Smart & Final Employee Reviews

It's an easy place to work where you don't have much to do. Pay is decent for what you do. But management plays favorites and it'd about who is willing to suck up to them the most. So if you're willing to kiss a** to move up then be my guest. You'll love it!

Was this review helpful?

Good place For Students to work at

Grocery Associate (Current Employee) - San Luis Obispo, CA - November 18, 2023

Ok place. Work is not hard and can go at your own pace. They don’t take call outs very well, much like any other job. Some weeks you have too many hours and others almost none.

Was this review helpful?

Smart & Final insights

Based on 867 survey responses

What people like

Time and location flexibility
Ability to meet personal goals
Feeling of personal appreciation

ok place

Service Manager (Former Employee) - Huntington Beach, CA - November 17, 2023

no real room for growthcoworkers were coolManagement was management good job while going to schooltried to communicate with mgmt and nothing ever came from it.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunate should have never applied

Cashier/Freezer (Former Employee) - Glendale, CA - November 15, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Abusive took advantage was hired to do one job first day was told to do something entirely different hurt on the job was told to tough it out (torn bicep) What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Store manager nonexistent never really knew who to speak with extremely abusive fellow employee What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Cold, you are a number, expect zero support What is a typical day like for you at the company?Off load 3 to 7 full frozen food pallets typically by myself and put down for being slow

Was this review helpful?

Wonderfully fulfilling place to be.

Crew Lead (Current Employee) - Fairfield, CA - November 13, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?The positivity of the employees makes it worthwhile. What is the most stressful part about working at the company?I don’t find it stressful at all, however, I see that if one is not in shape, it could be physically demanding for someone like that. I am an athlete and enjoy the hard work. What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Happiest place I’ve ever worked. It’s a real joy to be here. What is a typical day like for you at the company?Greet others then break down and work the load, face the store, then leave with a positive attitude.

Was this review helpful?

Rate your recent company

Share your experience to help others

Work

Facer (Former Employee) - Pomona, CA - November 13, 2023

Very good love the environment and energy coworkers are really good and nice must apply haha you won’t regret it very good pay to thanks have a good day

Was this review helpful?

Stressful

Forklift Driver (Former Employee) - Riverside, CA - November 12, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Nothing , horrible place to work & the favoritism is insane at this place. Managers will tell you not to do something but then turn right around and do that same thing. What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Definitely no room to improve, they don’t have a proper training program. Managers never leave the office & if you need them for something they always disappear to the back

Was this review helpful?

Hard work and difficult scheduling

Part-time Associate (Former Employee) - San Jose, CA - November 11, 2023

There were some good managers at the job. Very high turnover. Not enough pay (10 cent raises every now and then).You did get pizza parties during inventory.

Was this review helpful?

Productive fun place

Associate (Former Employee) - Spring Valley, CA - November 9, 2023

It’s A good fast paced job with decent pay the staff and coworkers are very friendly and you get to help and interact with all sorts of different people which makes the time go by quick I worked as part time however the hours were inconsistent and weren’t the best

Was this review helpful?

Nope

Associate (Former Employee) - Fresno, CA - November 5, 2023

Good luck, difficult company to work for. When all the dinosaurs go extinct perhaps this district will begin to flourish. Until then prepare for a constant turnover.

Was this review helpful?

Jobs at Smart & Final

See more jobs

Full-time Associate (Produce)

Blythe, CA

30+ days ago

Part-time Associate (Cashier)

Delano, CA

30+ days ago

Claims Manager, General Liability

Commerce, CA

20 days ago

Part-time Associate (Overnight Load Crew)

Nice co-workers but a very boring work environment

Stock Associate (Former Employee) - El Cajon, CA - October 20, 2023

Nice co-workers but a very boring work environment unless you are doing cashier or the meat/fruit department you're going to be pretty bored I was walking around the store for 4 hours, and I'm glad I left.

Was this review helpful?

Honest Review

Person In Charge (PIC) (Current Employee) - San Diego, CA - October 18, 2023

Typical work day: Everybody has their “piece of the pie” of the store. As long as you finish your job and keep it clean, shouldn’t have any problems.What I believe I learned: If you come in everyday and work hard, it will not go unnoticed. Getting a raise or promotion takes time and patience. You have to stay persistent.Management: They are chill and lenient as long as you get the job done quickly and efficiently.Workplace culture: Every store is different. Mine is a toxic workplace culture. Gossip is a big thing. Everyone seems two-faced. There is no camaraderie.Hardest part of the job: I don’t trust my peers. They hired the least capable cashiers. Toxic work environment.Enjoyable part of the job: clocking out

Was this review helpful?

good employees are used to the max while paid minimal for their work

Safety Coach/ Assistant Manager (Current Employee) - Fremont, CA - October 5, 2023

n/a, short timeframes with the most amount of work used out of you. they favor the yes people, not the people with the experience or willingness to promote within the company.

Pros

you learn all aspects of the job and other job training

Cons

used to do other jobs outside your title and pay

Was this review helpful?

Just a excellent place to work at.

Manager (Former Employee) - Redondo Beach California - October 3, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Just the environment and a good place to work at. I was a manager cashier and trainer. Just a good place to work at and a good place to shop at.What is the most stressful part about working at the company?When you not making sales and you got customers that come in the store with a bad day. What is the work environment and culture like at the company?It’s a mixed environment. We all get along and we come to get work done. What is a typical day like for you at the company?It’s just like any other day. We do work and keep the store up so you keep coming back.

Was this review helpful?

Repetitive tasks fun atmosphere

Casheir (Current Employee) - Paso Robles, CA - October 2, 2023

I was allowed check stand work (register) without any prior experience. They really appreciate workers who make the shifts continually without calling out. I live in a small town and like being of service to locals. Fast friendly service is the key.

Pros

Do your job and be left alone.

Cons

Low pay if you have no experience (17-18 starting out) only PT no bennies

Was this review helpful?

corrupt and messed up work place

Overnight Stocker (Former Employee) - San Pedro, CA - October 2, 2023

a typical work day involves showing up on time, then waiting between 30 minutes and an hour for the manager to come open the doors, then clocking in 45 minutes late without any pay for the managers mistake, then with no training whatsoever, winging it on the job while many of the other employees find a corner to sleep in.

Pros

none

Cons

about 30 minutes of every 4 hours is unpaid, as management is usually late.

Was this review helpful?

Worse place ever

Cashier/Stocker (Former Employee) - Seaside, CA - September 27, 2023

They’ll have you doing 10 things at once and complain when you don’t complete them all. Management would rather spread 3-4 employees thin than hire more people. The workplace culture is horrible they expect you to revolve your whole life around work. Hardest part about working here is having to deal with the managers. Don’t expect too many days off and good luck requesting days off, you practically have to beg them to give you a day off.

Pros

Employee discount

Cons

Toxic work environment

Was this review helpful?

ok place to work

Supervisor (Current Employee) - Riverside, CA - September 27, 2023

ok part time job. they ask a lot from workers. promoting doesnt look like its worth it. management kinda cares about you but not really. expect to work every holiday.

Was this review helpful?

Awesome place

Cashier (Current Employee) - Rancho Cordova, CA - September 13, 2023

It’s a a great place to work . Stays busy, shifts go by quick easy to learn the register. Love the customers that come in regularly. Awesome place ….zzz

Was this review helpful?

Steady Workplace, but no career advancement.

Stocker (Former Employee) - Los Angeles, CA - September 12, 2023

I use to actually love working here until I realized that management only chose their favorites to elevate and treated everyone else with the cold shoulder

Was this review helpful?

Benefits are good

Key Holder (Former Employee) - California - September 11, 2023

You get plenty of hours, but they will assign way too many tasks for 1 person to get done in a shift.You stay in shape from running around all day, if you have a good team it makes your time there more fun

Was this review helpful?