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Costco (Canada): a better employer than average.

Edit for format. I started in may 2022, here's my experience so far. A few bullet points: Pros: min wage for all entry positions: 17.50/h (+4$/h if working on Sunday). -All national holidays, store is closed. -They do not want people to work overtime, do not want to burn out employees. -maintain over 50% of staff as full time employees at all times. -part timers get almost all the same benefits as full time employees. (Including paid vacation time). -part timers guaranteed 25h a week minimum. -company has similar structure to how unions are run for pay structure, vacation, sick days, etc. -at least 30% of employees have been there 15 years plus. Cons: -does not have a union. -once you pass 90 day probabtion, next to no chance of being fired for being slow, lazy or have an attitude. -fluctuating schedule hours (not days worked, unless employee agrees) (as…


Edit for format.

I started in may 2022, here's my experience so far.

A few bullet points:

Pros:

  • min wage for all entry positions: 17.50/h (+4$/h if working on Sunday).

-All national holidays, store is closed.

-They do not want people to work overtime, do not
want to burn out employees.

-maintain over 50% of staff as full time employees at all times.

-part timers get almost all the same benefits as full time employees. (Including paid vacation time).

-part timers guaranteed 25h a week minimum.

-company has similar structure to how unions are run for pay structure, vacation, sick days, etc.

-at least 30% of employees have been there 15 years plus.

Cons:

-does not have a union.

-once you pass 90 day probabtion, next to no chance of being fired for being slow, lazy or have an attitude.

-fluctuating schedule hours (not days worked, unless employee agrees) (as business needs), even if full time.

-most positions that open up are given on a seniority basis unless it requires a specific skill set (tech assistant, forklift operator)

Probably more cons from people who have worked there longer. On to my (So Far) positive experience:

I worked in a call center for 10 years. Pre pandemic, work was fantastic, loved the job and the company (Rogers Telecom, a small specialized dept, Retail Support) Pandemic made the last 2 years absolute hell. I went on many stress leaves. I finally quit and got hired at Costco as a Stocker.

It was a pay decrease (was making 24.50$/h). It was physical labor. It was an uncertainty.

And I have no regrets. I'm losing weight, putting on muscle, and I'm free from a lot of stress and anxiety I used to feel.

My boss and coworkers are (for most of them) respectful and make me feel like I'm a valued member of the team, without abusing the hard work I'm doing.

All the criticism I've received has been constructive and it's been good. I feel confident in my ability to do the work now. And I'm not expected to go above and beyond, even when I've done so on a few occasions. But management has made a point to express they've noticed that I do, and they greatly appreciate it.

I'm also an amateur tech geek, and I've been able to get my full 40 hours a week by also working in the tech department. As an fyi, the stocker shift for morning is purely from 4am to 9am, so if I want a full shift once the store opens, it has to be work of a “different department'. And tech is super laid back: no sales quotas, just keep the area clean and help inform members about products (ex: which laptop we sell is better suited to their needs, etc).

To wrap it up, AMA. Am posting this before bed, will answer people in 8-ish hours.

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