I had been employed through Foodlion since I was 16. Worked from a part-time bagger to a Meat Market Manager and had been with the company for over 20+ years. There have been many ups and downs throughout my stay. For those wondering if this is good career choice, the answer is no. Let me explain. Listed below isnt necessarily true for everyone, Mainly department managers.
Work-This job is very repetitive, You do almost the same thing day in and day out. If you work at a low volume store, your days throughout the week will drag out forever for an 8 hour shift. High volume, increase your stress limit by 50% and at the end of your day @ a high volume store, You will stay running on either energy drinks or alcohol. Over time from being on my feet constantly moving 8+ hour a day, I developed restless leg syndrome. I also worked in the market so the temperature was usually 35-40 degrees, my body got very use to that environment. So much so that i sweat very easily in mild weather. I usually have to keep my thermostat at home below 70 to stay comfortable.
Holidays-Expect to work holidays instead of being with your family. Over my 20+ year stay I had became almost immune to Thanksgiving dinners, New years eve party's, missed countless Superbowl's etc. Its quite sad actually. It is NOT a given as a department manager you can schedule yourself off whenever you want. Its quite honestly frowned upon by management if your not in the trenches. Your expected to be there. Foodlion is
ProsMeeting great people from all walks of life
ConsCustomers bad days, Hour cuts, Minimal time for family or social life
Sporadic work environment; lack of professionalism.
Food Lion provides exceptional opportunities in the areas of empowered decision making, decent benefits (available to full time associates), and enables you to build experience in the customer service field that you may use throughout the course of your work career. The work culture is projected to be positive and uplifting through the company's website and intrasite, however due to alterations in company culture and strategic changes to our brand and operations, comes with discrepancies throughout every day in-store operations and decision making. This can be very counterproductive to your work moral and difficult to manage. Ex: late truck deliveries that complicate work flow and lacking provisions of appropriate products and service, resulting in frequent consumer dissatisfaction, associate complaints, etc.
Throughout the course of employment, you will meet some wonderful people, customers and associates alike. However, many characters that embody our salary and management team should not be there. There are repetitive obstacles encompassing frequent unprofessionalism and lack of accountability. Salary managers are expected to be present in the workplace for at least 40-45hrs a week, but many are not. Habits of weak leadership eventually lead to unpleasant work conditions.
Career advancement can be challenging. Interviews for various positions are an obligation, and many positions made available for advancement frequently have a pre-selected employee prior to given in
Loved my job but no opportunity for advancement as promised when hired on.
A typical day as a bookkeeper at Food Lion consists of managing the front end and taking care of the Service Desk and Office.For example: When I first arrive at work I am required to count the safe and the service desk till at shift change to balance the office safe and make sure the till is still even. Afterwards, I am to manage the front end and all cashiers by giving breaks and making sure all policies and procedures are being complied with and we are making a wonderful shopping experience for our customers. This may mean "coaching" cashiers that arent up to par on job responsibilities or that may be falling behind on performance goals. I am also responsible for making my co-workers and cashiers feel comfortable talking to me about any questions that they may have or any training that they may feel they need. While managing the front end I am also responsible for customers who arrive at the Service Center, which may mean performing Western Union, Money Order, Check Cashing or Lottery transactions, as well as returns and exchanges and other customer questions. After peak hours have ended it is my job to balance all cash, checks, and WICS within the till and reset the tills for the next shift. If I was to work in the Morning I would be responsible for running all sales reports and office reports for balancing the cash and other tenders for the previous day.
I have learned alot about management skills while at Food Lion, seeing as though many times we do not have managemen
I learned the skills that a stock boy needs very quickly and learned to cooperate with my fellow intern worker at the same time. I was called on to stock items on the highest shelves, since i'm 6 feet, 4 inches tall. One of the employers at Food Lion told me that he certainly would hire me as soon as a stock boy position or even a janitors position becomes available there. During my two months of training there, i worked quickly, yet efficiently and accurately to get the job done. My fellow co-workers cooperated with me and explained to me exactly what to do and i had ample time to learn all of a stock boy's skills. I and my fellow intern worked about four hours each day, stocking items on shelves and learned how to put items in the appropriate places in accordance with the expiration dates on them, and also we took great care to not lose or destroy any items, especially the ones in glass containers. I learned to take great care with the fine points of the job, such as which items to stock on which days so that we would not do items in one group two or more days in a row, and we learned how to put the rest of the items back onto the shelves after we finished unloading the boxes, so that the items would already be grouped for the next stock boy who would come on the next shift. Also, i learned of some of the consistent mistakes that some of the other workers had made, such as putting items in one group which do not belong with the items of the entire other group and kept them
ProsMy employment specialist gave me ample time to rest, which was a short break about halfway thru the four hour session, although i did not actually need to take a break. I could have worked for four hours, or more without even taking a break.
ConsI did not have any complaints with the faculty members, how i was treated or with anything that i was told to do.
4.0
Quality Assurance Analyst | Whitakers, NC | Jun 28, 2013
Productive workplace with the best people to work with
Arrive at work go to the back of the store unload the grocery truck then start down stacking the pilots of dry grocery products. We put the will carts in a line putting them accordingly with each aisle which we call a float then set the items on the float where they are at on the floor. After the down stacking is down all of the stocking employees take a float and go in to the store and run the items to the shelves. When all the items have been ran before we leave the store we have to run staples which are mostly everyday necessities which are sugar, water, milk, bread, eggs, and ice. After that we are free to go home.
The things that I learned from being a stocker is to think quickly on my feet to know things are and being faster putting the items on the shelves and have enjoy the time at work if I do not have a good attitude going to work that day will be horrible and the day will seem to go by slower. The truck will seem bigger the time will go by so slow by the time you think a couple of hours passed by and its only been 30 minutes.
The management where I work at are so hard workers they will go out of there way to help us out if we have a problem and if we are getting behind with the truck they will grab a float and help us run it. They are so friendly to the customers and the employees they will do anything and everything for anybody. They would even come in on their days off and help with a situation that we can not solve I am proud to work with people li
ProsGreat associates, great managers and having fun
Consshort breaks, not enough hours for part time, hard work for less money
A typical work day is clocking in and going to the register that I have been assigned that day. I scan and bag the groceries. If I have any putbacks that need to go back right away, such as perishables, I will take them back to the freezer or deli section. I answer customers questions to the best of my ability and I will also answer the phone when need be. I've learned how to multitask and how to come out of my shell. The store manager and assistant store manager are really good people. The Customer Service Manager leaves a lot to be desired. She sometimes will speak in this baby voice to you and other times she will stare you down and has nothing to say to you. One thing I've learned is that the store that I am employed at is very clicky! If you're in the office you can get away with and basically do whatever you want. i.e. cuss in front of customers, do not have to adhere to the dress code/policy, eat and drink when they want to. They promote cashiers based on who in the office like you. If someone in office doesn't like you then you're going to be stuck on that register. A few people have been told in interviews that they're going to office in a few weeks/months and after 2 years they're still on the register. Then there was a cashier who came in and 3 months later they're promoted to Office Assistant! And this particular person just did not deserve the promotion. The office personnel are the ones that get good hours. Regular cashiers get anywhere from 9-15 hours a week. I
ProsYou get a paycheck every 2 weeks.
ConsVery clicky! You're treated as if you don't matter!
I was hired for a morning stocking crew with the grocery team. From day 2 I was subjected to my floor manager's complaints about how she was treated by the other managers, and "If she is in trouble, We are in trouble"....1st Red Flag. The morning crew never came fully to fruition because they couldn't find enough people to work those hours, the result being that our crew was dispersed and our hours distributed/cut and we were placed with the day shift, which meant drastically shorter hours for everyone. I was told by a fellow employee that it is hard to get fired; However, When they cannot give you enough hours because they are overstaffed, they will do what they can to make you have to leave. When I was hired I was told I would be working 15-20 hours, when there was a delivery truck. Once our morning crew was disbanded, my hours consistently shrunk, until I was only scheduled one day/week. I complained, from week 1, that others were misplacing product in my section, but was ignored because the only other people who could be involved "knew what they were doing"....I complained about this several times but the manager was completely aloof about it, I even took photos, at the recommendation of a co-worker. Then I have my employee appraisal 6 months early in which they proceeded to try to blame me for misplaced product in my section, Exactly What I had complained about since my 1st week there, and that I should be "more sociable" with customers; Huge Red Flag No. 2, because one
A typical day in Produce would be from the minute you walk in, to the minute you leave you're constantly working, which isn't a bad thing, the workday passes by quickly. You're pulling out of date product from the sales floor to making sure fresh and new product is always on the floor for the customer. Cutting fruit and vegetables in a timed structure all the while making sure product is kept at the optimal temperature, Clean all workspace areas to keep the area free from any contamination, Wash and Replenish stock to be used the next day, Pack and price product for Sales Floor. Special orders as requested.
The only problem is no matter how much you do, no matter if you show up every day on time it will never be good enough for the Produce Manager who has been there for over 30 years.
He would constantly make you feel like you weren't working hard enough, as if you weren't good enough comparing you to others who work there or previously before. If he was angry with another co-worker he would take it out on the entire team, I remember I called out once and later that day he texted me and told me he had the next day covered, to take the day off and by the way I hope you're feeling better. He would change the schedule at any given moment send you home early or keep you there late and if you told him you needed to adhere to the schedule he would make sure you knew that we are over hours for business needs or make you feel bad because you had prior plans and couldn't stay la
I've worked for several poorly managed companies. Sometimes the management got better as people were replaced, and sometimes they got much worse.
This place as pretty much gone down hill since I started, and we're not even talking from the top of the hill to begin with.
I was promised many things by the original manager who hired me. He seemed to have forgotten all those things after I held up my part of the bargain. The starting pay was ok based on what I was hired to do. But once I got promoted and took on new skills. The pay was not commensurate or competitive with the surrounding market. And by this I mean, after 3 years of working there, I got $3.29 more only because a "study" of the local job market showed that I and a bunch of other people in other positions were getting paid below market wages. And I must say that even with that "boost", someone at Safeway doing the same job gets paid 19.65/hr to start. But, the job's responsibilities have gone up over the years but the money has not. They're raise system dictates that after one year, you get an evaluation. And if you "perform above expectations", you get a 2% raise...... if you don't meet or need improvement, (depending on which of the 5 store managers that have rolled through in the last 3 years and what they think of you) you get 1%. So, after 20 years there, I can expect to be making around $19 an hour if I "meet expectations".
I guess I should clarify on the management situation as well.
ProsNone
ConsSee above
3.0
Customer Service Associate / Cashier | Charlotte, NC | Nov 27, 2020
glad to have left
I started working at food lion about 4 years ago while I was in high school, i got promoted from a cashier to an Office assistant in less than a year. I thought the pay was pretty nice considering I didn't have much bills to pay. I quickly realized how much of a drama there is once you become "friends" with the managers and left the first store where I worked at. Then I went to college and I transferred to a store in charlotte and found a new store when I go back home (Greenville), as the years went by I realize that the stores in Charlotte always have given me problems. I grew unhappy with management. I don't think management especially one that manages a district should talk to me as if I'm their kid who broke a rule. I feel as if the pay wasnt enough for what I was doing. I felt unappreciated. I grew to hate going to work and went to another store in Charlotte, when the lock-down took place in Mecklenburg, it was horrible. I felt depressed with the long lines of people. I ended up having to leave briefly because of my mental health. The former manager told me "i know you're in school full time but you can work 40 hours and more if you want" and proceeded to ask me what days i can work disregarding i have a limited availability and already had the days I wanted. This past summer, I worked at the one back home which is always great they never have given me problems. I enjoy them so much. But when I came back for school this fall, the store in CLT made me quit Food Lion. Firs
Prosthey had snacks in breakroom, depending on the location management can be decent, coworkers can be enjoyable as well as customers, easy to transfer between cities, some are willing to work with your schedule
Consthe hourly pay, open on thanksgiving, management, compromises, can be overwhelmed and feel overworked
Questions And Answers about Food Lion
What is the best part of working at Food Lion?
Asked Jan 10, 2020
I love working at food lion, I intend on staying with the company until I retire. Customers, co-workers, management everyone is very nice. Happy associate.first job I have had in a long time that I looked forward to going to work.
Answered Oct 24, 2021
Management don't appreciate employees ,No accintives, no matter what you do .
Answered May 14, 2021
What is a typical day like for you at Food Lion?
Asked Mar 13, 2020
Clock in go over all emails and compass try to communicate with the store manager or assistant store manager but they do not care. After awhile you just give up on communication! So you just put your head down do your job to the best of your ability and go home at the end of your shift.
Answered Jan 13, 2021
Some locations run smooth but the low volume stores are extremely understaffed.
Answered Dec 2, 2020
How flexible are your working hours at Food Lion?
Asked Mar 13, 2020
I worked 20 hours a week with no problem (due to disability) then out of the blue, I was either not on the schedule at all or got maybe 4 hours a week.
Answered Nov 16, 2021
Schedule is written weekly and the dept heads are very good at working with you on your schedule. There is an attendance policy but it doesn’t seem to be super strict. Holidays are normally rotated
Answered Dec 2, 2020
How are the working hours at Food Lion?
Asked Jun 29, 2016
8-12 here I am a morning QA they where nice and pushed back from 7 too 8 because I get my kids on the bus in the morning.
Answered Oct 27, 2019
Really depends on what position you're in and the business at your store. Fall and winter time are the busiest especially around holidays. Typically, your shift is between 4-8 hours and you'll work no more than 40 hours a week, ever.
Answered Aug 23, 2019
Do you get paid weekly or bi weekly
Asked Sep 5, 2016
Biweekly every Wednesday checks and every Tuesday direct deposit
