"Life after Whole Foods"

It is true that there is life after Whole Foods. I left after the better part of a decade, for all the reasons we have beaten to death on this site. I do feel better in a lot of ways, just by removing myself from a dysfunctional, toxic environment.

But I'm here to tell all you disgruntled TMs that the grass is not always greener.

For starters, it is hard to find a job that will pay close to what WFM pays, especially when you've been there for years. And yearly raises are not guaranteed. Health insurance is better pretty much anywhere but that's not enough of a reason to leave WFM.

Then there's job security. You don't get "voted on" at any other job. This means you actually have to show up, work hard, and do a good job because you can get fired instantly anywhere else. WFM is great for slackers (and bad for those who actually GAF), because once you're voted on, it is nearly impossible to get fired unless you are habitually late or do something really really stupid (stealing, grabbing p_$$y, drinking on the job, etc) and even then we all know you still might not get fired if the bosses like you. If you are just a bad worker, there will be months of write ups and counseling before they can actually fire you. You can look busy for a shift or two and save your job. And you can even get promoted if you're a p___ grabbing, drunk, worthless worker!

Sure, the shoppers can be awful, the company itself is so dysfunctional and mismanaged that it seems like a messed up social experiment, and store closings/layoffs are ever-imminent. But as someone who left, I'm here to tell you to s--- it up. Everyone at WFM feeds off each other's stress and catastrophizes every little thing. Drama drama drama. But quitting is not always the answer.

Find a way to rise above the nonsense and gain some perspective. It's a grocery store. There are worse jobs and frankly most of you have it pretty easy. If you can't cope, maybe use your PWA money for hypnosis ala "Office Space." Or try recreational drugs. Whatever. Life after Whole Foods is pretty much the same as life at Whole Foods: it is what you make it.

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Get out. Been gone for 3 years after wasting over 15 years because I let them convince me that I wasn't worth anything better. Hit he pay cap, then they forced me out. It's an abusive, cult like place. You can do better. There are places that will pay you what you're worth with actual benefits. They are also dying a slow death. Do you think they layoff are done? The store closings will stop? They won't be bought out? Their days are numbered which means your days are too. There really is life after whole foods, and it is a better one.

Freaking awesome post!!!!!!!!!

The 6 years I was there I only saw two ppl voted off my team. Let me tell you they were weirdos and no one liked em, I'm glad for it.

Let me guess, you were voted off weren't you

Just don't do it. Nobody gives a p--p.

Team member vote for voting your coworkers in or out of a job is the worst part for me. It is awful to hear about people who would never be put in a leadership position voting on whether or not someone gets to keep their job. I understand the original campfire mentality that started this but it does not work as it is supposed to. The team leaders job is supposed to be to prepare a team member for a team member vote and it's supposed to help build harmonious and compatible teams, but it does not prepare a team member against disgruntled coworkers and gossipy people that are nearly impossible to fire. I can't imagine someone with children having to impress everyone in their department so they can feed their kids. If it got rid of people who are just plain awful then I would understand. It just simply doesn't work that way and I hope they get rid of it. Every job has a trial period but it shouldn't be up to one's peers to determine another human being's fate.

And I forgot the whole reason I posted that was because no one got raises. Still rather have that.

i make only slightly less money but am about to move depts and get a 38.7% pay increase. my retirement plan is at NAV so no broker or firm ever takes a commissions..so my money is my money. i have sat/sat and every federal holiday off. i get to wear jeans and tshirts..

i was in mktg as a store artist, now i work for a mutual fund company.

effin amazing people and environment.

what a damn blessing that layoff was

Before wf I had a job that paid $3 less per hour, but was FT and I was off every other weekend. I also only worked about 2 hours per day, but got paid for 7. I'm never going to work somewhere that has Saturday and Sunday back to back in the same week again!

Ppl are scared to leave, they think they can't do better. I know I was. Then one day I just said screw it and took the first job I could find out of the grocery business. It s---ed. The job after that s---ed too. But eventually I got that coveted 9-5 office job and man was it worth it. My life is so much bettter now. My family invites me to gatherings again cause I don't work weekends anymore, and I don't dread the holidays either.

I'll never ever go back, and I'm now always extra nice to the retail and grocery workers I encounter.

You nail it. I am making less money but happier. I refuse to do a rotating schedule anywhere again. Ever. Of course that disqualifies me from at least 90 percent of jobs out there. It wrecked my sleeping pattern and I still have nightmares about an ex boss who was nice enough to tell me he couldn't stand me.

I've been in the food industry for the last 16 years, from waiting table to eventually getting a pastry degree and working in the most high volume kitchens in the area; typical long hours, extreme conditions, etc. But, the 4 years I spent as a Bakery TL almost shattered me. 55+ hour work weeks, no support beyond my tiny team (who were incredible), zero appreciation, leadership retaliation, pay increase disappointments, regional programs that uproot and destroy daily SOPs only to be pulled, revised, then cancelled altogether. I. Was. Traumatized. I finally submitted my resignation when the favoritism and retaliation from store leadership became too much. I had no plan, but I did have 16 week PTO saved up after consistently being denied vacation time. It was about 6 months before I forgot which week in the period it was. It's been 3 years and still cannot step foot into my store without feeling short of breath or anxious. The PTSD is REAL and I am happy to watch this company go down in flames. My enthusiasm, team mentality, expertise, loyalty, were all exploited for pennies and I was brainwashed to think that companies couldn't care any more for their employees or customers than WFM. They're REALLY good at that. They start with HTGR and don't stop. I have an adult, 9-5 job now that pays a living wage with excellent benefits and cannot imagine where I would be (physically or mentally) had I decided to keep swallowing the b---s--- and stay. I have been monitoring this site since I left and really wish those of you who remain in the company the best. I KNOW what you're going through, I know change is difficult, BUT YOU CAN DO BETTER.

Good post mainly because it's true unless you only been with the company a short time then its just another bs job in food service, and mot a very good one at that.

Thread regarding Whole Foods Market Inc. layoffs

"Life after Whole Foods"

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