity wrong, but I can't rest it all on them. Something corrupted them all into their sad, melancholic mindset, and I think that lies with management. I worked there for nearly a year, and never once was introduced to or even given the name of any of the store managers. It really made me feel like an undervalued employee, because I pushed so hard to change the environment of the workplace, and sometimes I even cracked smiles or laughter. But it was entirely unrecognized, as I'm not sure that my managers actually knew I was even employed (I was hired by someone who was stepping in for a manager who was away). I quit Safeway the day before a shift, and i genuinely feel so much guilt towards that. However, I had reached my breaking point and suddenly couldn't even think about putting myself in that environment for another second. This isn't a cry for reconciliation, but merely a suggestion (or multiple) on how things could change for the better.

Well... I worked for Safeway for 10 long years. The first year as a lowly courtesy clerk was alright. The next 4 however slowly deteriorated from alright to unpleasant to thank god I'm moving. As a courtesy clerk I was pushing carts, bagging groceries, helping customers, sweeping, cleaning up spills, and removing graffiti from bathroom stalls with hairspray, That was an interesting learning experience as hairspray actually breaks up ink and stuff! And of course cleaning bathrooms and the lunch room, and garbage's I got paid a maximum of $13.50 up from $11.17 in those five years. The 'benefits' were only available to people working 30 hours for 13 weeks on average. I got those benefits about 5 times. The benefits themselves started out decent. I got an air miles employee card which gave me just under 4000 air miles, that is until they stopped giving air miles as a benefit. Safeway benefits in my experience are not very good. Medical is a huge pain to try to use. Dental too. And that's about it. Other than pension of course. After I moved, I ended up working for Safeway again for 4 3/4 years. A new store, new people. It was so much better.. The atmosphere in that store was positive, and friendly. The work culture was very good. Not too serious. Staff could sing, joke, laugh. It was great! Mostly. In those years I was paid more than ever! Friends were to made everywhere too. The hardest part of working for Safeway as a courtesy clerk was doing the carts. The winters were brutal as there were 2-3 feet of snow. But those carts needed to be done. The hardest part in the last few years was learning all of the positions in the store. I was here, there, and everywhere. It really depends on the store. I would recommend working for Safeway as a survival job. But some end up working there for 30-50 years. It depends on the person I guess. In both stores the management was rather unorganized. Also the managers should be trained better in diplomacy, tact, and in a manner that doesn't create too much ego in the management trainee. If you get hired and like it then awesome! If not there's other opportunities out there. I myself wouldn't work there again, unless there wouldn't be any other choice. So there ya have it. My stellar, and amazing, spectacular, and totally rad review of Safeway.

I enjoyed working as a courtesy clerk at Safeway.
I was kept busy throughout the day doing multiple tasks 
from cashier, stocking shelves, unloading pallets, display ends, price checks, bringing in carts, cleaning and helping customers find the products that they're looking for and answering questions.
I struggle with anxiety on a daily basis but I decided that one day I wanted to step up and put myself out of my own comfort zone in hopes that I can improve and learn how to over come my anxiety.
It took some time but I adapted well to the surroundings, I always greeted customers with a smile and tried to provide the best service that I can. I would say that working at Safeway has helped me overcome my anxiety and Iv'e became more confident in myself.
The Managers, supervisors, employees and the other clerks where very friendly and made me feel welcomed. Although there is only one thing that Iv'e had difficulties with and that was bringing in the carts during winter season. I was called in almost everyday to cover other peoples shifts "which I didn't mind." I was the only female clerk on the team at the time. When the store got busy during the winter, I was the one to bring in all the carts by myself and the parking lot wasn't paved very often. The store got so busy during Christmas rush and other days when they had sales.Every time I brought all the carts inside thinking  "okay carts are good now" then looking to see that they 're all outside again, Non stop. Iv'e almost collapsed one day, I was only given a 15 minute break. Then I was back out there again because I was the only clerk available. The only thing I would recommend is that during winter season or any season, that Safeway should have at least 2 clerks minimum on the floor because a clerk has a lot of responsibility's or look into purchasing a machine that makes bringing in carts easier like the one Walmart has. The most enjoyable part of working at Safeway was meeting new people and greeting customers. "A smile goes a long ways and it can really make anyone day.' I liked being kept busy throughout my work shift with multiple tasks and challenges.

A typical day at work would be, you punch in and you're already dressed in the Deli Clerk attire. You say hello to your fellow workers, wash your hands and put on your plastic gloves. Right away you serve any customers that are tending to your service and fulfill any tasks that need to be completed within your shift. Its a long, busy but productive day filled with constant work; serving, cooking, cleaning, and keeping record of everything.
           
             I learned many things at Safeway, how to manage a workplace, to be sanitary in a workplace and to really master the art of customer service. You learn  how to work with other people, younger and older, and I was actually the youngest person working in the entire Safeway. I learnt how to record all of the prices, price tags, food, and sales counts and how to prepare different types of food. Service, sanitation, and team work are the 3 main subjects you deal with as a Safeway Deli clerk. Most of my co-workers were very kind, some were grumpy and they had their ups and downs like anyone else but at the end of the day you are there to work together as a team and learn to deal with each other and act like grown up adults.

            Without a doubt, the most difficult part of my job was memorizing hundreds of different codes for the food especially the salamis, and the salads. Also, having to wash and use, and re-wash materials got extremely repetitive and tiring but it was part of my job so I did it like anyone else. Ultimately, the most enjoyable part of my job was seeing the smiles on the faces of customers and the fact that they went home with what they wanted and carried a sense of satisfaction with them.

A typical day at work involved 2 15-minute paid breaks and a 30-minute unpaid lunch break. The beginning of my shift usually involved wrapping the meat that had not been wrapped and put out yet. At some point through out the day temperature logs would have to be taken. Constantly I would be checking how the meat shelves look, rearranging to make the products more presentable to customers. Near the end of the day, everyone else's shift is over, so it's just me. I would clean up the meat processing equipment as fast as possible, and then serve customers at the counter until 30 mins before closing. Then, I would close down the counter and store the products from the counter. One last check of the shelves and putting out any products in the backroom, and I was done.

I learned that some jobs have to happen, and some jobs can wait. When it's just you and you can't put the job on someone else, and you can't work overtime, you have to decide what's important and what can wait.

Management was very good in my case. My meat manager took great care in getting me lots of hours and even got me out to other stores. My store manager was out on the floor lots, and I saw him quite a few times.

My co-workers were fun to work with, which always made the work easier. You had to be able to take a joke though, and all of us could give it as well as we could take it.

The hardest part of the job was cleaning up, because I am a perfectionist and I always wanted everything to be as clean as possible. I would always take way too much time cleaning up, and then be rushed to do other jobs before closing down.

The most enjoyable part of the job was either chatting with my co-workers or with customers. When people are friendly with you, talking about the BBQ they're going to have with the steaks they're buying, it just makes it easier to do your job.

My biggest gripe with the deli management was that they often changed the schedule without notice, and often within 2-3 days of the shift that was changing. Since they have no way to view the schedule online, they wanted me to come into work as many times as possible simply to check the schedule. Another thing is that I saw many people get fired a few days before their probation period of 3 months was up.

I usually worked the night shift (3:30 - midnight), and sometimes I stayed an hour longer to get everything done. The management insisted on me clocking out on time, even if I was to work later because of unfinished things.

The night shift has another perk; you are left on your own from 9:00 until midnight, meaning I often did not have a chance to take my 15 and 30 minute breaks.

If you work a night shift on a day where one of the employees working before you isn't all that competent, you'll get left with all their work. The management expects everything to be done by you, no matter what, even if you have to pick up other people's slack and work an extra hour without pay.

Something else I forgot to mention is that if you do not have time to take your 30 minute break (which is unpaid, so you have to clock out) they will want you to clock out, even if you are working.

I found that since there were already too few people to finish all the things required, the workers would almost always sacrifice cleanliness. Despite there being signs everywhere that read "clean every 4 hours", they would usually only get cleaned once or twice a day.

When you did get a chance to have a break, they had free stale doughnuts from the bakery.

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