Pros
The best part of working at Trader Joe’s is the company culture that surrounds it. Every crew member (not managers) got along in the store and got together for occasional parties/outings. Health and retirement benefits were also top notch, as well as a really good employee discount.
Cons
Micromanagement of certain “mates” or store managers (TJ does a ship theme) and their holier than thou attitudes. The measly $14 an hour compensation with just a .60 cent raise every 6 months is bizarre for essentially knowing the whole store and working every single section in it. The compensation is absolutely laughable and you only cap out at $25 an hour from what I remember. In addition, it felt like you are being watched 24/7 by a camera of managers and if you go to take a sip of water, they will record it and then make a complaint to the big boss, which diminishes your ability to get the joke of a .60 cent raise, defending it by “you aren’t working hard enough”.