I'm beginning to question my decision on becoming an ATL. I really enjoyed my job when I was a buyer and now know why I hesitated to move up in the first place. Instead of worrying about the job I did personally as I buyer, now I have to babysit and worry about the job everyone else is doing. Required to do everything a team leader does, without the pay. The stress doesn't seem worth it because I'm now a much less happy person. Anyone else with the same experience?
17 replies (most recent on top)
One of my atl's went from being human to tyrant in no time flat.
So far so good , I work in nyc . Would say with my pay It hard for my team to make
Labor . It has its drawbacks also
Hope you're retiring soon my friend.. That's going to go away.
As tl I currently make $35 a hour which is the max as a tl currently . 72k plus it so I’m pulling 80k-82k a year . It’s a good gig if you know what your doing , for those who say the experience means very little . I seen several tl leave for something better store management , various management positions because of the experience . Basic business principles is universal everywhere
My atl experience meant a little on my resume after leaving Whole Foods and moving onto a new industry outside of retail.
Just a little bit though. I recently interviewed for a mgt position in the office I work at now and they did like seeing that I had some leadership experience under my belt - and it actually helped knowing I dealt with misfit retail workers too.
It’s worth it, stay on track OP. ATL s---s, just pay your dues and move up or out.
Atl is easier than TL. I concur with the one who wrote about write ups. A lot depends on your store leadership.
Leadership is pretty easy if u know what your doing and have a plan. I was a TL for 12+ yrs and never felt stressed. Just got to have a plan/ direction/ standards and stick to it with an environment of accountability...if you cradle everyone’s balls then you’ll have problems. If the TM isn’t working out, get them out which isn’t very difficult and replace them. Always hire ballers and and not ones that need cradling
It's even worse when you're a tl because you are actually held accountable for everyone's crap performance. Some stl's will write you up for not writing your tm's up. And OTS doesn't make things any better.
Yeah.. It doesn't get any better. I'm a 50k produce team leader and a lot of my team members make more than i do because they've been working for the whole for over 15 years.
That guys full of sh--. Back in the day they used to give big raises but that’s all gone. The TL making over 60k are rare and trust me they’re killing themselves to make that much.
Check out this salary on Glassdoor.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Hourly-Pay/Whole-Foods-Market-Team-Leader-Hourly-Pay-E422_D_KO19,30.htm
https://www.indeed.com/salaries/Team-Leader-Salaries-at-Whole-Foods-Market
No! The stress of being an ATL is absolutely not worth it. Work your a-- off and do good work and the TL will get the credit. Make a decision, the TL can override it, ATLs are overworked and under appreciated. You’re the go between the TMs and the allestrous TL. If you take the job seriously and really try to do it well you’ll realize how sh--ty it is. I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Just my opinion.
It shouldn't be that hard. If you're not good at the job it will be stressful, and you should quit before you need to be fired.
What is the pay range for an ATL? A buyer that's been there a long time probably makes more.
You really believe that TL paycheck is going to stick around long term? Thats your plan? Yikes.
The first 6 months will tough but once the dust settles its easy peasy unless u wrk in grocery pfds meat seafood specialty whole body or bakery then u r f(ked lol. Within a yr if u good u can become a tl n make $70-$85k(assuming u make mad ot like all TLs do). Short term not so good. Long term good
I got a 32k jump straight out of whole foods as a buyer. haven't seen an increase year over year though. I am lacking some motivation though. 72k ant bad with no fancy degree.
ATL and TLhas no future outside of Whole Foods.. NONE. Buyer.. you’ll be making over 10k more a year capped out at 100k. After that is category manager. Just leave Whole Foods now. Retail manager is a joke on a resume. A fat joke.