As I stated in my one sentence review, you have to be pretty effing desperate to accept a job at walgreens. Perhaps it's the nature of the retail business, but I can't stand my store. I am nearing my 1 year mark at this company and am about to accrue some vacation time. I plan on taking that time and never coming back. I'll try not to be too ranty and try to provide some insight into this company.
In short, your store owner and EXA make or break your experience at Walgreens. If you don't quite hit if off with your higher-ups, you will not enjoy your time here. The worst thing about the job is the erratic schedule. Be prepared to be called in at any time. Whether it be nights, weekends, or holidays, you are expected to be there. You are expected to be a cold, lifeless cog in their machine. Your EXA has no problem calling you on your days off and they don't take "no" for an answer. From November to February, no matter what store you work at, you will not have a social life.
Oh, and don't you dare ask for time off. You'll get chewed out for it, and the answer will still be "no" regardless of how you argue it. God forbid if you have a family member pass or you have a graduation to go to. You're going to have hell to pay for taking time off. I had a case food poisoning or stomach flu and I actually got yelled at over the phone for being ill. I got yelled at for not informing him soon enough. Sorry I didn't get sick with enough notice. I'll pencil it in for you next time.
The worst aspect of the actual job is the dreaded register one. Welcome to hell. You will get pooped on by customers all night long. I've had to call the police on a few occasions due to volatile customers. Working weekends means you have to deal with intoxicated and drugged-up customers. Long lines add to the stress of being up there for eight hours at a time. Simply put, for 6.00 an hour after taxes, it is not worth it. Another con of working at the main register is that you are not only a cashier, but a salesman as well! Lucky you! You are expected to ask EVERY customer if they wish to purchase some gum or whatever they have up there. I think it's a load of crap to squeeze pennies out of every customer's purse. If they wanted gum, they'd buy it on their own accord. If you don't sell enough gum, you get chewed out (hahaha). You are threatened with disciplinary action if you don't pick up the pace. How are you supposed to have a professional relationship with people who threaten your job for such a trite matter? Again, for 6.00 an hour, it's just not worth the trouble.
Something extra is the walgreens dreams you will surely have. Once you're off work, after a day of repetitive, mundane tasks, you will dream about being at work. They are so vivid and accurate that I wake up pissed off. I can't even get time off in my sleep.
I consider myself a hard-working employee. I'm competent. I do what I'm told, I'm always polite to customers, and I go in there trying not to make anyone's life harder than it already is. The managers slack off at night to the point where their job is merely house sitting at the store. it's very frustrating when you're the one keeping their lights on, stocking their shelves, keeping their lines moving, and working on holidays and you can't even earn their appreciation. The fact is that you are entirely replaceable in the grand scheme of things. If you are not their lifeless cog, you are an inconvenience to your store manager and EXA. Let them hire someone who is desperate enough to submit themselves to the morose existence of the walgreens employee. If you like having a life outside of work, stay away from this company. Stay away from retail in general.
