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WinCo Foods review: bad employment practices 28

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11:59 pm EST
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Winco foods is the worst employer I have ever had the displeasure of coming across. Are all the other employees on food stamps while working for them too? Is it normal for the person in charge to yell at new employees during their training? Do the customers at all winco stores complain about the management? Do all employees that don't have to be on food stamps degrade those who are? Even when they have a job? Working at winco! Do all stores hire new employees to avoid paying medical and giving the current employees the hours they need and want? Do all winco's give their buddies more hours and neglect other faithful employees? Is it common practice in a very high theft store to fire the employees for not catching a thief? Is it ethically right to fire employees for filing for unemployment when they are only scheduled for 5-18 hours for the week when they were told at hire it is full time? Do all winco's practice bad employment practices or is it just the one in federal way, washington? This is just the beginning. Sure they have great prices, but even those have been going up and I have seen the prices at fred meyers consistently beating winco's prices for many items now. The other stores are catching on to the economy and beating winco's prices now with great customer service and help to your pocketbook!

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28 comments
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John Summers Jr.
, US
May 12, 2022 7:19 pm EDT

Freight crew Tracy California poor management all they care about is making the numbers if you’re not pulling your weight you get yelled at are you might get a ride up l got hurt so I’m on light duty that doesn’t matter if I don’t do what they say I’ll get in trouble would not recommend this place the turnover rate is really bad if I would’ve known what I know now I would’ve not work do not recommend it to anybody all they care about is making their numbers and how many people they can walk over to get where they want to If I had to rate this company I would probably give it a one out of five thank you

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RegolithBasedLifeform
, US
Oct 07, 2019 12:16 am EDT
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If only it was just Midvale.
If only it was just a few Wincos
If only the complaints and details were not All The SAME.
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MINIMIZE THE ISSUE. YOU'RE WOEFULLY UNPREPARED.
Winco Foods is a white supremacist business front. JUST LIKE DONALD DUMP!
It's time to investigate this organization and tear it out by the roots.
BTW There is No Winco near my new location, but I STILL have A NEED TO SEE Winco DISAPPEAR.
Just one last...

"Shop where lesser employees handle your families food. "

W. T. F. ?

Your currency is WORTHLESS, but do not fail to make ALL your payments ON TIME.

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RegolithBasedLifeform
, US
Sep 03, 2019 9:13 pm EDT
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Look at how many similar complaints against winco foods at so many locations,
so many different people with the same complaints!
Note the acknowledgment that this isn't happening at other stores.
SHUT WINCO DOWN!
ANTI-TRUST!
It's a WHITE SUPREMACIST grocery store where success and leadership are built on intimidation bullying and constant fear.
If this comment is contested rudely i will know you are an enemy of the American people
Be nice and stop paying Nazi c*cks*ckers to abuse you - STOP PAYING WINCO FOODS!

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Jimmy435
, US
Oct 06, 2019 6:32 am EDT

A white supremacist store? Anti trust? Plz. I've worked there less than a year and some of the most awesome people work there. Not that I think winco is great or great anything. But I guarantee that any complaints that have been posted about winco midvale are by former employees or friends of some one who works there and just wants to start some garbage. Winco isn't great but its employees are some of the very best and that is a fact. Go shop somewhere else. Shop where lesser employees handle your families food. Enjoy.

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Tamotacho
, US
May 16, 2017 8:06 pm EDT
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The freight crew position at winco in Gilbert arizona is by far from any city and or state that I've Ever been in in my entire life the absolute WORST. The turnover rate has a turnover rate that is so ridiculous to the point that it is very clear that ex employees, friends, family members etc are spreading the word every which way possible. There short staffed with the sign of new hires knowwhere in site. Clearly people are being told the truth, and that's stay as far away from winco as possible even as a customer. They have employees from surrounding locations along with some other people come in as shoppers and disorganize the store which is very counter productive and costly especially when certain products spoil on the shelf. There's down talk, back stabbing, breach of confidentiality policy and total disregard for other company policies even by managers or crew leads. This is NOT a discrimination free location by any means and that's been proved to be clear. To all people that may be reading this and might think of employment at winco keep track of everything, meaning document with pen and pad or however you can everything. Times, dates, location in store, persons names, clothing at documented time, a discrimination of what happened etc. Contact the EEOC instead of managers at the store, it won't go anywhere. These people have three or more heads and control more than they let on and even pry into your personal life outside of the workplace. As long as you work there stay consistent and document and make sure to stay in contact with the EEOC on a regular basis.

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Bob U.
Fortuna, US
Aug 20, 2013 2:40 pm EDT
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In my opinion Winco in Eureka CA. is not a safe place to be after 10 pm. It appears that they do not have any security personnel after 10 PM. I contacted their Corp. office about the liquor section being locked up after 10 PM and I was told that this was a local store manager's choice due to theft problems. However, the wine on the floor and the beer cooler have no need to be secured from theft, this is strange. I pointed out to them that they had video cameras monitoring every possible location in the store they refused to respond with an answer. What about safety for their employees, as well as the customers? Apparently this area is a high crime location due to having to lockup the liquor section. They should have security people available to protect everybody, they don't care, it's all about the bottom line to them.

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R&M
Everett, US
Jul 14, 2012 6:32 pm EDT

A box of Kraft Macaroni was opened & poured into pot to boil and it was loaded full of bugs. Upon inspecting all items in our cupboard we began opening each and every item and dumping each one into ziplocs and 3 out of 4 boxes were loaded full of bugs and not just a few either! We have had our cabinets completeltly scoured and fumigated each time we have gone thru this and yet every time we go shopping we come home and it happens all over again! We our so furious we have lost at least $500.00 easily in food and spices that all come from there. No-one at the store cares to fix this problem and the health department claims it is a manufacturing problem not a health dept. issue! So then which manufacturer should we start with because I can give you the list so buyers beware - Kraft Macaroni and cheese, Rice A Roni, Zatarains, Idahoan, Pasta Roni, Betty Crocker, Hy Top, Golden Grain and trust me this is not a joke at all there are more names! Do not expect to get help with this because Win Co will tell you they have never ever had such a complaint. However, I saw on the internet that a person had ants in a bottle of bacon bits! So as you see it's not just I.

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Ernest Petefish
, US
Oct 06, 2016 5:08 pm EDT

It is amazing how disgruntled workers complain about their jobs. I disagree with almost every one of these assessments. My wife has worked at Winco for the past 24 years and has enjoyed it. She started low on the ladder and still is low considering her position. The one thing she probably does that a lot of these whiners don't do is work. Some have complained about the benefits and say unless you are a full time employee you don't get them. The policy says you need to meet 3 simple things, work 1000 hours in a year, work 500 hours in your first 6 months and be 18 years old, that's all. You can meet the hours requirement by just doing 20 hours a week. They are not union so you don't have to pay union dues. They have a comity that arbitrates issues and anyone can be on the comity at any given time. Once you meet the min requirements you care eligible for the benefits to include the Generous ESOP. If you want full time then request to go into training for management position. The lady that my wife worked with 20+ years ago is now the Store manager where she works and does a great job. So, do your job, and show up on time when you are scheduled. Very simple. If you have a boss that is overbearing either learn how to manage it or leave. After seeing how the youth of today whine about the most simplest thing its a wonder they survive. Your not going to get hired on making top pay, you haven't proven yourself worthy of it. Get a real clue and stop telling the world your entitled and work for it. After 23 years of loyal work she has earned the respect of her co-workers and her ESOP of over 500K ... Husband - Retired Army Sergeant First Class. OH... go get a real crappy job first like cleaning out latrines then maybe you would appreciate a good job.

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Toolong
, US
Jan 11, 2018 10:12 am EST

I agree with the majority of what you have written, however, WinCo is not what it used to be. The change in upper management has not been a good one. I fear that if they do not change their focus back to the original vision of WinCo, they will run the company into the ground.

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RegolithBasedLifeform
, US
Jul 13, 2018 1:01 pm EDT
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Will you turn your weapon on American citizens when the Fake President orders you to do so?
Welcome to the WRONG side of this neighborhood, Gomer Pyle. Why don't You get a real job?
I'm only a customer, yet i have observed everything reported here at my store location in the capacity of a scientist.
We can't all be wrong with so many observations, reports, empirical evidence and volumes of peer review from so many different locations
by people who have NEVER MET, NOOOO ASSOCIATION!
THAT is the very best kind of peer review.

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Ernest Petefish
, US
Jan 15, 2020 1:43 pm EST

Wow, You put nothing in that statement worth a second look. maybe look into a mirror and get a clue. Hate is taught, learn to not hate so much

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Homewardbound
Salt Lake City, Utah, US
Jul 23, 2021 3:41 pm EDT
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YOU need to get a life. You have serious issues!

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Jeff Duarte
, US
Jun 17, 2016 12:31 pm EDT

90% of these people are ###ed.

You don't get hired on at full time status. Winco has never done this.

Your hours get scaled back if you're part of a mass hire for a new store opening. Everyone is getting low hours at a new store, not just you. If your hours are getting cut at an established store it's because you're underperforming.

If your ability to perform your work duties (signed at hire) changes, you simply need a doctor's note and winco makes every accommodation (including chairs for sitting in any location of the store) for new needs per ADA.

Winco cannot "prevent" you from getting the hours required for periodic raises. Any hour worked is put toward the raise step requirement. For example, 1000 hours worked from step 1 to 2 will be gained in 1000 hours. Period. No one is preventing you from working those hours (except the 2 scenarios above, one of which is your own performance).

I've worked for winco for 9 years. It's a fantastic company to work for and the insurance and ESOP programs are great. I busted my hump on the graveyard shift and hit the last pay step of full time status in about 4 years. If I quit today, my ESOP would total around $70k and be paid out in a format that I choose.

Winco is a fast paced, good employer that asks a lot of its employees and gives a lot in return.

Don't want to work weekends, evenings and want to call out with the sniffles twice a week? Then winco won't work for you, either.

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Kelsey Robert Donald
, US
Jun 30, 2017 2:34 am EDT

Wrong

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Steve Egbert
, US
Sep 03, 2019 5:54 pm EDT

15 years at WinCo Distribution center. Retired last year. Best job I ever had. Everyone is valued. You really have to screw up to lose your job, like theft, gross misconduct, fighting, etc. I started selecting orders on graveyard where everyone starts, and worked up to a coordinator/supervisor. Show up to work, do your job well, that's all they ask.

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roberta ll
Spokane, US
Sep 20, 2011 8:59 pm EDT
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Terrible service. No hand held baskets for small orders. No speed lines. Very few checkers so the wait is ALWAYS long. Dirty entrance and parking lot. Not a pleasant shopping experience to save a little money.

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Randy Gerber
Salem, US
Feb 12, 2015 6:15 pm EST
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I worked at winco for 24yrs, we only had 13 store's and no distribution center, I was hired as a cashier, latter doing many other duties. I loved working my job, liked all other employees, my manager's were and are awesome people, I had found a home. I was in charge of different areas of the store, most recently the inhouse bread dept for 15yrs, whare I made it my department. The original president also was loved, he made everyone feel important, and was generous to all. I was happy and loved working at winco foods, then original president retired, and then everything changed. The new ceo fundamentally changed the company, I no longer felt valued, I was demoralized, my days were numbered at Winco food. Long story short, I no longer work at winco, I live with my parents, im on food stamps and am depressed most of the time. All I wont now from winco is my hard earned ESOP money, and move on with my life. I know winco could pay me off now, because 5yrs ago they payed off my ex wife. Again, I loved being a part of winco, just regret how it ended, I miss the glory days with the original president leading us like he did, I miss him.

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GettingSmarter
Milwaukie, US
Jan 30, 2015 10:36 pm EST
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From the customer's perspective, the lower prices are offset by coming home and finding many of the groceries you unpack are outdated. Bring your glasses when you shop there and read the "sell by" dates. Tonight, I opened a can of beef stew and it didn't look right. Sure enough, the sell by date was six months ago.
I can personally verify they do not rotate their stock. I worked at two Winco stores and helped stock. The employees are on such a tight production schedule, they do not have time for the FIFO (first in, first out) method of stocking. Every time, they told me to just unpack the boxes of canned goods as fast as I can, putting all new stock to the front.
As a cashier, many times customers brought instant coupons that were attached to the product, but I couldn't accept them because the coupon was expired. One had expired over two years prior. Use extreme caution and check dates, especially on the stock to the right as you come in. Many of the lower boxes the cans are stacked on have sat there for years.
Produce is old, bottom of the barrel that other stores reject. Look closely, or you will bring home more spoilage than edible fresh produce.
The ESOP benefits are a joke. For employees who started over 10 years ago, it was a gravy train. Now, it is less benefit in stock than the cheapest companies. They use the ESOP for bragging rights and in reality, it is something, but not currently a benefit to brag about. You will get a small percentage unless you work for several years. All of the above complaints about inconsistent scheduling and low hours to avoid giving benefits is true.
This is coming from a person who left on good terms and got along, but I am tired of losing money shopping there when I have to throw away outdated product.

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Colemania
Glendale, US
Nov 12, 2014 12:23 am EST

I worked at Winco for 1 month in the produce department from March 2014-April 2014 at the Glendale AZ location on Bell Rd. It was the worst job I have ever had or heard about and I'm thankful after reading these comments my stay was as short as it was. I was hired as a full time Produce Clerk than only received between 8-10 hours a week to start. Than all of a sudden I was given 20 hours a week which was more reasonable but they would constantly change your days and hours. Then because everyone with half a brain quit the job after a couple weeks I had to work double shifts like everyday and wasn't really given an option just "we need you, you're staying'. I would be scheduled to get off at 3 then would have to stay until 10 p.m. If you want to have a social life don't work here. And they do schedule people that had been with the company for years just under the 100 hour per month mark to make sure they don't have to give medical benefits. From my first day the manager Jorgi was nothing but a rude, condescending jerk toward me as I tried to learn how to do things the way they wanted. And all of the managers treated the employees like dirt if because they were so miserable with their job and life. The job itself in the produce department was practically slave labor. I work as a cook now which is way less physically demanding and I only got paid a quarter more an hour at Winco than I do now. Lifting 50-60 pound boxes all day long and often up to 6 feet high to properly rotate the produce killed my back. I've been out of there for over 6 months and I'm still feeling the consequences. And the human resource manager Sam smiles at you while all along he knows exactly what is going on. May god have mercy on his soul. Stay away from Winco for work and as a customer. They target liberals who don't want to feel bad about shopping at Wal-Mart even though they use the same practices but give the illusion that they don't. Winco is evil.

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mommam
, US
Mar 13, 2014 2:59 pm EDT

My husband worked for winco for eight years and lost his job for a stupid reason. My husband was a good loyal honest employee. He applied for unemployment got three weeks and they appealed the claim and taking us to court. my husband owns $80, 000.00in stock that they are trying not to give us for six years. Winco sucks. Management and most employees are busy screwing people at winco, cheating on spouses, sending dirty pictures, talking crap about employees and completly treating people like dirt. we have an attorney now involved. Seriously never ever work for winco they WILL screw you over.

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le_me
Spokane Valley, US
Jul 19, 2012 11:31 am EDT

I worked for WinCo for a year. I had to quit because I was nearly losing my mind. The bottom line of working there: You are not valued. You are nothing but a disposable money-raker. In fact, your well-being, your concerns, your successes and abilities mean absolutely nothing in this company. You are there to make them money and they never forget to let you know. When there is a problem, you're on your own. There is no support for things such as bullying, harassment, or just to take a breather after an awful customer. Every lead clerk has different rules, so if one sends you out on a task, another will hunt you down and scorn you for being away from your register. When I've needed assistance requiring a lead clerk, I've been approached with "What do you want?". I had absolutely no life or even the ability to schedule a doctor appointment because they make the schedule a week at a time with different shifts and days than the week before and they take down the sheet to sign-up for days off for 3 months at a time. "Your mom's funeral is next week? Awww, that's too bad. The sign-up sheet won't be back up in 2 months. Sorry about your luck." I worked with my spouse and their efforts to keep us separated as if we were going to conspire to steal the whole cookie jar was stunning. The hours were wonky. One week, 40 hours and the next week 16. They really go out of their way to make sure you don't reach the right amount of hours to receive benefits or receive raises (raises are based on hours). I was scorned for helping a disabled woman pack her groceries and then hanging them on the back of her wheelchair for her. I was told that that people like her needed to bring a companion and that I was not to help her anymore. I did this after the cashier that checked her would not assist or call for assist and the woman came to me as I was going on a break. She was in tears. I think ADA would probably disagree with that policy. But, I've been scorned for other acts of kindness (well, good customer service) that required unchaining myself from behind my money-raker machine. My spouse, who is a lead clerk, is constantly bullied and belittled by other lead clerks who bullied him as a cashier. He expressed his complaint to the assistant store manager who told him to "suck it up". I'm now watching my him erode and it pains me. Thankfully, with me being out of there, I am able to draw him out of work and into a more positive space at home. Before, we were like two clingy, shaking puppies sitting in the corner of a concrete room after having been hit a fire hose. Many of my co-workers were suffering quite poorly, too. The break room was more like a PTSD group therapy session.

At the end of my tenure there, I was having sleep-deprivation, anxiety attacks and was essentially numb when I was at work. My morale was so low and sometimes I left work wanting to drive my car into a tree. All these things are quite uncharacteristic for me, so I knew I needed to quit. This was not me. Even when I tried to keep my own little world alive and happy at my register, I was crumbling. I had just gotten broken down. I would never go back to that kind of work environment. It is unhealthy, even to the strongest of souls.

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R&M
Everett, US
Jul 14, 2012 6:45 pm EDT

Win Co has so pushed the boundaries with their poor food products!

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R&M
Everett, US
Jul 14, 2012 6:43 pm EDT

I have the same problem and they will not help me either!

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saramaria1969
Spokane, US
Apr 26, 2012 8:22 pm EDT
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My daughter was workimg for winco in the deli department, she became pregnant after she was employed. since she had signed a form that she was tpld she hadto sign while in orientation that she could lift up to 50 lbs. they called her into a conference room the deli manager and another empkoyee to serve as witness, proceded to in form her that they would not be able to accomadate her weight restriction givin by her Dr. so in order to save her job she would have to right a letter requestin a voluntary leave of absence due to her weight restrictions givin y her Dr. the Female manager and witness employee told her word for word what to write in this request. this was in February 2012 they told her to put her return date 2nd wk of september 2012 the reason being they were so kind as to add her maternity leave on to it. iit is now april 2012 and a week ago she recieved a letter from winco stating ang eployee takin a voluntary leave of absence must not exceed ninety days you no longer are employed for winco due to length of your absence. we are getting a lawyer.

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Mr Winco
Everett, US
Apr 02, 2011 4:20 pm EDT

They have mulitple issues in Everett Washington. A newly opened store in late 2010. It is interesting that they hire 80 cashiers to support the regsiters. A bit overkill and of course not all at once. This allows the company to low ball hours for employees so they wont hit their medical benefits of reaching 100 hours. And dont tell me they cant create a method to give employees more then a weeks worth of work schedule at a time. That is bad management! And of course it doesn't help when they bring in a rookie Manager that has management skills set that are right out of the manager 101 "don't do's" handbook. As many employees use food stamps as their customers that come into the store that shop. If only the creator of the company would know the REAL FACTS, he/she would fall over dead. Well... maybe that is why WINCO operates this way... because they are! If its employee owned, then the employees needs to take over the store and run it to success by being back by a UNION. This waymanagement does not shaft everyone hours and loose benefits.

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clair Dunham
Eugene, US
May 25, 2010 12:38 am EDT

I worked at winco in Eugene Oregon. It was horrible. the manager talked bad about me behind my back, and I was a new employee just trying to learn the job. The employees spy on each other to hopefully be promoted. It is a crazy place to work...

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Tamotacho
, US
May 18, 2017 5:34 pm EDT
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Samething in Arizona but spying isn't even the half of it. They have even worse suspect behavior outside of the job site. They intentionally sabotage others. When watching these people it's like literally watching hyenas. Wicked, possessed, evil spirited individuals out for blood.

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RegolithBasedLifeform
, US
Jul 13, 2018 12:35 pm EDT
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I have seen this exact same thing at the Hemet location and I'm JUST A CUSTOMER!
I have NEVER worked at Winco, yet this is visibly obvious to me after a checker mentioned racial favoritism by the manager toward employees of the same race. HOWEVER, this favoritism has shown to be only partially motivated by race. It's more like whoever is the angriest, most intimidating employee will always be promoted and trusted MORE than the kind, caring and truly diligent employee who has the customer's back.