security officer

brand ambassador

retail sales associate

farm hand

retail assistant manager

Nova Farms

My first few months at Nova were awesome. Tips were great, shifts flew by because we were so busy, and as a budtender I was largely left out of the internal squabbling that took place. I got promoted but the longer I stayed, the more drama I seemed to notice. There were definitely employees who got away with doing the bare minimum while there were others who went above and beyond - the latter would get recognized and could move up BUT were not always given credit. While some of my coworkers were wholesome gems of human beings, others were petty and seemed to lack basic human morals. Some of my male coworkers could be extremely demeaning to women and frankly it sounded like a high school locker room. Management was in an interim period while I was employed because a former manager was let go and new ones were brought in. Personally, I was treated very well from my supervisors and managers and I really respected them. Getting time off for holidays was generally pretty difficult. From what I hear, things are far better now. All in all, I do look back at my time at Nova fondly as I made some lifelong friends. You will definitely learn a lot about cannabis and I believe if you keep your head down, do good work, and advocate for yourself you will move up and do pretty well. Keep in mind though this is corporate cannabis - while the business may be very successful, employees sometimes can be treated like numbers; definitely the kind of place you want to make work for you rather than you work for it. Regardless of the negatives, it's a decent first step if you want to pursue a career in cannabis.

When I first started at Nova I excited to started a new job as I felt stuck at my employer at the time, but then I started at Nova. I thought this would be a good entry level job to help me develop a new skill set. I was wrong. What was said to me in the interview and done in reality was two different things. I was told days and thrown on night for the first three weeks, maybe four. I made the manager aware I intended to keep my current job as a supplementary source of income in the interview and then as time went along the manager clamed I did not make him aware of this. I ended up working six days a week. My experience was policies were based on who was running the operation at the time and there were time zones. The rules were interpretive. Things were stated "if you are on time you are late". There was no logic behind that statement and his "on-time policy" was not in the employee handbook. There is no inflexible. There is rudeness, and disrespectfulness. The work environment that is promoted within the department is one distrust, negative, and no privacy between co-workers. Everything that said needs to be relayed upwards. This promoted a huge anti-trust environment and not synergetic. I did not feel secure enough to leave my other job. From what I experienced, unqualified individuals are promoted. Going to HR is grounds for termination and retaliation against employees. I would be very cautious about applying to retail security.

Where do I start? At Nova I had been at multiple parts of the company so I was able to see it in multiple lights. 

Upon first arrival, everyone is very helpful and it ropes you into a false sense of security. Lay offs happen constantly there. It’s genuinely a shock at how high the turn over rate is. Without warning you’ll be hit with a call during dinner with your kids and be told “I’m sorry but we have to let you go. There’s not enough work for everyone.” It’s very unprofessional. And they love to do it in the middle of the pay period so you don’t even get a full check at the end. 

At random points, you’ll be bounced around the company, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you get to learn all about the cannabis industry. However don’t ask for a raise, cause that’ll be a hassle and a half. And don’t talk about your wages! That’s an issue too and that’ll give them another reason to let you go. 

Working in the lab, packaging or kitchen, you make less than the bud tenders. Which is absolutely ridiculous, sure they handle the customers. However security is right there. Not exactly a high risk job. But to be hauling it in the lab, kitchen or packaging for less than 16$ an hour? That’s a joke. 

They make the products and should be compensated fairly. All the workers grief and talk about it however Nova would rather fire all its good workers who just want a bit of a rise for their hard work and keep the people who are the yes men. Only the drones remain which makes working there almost impossible without stepping on someone’s toes. 

It’s tragic because Nova used to be the best in Mass. Now it’s a joke. There’s no more “Setting the standard.” When it comes to this dispensary. 


Honestly, at the beginning I loved working here, It was a great job and they paint a nice picture of how they are. They were very flexible with scheduling with me and balancing school however, all the other negatives override the positive parts about Nova Farms. As an employee the environment was very dense and light at the same time, they are relaxed about most things but the intense vibe never let up. It’s as if you’re constantly being judged by someone there even though they portray genuine intentions, it’s anything BUT genuine. I was always picking up extra shifts posted and helping coworkers with covering their shifts whenever I could. When I got notified of my layoff, the excuse they provided me were lies. I was told my unemployment wasn’t based on my performance various times during the conversation and that it was based off seniority and because I was one of the newest hires I was getting laid off due to the lack of business in the store. For context purposes, they had been releasing budtenders from their scheduled shifts early because of the lack of business. That same afternoon I went to pick my personal lanyard back up and saw the budtender that got hired AFTER me working. The company is extremely fake and can’t be honest with you to save their life. This place had me thinking it was unreliable even a couple weeks before I got laid off, I kinda saw it coming. I wouldn’t recommend working here, as soon as you’re in, you’re out. 

THIS IS NOT A BAR/CLUB ENVIRONMENT!!!!!!
It’s a dispensary!!! Try and convince the managers of this because they are stuck in their ways. Most unprofessional work setting I’ve ever been in.  Mangers should have training or some kind of structure. To be honest, they really aren’t qualified to be telling other people what to do. I don’t think they could find their way out of a paper bag. They are literally dictators and enjoy watching their employees struggle. They treat employees like garbage and could careless about anyone else but themselves. They are two faced and will lie right to your face. In the beginning there was so many opportunities to make this a great company. The CEO is an amazing man but everyone else is a joke. I couldn’t believe the things I witnessed working at Nova Farms. Unbelievable the amount of disrespect. Most contradictory group of managers and they try and put fear and guilt into the staff. Instead of firing good hard working people, all of the managers in retail should be put on the chopping block and receive the same judgment they dished out! 
It really comes down to the fact they are so greedy they can’t see anything but $$$!
It’s sad because these people were like friends/family when I first met them, and now they are zombie money hungry robots. You can’t treat people like that and get away with it! I hope they read this and take a LONG HARD look in the mirror to see the monsters they’ve become!

Having given the better part of five years to Nova Farms I got to experience many aspects of the business. Ultimately I ended up in the wholesale division, where I progressed through the ranks to find myself in the Director role at the end of my tenure. Sadly, it seems that Nova has made some poor choices over 2024, leading to a recent large layoff. I sadly find myself a part of this group. 

I am grateful for my experience at Nova Farms. While I feel that the decision to eliminate my role was a poor choice for the future and growth of the company, I understand nothing is ever personal when it comes to business decisions. 

I adored my time at Nova. My team was the best, we had a great culture forming, everything seemed to be falling into place. 

Overall, Nova Farms is an excellent place to get your start in cannabis. However, like many big companies, you are only a number on a list and a line item on a PNL. If you are looking to build a long term career and grow with an organization I would suggest looking elsewhere. 

Cheers!

A lot of amazing people, but ownership & the c-suite consistently make poor business decisions that prioritize expansion over people's livelihoods. 

Near annual layoffs, constant rebranding, always running out of supplies & input material has created a culture of uncertainty. Many people fear for the jobs daily, because no one can be sure when the next cut is coming. 

Not to mention the company's desired output is unrealistic & every initiative is unsustainable. Morale is bleak at best the past few years and it's an open secret that the company hires to fire so they can boast they only hire full time. 

To work here in an entry-level role is probably decent (depending on which department you land in) but forget about any advancement opportunities. The job ended up as a disappointment, since it had the potential to really be something special.



From day 1, this company was nothing less then amazing to me. I was part of retail. It was like a huge Family, for the most part everyone got along, was very nice to each other and worked together to reach the common goal. I knew some of the people before hand but I've also made friends that I still see outside of work. They made it known that they would try to only promote from within and that's exactly what I saw! People who wanted to discover new ways of working with the product, like kitchen stuff, extractions, etc. they were given the path and the chance to explore and move up in the company. Never making false promises, always willing to work with you on scheduling and anything needed to make you better at your job. I have gone in since and it was like I never left, everyone always happy to see me and wondering how I've been. Their growth is untapped. They've already opened another location and I know for sure that they're no where close to being done expanding. Only reason for leaving was another job offer that I felt like I couldn't turn down. Love this place!

It’s a great gig if you’re looking for something temporary or part time. The energy in the store is amazing, and the other employees make you feel like family. The discount is *minimal* but they do make a lot of promises about what you’ll see if you stay with them on the long run. Great startup mentality, hungry for growth. Tips just got incorporated last month, which does make a good difference in paychecks. Due to short staffing you may regularly work 6-7hour shifts with only one 15 minute break, and even when given mandated break it’s only 30 minutes (in a 8+ hour standing shift). That being said- it’s a very fast paced environment and your shifts do fly by, regardless of breaks or not. Unfortunately due to plumbing issues, for the last few months we have had to publicly announce to managers whenever we need to poo. Please fix the toilet. Occasionally they’ll bring pizza and donuts which is a nice gesture.
Gotta be able to keep up with the fast pace and be ATTENTIVE.

Never in my life had I imagined I'd be working at a job that I'd love this much. Beyond all the criteria of a healthy & positive work environment, Nova Farms has endless possibilities for anyone who is passionate about cannabis. The benefit it brings and can bring to those who are already on or seeking a more holistic pathway to healing, are also endless. This industry is an ever-growing and evolving piece of artistic nature, and when you're in the right mix of industry & good company, expansion in every aspect is bountiful. I have learned so much since first being hired back in 2019. From running out shop bags at curbside, to recently being promoted to a supervisor position, every step of my experience has been validated and encouraged by the most genuine, and humble human beings I have ever met.
The management team are all rock stars, and I couldn't be more proud of the company I work for. We are a family at Nova Farms, and if you're looking for a job full with possibilities & growth, I would highly recommend applying. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Security officer 3 salaries reported	$16.67 per hour
Brand ambassador 5 salaries reported	$21.00 per hour
Retail sales associate 1 salary reported	$23.50 per hour
Farm hand 1 salary reported	$20.00 per hour
Retail assistant manager 4 salaries reported	$17.88 per hour

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