Acme Markets is a simple job at first glance. You may run a cash register. Prepare baked goods. Cut fresh fruit. Trim and prepare various meats. Load and unload trailers. Break down pallets full of product onto u-frames and carts. Stock shelves. Clean up cardboard and trash. Bag groceries for customers. All of this to provide food stuffs and product to the general public. Your experiences with the company will greatly vary here depending if you are a corporate employee or a "unionized" meat or grocery one.
Acme Markets has a unspoken about commitment in being the standard in unprofessionalism. When you are hired by Acme Markets you not told what you are entitled to as far as your weekly hours. How your "part time" vacation(s) work. Your benefit package (health benefits take five years to get). Union dues and the entry fee. Worker rights and protections. What promotions are available and also what you are ultimately getting paid. Understand Acme Markets is a minimum wage employer. You will never make more then few dollars above the minimum wage, even with a full-time promotion your wages are heavily capped depending on "rated" and "unrated" positions throughout the stores and company.
Acme is the pinnacle of an entry level job, you are highly expendable though often kept regardless of your performance and attitude. You will find there are employees of Acme Markets with a number of years, who's wages are guaranteed to be significantly higher then yours along with promised
ProsHalf hour lunch, Two fifteen minute breaks, Benefits after five years, Vacation time increases with years of service.
ConsPoor inconsistent scheduling, Unprofessional, Takes five years to receive full medical benefits, Highly toxic work environment, Vacations can be denied and are not full days off for part time employees, Rampant harassment and bullying, Lack of proper promotions, Low wages.
This job was overall a great experience as a first job:
- They gave decent hours even though I was one of the younger employees. They tried their hardest to give consistent schedules. Every once in a while they would ask me to stay after my shift and work for regular pay, but they allowed to me deny the offer if I wished.
- I completely understand why the pay was so low. The store was small, the job title I started with required not skills at all, there were employees in the store who needed pay more than I did, etc. But if you are looking for a job with amazing monetary gain, this might be the wrong place. As a sophomore in High School, the experience of earning money with labor was better than anything I had ever done, the amount of money did not matter one bit. So this is a good first job. One of the benefits of working at Acme is a discount card. 4 months of a perfect attendance record and hard work and I never received this benefit. I will not go into detail, but if this ends up happening to you, take my advice: be assertive when bringing this up with management. I was firm, but I never really grilled management for this error and as a result, I just got the run-around of "call this number" and "ask this person."
- This was by far the greatest aspect of this job. I came into the store as a bagger, the entry-level position, and left as a fully trained cashier with a once a week position alongside it. After only just a week and half of working as a bagger, a fro
The only reason I worked here was because I needed a part time job while in school. It was close by to where I live and I could work after school. There is no future for new employees at Acme. I work in PA and the minimum wage is $7.25, which is virtually nothing, and I was started off at an hourly rate of $7.75. You receive a 25 cent raise every 6 months until you cap out at $12.50, after which your hourly rate cannot go up any further. You do not receive extra money for working Sundays, only holidays or overtime. Working more than 6 days in one week, over 35 hours in one week, or over 8 hours in one day is considered overtime, where you will get paid time and half. There is no set schedule which can be stressful. My hours are always different every week in the amount I get, what times I am scheduled, and what days I am scheduled. One week you may have 25 hours and the next you only have 10 and many times, at my store at least, is based off of whoever the person making the schedule likes more. They get more hours even though you might have more seniority, which is not how it is supposed to work. Almost all the people that have worked there long term, about 10 years or more, call it a prison and wish they did not have to work there constantly blurting out throughout the say "I hate this place." The work is not enjoyable or satisfying and is mindless. The only good thing about it is they have very good benefits since it is a union. However unless you are full time,
Management is awful and everyone gossips. Trust no one.
Seemed promising at first, i was in college at the time and the hiring managers said that i could change my schedule easily with my changing class schedule from semester to semester. That wasn't the case at all. I would inform my manager when my class schedule was set before i started classes and they would TELL ME i couldn't have off these times and days. They would always fight me about it, every semester. They would schedule me for times they knee i couldn't come in and would always call me 10 times if i could come in to cover a shift when they knew i was in class. I also got hurt at work, some things in the bakery freezer fell on me and everyone complained when i used the workman's cop for my doctor visits for it. Everyone knew about it and everyone i worked with told me i should stop because I'm costing the company too much money!!! I got hurt!! Everyone gossips, management encourages it to no end. I had a fellow employee (someone who i thought was a friend) "rat" on me to the store manager that i wasn't in class that day and could work but i was actually in between classes and went somewhere off campus to get food and i get reprimanded at work over it at my next shift. Not to mention everyone blames everyone else for their mistakes or when something bad happens, no one takes responsibility for anything they do! Also if it snows like a blizard be prepared to have to find a way into work when you get called in or else you'll never hear the end of it from not only your cow
Prosunion
ConsForced to work even if you clock out for a break or to leave, no paid vacation, no paid sick time, no growth, no pay increases, over worked, underpaid, call out and never hear the end of it
Ive been here for 3 years. Starting at 17 years old. It was very fun as it was my first job and i loved making money for myself. The coworkers are amazing. They were all kids around my age who make it very fun. Sometimes wed just joke around at night and do random things like ordering food together and just literally throwing cards around the store. But the more you work there, the more you see its not fun anymore. The problem is its repetitive, and not rewarding. Ive seen many turnover of kids working here. They work for around a month and they leave. Which i completely understand. Just after around 6 months ive felt the desire to find a new place. The management is not very good. Especially from corporate or higher ups that work there. Sometimes they pressure you to work more hours or they're way to serious about everything. Im a cashier and ive done carts, lifting things around the store, shelfing, very little customer service if they really needed me in that hour. When you ask for hours to be changed, youre lucky if its perfectly to how you want it. I would tell them over and over again that i wanted the schedule right. They would still find a way to get you mad about it. They say theyre flexible with hours but you work the same hours a lot. Or theyre so random you cant plan anything during the week. A computer mostly generates it for the scheduler. Even after 3 years however, the coworkers are still the same and great people ive worked this. So really i stuck around just
ProsFun coworkers, relaxed night hours
ConsHours, management, stress, repetitive, not rewarding, not flexible hours, boring
I've worked at ACME for 11 years before the new manager took over after the previous one retired. Ever since, the new manager has made the job much more stressful. He would constantly use micromanagement and would put pressure on you and demanded things get done with very limited amount of resources and time. I highly don't recommend working here as dealing with this new manager for three years nearly caused me to have a stroke. Because of him, I suffered and experienced my first panic attack. The work consisted usually of emptying the trash cans, filling up the registers with new bags and receipt tape, then cleaning the bathrooms. Once the manager came in, he would give me assignments to do that would usually consist of nearly impossible tasks that required manually hard labor with very limited resources. This would also coincide with my usual assignments given by my department manager. In the morning, most of the employees don't have the same work skills I have under my belt because they are disabled. So it's usually me doing most of the work such as pushing carts and cleaning while the disabled employees only bag groceries. Because of this, usually it was choosing one assignment over another due to time constraints. Supposedly after I left, I've heard rumors that the new manager has mellowed up a little. I guess he finally got the message that he should probably lighten up a little and just trust in his employees. Nobody likes a manager that constantly micromana
At Acme things were very great. my pay rate and benefits were amazing. but a typical work day basically consisted of going in and depending on the day I would I there wait on custom while I prepared things to close and things ready for opening the next day. on other day I would do inventory and stock as an opening manager. the management was always a strong staff I could go to with any problems and they would all do their best to make sure that issue was resolved. My direct manager was an amazing hardworking individual who amazing worked around ny work days I needed off for college purposes and back then I did appreciate that. the coworkers were very diverse but I have been at this company since 2005 till this June 2013. I have seen many come and go for many different reasons, only a select few have been there as long as i have or longer an those people I consider nearest and dearest friends. For most the hardest part e job was dealing with the different personality's of customers the rude, the sad, the angry and the happy people but, I have found if you respect and give a positive genuine happy outlook as you help these customers e you receive the same type of response. The most enjoyable part of the job was working with a family basically and knowing that when I go back to this place I can once again be greeted by familiar faces.
While the people you work with will make any job enjoyable sometimes it just isnt enough, when you work here which I do not recommend whatsoever you will be demeaned, criticized and nothing will ever be good enough for upper management all the while making the lowest amount of pay. No effort at communication skills with their employees and lower level managers. The company may be successful but to the cost of their employees while most larger grocery stores will start out at decent wages (10-12) Acme starts at minimum for all employees. There is no full-time, all positions are part-time and to even get the chance to apply for full-time is a long and arduous process and you still may not even get it due to the union rules of seniority even if you are more qualified than other candidates. Acme is willfully ignorant to the problems they face and the cracks are starting to show. Departments wait months to get the most simplest of repairs accomplished and most departments are in shambles and falling apart. Unsanitary and unsafe working conditions. Ordering supplies is next to impossible with the lack of communication between the company and its suppliers not to mention most of the time the supplies you need arent even available. Do yourself a favor and dont work here.
ProsNothing
ConsPoor management, Low pay, Miscommunication company wide, poor enviroments
In the sincere interest of securing an excellent career opportunity within your organization, I am submitting my resume for your review and consideration. Specifically, I am seeking a full-time career, which allows me to utilize my skills while applying my Administrative Clerical and Customer Service skills. I am interested in joining an organization that fosters growth, and provides opportunities for advancement.
My past work experiences, multi-tasking ability, and teamwork skills coupled with leadership qualities will prove invaluable to a company that ensures that their employees, clients, and customers are always top priority. I am a self-motivated, self-starting, quick learning individual who communicates very well with colleagues, management, and clients to effectively fulfill all job obligations timely and professionally. Having worked in various Customer environments, I have a first hand idea on how imperative meeting deadline can be. Furthermore, I also have the ability to uphold a strict level of confidentiality with all sensitive information. I have learned the importance of being multi-faceted in the job duties that I perform, while providing a great level of accuracy and efficiency.
Prosroutine, leadership, multi-tasking, time management
Conslong hours, short breaks, no consistent schedule
Generally friendly co-workers, terrible management
I worked at one Acme location for a summer and was moved to another after the summer. In the first the design of the store was miserable and management was terrible. The store is a shore store so it's super super busy in the summertime but it's so small that the line for checkout will almost always go all the way down the store and into the back isles. The store director asks all the department heads to write shedules and then changes and posts them without telling anyone. She also just has the least friendly demeanor possible. I thought she hated me but after I left I was told I was one of her favorite workers and she's asked if I would come back at least 10 times.
The next store was a lot larger, well designed and had a much friendlier atmosphere. However, when I was transitioning stores there was no communication between the store directors so I was out of work for a week. Also in the interview for the transition I was told I could be put in the same position I was in the other store and and my pay would decrease from $10 an hour but stay within the $9 range. I was hired in a completely different department at $8.50 an hour. There is also a $1 per hour raise I was supposed to get 2 months ago for being with the company for a year but that never happened.
If you are a kid looking for a first job it's better than nothing but don't ever look for a future here.
Questions And Answers about Acme Markets
If you were in charge, what would you do to make Acme Markets a better place to work?
Asked Feb 27, 2018
Make the Pharmacy seperate from the store management
Answered Nov 5, 2020
In trans. I would make all the dispatchers have the same rules to follow. No personal rules for any dispatcher.
Answered Oct 26, 2020
How long after being hired do you get your first paycheck? I enrolled in direct deposit.
Asked May 30, 2017
Weekly by direct deposit
Answered Feb 14, 2019
Do you get a rise every 6 months
Answered Jun 26, 2018
After being hired, how long does it take to get first paycheck? I'm doing direct deposit.
Asked May 30, 2017
It now takes 3 weeks after start date to get your first check
Answered Aug 20, 2020
About 2-3 weeks for first paycheck. Direct deposit , 2 weeks.
Answered Oct 2, 2017
Paid weekly or bi- weekly
Asked Jul 25, 2016
I was paid every Friday
Answered Aug 8, 2017
Pay was weekly
Answered Jul 11, 2017
How are the working hours at Acme Markets?
Asked Jul 19, 2016
How much an hour they pay cashier
Answered Apr 13, 2018
First of all the majority (probably 90 percent) of people hired within the last 3 years will be part time. So first what ever few hours a week (8 to 25 wildly varying hours usually) that you get times your min. wage rate wont equal much and you have to have seniority (or an "in" with management) as a part timer to get 20 to 25 hours a week. Second ,the hours are going to be scattered about throughout the week as the management seems fit...afterall (they even say it to employees faces daily) acme isn't there to serve employees needs...the employees are there to serve the needs of acme. So get ready for most of what you want or need to get done in your personal life to take a back seat so you can work your so called "flexible" part time hours. You do not get more than one or two days notice of your upcoming work schedule The management plans it two weeks in advance (this way corporate has time to budget and slash payroll hours and staff). The only way you might have a little input or advance notice on your work schedule is again if you have that magic "inside track" with management.
