deli associate

customer service associate / cashier

courtesy associate

checker

barista

Nugget Market

QUICK NOTES:
- These are my views and perceptions of what I've experienced over the past three years; my intent is not to represent everyone who works there.
- There are guidelines on attire, but you can keep piercings in the front end, and colored hair is alright as long as it's not "too distracting." I saw people with split-dyed hair and rainbow hair; I don't know of anyone who was told to change their hair. Piercings depend on the department.
You won't like this job if you dislike interacting with people. Nugget doesn't tolerate bad attitudes, and you'll hate the environment anyway.
- Nugget has a lot of extra ways you can earn money (most are semi-random)
- You receive 15% off, but only when you present your physical card. It can be shared with parents and/or a partner, if you live with them. No siblings.
- You can't tender a transaction or make food for a family member or friend.

TYPICAL DAY: Shifts are typically 8 hours or 4 hours in the front end. Nugget keeps their stores CLEAN and organized, so you're expected to be proactive about those kinds of things. They expect you to stand over a spill even if you're not on the clock. You're working with the public, so yes, there are entitled rude people that you have to help. That being said, most guests were pleasant! The PICs or supervisors at my store were readily available to assist with demanding guests or any uncertainties involving transactions. It can get hectic; you need to be able to focus on your guests and the transaction details even when things get chaotic. Being respectful, honest, level-headed, and observant will get you far.

WORKPLACE CULTURE: The workplace culture is honestly one of a kind. I've had a rollercoaster experience working here; even so, I can say that Nugget Markets has been my favorite place to work by far. Nugget hires based on personality, and it shows. I've seen a lot of people come and go (as is typical in entry-level positions), and I only had a conflict with two people total. Neither conflict was on a scale that required management intervention. There's an extensive age range of people working there, from 16 to 46+. The younger associates often go out in large groups and hang out outside of work. If you come in with the mindset to take advantage of all that Nugget has to offer and invest yourself in the culture, it's a truly incredible place to be. If your store properly utilizes these tools, associates can write appreciation cards for one another, which serve as raffle tickets that are drawn weekly. If your card is drawn, you can spin the wheel for a cash prize $25 - $200 on the spot or a paid day off. You can also spin the wheel if you're the nominated associate of the week for your department.

OPPORTUNITIES: They go above and beyond when it comes to opportunity. If you work (I believe) 22 hours or more a week on average, you qualify for health, vision, and dental insurance, as well as retirement benefits. During my employment, Nugget raised everyone's pay by $1.00 and increased our discount from 10% to 15%. They reasoned that they wanted to help offset inflation for their associates. There are seasonal store parties with raffles featuring big-ticket items, such as a Nintendo Switch or a YETI large cooler. During the winter, you can sign up for a free ski trip with fellow associates, which includes free transportation. In the summer, you can similarly sign up for a white water rafting trip at no expense to you. Every year, there are "return to learn" classes that are genuinely engaging and can teach you department-specific skills, such as cake decorating. You can only sign up for one class, but it's entirely free. Last year, I took a class and am now certified in CPR/AED/First Aid for Adults and Pediatrics through the American Red Cross. There's a scholarship opportunity each year. There's a winter cash bonus around Christmas time. There are annual raises based on your date of hire, and additional raises may be possible. I've heard people negotiate their raises and promotions all within the first year of employment.

MANAGEMENT: The PICs are great. The store director was also great, but somewhat inconsistent in his leadership style. Nugget is good about not micromanaging associates — unless you're not a favorite, and that's one gripe I have. However, the "non-favorites" were the people who stood around and did nothing, and would get upset at managers when asked to do their job. If you're a team player and you do your job, management is incredibly lenient, and I couldn't be more grateful for it. I was written up over five times, but I was never fired because I was honest in my communication and showed improvement over time. I went through a lot of physical and mental turmoil during my time at Nugget. Management offered me resources and support on both a personal and professional level.

Long story short, what you invest in Nugget, they invest in you.

When I first started at Nugget, I was very excited and I enjoyed it very much but overtime, management has been so bad. They give you a facade on your first few months and they eventually start showing their true colors. The environment I have worked with is so toxic more than 10 people has come and go in just a matter of 4 months. They love to micromanage and they often overlooked all your hard work and focuses on the smallest mistakes you make. They often want you to be 100% perfect and if you are not, they won't give you a raise. This company should hire robots since they often asks you to be 100% perfect. They always favor the associates who have worked there longer like 10 years even though they are doing something wrong. Management never appreciates the effort your give to the company. There's always something wrong or missing even if you have given your best. They promote "RAVE" in the workplace but never really follow through. Management always love to dance around a certain subject when you want to tell them something. For example, if you have asked for a raise, they will dance around and avoid the subject and instead makes you feel guilty and points out all your flaws. A manager should be encouraging their employees not guilt trip them. The management also are so hypocritical when it comes to what they say. For example, they will be on you for not doing sweeps but when they come and volunteer to do them, they only hold the broom and walk around to let the camera see that the sweep is "done." This company is always so worried about their reputation in front of the guests to be so perfect but the truth is, this company is FAR from perfect. It's so toxic and not good for anyone's mental health. My mental health started deteriorating after 6 months of working there. They expect so much from you especially when there is no one to cover the department and at the end of the day, they only give you a thank you card but never a raise or any appreciation like duer of the month or duer of the week. At the end of the day, you give 99% best but they will always be looking at your 1% mistake. What a disappointment. This review is all raw and true from my experience. No sugar coating.

Loved my coworkers, had a lot of fun on the job with them. Made the super busy and stressful times worth it. But management plays favorites. Once the new department manager came in it was nothing but issues with them over 90% of the team. Manager had their few favorite employees who constantly got our version of "employee of the week" which would be a great program if it wasn't abused with favoritism. A few of us employees stepped up to store management about said issues that were clearly against Nugget culture but was shrugged off despite over half of the department resigning because of the new department manager. Overall, company culture and values are wonderful on paper, I really thought it was going to be my fit. But with smaller companies comes lots of favoritism and holding the least-liked employees to near impossible higher standards than those who have already established themselves as the "favorite". They get away with the least amount of effort and work but receive the most praise and monetary incentives while the real hard working employees who deserve said monetary incentives are left incredibly overworked and mistreated.

Response to the COVID pandemic was quick, they placed a mask requirement company wide before the state mandate and created positions specifically for thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting throughout the business hours. However, in most departments that are heavily service forward tend to get over crowded with employees, definitely not following social distancing guidelines. They did put the guest satisfaction over employee health in that retrospect. 

The management here is absolutely awful. They’re constantly switching out managers with other stores, so all your hard work with 1 manager means absolutely nothing to the new one coming in. You constantly have to reintroduce yourself and prove time and time again that you’re a hard worker. You don’t feel comfortable talking with the managers about personal issues or work related issues. And when you do feel like you can talk to them, nothing gets done. It feels like they don’t care about  you. They don’t make it feel like a safe work environment. They have favorites and it’s clear when you aren’t one of them. They will also watch you on the cameras and time you on tasks you’re doing, or if you even use the restroom. When making the schedules they’ll double up tasks for you which make it impossible for you to finish, and makes you work harder than you’re getting paid for. They’ll add more tasks onto your schedule without telling you, that way it looks like you aren’t doing your job. They set you up for failure. Any good thing you do gets rewarded, but only if you’re a favorite of theirs. I constantly had my good deeds and hard work diminished or looked past because of this reason. And i had comment card ( cards written by guests to show they appreciated the hard work you do) go missing. I got 3 of them in 1 year ( they are very hard to get) and somehow all 3 went missing.. I loved my coworkers and will keep them as friends after working here. But the management does not make it worth it. Especially if you’re a courtesy clerk who gets paid less then everyone else yet does all the work in the store. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Great hours co-worker support is great .

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
Heavy workload after only a few weeks of training, not allowed to show your culinary expertise to an untrained culinary trainer, they will make your life miserable. Trainers have a god-like personality. They will go straight to management and throw you under the bus for speaking out and correcting their knowledge, even if you are right. Don't try it; you will make it harder on yourself. The store manager believes the executive chefs, even if they are wrong. I won't tell you what I feel about management; it's sad.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
The work environment is uncomfortable; you are being micromanaged the entire time and are not allowed to eat anything in the kitchen except for the trainers and chefs, even though there is a no-grazing policy. Pins and needles all day, no tolerance for making mistakes, they feel that if you've been trained, you are not allowed to make mistakes, which gives anxiety vibes. 

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Typical day, you're prepping, cooking, controlling your work, area pivoting food ideas, rotating hot food items on display, working multiple stations, packaging food items, labeling, food items on display while working multiple stations, putting poducts out on shelves building, hot food, improvising recipes breaking down your station cleaning and sanitation storing reheated food back into the refrigerators

I’ll start by saying that it all comes from the top. My manager had an interesting system to rule the department which mostly included outright favoritism, turning a blind eye to wrongdoings such as no call no shows, and letting everyone except the person in trouble know what their plans were to do with the offender. They tried to make everyone dislike each other so that we weren’t close with anyone and would be open to them gossiping about whoever had upset them that day. The amount of trash talk about other department managers and coworkers I heard from them was on scale with the high school cool kids. Which let’s be honest this store was mostly high school kids.

Corporate isn’t open to new ideas unless the few select people they favor come up with them. It’s frustrating watching or participating in the amount of brown nosing just to be listened to and get your ideas out there.

The job itself was easy, but that too was a flaw in the design because it encourages others who are told in this company “we can train anyone with the right attitude to do anything” which simply isn’t true.

Overall I wouldn’t recommend working here unless you have a pasted smile on your face, don’t mind some routine hypocrisy, and enjoy watching the worst sorts of people advance because no one else is interested in more work for less money. 

Good luck! And remember “hours are given based on attitude and performance.”

When I had started working for Nugget Markets, I had never had the experience working for a Forbes Top 100 Best Companies To Work For. After working there, my experience was great. A typical day for me would start at 6:00 am opening up and setting everything up all of the displays outside. I would also be outside sweeping the parking lot and finishing any work that was not finished the night before. Around 10:00 am, the late morning rush would come and it was time to stay up front and provide our guests with excellent customer service and send them on their way with a very positive experience inside our store. I learned how to always provide excellent service and continue to keep a smile on your face when the day seems rough. Management was very encouraging and was always doing whatever they could to work with my school schedule while I was going to CSU Sacramento full-time. The workplace culture was very friendly and we always were able to communicate during the busiest parts of the day. The hardest part of the job was trying to get so many things done in one shift before you went home so then you do not leave the next co-worker the extra work of covering for you. The most enjoyable part of this job was having a consistent work schedule and being able to get off by 2:00 pm everyday.

Could be great without the favoritism and toxic management at play. Sometimes your concerns are overlooked and gets dismissed and sometimes you would feel unappreciated for your hard work.

There are days the store gets super busy and you're multitasking and making sure you're doing your best to get orders done and cases filled whilst the manager is away in her office all day and doesn't appear until the end of her shift to scowled you why more product hasn't been made. When the other "favorite" employees are taking longer breaks or disappear than helping. 
And once you get hurt on the job, they'll do whatever they can to not assist you or do the bare minimum to help you through workman's comp and then to let you go after you decided to leave the company for the sake of your health.

They really work you until you break and "reward" you with pizza instead of raises. The whole "we are a family" is just another company's metephor in making you believe they care about their employees.
Overall, it could be a great place to work at if it wasn't for the toxic management. 

Nugget Markets is a standout grocery company to work for, known for its exceptional employee culture and commitment to quality. Working at Nugget Markets offers a unique experience due to its family-owned atmosphere and strong community focus. 

Employees appreciate the company's emphasis on providing outstanding customer service and high-quality products. Nugget Markets values its team members and fosters a supportive work environment where employees feel valued and respected. 

One of the perks of working at Nugget Markets is the opportunity for growth and advancement. The company invests in employee development through training programs and mentorship opportunities. 

Nugget Markets also prioritizes work-life balance by offering flexible schedules and competitive benefits, including healthcare and retirement plans. Employees enjoy a sense of pride in being part of a company that is committed to sustainability and community involvement.

Overall, Nugget Markets stands out as an excellent place to work due to its family-oriented culture, focus on quality, and opportunities for personal and professional development within a supportive and caring environment.

When I first started there it was everything I thought it was going to be.  In orientation I learned a lot about the company and it's culture and how they treat their associates and guests.  It all sounded really great !  But like all places of employment you always find what you think are the flaws in the company.  One thing I felt there was some hypocrisy in how they ran the company and took care of the integrity of the product, especially the perishable foods on the trucks.  Loading frozen and chilled foods on to a truck in the Summer months mixed with very warm warehouse pallets is a recipe for foods to become thawed snd possibly spoiled. Also the frozen and chilled pallets would sit on the dock that is well over 70 degrees for up to an hour or more at times waiting to be loaded.  Seeing products like ice cream coming off trucks and the container being really soft from thawing out was a concern to me.  Products like dairy products were warmed up to over 50 degrees as well.  So for a company to post on the walls of their store about the quality of their products, to me is very misleading especially the perishable foods that are delivered on the Nugget trucks from the warehouse to the stores.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Deli associate 3 salaries reported	$18.67 per hour
Customer service associate / cashier 4 salaries reported	$18.50 per hour
Courtesy associate 3 salaries reported	$17.33 per hour
Checker 3 salaries reported	$17.33 per hour
Barista 3 salaries reported	$19.33 per hour

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