Pros
Co-workers. Could be a great first job to see how greedy and disgusting the corporate world can be. May lead you to therapy and learn how to cope with a miserable job.
Cons
Started out as a courtesy clerk with no value to my 14 years of retail experience and started at minimum wage after they claim they offer competitive wages. Cleaned the toilets that customers love to crap all over with broken toilet roll dispensers. Had the closing shift for months before landing a position on the night crew. This is what I call hard labor, I have worked in a sawmill and done landscaping, but they expect thousand piece loads to be thrown in 5-6 hour time period with two people at times. Back injuries and pulled muscles left and right trying to go so fast and then people would be yelled at for getting hurt. All for still minimum wage. Absolutely no training whatsoever and people use electrical equipment with no training or certification. There is mold growing in the back of the store from unfixed leaks. Employees are NOT allowed any water outside of the break room. Not even if it's 100 degrees out to get carts or hours in a check stand. Yet vendors are allowed to. Management lies to employees to cover their butts and abuse medical restrictions on others. They hire cashiers and give them 8 hours a week and are expected to pay full time union dues. I have seen a check for 13$ from one cashier who claimed she couldn't afford the gas to work anymore since the price of putting gas in her car was more than her checks.. They move people into management roles with no increase in pay or certification. May be the only company that puts people in charge of the store for minimum wage and no training. I would advise anyone to apply anywhere besides Safeway. You could be making more money at McDonalds, Taco Bell, gas stations, hell even the tips from volunteering at a salvation army would be more money made. Very stressful environment where customers are treated like gods and you must serve them like slaves. In our store, YOU ARE REQUIRED to greet EVERY customer with their corporate lingo or face coaching or termination. Pay union dues that the union does nothing for you. If you don't pay them, you are fired.