Pepsi: no money, no communication, no heart

I cannot express to you how imperative it is that you not work for Pepsi in any capacity. When I took a full-service (filling vending machines) driving job, I was started at $10.25 (CDL driver, mind you). The only reason I accepted the job was the assurance that the full-service driver pay would go up to 40k+ starting January 1, to be commensurate with the bay (Convenience stores, Dollar Stores, etc.) delivery driver pay. At the annual compensation and benefits meeting January 1, the 40k+ was revealed to be 34k, based on "projected dispatched volume" and "projected route growth". I could write volumes about how ineffective and troubled the dispatch system is, but I will just say this: it is the most incomprehensibly flawed and ineffective system I have ever been forced mercilessly to adhere to. The only reason I stayed on, despite my family's dwindling savings account, was that my wife was preparing to have major intestinal surgery and we had to keep the insurance. The 34k "target" turned out to be more like 25k due to the inneffective dispatch system. I transferred to Stone Mountain (I was in Athens, GA before) to be a bay driver, after being accepted to that specific position. I was told upon arrival that I would not be a bay driver, but that I would remain a full service monkey. Two weeks later, due to a lack of communication, it was discovered that I was ineligible for the transfer that had already taken place. To make matters worse, my position in Athens had already been filled. I was then told that I could not be given a route since I "did not have a home" at either facility. I was summarily labeled a general laborer and shuffled from position to position to cover for those that were quitting or getting injured. To add insult to injury, my pay was cut over 300.00 per week without so much as a word of warning or any sort of discussion. There is MUCH more. You won't believe how bad it gets. Post here if you want to hear it.

I would like to hear more.

Pepsi.. I am almost out, I am a employee as of right now, but I am on my way out. These guys want you to bleed blue, and yes you are just a NUMBER and you are replaceable! If you like to kiss butt this is a job for you. But be ready if you don't kiss butt, they will pull the wool right over your eyes. Tell you want to hear, and then you are waiting for a position that they tell you are going to get, and then they put a favorite of there's in that spot. I don't know about upper management, but local management at the plant level is not good to put it nicely. In conclusion, if you are a blue collar worker, that does his job and does not get involved in company politics, I suggest you do not work for this company....

To: bat044 in Snellville, Georgia

I am sorry to hear you went through so much crap at Pepsi. I hope you find employment fast with another company that will value and respect you. I hope your wife is doing good.

The lack of communication and them promising one thing and then coming out with something else is unacceptable! I was wondering a few months ago why I kept seeing "now hiring" for so many positions with Pepsi. I thought to myself....either Pepsi is expanding OR everyone and their mother is quitting. And just to think I have applied to Pepsi a few weeks ago. After hearing all this from everyone that's posting negative stuff makes me wonder. I'm gonna think twice about leaving my job before I move to another job, especially if it's Pepsi.

Sounds like........the pay sux and the way they treat their employees is unprofessional.

I rather work for the competition.........besides Coke does taste better than Pepsi anyway! Pepsi is an immitation of Coke!!! ;-)

Thanks for the replies. It is my intention to warn ALL applicants about how horrible of an employer Pepsi is. Thanks in particular to Michelle for inquiring about my wife: she is doing well. Michelle, PLEASE do not work for Pepsi. The fact that you had the sensitivity to inquire about my wife's health tells me that you are too good for this company. To anyone reading this, I swear on my life that I am not exaggerating this: Pepsi does not care. Pepsi never will care. You are nothing to Pepsi. I am in the process of typing out my entire Pepsi experience and will post it here as soon as I finish. I look forward to hearing from you all again soon.

Hi bat044 in Snellville,

Thank you for your nice comment..... :-)

Trust me.... I certainly believe what you are saying is true.

Sad to say, this is what is really going on in today's job market. It's like the house selling market....
There are so little jobs out there for so many people that employers are doing and treating their employees like crap because they can always find some other person to fill the position. Not to mention the pay sux....employers do not really care about anyone.

Unless we are looking for a job that not a lot of people know how to do then we are pretty much all screwed. I am still looking but I'm trying to keep my head high because I have faith that a good opportunity will come as I wish you bat044 will find something good for your yourself and your family. LET'S ALL KEEP THE FAITH!!!

gainesville ga 07/29/2008: My husband has been in the bottling business since 1979,and has worked at pepsi cola bottling group 5 of those years,he started at a very high class state of the art pepsi plant in 1983 it was not PBG.Anybody who knows my husband knows his first priority is good customer service.He wants things done right.He is an asset to any Pepsi company he has so much old school knowledge and skills of the right way to please customers and do a good safe job.The Location he works at now treats him with no respect at all.He tells them about saftey issues on his truck,also how they donot load his truck right,they show no respect towards, severe saftey issues,the list goes on.My husband comes home distraught every night.He has even had to call the EAP program to get medical help for the psycological issues this is having in his life.He comes home with cuts all the time on his arms,his bay doors need to be fixed.They will not listen to any issues that he tells them at all.Something has got to be done.I"m very worried about my husband.I don't understand why they are treating him with this severe disrespect-I worry every waking hour about him.He only wants things done correctly-the way he was trained many years ago.He has been inundated with respect from all his customers for many years.He refuses to lower his standards and pepsi's standards due to the extenuating circumstances of a local distribution facility.

Michelle in Orlando, Florida said: To: bat044 in Snellville, Georgia

I am sorry to hear you went through so much crap at Pepsi. I hope you find employment fast with another company that will value and respect you. I hope your wife is doing good.

The lack of communication and them promising one thing and then coming out with something else is unacceptable! I was wondering a few months ago why I kept seeing "now hiring" for so many positions with Pepsi. I thought to myself....either Pepsi is expanding OR everyone and their mother is quitting. And just to think I have applied to Pepsi a few weeks ago. After hearing all this from everyone that's posting negative stuff makes me wonder. I'm gonna think twice about leaving my job before I move to another job, especially if it's Pepsi.

Sounds like........the pay sux and the way they treat their employees is unprofessional.

I rather work for the competition.........besides Coke does taste better than Pepsi anyway! Pepsi is an immitation of Coke!!! ;-)

sounds like your a coke suker anyway. kinda like the devil hanging around the depression clinic.

i have been working for buffalo rock-pespi for about 8yrs. buffalo rock is an independent bottler of pepsi for all of alabama part of ga. and the panhandle of fla..i have always been treated with respect.was promoted within reason. and made great money for this area. as a driver about 45k and as a sales rep about 65k. we do work about 10-12hrs a day in the summer but the law states we can't work any longer than that because of the cdl thing. and be sure or supervisors keep a check on or drivers because they dont want to get on the truck in the 90 degree heat. no matter if its a 10bay 12bay 16bay or bulk truck they have to be in less than 10hrs a day . in the winter months we only work about 6-8hrs a day. i got on this forum to see how bad we had it. now i feel lucky.
just another day at the rock.

jangstar in Sylacauga, Alabama said: i have been working for buffalo rock-pespi for about 8yrs. buffalo rock is an independent bottler of pepsi for all of alabama part of ga. and the panhandle of fla..i have always been treated with respect.was promoted within reason. and made great money for this area. as a driver about 45k and as a sales rep about 65k. we do work about 10-12hrs a day in the summer but the law states we can't work any longer than that because of the cdl thing. and be sure or supervisors keep a check on or drivers because they dont want to get on the truck in the 90 degree heat. no matter if its a 10bay 12bay 16bay or bulk truck they have to be in less than 10hrs a day . in the winter months we only work about 6-8hrs a day. i got on this forum to see how bad we had it. now i feel lucky.
just another day at the rock.

I have been working for pepsi for little over a year now I have went from merchandising my but off to presell in just one year that is a great achievment. I believe if you just work you ass off than you will move ahead far and fast in your job. So many people complain of hard work nowadays. This is just a job that needs reliable hard working people. Everyone expects to get ahead and be lazy and you cannot do that jobs want hard working people. All you have to do is work hard and it will pay off. As for the issue addressed several months ago all you have to do is make sure all of your paperwork is in order before leaving. next time make sure you see paperwork before transfering. People do make mistakes and that is why we always have to check it.