Well, at least it's indoors! - Sharps Service Specialist Stericycle Employee Review

1.0
21 Mar 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Do you enjoy collecting/packaging bio-medical waste, with little supervision, but dozens of people willing to tell you how to do your job? Then, has Stericycle got a job for you! As a Sharps Service Specialist, you can run the risk of acquiring a debilitating, life-altering illness (AIDS, Hepatitis, MRSA, C-Diff, the list goes on & on!) through needle-sticks, touching, or just plain breathing! Sound like the job for you? Don't forget beginning some days at 2 or 3AM, low-pay(considering what your doing), hours of walking, and the possibilty of pushing a 500-lb cart to a dock area! There is very little oversight, so most on-site employees will abuse this privilege to "stick it to the company". Ways in which this is accomplished? Well, since you are tracked by "Field Force Manager", most will pull up to a job site, and sit for an hour (or 2). While they could be inside, tending to their job, instead, they collect hours of unworked pay. Some just "do a drive-by", and drive by the site, since it will appear they've been at their site on Field Force Manager. Another tactic is to get to the job site at 2 or 3a, then sleep for a couple hours, while on the clock, before actually starting at 4 or 5a. Also, it's common for Sharps Service Professionals to get paid for 8 hours, while only actually working 3 or 4 hours. Some locations are actually appreciative of the role your providing, by not making them collect/package the bio-medical ("SHARPS") containers.

Cons

During the interview process, of course, you're told the company hires from within. This isn't the case. They're not actually looking for potential, or perceived competency in a role, but who will be dumb enough to take the offered low pay. The hours of supervisors can range from 3a-8p, receiving calls throughout that time-frame, while also responsible for covering sick/vacationing employees, participating in conference calls, doing payroll, performance reviews, hiring/firing, etc. The politics involved in receiving a promotion are professionally prohibitive. Generally, managers have their favorites (and their whipping boys). If you happen to be an unfortunate of one of the whipping boys, your chances at advancement are either zero, or none. They offer great benefits, but only if you're a salaried, professional employee. Hourly employees are unable to save anything, let alone participate in 401k, and other offered investment opportunities.

Explore other reviews about Stericycle

5.0
25 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great teamwork, engagement and collaboration

Cons

None that I can think of right now

avatar
Stericycle Response
3mo
Thank you for taking the time to share this! We’re so glad to hear that your experience here has been a good one. It’s feedback like yours that reminds us why creating a workplace where people feel respected, supported, and proud of what they do is so important. We're grateful to have you on the team.
2.0
1 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I worked alongside a team that was consistently supportive and always willing to make time to answer questions, which made a meaningful difference in my day-to-day experience. There was a real sense of collaboration, and having people who were approachable and dependable made it much easier to navigate a fast-paced, high-volume sales environment. It helped create a bit of stability and camaraderie even during more demanding or repetitive parts of the role. Overall, it was a company operating as a leader in the space, which added to the scale and pace of the experience

Cons

This was my experience working at Shred-it, which is a subsidiary of Stericycle.If you’ve ever wondered what zero autonomy feels like, this is your spot. The day was a nonstop loop of cold calls, cold walk-ins, and more cold calls, with a mandatory “smile and dial” every morning. On the Shred-it team selling waste bins, it often felt like creativity and independent thinking were… safely shredded. Management could be extremely hands-on to the point of micromanagement, with frequent check-ins and scripted role-play scenarios that rarely reflected real conversations in the field. Communication style could come across as condescending or patronizing at times, especially on team calls, which made for an uncomfortable environment when feedback felt more critical than constructive.

avatar
Stericycle Response
1mo
We really appreciate you taking a moment to reflect and share your journey with us. I’m sorry things haven’t gone as smoothly as they should, but your feedback is valuable and helps us make the improvements needed to create a better, more supportive place for everyone.
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