Pros
- Interesting customers and co-workers, though your store will vary (obviously). I made a lot of friends here quickly, and still have some of them years later. The customers are mostly cool, also. - Good benefits, though I hear they have gotten not-as-good since I left. The insurance was excellent, offered to all employees, and only cost something like $50/month (has since increased substantially). The retirement plan was unheard-of, and unmatched by any other employer I've encountered: 15.4% of your earnings were deposited in a mutual fund every year, with no contributions on your part. NONE. That's a 15.4% bonus squirrelled away for you annually. - Depending on what area of the store you have, the work can be really easy. Possibly mindless, if that's your thing. - Management was fairly liberal with the free stuff. Maybe it was some free beer, maybe a few pizzas showed up at lunchtime. Also, there was a Christmas party most years, which was nice. -............the more I think about it, the nicer that 15.4% was. It merits another mention.
Cons
- Store 'leadership' was an absolute farce. There wasn't a single person at any point that I looked to as an example of how I should conduct myself. Most of the "full-timers" (as supervisory staff is called) had apparently never held a job where they had to lead people. It showed. They were just people who wore different shirts, had access to the safe, and got paid way more. Speaking of... - While it's cool that TJ's pays well, when the next person up from you is getting paid more than twice what you are, the inequality is too much. It's impossible for management and staff to relate to each other when one lives in the richest suburb in town, and the other can barely afford meals. - Is 10% the best you can do for a discount? From a multi-billion dollar company? When a good number of employees qualify for SNAP? - Expect to be moved between departments often, and without asking you if it's ok. One day you'l be getting carts and stocking wine, the next you'll be working frozen and ringing up groceries. - Lots of standing, lots of lifting, lots of walking. Plus you'll work in the freezer and probably the parking lots finding carts. Bring a coat everyday. - The schedule is all over. One week it'll be mornings, the next you'll be there til midnight. Change your availability to not work a day? They'll cut your hours.