customer service representative

assistant store manager

store manager

team leader

shift leader

Royal Farms

My experience with Royal farms has been very distasteful. Only thing that makes it worth it is the few customers you see on the regular that appreciate you and all that you do. Management makes it very clear that they don’t really care about the staff nor their personal lives. They care about the end goal and what benefits them. It’s very clear that most of higher management never really worked in the stores to experience the daily confusion that goes on. Nor have they truly worked in a functional restaurant setting to understand what it takes to run a good kitchen. (THEY HAVE THE WORST GLOVES FOR KITCHEN USE IVE EVEN SEEN) They contradict themselves in so many ways. Especially when it comes to work load and staff and hours. Impossible to expect one person to make warmer sandwiches, chicken boxes and deli sandwiches all by themselves during a rush but wonder why sales are down and people are complaining about not getting their food in time. They are very unfair when it comes to store leaders, and I can see why most store leaders quit. Even more so I see why most associates don’t last. How do you expect me to cover the register/concierge but expect me to help my team with breakfast sandwiches. They ask so much of the store leaders but barely give them help. And come to find out they expect them to work 50 hours but only pay them for 40. I was in training and the store I was at had a MIT. And all the seasoned workers told her “Don’t be a store leader! You’ll hate it and they will over work you” .. that’s not encouraging for someone who just started. There’s no overtime and no holiday pay for the store leaders and a bonus is not guaranteed. Store hours fluctuate so associates cannot get overtime unless they just so happen to be one of the go to associates and everybody in the store has called out. Even so they expect the store leader to be the one to cover and help do everything despite what they may have going on. Which is ultimately unfair because they can work 80 hours a week and still get the same check and once again a bonus is not guaranteed.(And they only get one every 3 months). They say associates get a piece of the pie but it’s not guaranteed and a very small slice. One of the only companies I’ve worked at where they don’t have employee meals. Employees that work in food should at least be granted one free meal a day. Yes they give us 50% off but it’s only for a small selection of choices. You also
Have to wait 6 months just to get benefits or vacation time. Some of their “Brand Standards” would disgust people or simply don’t make sense and further more proves my point of how they clearly never ran a functioning kitchen before. Money is motivation, They need to actually pay their workers a decent pay, especially the ones with more than enough experience!! And maybe they will get better service and productivity from their staff. But at this rate they will continue to lose out on good workers and be left with slackers who just want a check. It’s companies like this that make people not want to work in Retail/Food. 

An over-all traumatic experience beginning with the start-up paperwork which asks you to waive your right to a break and swear to never come out publicly against the company. There are many contradictory policies and a few that are impossible to follow including a 1 min time limit for people at the register and a 3 min wait period for customers at the deli...no matter how busy and short staffed you are which gets combined with a policy stating that you have to deposit 100s 50s and anything that brings your drawer over the $50 limit instantly, which customers have to wait for you to do. Also, you are not allowed to stand behind the register. If there are no customers in line you are expected to be out on the floor doing chores or finding other work so you are not "available to potential robbers". This makes it hard to get to customers and cash them out in the allotted time frame.

You begin your day with whichever hours you are scheduled for which seems to be randomly selected or when you are called in (you can be disciplined for refusing to come when called in or leaving on time if you are not dismissed by the person in charge
.). You figure out if you are on register or in deli for that day, because it changes randomly, and you go to your assigned area. Often the previous shifts chores are undone so you quickly do those for both shifts. And wait on customers while completing a list of assigned chores throughout your shift. You often end up leaving late because of the next shift having to clock in and often being tardy.

The training that you are supposed to receive is excellent...the training you get, not so much. You do learn quickly to use a fryer and other kitchen equipment as well as a register. Management by the "Store Leader" at the store I was at was incompetent with constant scheduling errors and open hostility which is not curbed even when reported. Most of the work was dumped on the managers beneath her, who were often disrespected by the store leader to the point where she would speak ill of them to the customers and trash talk in front of customers - to the employees who are working under them.

The hardest part of the job is keeping up with an unrealistic pace and getting chores finished while being understaffed. The first shift which is the one the store leader works has 5-6 people on staff, the second shift has 3-4, and third shift has only two people, even on busy friday nights with all-night chicken and a ton of customers.
The only good part of this job is having friendly customers who make it almost worth-while.

When I started working at Royal Farms more than a year ago, I was actually pretty excited to have the job. I was a very loyal customer up to that point, and I was extremely happy to be a part of it. To really know how it worked.

I've learned some interesting skills from this job. I've learned how to prepare breaded chicken in specialized, high tech deep fryers. I've had the chance to learn how they stock just about everything in the stores, from the sodas to the sandwich condiments. Occasionally I've even had the chance to observe management reset or change the machines in the stores; usually lottery machines or self-checkout machines.

Unfortunately, good things really don't last forever. The toil and oppressive atmosphere of this job can sometimes be unbearable. Management is really uncertain and sometimes unpredictable, and on more than one occasion I have had private concerns about leadership. We've cycled two Store Leaders in just the last year, and we actually had a FSL (Future? Store Leader) outright quit because they hated the way things were being run.

The workplace culture really isn't that great. Sure you will meet some wonderful people in your time working there, but there tends to be some pretty awful problems with gossip and rumors. Some stores are worse than others, but you pick up on the drama quickly.

The hardest part of the job is probably communication with management. The work can be rather difficult, but most of the time you can get used to if and even build up some stamina from the intensity of the work. Management isn't as particularly flexible, and sometimes communication seriously breaks down if you have to work between more than one store.

The most enjoyable part of the job is probably the food benefits. You can drink all of the fountain soda you want for free (provided you're working at the time), and you can get some deep cut discounts on certain food items. The rotation isn't always the same, but the chicken is usually extremely cheap.

Long story short, a good job if you can handle extremely intense work conditions like huge volumes of customers and/or a store environment that tends to get dirty quickly. If you can't handle those things; stay away. 

For real. This is the kind of business where you need your head firmly screwed on straight if you want to survive a shift.

Pros*

-Royal farms is a decent first job (although its not my first job). 
-Has  a simple means of advancement. Basically, do your job, and you will most likely get promoted. 
-This allows easy chances to obtain management training and certifications. 
-Job is easy to do once you get into the swing of things. 
-Majority of customers are easy to please. 
-Some job security (I rarely see anyone fired)
-Fast days

Cons*
- Constant shift of management. I've had 6 different store managers in 3 years.(Technically, 1 1/2 years. I was injured for over a year due to an injury) 
- Low pay. Not expecting high pay for this job, but I fall just above the federal wage (hourly) as, essentially, a shift leader/manager.
-Constant re-taking of online training classes. No longer an option to do at home. Doubles as an additional headache with the lack of hour flexibility and no option for overtime (or non-management who cannot get over 30 hours due to a policy) This means attempting to complete classes during work, or be taken off the schedule completely.
-Lack of hours. I haven't hit 40 hours since my first year. Overtime is not an option. 
- Constant Policy Shifts. Not completely against this, but its frustrating to train employees (new or current) when the policy changes every 1-3 months.
-High turnover rate. Although this goes against what I said above, you can be replaced easily. Many quit as opposed to being fired due to hours being docked completely as new-hires join. Others quit due to simple lack of hours after being hired. I have only seen 2 - 4 employees fired and that was after almost months of not doing their job or breaking a big company policy (theft or something).
-Ridiculous hour management. Single stores no longer regulate hours. Hours are regulated by Corporate, meaning busy days with a lack of employees, slow days with too many employees, overlapping or conflicting scheduling, and massive call-outs. This creates employee frustration due to this and the already small number of hours.

While the job, because of my and in my experience, is not difficult, they're just too many problems with individual management. Also, the job advancement still leads to a extremely low salary for the job (e.g I make less than $300 a week or 13-15k a year after taxes. Would, maybe, go up to 20k a year with assistant manager promotion).

I was an assistant manager when i left. I left because i no longer felt valued as an employee. I worked for the company for 5 years. Management changes over way too much. Once you get used to one managers routine and expectations, they either quit, get promoted, or transfer. Poor management training. There needs to be a whole course on how to treat and talk to your employees. Every company has favoritism, but its worse when you DL is partial to one store leader and their opinions of you. I reached a point where i could no longer advance and i could no longer get raises. I was making less than a new hire in my area for the same job when i had more experience. Benefits suck. I went out on FMLA because i was pregnant. I payed into short term disability and never recieved payment for it. I did not receive my Christmas bonus and did not receive my quartly bonus because i was out on FMLA for half of the quarter. I was driving 50 miles one way to my store. I was told i could not transfer until after i had my child. When i came back from leave i was no longer recieving the hours i worked before going out. I was told i would have to give up my position to move to a store closer to home. When i initially went to that store ( i worked in 5 stores in 5 years... not counting the ones i helped at) i was told it was temporary and i would return to the store i was at. 2 weeks later my position was filled and i was told i could not go back. I worked like a slave for this company. Even theough my entire pregnancy. I went in when there were call outs, i worked long shifts, and i always kept morale up. Managers make excuses as to why the store is in a certain condition and the assistant always catches the blame. My reputation was ruined at my last store by 3 different managers. I felt as though when the 2nd manager left that i was deserving of the store but that wasnt the case. Another person got promoted (someone who had been with the company less time than i have) the store was run into the gound. But i would not recommend working here. If youre looking for a job where you feel appreciated and needed, this isn't the job for you. I loved my job at one point but i was done dirty once i got pregnant.

Prior to officially working . I was told since I had prior experience, managers start at $18 PER hour. I was paid $7.00 less. Managers were  forced to work doubles, if the employee didn't report for their shift. Sometimes they'd  work 18+ hours. I overheard the stores team leader, tell A  manager to clock out for dinner and continue working off the clock for her 30minutes dinner break. She  didn't miss 1 day in several months, came in on her days off because they were severely understaffed, she'd have to  do the stores  team leaders duties including her own.  She  asked for a raise after being there for several months and was turned down. After working double shifts,getting called in on days off her hours were shaved because overtime was not permitted. She  was cursed out in front of customers by other employees, she'd  write them up and they were not held accountable. Therefore,  it was an ongoing issue.  Another manager was working 3rd shift with 1 other co-worker which was also a female. They  asked if they could lock back entrance. They were told no. From the same back entrance they  asked if they could lock, the store was robbed on their shift. They still refused to get a security guard,back entrance still remains unlocked on 3rd shift. After store was  robbed . Same employees had to report back to work not even 24hours after the robbery,  the associate asked if she could leave she didn't feel safe. She was  permitted  to leave. The manager who was left alone. contacted the store leader.  Informed him the co-worker left  and she was there alone and  wanted to leave as well. He said he'd send someone in to cover her, He never did. After just being robbed, she  was left alone from 11:30pm-6:30am. My experience there was also  horrible.  The store wasn't clean. I wouldn't recommend working for ROYAL farms.

I have been employed at a Royal Farms for 10 months now. For the most part I am satisfied, but I need to express the things that I do not like. The loud ringing noise that is made every time someone orders food is becoming unbearable! Is there any way to change this? I understand the need for the Deli worker to hear it, but everyone in the neighborhood? The customers also complain about it. Meanwhile, there is no bell at the register so I have to constantly be looking over as I’m doing my side work to see if someone silently gets into line, and my line of sight is blocked by all the signage we have (that no one reads). New customers are always confused as to where to go, where to order food, and how to navigate the ordering screen. I am constantly having to babysit people and it’s getting old and could be avoided. Also, our gas pumps are always giving people problems, and when I try to explain that there isn’t much I can do other than help them prepay or switch to a different pump, they usually get very angry and sometimes decide to go somewhere else. Finally, the amount of work I have to get done (between customers) is a lot without customers, and when there are a lot of customers, I am working my butt off to try to get done in time. Speaking of getting done in time… I am supposed to allow customers in until 10 and also be done all my work by ten. This is impossible. Give us extra time to clean up after the last customer, or close the kitchen a little early. Whoever makes these rules obviously has never actually taken part in a normal shift.
One more thing- I was originally hired for first shift and then was put onto second shift. I was told it was for “training” but then 2 months later I was still on second. 

There will be days where you are extremely stressed out and/or or there will be days where you work multiple areas (i.e Deli, Cash Register, Stocking Cooler etc.). Worked for three years so far as a maintenance / facilities person, my last store leader wouldn't move you up when you wanted to nor then they think you should. At the moment I am with a new SL, I am learning a whole bunch of new things and working new areas, and thankfully I am moving on up. However that doesn't mean it can be a frustrating or stressful job. Under-staffed most of time, and which can cause heads-aches and stress and sometimes you dont even get out on time. A lot of co-workers can call out and you'll sometimes be stranded to work late. Corporate doesn't really care or appreciate about you and doesn't really treat like a human. You'll also get some insanely rude customers, but you'll have to be friendly as much as possible. For the most part I try to be a very nice person, which I aim to be in customer service. Sometimes I've been gotten on for the most ridiculous stuff while some don't seem to care. The reason why I am still here is because they are very flexible with a schedule and most the times I have my days off as promised per the schedule. I sometimes get asked to work a shift and most the time I'll task it..  Yet again, it depends what store you work at and how management plays a factor in working here. But I am thankful for the new things I learn and gaining advanced experience. I recommend Doing your research and homework.

I opened one the busiest stores in the company. I did not rely on the HR department to help me staff my store.  While I was running my previous store and waiting for the new one to open, I was running open interviews and going into the applicant system and setting interview appointments.I loved this part, because I had the initiative to do what I had to and pro-acted instead of reacted. I did this without the help of the district manager because she had another store open scheduled to open the same day and did not have a store leader lined up at the time.  I told her "I got this, take care of the other store." The store was not predicted to do as much as it did. The company had to make several changes to accommodate the customer flow coming in,.  Staffing the store with only part time help was getting difficult. The months of April-October were the busiest because we were in front of 10 fields and a BMX track. The evenings and weekends were extremely busy.  At one time I had a schedule of 42 employees(including mgmt)  I only had one assistant manager and two shift managers, obviously not enough. I brought it up several times to upper management and instead of getting help, I actually lost one of my shift managers. It was getting difficult to be 100% on admin.  For what I have learned, I have learned that in order to be successful you must hold your people accountable and keep documentation, and to nip poor morale immediately. (this is what may have cost me my job). And in the end I had to take the consequences.  The most enjoyable part of the job was when me and  my team had at the time opened the store, all the behind the scene jobs that had to be done to get the store up for a successful grand opening and dealing with different people everyday

Love this company when I first started working for them. I was their biggest advocate. Over the years and especially the last year lost my district leader three times due to a senior DL not making enough money in his quarterly bonuses so we took my district away from my boss. This DL is the worst in the company! he will flat-out tell you to ignore corporate policy and procedures and he will ignore you when you come to him for help. And I personally had to call him the night of an opening of a brand new store due to the manager making an incompetent mistake, the DL refused to get out of bed and come down and do his job which would have had and upper corporate person not been called and contacted would have prevented this brand-new store from opening. If DL do not personally like you, which should have nothing to do with your professional performance, they will do all they can to make sure they fire you. And when you go to corporate HR department about your DL and I'm going against policy and procedures they call you a troublemaker and then they joined forces with the DL to make sure you're fired. When as a professional courtesy you give them a two week notice they fire you on the spot. This company has turned into one of the biggest jokes around!!! And they blame store level for all their failures. Their training is an absolute joke and one that is not funny! They could absolutely care less about store level employees. There's only one dl in the company that is worth working for. And as a former store leader they will blame every single thing on you and expect you to work around the clock they do not care about your family life. They will flat-out tell you that company is your priority.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Customer service representative 379 salaries reported	$16.32 per hour
Assistant store manager 358 salaries reported	$21.28 per hour
Store manager 346 salaries reported	$68,098 per year
Team leader 304 salaries reported	$18.50 per hour
Shift leader 205 salaries reported	$17.23 per hour

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