associate

dispensary manager

cultivation technician

packager

Ascend Wellness

: Frustrating Experience: Inept Company with Power-Hungry Middle Management



I regretfully admit that my time at Ascend was nothing short of disappointing. From the very start, it became evident that this organization is plagued by incompetence and a culture of power-hungry middle management.

The most significant issue I encountered during my tenure was the lack of efficiency and effectiveness within the company. Simple tasks took an inordinate amount of time to complete, and projects were frequently derailed due to miscommunication and poor planning. It felt as though the left hand had no idea what the right hand was doing, leaving employees to navigate a confusing and frustrating work environment.

However, the primary source of my discontentment was the toxic middle management. Rather than supporting and empowering their team members, they seemed more focused on asserting their authority and maintaining control at all costs. Any dissenting opinion or suggestion for improvement was met with hostility, creating an environment of fear and suppression of creativity.

Furthermore, the lack of transparency and communication from the higher-ups only exacerbated the problem. Decisions were made behind closed doors without any input from the employees who were most affected by them. This lack of consideration for the workforce led to a significant decline in morale and productivity.

In addition to the ineptitude and power struggles, the company failed to invest in employee development and growth. Opportunities for advancement were scarce, and any attempts to express interest in personal or professional growth were brushed aside. As a result, many talented individuals, including myself, felt demotivated and eventually left the company in search of better opportunities elsewhere.

It is crucial for any organization to have strong leadership and a supportive work environment that values its employees. Unfortunately, Ascend falls far short in this regard. The toxic atmosphere created by power-hungry middle management and the lack of organizational competence make it a place where no one should consider investing their time and effort.

In conclusion, I cannot in good conscience recommend Ascend to anyone seeking a positive and fulfilling work experience. The combination of ineptitude and power-hungry middle management has turned this company into a breeding ground for frustration and discontentment. If there are no substantial changes in leadership and culture, I fear that the organization's reputation and performance will continue to suffer.

All of our bosses bosses come from other industries and are completely disconnected from our average customer. 
They know little to nothing about the scientific aspects of cannabis. This inhibits them from being ahead of the market on simple products. 
We've always been two steps behind competing stores. As an example they had entry level employees conducting price analysis of competing stores. These are tasks you pay someone with a college degree to conduct. 
On several occasions I've watched them take advantage of people looking for a promotion giving them tasks but not schedule them to do this work outside of their regular schedule. This creates strain on the rest of the staff also because this person then cannot work to their fullest potential juggling all the extra work. 
They advertise vertical integration of the company but this is far from the truth. The cart was put before the horse and now we sell other companies products similar to ours at a far cheaper price. The purpose of vertical integration isn't realized at AWH. Upper level management loves to brag about the company constantly even tho it's obvious to entry level employees familiar with the industry they don't understand what their doing. 
No in house training programs so hiring people with "little to know experience or eager to learn of the industry" is the status quo in order to hire at a low wage. The "opportunity" for advancement is constantly brought up but the way they treat the management keeps the smart people from wanting to be used and abused. Lower management is constantly filling in at other stores because they can't retain management. This creates a space for things to get missed. Hourly employees working harder because of this to fill in the holes. 
The people I work with are amazing. Withought us the store would be in shambles. Upon opening the store there was no marketing. A misspelled sign on the building that was used at every michigan opening until we noticed the spelling error. Months later we still have customers wondering what exactly we sell. 
This company could be doing so much more if they weren't two steps behind. This in my opinion and from my experience in the market is a direct result of upper level management and their constant disconnection from reality. 
If you're looking to grow in the industry I advise looking for a more organized player in the game. 

I learned a lot about the cannabis, industry and different cannabinoids, and how they help different medical conditions. Every transaction, whether it be medical or recreational, I was  helping people. They pay to get you licensed through the state board of cannabis, but it doesn’t transfer to any other dispensaries. 
The hardest part of the job was standing usually in the same place for 6 to 8 hours. Also, the hours. While management sought to keep schedules fair, which I can appreciate, it made it a struggle for a lot of people. If you work till close, you were working till 9 o’clock at night but if you were working the closing shift, you would be there till 10:30-11 at night doing blind bin counts. Often times you would be expected to return first thing in the morning for your opening shift for the week. There were definitely enough people that needed to be “first shift” and people that needed to be “second shift” but because of how they did scheduling, everyone was constantly requesting to switch shifts with others. Management would often deny shift exchange requests when 2 employees agreed, which would then lead to both employees possibly getting written up if they had to call off for their shift. 
Management did a good job with the culture and the environment for the most part. However, a lot of employees felt the need to discuss their political beliefs and management would a lot of times allow that and/or be a part of the conversation. Unfortunately, we did have patients that heard these conversations and did not feel like they were welcome to be there. As an employee hearing these conversations and hearing the assumptions made about people in different political parties, it did not feel welcoming at times. I don’t feel these things should be discussed in a professional environment and I think management should’ve taken it more seriously no matter what their beliefs were. 
Other than that, it was awesome getting to help people and I felt my coworkers were there to help people as well. I’m thankful for the knowledge that I gained while working there.

Initially, they make you believe this is the best job in the world to work for. They say everyone there LOVES their job.. They absolutely LIE through their teeth! This is the WORST job that I’ve ever worked for. The management is like a bunch of grade school cliques. They are two faced. You are only treated well, if they like you. You have to royally kiss their behind. Your breaks are 15 minutes. If you want to go outside, you literally have to walk down 3 long hallways to get to the locker room, change your clothes (no scrubs outside), walk outside slug your coffee quick and suck down a cigarette, if you smoke, then when you are done, run to the door, show your card, after ringing the bell, then walk fastly to the locker room, change, put your safety glasses and hair net on, go through the air shower, wash your hands, walk through 3 stations of spraying yourself and walking on a soaked mat, and then walk the long hallways back to your room!!! You must do this all in 15 MINUTES!!! This is the same occurrence for lunch, except that you get a half hour, and one more 15 MINUTE break at the end of the day. Everyone, for the most part is assigned to the same job, unless they don’t like you. Then, they keep switching jobs on you and expect you to have perfect timing. Some jobs you literally have to do in 4 SECONDS! If you don’t, they demand a meeting and claim your performance is horrible. They never focus on the positive that you do, once you get on their bad side. They will make you absolutely miserable to try to make you quit. You can do everything to the best of your ability and they will still treat you Horribly ! Human Resources is an absolute joke. She love to gossip, but whatever you request from her, she’ll never get it done. She acts like she cares about you and your concerns, but then like I said, she WILL ACCOMPLISH NOTHING for you!!! This place is horrendous. I wouldn’t tell my worst enemy to get a job there.., well maybe, since they treat you so terribly BAD!!! They will destroy you mentally and there is absolutely no one you can go to that will help you in that place! So, do yourself a favor and stay away from this PLACE!!! 

As I mentioned before, during my time at Ascend, I witnessed a lot of unfairness practices in the work place, witnessed Management critiquing every employee during each shift  so they could decide who is fast enough for the registers. All other "slow" employees, including ones with disability would be placed at the sales floor or in the reception / lobby area. If you talked too much, you were not placed on the registers, you would be placed at the sales floor or reception / lobby area. 
The only workplace culture you see is between the employees. The culture created by the management team is fear your management, don't ask question, no opinions should be offered. If you are an employee with more knowledge in the industry, you are told by management not to disclose any of that knowledge to the fellow employees. Especially if it has to do with regulations & laws surrounding cannabis. However, they never taught you the proper rules & regulations when you start. The hardest part of the job is management & how their style is on running a cannabis business. Not to mention the old product they relabel to sell to their consumers. Oh, & the Union.. You are forced into the Union when hired. However, the Union definitely does not do their part & represent their employees as they should. Instead they make promises then never keep them. Seems even the Union fears Ascend as well. The most enjoyable part was working with likeminded individuals & share the same passion to help the consumers by giving them the best informed info so they can make the best for what medicines to put into their body.  

I loved working there in Chicago Ridge. I loved all my coworkers and even the managers. I was promoted, worked very hard and thought I was appreciated and liked by the management and upper management. 

I ended up having to leave, resign and gave notice. They were very cool with me, helped me in every way and have been a good reference for me. But when I applied again, part time, I was not even called for an interview, or hired! I honestly can't believe that and considering my love for the company and the months of hard work I performed for the company, I'm honestly hurt to find out that it is their policy in Chicago Ridge and Tinley never to hire back former employees. 

I shop there exclusively, still, because I love the prices and the company. But after applying 5-10 times for part time work, I have not received even one single call or interview. 

Ascend to me was 10/10 in every single way but not rehiring great former employees is a huge turn off and to me very ugly behavior. Be warned, if you want to work for this company. If you quit, even under great circumstances and on good terms, they will NOT rehire you no matter what. A heartbreaker for me, because I truly loved my managers. They were all great people that taught me a lot about the cannabis industry and helped me grow professionally. 

High turnover rate of employees from management down. Constantly changing policies, but not telling everyone. unfair wages between employees of the same level (people who have been there 8+months making less than a new hire, that same new hire making less than the next new hire and having way more experience) Not allowed to take tips but the pay is HORRIBLE. No wage progression plan, no schedule for reviews, zero training when hired especially related to company docs and policies. Upper management having zero knowledge of cannabis culture, only previous retail knowledge. They only want the money that comes with cannabis. They’ll tell you they are vertically integrated but they’re own product is bunk. The growers obviously dont know how to properly flush PGR’s,as their product will spark when lit. I witnessed the raise price on a competitor product by $6 (it had been the same price for months and a top seller) and lower the price on their own brand just to trick customers into buying theirs. I heard it from a top management employee that they will rebrand their own product just to make customers think it’s something else and buy it. That’s how much people want their brand. There are so many other dispensaries to work for or purchase from that are really wanting the cannabis culture to be maintained and have their patients, customers and employees first in mind. STAY AWAY FROM ASCEND!!!

The company has a passion for making money without the understanding of Cannabis in the first place.  No one on the Corporate level is a consumer, and therefore are all completely out of touch with cannabis culture as a whole.   Cannabis is an inclusive sport, it's fun to consume alone but even better with friends!   
Ascend does not support staff at the store level.  We are undermanaged, understaffed, undercompensated.  Hard work goes unrecognized, let alone appreciated.  Many of us frequently worked 6-7 day work weeks with double shifts thrown in. We were not allowed to accept tips, there were no performance reviews, both at store level and at the corporate level, i.e. no raises, nor benefit increase. No vendor swag allowed to be worn in the store, nor were we given vendor samples.  (You know, so we may familiarize ourselves with the product we are selling.) 
 Minimal chance for internal advancement.  Losing employees in droves isn't enough for them to question there practices.
  What will be??   Clearly not my hard work and dedication.  That went unnoticed and unappreciated except by my immediate coworkers.  We were a great team, I miss them!  I do not miss Ascend or the stress it brought into my world, tainting my passion and love for Cannabis.  

Faculty, Staff,Management are full of family members, spouses and know all about everybody. No room for advancement unless you know the people personally and based off whether they like you or not. You can do your job  and keep your nose to the grindstone and still get wound up in someones drama. It's a factory job so it's a no-brainer. Not EEO friendly, benefits are well below subpar, no communication within departments on what you will be doing on a daily basis to a fair extent. Depends on the time of the year. Used to have a shelter to smoke under during times of inclement weather. Sorry smokers/ vapers. Leads are cliqued up and most of the employees are too. Very toxic work environment with varieties including, timing you on various tasks while creating a "joint team atmosphere", says quality over quantity but not the case. It's the other way around. No team effort, you're graded individually but lumped in with others so set a baseline. Not enough time off accrual and that's an eye opener, disciplinary system is a joke. One instance of a minor yet honest mistake will get you put under a microscope. Full of diverse people in a county not fully open minded towards some culturally diverse parties. Work is mindless though so proceed at your own discretion and risk. 

I've worked for Ascend as a budtender for about 4 months now. The specific store I work at has been quite enjoyable. 
Working in cannabis, often times the most challenging thing is being able to go with the flow as the CRA (Cannabis Regulatory Agency) often changed their rules and guidelines. Being able to work with that is essential. 
THE PEOPLE - The people here are absolutely amazing. Great, supportive coworkers. Inclusive and thoughtful about things like peoples preferred pronouns. I've never felt more involved and part of a team like I have here.
Management sometimes isn't always on the same page when it comes to communications but they're overall super helpful. I never feel bad asking questions, or reaching out and speaking with them whenever I have an issue. 
One of the benefits I've found, is that in this industry you're able to obtain samples of products and learn about the cannabis plant and the fact it's about MORE than just THC %, or the categories Sativa, Indica, etc.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Associate 187 salaries reported	$16.57 per hour
Dispensary manager 61 salaries reported	$20.52 per hour
Pt 70 salaries reported	$17.42 per hour
Cultivation technician 37 salaries reported	$18.82 per hour
Packager 27 salaries reported	$18.11 per hour

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