Pay/benefits were good, everything else was terrible
The work environment is poor and there are times when one can't understand how some of the workers a) were hired and b) have kept their jobs. But these are merely symptoms of the disease. Management is at the heart of this problem.
In terms of corporate-level management, employees are viewed not as resources or assets, but obstacles in the way of profit. The policies handed down seem arbitrary, and woe unto the person that draws any amount of overtime.
At the store level, the managers' primary job seems to be preventing themselves from getting in trouble with the District Managers and Regional VP. They are ruled by fear, and so they in turn rule by fear. The sole motivation of the employees in fear of the write-up. Room to grow with the company has been eliminated. They now take the Gilded Age approach of hiring from the outside, grinding everyone into the ground and then replacing them. Managers are insulting and flippant in their tone. As a result, the workers morale is through the floor.
Before the Belgians took over, it was a good place to work. Now there is literally no reason to work there. The only good things I can say about the place was that the pay/benefits were good and the commute was easy. That's all I can think of.
Cons: Lazy, unmotivated co-workers, who don't hesitate for a second to talk back to you, ignorant, arrogant management who do not understand how to run a grocery store, no-training (no joke; there were whole aspects of my job that were never went
Proseasy commute, pay was good, good amount of vacation time (though, i never understood how the system worked)
Conssee review (there's so many that they didn't fit into this box)
Chill job mostly, but the work got repetitive & mind-numbing.
I worked for Hannaford part time in the Front End department for over 4 years. The work got repetitive & mind-numbing after 2, but I got too comfortable and unwilling to look for a new job. The pay was OK and there were lots of opportunities to advance in the company or move to different departments. I just personally never used any of those opportunities because I didn't want to be stuck working for the same grocery store/company for the rest of my life. Other than that, my co-workers and most of my managers were really chill and laid back and it was easy enough work. I learned how to run register, push carts, clean the bottle room, clean my work area, run re-shops back, run damaged goods back, help customers, I bettered my social skills and gained retail/customer service skills in general.
Management was mostly nice, some played favorites and gave out unwarranted write-ups, but the district manager came in from time to time to ask the employees how things were going and would get things cleared up(you always had the option to contact the district manager if you felt like the store managers were doing something wrong). Often times, the store managers would put out food in the break room for everyone which was really nice(there was a TV with cable in the break room as well). They also would give out little coupons for a free lunch that was usually priced from $5-$7 on days that they noticed you working hard. They also really listened to employees and tried to work with us
Horrible long term job, but not bad for temporary work
If you are looking for short term work, Hannaford might be the place for you. On the surface it seems like a good place to be, but when you stay with the company longer you really begin to see it for what it is. The company provides a good culture for customers, but they do not care about employees. If you want to move up with this company you need to kiss the right person's butt. Hannaford does not value you as an individual, they only value those that are naive and become "yes men" going along with whatever the corporate spiel is. If you have an opinion of your own, it will be squashed and then you will be looked at as undesirable. The good news is it is hard to get fired at the company, but this also works against you if you are a good worker. Time and time again employees with horrible work ethic are allowed to skate by doing nothing and then all the employees doing their best are made to feel like they aren't doing enough. The company also does not operate efficiently and if you question things or offer suggestions they will not matter. The bottom line is if you are a hard worker, then you will have a bad experience at hannaford unless you kiss the right person's butt. If you are someone who wants to come in and just do your job to the best of your ability then you will be ostracized because you didn't kneel at the feet of those above you.
Please head this warning and DON'T stay at the company more than 2 years maximum or you will begin to regret it. If you are someo
Prosdifficult to get fired, majority of co-workers are nice, daytime employees are sometimes treated as people
Consbad company culture, incompetent management, company bias towards whoever kisses the most butt, hard-work is preyed upon instead of rewarded, very stingy on paying raises
Repetitive, Thankless, ungrateful, greedy, unwilling to listen to the woes of its employees
A typical shift as a night crew employee at hannaford consists of, 10pm, Moving u-boats in the backroom out onto the floor to make room to sort the product. Then we set up the backroom with empty u-boats to sort the freight into their respective aisles. This typically take an hour and a half. While the sort takes place we have other crew members work the frozen section. Once the sort is complete we wheel the boats out onto the floor to the aisles. People usually take their break once this happens around 12am. Then we all get to work the an aisle. We usually work the same aisles every night. taking break every 2 hours or so. Lunch is 30mins unpaid and two break paid. Once we complete one aisle we go to the next and so on until all the freight is on the self. We are required to dispose of cardboard and paper in the baler and retain our plastic until the end of the shift where it is sent back to distribution and recycled.
Some associates are trained to use powerjacks and forklifts. We all must be trained to use the baler if 16+ years of age. The job can be tough in the beginning, but one gets used to the routine over time. For me the hardest part is working with some individuals that don't have a good work ethic and slack off. I think the best part of the job is that we can listen to our own music and work at self set pace. It is a solitary job for the most part. I really don't have a problem with the job per say, but I don't like the hours and scheduling, the management ca
Busy, high traffic company with a positive workforce
In the Customer Service Department of Hannaford Bro. Co. there is certainly no typical day at work. Everyday brings you some new challenge and something new to learn. While under employment with Hannaford Supermarkets you must learn to manage time, make sometimes difficult decisions, and make sure that the day and all transactions go as smoothly, and satisfactory to the customer as possible.
While bookkeeping you must handle all the incoming monies that the store sees for the previous day and the week. All the information related to these monies must be processed and handled in an efficient and sensitive manner.
When you are working as a Service Leader in the Customer Service Department your day encompasses a vast amount of duties. You must maintain the schedule for the day while carefully ensuring the customer flow through the store continues smoothly and efficiently. On top of these you must make sure all associates are adhering to standard procedure and are providing the best customer service possible.
Management in both Hannaford Supermarkets I have worked for put a great deal of trust and depend greatly on the abilities of their bookkeepers and their Service Leaders to ensure the store is delivering the level of service customers have come to expect. The Customer Service Manager especially depends and trusts the bookkeepers with the store's cash flow, including the management of and the recording of said cash flow.
The hardest part of the job sometimes is making
Prosthe level of customer service, fellow associates
- A typical day at work consisted of unloading pallets of freight from a drop trailer, sorting the freight onto carts which were then wheeled to the sales floor, worked to the shelves and backstocked if necessary which was followed by merchandising of the sales floor, a sweep of the sales floor and warehouse, warehouse organization, card-board bailing, emptying trash and recycling bins, ordering/order adjustments, office work and general management (making sure people were on task, ensuring jobs were being completed, ensuring breaks were taken, etc)
- In this job I learned not only my management skills but a new found respect for organization and time management. Once I was in charge of other people I realized I had less time to do the work that I was required to do and learned how to delegate tasks in such a way that I could more easily complete the tasks I was required to complete as well as help where necessary.
- At times I had a lot of staff related issues but as time went on we were able to whittle our group down to five employees that were completely talented and capable of functioning with minimal direction. A great example of this is that, in the past, we had an eight man team and actually completed less tasks then the team of five. After eliminating four people and hiring on one new member for the crew we were able to function seamlessly.
- The hardest part of the job, albeit a required one, was having to talk to people when their productivity would dip. We w
ProsFree drinks (soda, water, energy drinks) on nights we knew would be rough, annual outing to a restaurant of our choice
ConsShift differences made a disorganized environment
Decided to join Hannaford with multiple years of successful experience in grocery retail. Expected the job and career to go far but ended up being a waste of time. After awhile it got to the point where I never understood the point of my position. I was constantly being told what I was doing wrong from other people in the store that really should have been focusing on their own jobs and departments instead of worried how to do mine. Some of the managers were OK, but others always bragged about the store's accomplishments and forgetting the many associates who make it possible everyday. (You might get a $5 off coupon during the holidays as a "Thanks for all you do" gesture, how considerate).
Since my job was an overnight position, there was a very transient workforce of part-time and seasonal help. Very hard and frustrating to get decent help, as it wouldn't be unusual to train someone, just to have them quit one week later. Was also asked to be the receiver for a couple of months during the busy season, I wasn't notified until a few hours before. Really saved the day by being flexible, but again the effort was unappreciated.
Productivity guidelines were realistic for stocking cases, but other tasks such as facing product in the aisles at the end of the night wasn't feasible for the time given at all. Deliveries would often show up unacceptably late from a distribution center that was only 50 minutes away, but still expected to get everything done on time.
One thing
ProsPTO, Benefits, Company gives to non-profits
ConsLow Pay, Favoritism, Some co-workers with serious anger and gossip issues, Unrealistic expectations
It was my goal to develop a long-term career and retire with this company...
They say that the only constant is change and Hannaford is no exception. Core leadership members at the retail locations are always shifting between stores and positions, which sometimes makes it challenging to develop a team dynamic before having to inevitably learn a new set of expectations.
There are certainly opportunities for those who are in leadership or are interested in pursuing that route as a career choice. My greatest caution to anyone seeking to advance within this company would be to look out for "stagnants," or leadership members who have retained the same position for a more than a couple of years. There are many who enjoy the perks of a management position that does not require them to be first in command over a store or a department within. Unfortunately, if they don't step up - you're probably not going to move up either. Lateral moves are common practice in the company as a means of "rolling the dice" for a more favorable situation.
My experience at 5+ different locations has left me under the impression that Hannaford's training programs have also been on life support for awhile now. The ever-increasing demand on productivity permits even the best trainers to have minimal time at their disposal for developing new associates. Instead of ensuring that employees understand what is expected of them, it's a priority to have them sign off on training packets so they can be held accountable later if they aren't performing well.
All in all, it will take some s
ProsGreat People, Good Ethical Values, Competitive Benefits
ConsLack of Leadership Accountability, Inconsistent Training, Poor Execution of New Programs
1.0
Customer Service Associate / Cashier | Leominster, MA | Jun 15, 2020
You’re valuable until you’re not
Where do I begin? I worked for this company on and off for over 4.5 years in 5 depts. During my time there, I found management to be a huge issue. Managers often opt for favoritism for how they reward individuals rather than merit. If they don’t like you, you can forget advancements, better pay, or benefits. The environment feels almost clique-like. Especially in the front end. Work is repetitive, straining, if they can stick you with the tasks nobody else wants to do, they will. This often results in back breaking work, for long hours on end such as constant lifting. They have big issues with being understaffed in depts with high volume. The hours are very fluctuating, and sometimes as was my case, my guaranteed hours were not always given. Scheduling in depts like deli/seafood depended on which manager managed to finish the task on time. Customers and coworkers alike will abuse you and management won’t bat an eye which is another reflection of the supposed values of this company. I worked there until physically became unable. Now I can barely manage basic tasks without extreme pain. That’s what happens when you end up doing everything while others opt to get out early and or refuse to help. Management doesn’t care how the work is divided if it gets done, even if it’s divided unfairly. That’s the system they have in place. That’s what you truly consent to when you come work for them. Don’t believe me, just look at how the cart-system is set up to gather the carts in the park
ProsNone.
ConsPoor management, overworked and, abuse from within, no benefits, constant strain that leads to chronic pain, little chance to move up unless management likes you.
4.0
Customer Service Representative | Glenville, NY | Jan 31, 2019
Good first job to have
When I applied for Hannaford I never had the intention for staying there forever. I learned how to have respect & patience with customers, also broke out of my shell and that has opened me up to at least be somewhat talkative with customers and strangers. A typical day at my job is we just stand at the registers and make sure the customers are getting cashed out fast but they aren't being rushed, also to make sure they are leaving the store happy. The hardest part of my job for me was if a customer didn't find something they were looking for I always feel like they are leaving mad at me. I know it isn't my fault the item isn't in the store but it is still hard because I don't like making people upset, I want them to be satisfied the same way I would If I was the one looking for an item. The most enjoyable part of my job was seeing the look on a customers face when I come walking back up to my register with the item they were looking for, I will truly never forget that. The workplace culture at my job stared off very nicely, everyone was so sweet and kind and as some of those people started leaving we started getting people that all they do is complain about their job and how they don't want to be there and I get that happens somedays but I hate having negativity around me. Also my assistant manager always seems to cry at least once a day over her life and it just brings everyone down. I get people can't control it but getting to work is to get away from all that but it can al
Prosmaking people happy, some respectful employees
ConsNegativity in some associates
Questions And Answers about Hannaford
How are the working hours at Hannaford?
Asked Jun 29, 2016
Challenging
Answered Aug 30, 2019
They will not give you the hours you want or the time off that you want. Your schedule will constantly be changing.
Answered Aug 19, 2019
Why did you leave your job at Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy?
Asked Mar 15, 2017
Hours all over the place, lack of training.
Answered Oct 2, 2020
Poor management, abuse, understaffing that led to injury.
Answered Jun 15, 2020
How long does it take to get hired from start to finish at Hannaford? What are the steps along the way?
Asked Jun 29, 2016
Horrible....if you miss answer a question they take weeks to hire you..never answer yes unless you've been convicted of a felony..I've never had s felony it bean convicted of anything and they're doing bull
Answered Dec 3, 2019
I was hired 3 days after my interview. Good luck .
Answered Jan 18, 2019
How do you feel about going to work each day at Hannaford?
Asked Mar 15, 2018
There were days where i genuinely did not know how I was gonna get through my day because the environment made me feel so miserable.
Answered Jun 15, 2020
Happy about my job and the people around me.
Answered Oct 29, 2019
What is the interview process like at Hannaford?
Asked Dec 3, 2016
The interview process went very well for AP. The regional director was very polite, thorough, professional and personable. The 2 others participating via virtual were just as polite and thorough. Although it wasn't the regional directors fault, the pay and time off that Hannaford offers for AP position is atrocious. 1 week vacation after 1 year of service and $15.00 per hour, seriously? The risk that is taken as an AP and dealing with the scum HAS TO BE yearly a MINIMUM $50 K with at least 3 weeks vacation TO START OFF with significant raises every 6 months-1 year, performance related obviously. This company is certainly not serious about their Asset Protection or they would prove such by protecting their employees and projected employees.
Answered Nov 30, 2020
30 min of questions about work past experiences and customer service . Just be honest and do the best you can
