COVID Response was Abysmal - Dog and Cat Groomer PetSmart Employee Review

3.0
10 Oct 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexible scheduling, ability to progress and advance in the grooming salon if you're good with animals and pets, if you have a good team it's a good work environment. I was there for close to five years - as leadership turned over on a company-level, the care for employees drastically decreased. LGBTQIA+ friendly.

Cons

Pressure to continually increase productivity beyond safety. They did not give any hazard pay when COVID hit even though we made significantly higher profits than normal for the time of year, sick time and vacation weren't reimbursed - employees used all of their sick and vacation, and only then were we furloughed, and then when we were recalled, no one has any sick time left if something happens. I was in a store with decent management, but the pressure and policies from higher-up means that I no longer feel ethically okay to recommend this company. We were recalled to work in an environment where it is impossible to socially distance, and where customers didn't care if they got us sick or if their dog bit us.

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PetSmart Response
5y
Hi, we appreciate you taking the time to leave a thoughtful review and are very sorry to hear this was your experience. We want to connect with you via the CareSmart line at 1-800-738-4693 so that we can try to help. Thank you so much for everything you did for pets and pet parents that came into the salon.

Explore other reviews about PetSmart

5.0
3 July 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

good pay benefits PTO always approved

Cons

sometimes pet health and care is overlooked

1.0
2 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The company pushes for more and more from the bottom level employees without better pay. I worked there before the restructuring and; not much can make me cry, but working here sure did, even back then. I can’t imagine how anxiety inducing it must be to work there now. Animal welfare is a complete non-concern. The only thing that’s pushed is sell, sell, sell. It’s borderline dystopian. Bad management seems to be a common issue, not only from my experience, but many others’ as well. I worked until I was an exhausted sweaty mess to make sure everything in pet care or, when I groomed, the salon, was cleaned to perfection as expected of me (and I reiterate: “me,” because these standards were not expected of my co-workers, just me) and overall felt very unseen. The only times I did feel “seen,” was when mistakes were made. Work was treated like boot camp. A co-worker that was subtley targeting/bullying me, and even started rumors accusing me of racist remarks(!!!), was promoted and anything I reported was downplayed because they were friends with the assistant manager. Working here was an overall traumatizing experience.

Cons

Employees are expected to be work-robots

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PetSmart Response
3w
We’re disappointed to hear that your experience didn’t reflect what we aim to create for our associates, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. We invite you to contact the CareSmart line at 1-800-738-4693 so we can learn more and see how we can support you. Thank you.
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