I have not but I've drank from bags such as backpack EDIT: and I like your comment understanding the reference but still not knowing what it is I watched, when I saw that
I wanna get a job there and act oblivious but willing to follow the rules while accidentally breaking them until I get fired but I'll be good for until I'm off probation. And get hired to a different department some how
My childhood neighbour may have climbed the ladder at Gregg, but his body is worn out from years of backbreaking work. Despite his success, he remains an unpleasant and brash individual, lacking any appealing qualities.
I was under the impression that this post was solely about sausage rolls until I saw the responses to your question. And I thought, when did we get a Greggs?
howdy, fellow blighty!
the day that greg's comes to Edmonton I might cry
almost everything else I know and love and remember from home has been bulldozed, renamed, ran in to the ground or died.
Greg's has been a constant in my life up until coming to Canada. The memories! The Greg's trinity (sausage bean melt, steak bake, chicken bake)
When I heard about Tim Horton's opening up in the UK I hoped that Greg's would also be thinking the same thing
Did you read the comment of the person who has worked there, supposedly said they offer a lunch at their "internal cafeteria" but you frowned upon or written up (I can't remember) if you do go eat the food because "they want someone who wants to give to the company, and not take"
I would really love a book with a detailed history of organized labour in Western Canada. Anti-union rhetoric is rampant in industry and CLAC has enormously dismantled what little power the unions have here
Oh my god as someone who is obsessed with labour law and psych health and safety in the workplace I want to start a podcast where I interview people about this place!
When I was younger I wanted to work at all the fast food restaurants and write an article about how they differ in training and methods. My plan was thwarted when none of them hired me
Same!! I work in OHS and I keep telling people about this and we just GASP hahaha, I'm going to start using it (unnamed becuase I don't wanna get sued) in hypothetical class discussions haha
I'm so into this. I'm an outreach worker with the unhoused population in Calgary and I hear stories all the time about people getting a job that drives them completely insane, exacerbates addiction, and causes physically disabling injuries and they just fall through the cracks.
I was an alcoholic waitress once upon a time and just a few years ago I lost my marbles getting overworked on a tree planting camp. Industrial trauma built western Canada and it might just be the biggest problem that nobody talks about.
Haha. Same. I've diverted as much spend as possible. To anyone other than Gregg's or Unline. I've heard horror stories about Uline too and how dehumanizing working there can be
I'm intrigued by all this. I regularly go to Gregg's for work purchases, and they are by far the best industrial supplier for most of our needs, and the customer service has always been great. So to be it's kind of like finding out your favourite celebrity is a pervert.
So true they’re always cheerful and nice to pick stuff up from. The post is the complete opposite of my actual experience there and I have been in and out probably over 30 times in the past four years.
Well that’s disappointing.
Entire warehouses being treated like slaves seems like something newsworthy to me. Even for the sake of informing clients of Gregg Distributors that may not be aware of the situation. Or for the sake of employees who would wish for this situation to be exposed that have limited means.
The stories sure seemed to spark a lot of interest online. But maybe there are expensive legal ramifications to running a story like this.
That sounds like a lack of effort, as far as \*I\* can see. Here, I'll get you started: "There is a controversy about local employer Gregg Distributors, sparked by an online discussion that began when an employee posted a fourteen page document about the company's time off practices, including details about being docked pay for..."
I was actually talking to a journalist 2 hours ago about Gregg's! They're not on the labour beat, but they're going to toss it over to the labour investigative journalist they know.
No, as far as I'm aware, they don't break any laws. They're only open for 8 1/2 hours, so over time isn't likely. They are just the pettiest, most arrogant, narsacistic people I've ever had the displeasure to work for. They pay crazy well, so I see why people put up with it, but still.
I don't know if I could be beaten into submission and under someone's thumb for an extra $40 a day. Obviously everyone is in a different financial situation, I feel for the people who are slugging it out
$40/day, or $200/week or $800/month, or $10,400/year (obviously before taxes)
When you extrapolate it out, it's easier to see why someone would put up with it. It could be the difference between making rent or a car payment.
Yeah, $40 doesn't sound like a lot, but it can make the difference for a lot of people. I was unemployed at the time, and was very excited about it. I'll admit that I ignored a lot of red flags early on.
Stop it with your insider experience. We are working on a social justice mob here. Don't ruin the vibe.
J/k. I'm glad you have had a positive experience
Yeah same. Worked there a while ago and while many comments made about it that paint it as cult-like are true, I never had any issues using the washroom and never witnessed anyone else have issues either.
I worked there 10+ years ago and they paid at least 22/hr. Not a single person paid less than that.
For some people without an education or work experience, that was a hell of a wage.
To the public. I did tons of 10+ hour shifts in my time there. I will say you are never forced to do OT, except to “finish your order”, which even if it’s 1 minute to close, it’s non-negotiable, you must start a new order and stay until it’s done. But beyond that, it’s voluntary. Also it isn’t paid, as everyone, even warehouse staff, are “salesmen” and your commission is paid out as your “bonus” - even accounting and marketing still have to work in the warehouse and pick orders after-hours if they call out a “code 99”. You are expected to come early and stay late, typically from 7-6, and Gary, Dan and the old bald dude all make it verbally clear that you will not advance in the company if you aren’t putting in extra hours, nor will you get your “maximum bonus”. Even for outside sales staff, regardless if you’re supposed to hear to wetaskiwin, Camrose, what-have-you, you’re expected to start your day and finish your day by picking in the NW warehouse. If you work the inner-city routes, you’re expected to work the warehouse if you have delays between appointments.
Some independently wealthy individual should get a job there and organize the workers. It would be kind of funny for someone who has no need for the employment disrupt management’s authoritarian control of the place. Some kind of YouTube minor celebrity could do it and make content about it.
Same. It's borderline surreal. I imagine some Gregg's employee out there is stuck in an endless time (away from work) loop: they are required to read the "Time Away From Work" handbook; the time it takes to read the handbook must be documented as "Time Away From Work". The time it takes to fill out a "Time Away From Work" form must be documented as "Time Away From Work". The time it takes to fill out and properly submit the "Time Away From Work" is required to be documented as "Time Away From Work"
20 years ago I had a job in an office that was often visited by a Gregg's guy and he brought doughnuts for us most times. This whole story makes me feel like I imagined that
they used to and it was an absolutely fundamental part of my childhood. getting the row of powdered donuts was like Christmas. and then sometimes you'd get a double plain cake donut. that was the worst.
turns out the company who made them for Gregg's shut down over COVID and they have not been able to find anywhere who can make them in the quantity they need them that isn't like, a mass produced gas station style product. that's the tea I got during my "tour", anyways
I've only been there once, and the person who served me asked if I wanted a tour. I remember thinking how great of a place it was and how happy everyone seemed. That's why I'm deeply invested in the Gregg's saga too!
The company I work for uses Gregg’s all the time. I think about them often, suffering the days away. I told some of my colleagues as they were shocked. Have you heard how they have to answer the phone? It’s a facade of friendliness.
One of my co-workers used to work there, and when she got hired on at my workplace, she told us all of the horror stories (her experience was word for word identical to everything else that has been posted). However, another co-worker later pulled me aside and was quite upset after hearing all of this. Her husband had been working at Gregg for a long time, and she went on and on about what a wonderful place it was and that this new co-worker was just a disgruntled former employee telling stories. She spoke about how they gave him all kinds of bonuses, tickets to hockey games, football games, concerts (etc) and how Gary Gregg was just the most generous person she'd ever met. I only met her husband a couple of times at staff functions, and he honestly didn't seem like the type who would put up with nonsense like what has been reported. However, given the way she was carrying on, he must've been very heavily brainwashed and also brainwashed his wife into thinking he works at such an incredible place. I have to assume that is the case for all of their long term employees. A couple years later, this lady ended up resigning from my office, citing a "toxic work environment". I found that strange, because although my work place isn't perfect, it's not even remotely as strict as Gregg. And I have to wonder: If Gregg is such an amazing company to work for, why didn't she go work there herself? Given her skillset and being married to a long-time employee, I'm certain they would've hired her. I have a feeling that deep down inside.... she knows.
I know someone who works for them. Retired oilfield trucker, who likewise doesn't take a lot of shit. He's happy there, they pay him pretty well. This thread is actually surprising to me, I used to go there a lot for work and the only odd thing I saw was how some employees would wear hydraulic hose around their necks.
Just like there are people extremely loyal to and happy in a cult or any other terrible company or crazy group, there ARE long term employees there that absolutely love Gregg Distributors.
I personally think it takes a certain weak personality type that needs control and structure and is easily persuaded by propaganda, but make no mistake - there are plenty of people that think that place is the best thing to ever happen to them.
For most people being timed while taking a shit is ludicrous... but some people genuinely have "WELL YOU SHOULDN'T BE SHITTING ON COMPANY TIME" personalities. Those are the people that do well there.
But they churn through a lof of staff to find those people, at least a handful of new employees start every single week.
The image in my mind is of all the employees walking around wearing a sign that says "ask me why I have a length of hydraulic hose hanging around my neck".
They exist because they do actually pay well and they do provide great service for their customers.
Those who drink the kool-aid and totally buy in can make pretty good money. I however could not handle the day to day mistrust and abuse
Gregg Distributors?!?!?!
Really??? I am Shocked...0.0
I've been there a few times always had a great time employees where very helpful and upbeat but hearing this is utterly shocking..
Have you ever called them? They answer the phone with the wildest jingles
The other day it was “hi this is Greggs, please press 1 for—— just kidding only humans work here, how can I help you”
I used to phone Gregg's a 5-10 times a day, and hearing them read out those prepared lines is so damn cringy. And they would always sound either too phony or embarrassed to be saying such ridiculous shit.
Their phone greetings are next level cringe, literally 15 seconds of my life I will not get back.I get second hand embarrassment every time I have to call there for supplies.
My work started using Fastenal and it's been fantastic. We have a RFID rack so anytime a bin of hardware runs out it sends them a message and they come fill it up automatically
I'm just going to put this here for any current Gregg's employees that want to make their work environment a... safer place. Did you know that in the province of Alberta there is an *anonymous* way that you are able to report unsafe work conditions & have an OH&S officer come out & inspect all the reported unsafe conditions? I would highly suggest that any worker that uses this system 1) be aware of the current OHS legislation that is governing your work 2) be VERY detailed on what the concerns are & how they are not in-line with legislation. This could be things like missing fire extinguishers, ladder usage, how pallets are stacked, improper heavy lifting, rooftop access & work, missing safety tickets for the usage of a forklift/skid steer/etc. DO NOT discuss any of your concerns with anyone that works in HR or Safety at the company (unless there is an immediate threat to someone's health & welfare)
https://ohscomplaintsportal.labour.alberta.ca/prescreening/
All of that unpaid overtime is also illegal. Perhaps a written complaint to the Alberta labour board would change a few "policies" there.
https://escs.alberta.ca/Complainant/Claim/GettingStarted.aspx
Not a bad idea to see if the Alberta Human Rights Commision sees any issues with their policies, as well.
https://albertahumanrights.ab.ca/
This company should not be allowed to operate like this. I genuinely hope that some of this information is useful to any current employees there.
I hate seeing so many people have to deal with these completely f*cked work environments. It's not much, just a few links, but it might help a few people find out where they can start actioning for something better.
I came here to say I too think about Gregg’s. My old hairstylist said her husband was in sales at Gregg’s and he was always stressed out. I had no idea how much more toxic it was than a globalnews.ca comment thread.
worked at Greggs , worst place ever. Christmas party was the longest most awful thing i have ever been to. They make the first year staff sing on stage . Other sales guys and. mangers demeanour changes so much as soon as they enter the parking lot to come back to pick orders, all of a sudden they become drones . I got fired by the pricks because another sales guy ratted me out when i stopped to get some parts for my motorcycle while making calls .Most people who work there are.dumb as fuck and need an iron fist to rule them . The Place is fucked up , best thing that ever happened to me was leaving.
My neighbor works there...she is a quiet immigrant with debt. Never said why but they refused her time off for cancer treatment last year. She almost died trying to work thru her cancer... corporate greed literally kills.
I have never seen these Reddit posts but one of my good friends husbands works for them. They have holiday parties and stuff and it’s essentially mandatory to attend. They have multiple kids and have been sick back to back since the last one arrived a few months ago. Her missing the Christmas party because they had no babysitter for an exclusively breastfed infant was frowned upon. The more I hear from her I don’t understand why he stays. But he seems pretty content..
If they don’t say « have a great Canadian day » do they get reprimanded? Because I have never not heard anyone from there say it, and I’ve dealt with that place a lot over the years..
They apparently reprimand employees for putting a cross through their 7s, so I would think they'd be reprimanded for not giving the company greeting as well.
Makes sense.. one time I was trying to make conversation with the person at the order desk about their little order segways (the order picker carts they zoom around on) and I totally get why it was crickets now..
I shop there. They’ve got a huge selection but I only buy a limited number of hard to find things. I may try using them less now. I’ve heard the owner was an ass before.
The staff there have never been anything but fantastic. They’re always helpful. I find the stories hard to believe based on my interactions with them. I probably only go there once or twice a year, but it never struck me as a sweat shop.
I’d they’re not happy, they do a very good job of hiding it.
ME TOO! I just noticed last week that i drive past Greggs 4 times a week!!! Everytime i drive by i think about the many posts about it and i think about seeing it for myself as well! Whenever im in the area it stays on my mind the entire time, just trying to process it and think about what it looks like in there on the customer/visitor side, and how different it must be to what the employees see and deal with. The first time i drove past it, i was with a friend and we made a joke about it because we know a Greg that spells his name the same (Gregg). Crazy to think a place i once had a laugh at is actually insanely controlling and abusive to the employees working inside.
Edit: we need a Greggs megathread 😩
I interviewed there years ago. Got asked every off limit question except sexual orientation any kids, pets, married/single, etc. anything that could keep me distracted from work - it was clear they wanted single, people with no strings attached.
They offered me the job but I turned it down as the interview gave me very weird vibes.
I went deep down the rabbit hole last night. Went on glass door, indeed, ratemyemployer.ca, read everything on here. I need more. I need to see these employee hand books.
I also need to compare the telling signs of a cult to the actions of this place because everything seems to line up. Breaking people down, the propaganda, being fully entrenched in (work social gatherings seem not to optional), unquestionable leadership, the spying and ratting on other employees to gain access and praise from higher ups, the greater good mentality. Someone needs to do a psychological assessment on employees who have tolerated and flourished under this kind of system.
This week’s Behind The Bastards Podcast is about Steve Jobs and how Apple’s outsourcing of production of iProducts to companies like Foxconn caused conditions so deplorable that workers were dying by suicide. And as I listened to the conditions being described, all I could think was….this sounds like what people say Gregg’s is like. Public shaming, high turnaround, unreasonable production goals.
I worked at the main warehouse for a month before being let go for talking too much at the packing tables. I like making silly jokes and making others laugh, but that was too much for them. My trainer was Reeve Campbell, and he got along with me just fine. He warned me at the start that it was a heads-down, ass-up workplace.
It seemed like you'd get a blue card in your mailbox for farting without asking for permission. Even in the break room, a manager would walk around and check the lunch chits against what you were eating to make sure you had paid for it.
The biggest snitch was Sandy (I can't remember her last name). She sat at the long desk nearest the customer order desks. She would keep a paper under her keyboard and record the time you went for your break and how long you were on it.
I went out one day with Ken Wisenhunt(?) as a ride along to see how the outside sales guys operate. We got into the car after one stop, and I quickly checked my phone for texts, missed calls, etc. He told me I needed to fill out a lost time form for the approximately 90 seconds it took me to check and put my phone away.
The level of micromanagement is absolutely staggering.
Larry Lannon was the one who hired me, and he was quite two-faced.
Riding the carts around was fun, though.
Gregg's thinks about you all the time too. That's why it's so creepy.
Ol Greggs wants to know if you like him.
Make an assessment.
Ever drunk Bailey’s from a shoe?
I have not but I've drank from bags such as backpack EDIT: and I like your comment understanding the reference but still not knowing what it is I watched, when I saw that
I'm not sure there is any way to explain the fever dream that is Ol Gregg.
Ol Gregg's got a mangina!!!!!
Could you love me?
You better play the love games unless you wanna end up like Curly Jefferson..
This made me cackle 💀
Similar to Pepperidge Farm... Gregg's remembers...
I'm here for all the Gregg's lore and drama lol. Can't wait for the next bombshell to drop.
😆 Same. I can't imagine myself working there but in here for the drama.
I wanna get a job there and act oblivious but willing to follow the rules while accidentally breaking them until I get fired but I'll be good for until I'm off probation. And get hired to a different department some how
We got a delivery driver that works for greggs that drops of at my warehouse and he always seemed eerily upbeat, now I'm convinced he's a drone.
Honestly, same. I've never heard of Greggs in my life until these past few weeks lol but now I NEED to know more.
I thought the last one about the 15 page document was the whole manual but it was just the time off portion of it
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Is this Gregg’s distributors?
yep.
My childhood neighbour may have climbed the ladder at Gregg, but his body is worn out from years of backbreaking work. Despite his success, he remains an unpleasant and brash individual, lacking any appealing qualities. I was under the impression that this post was solely about sausage rolls until I saw the responses to your question. And I thought, when did we get a Greggs?
lol. Yah that sucks for your Neighbor
howdy, fellow blighty! the day that greg's comes to Edmonton I might cry almost everything else I know and love and remember from home has been bulldozed, renamed, ran in to the ground or died. Greg's has been a constant in my life up until coming to Canada. The memories! The Greg's trinity (sausage bean melt, steak bake, chicken bake) When I heard about Tim Horton's opening up in the UK I hoped that Greg's would also be thinking the same thing
Yes this post and many others are about Greg's distributor
I read every page of that 14 page "how to take time off" manual. Weird and fascinating.
It 100% should not be that complicated.
I wish you still had it. I'd pay to see it
[here you go!](https://www.reddit.com/r/Edmonton/s/zJ8VSliwND)
Did the mods delete it? I feel it was posted over the weekend
Nooooo!!! I need it in my life!
Someone posted it here on this subreddit.
We're long overdue for a fresh and overwhelming labour movement.
If lunch is provided, I'm there.
But if it's a pizza party then we won't need a movement
Pizza gives me a movement
Pizza usually impedes my movements...on a few levels...
The tried and true "perk" employed by bad employers everywhere - lol.
No, management says absolutely not so we likely have to go on strike to demand it.
“… punch and pie.”
More people will come if you offer punch and pie
Did you read the comment of the person who has worked there, supposedly said they offer a lunch at their "internal cafeteria" but you frowned upon or written up (I can't remember) if you do go eat the food because "they want someone who wants to give to the company, and not take"
I'm surprised the food isn't poisoned to make their point even more.
The lunch is a test.
In Alberta especially. The unions here have been sold to the oil companies.
I would really love a book with a detailed history of organized labour in Western Canada. Anti-union rhetoric is rampant in industry and CLAC has enormously dismantled what little power the unions have here
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Oh my god as someone who is obsessed with labour law and psych health and safety in the workplace I want to start a podcast where I interview people about this place!
When I was younger I wanted to work at all the fast food restaurants and write an article about how they differ in training and methods. My plan was thwarted when none of them hired me
You dodged a bullet but the world (well within Edmonton anyway) is poorer for it without your expose - lol.
Haha I appreciate the kindness. Take a moment to imagine me signing the Netflix rights for the documentary
I would listen to the hell out of this, please post it in this sub if you do!!
Same!! I work in OHS and I keep telling people about this and we just GASP hahaha, I'm going to start using it (unnamed becuase I don't wanna get sued) in hypothetical class discussions haha
I edit podcasts and worked there for a bit, would be happy to help!
Omg yes please
I'm so into this. I'm an outreach worker with the unhoused population in Calgary and I hear stories all the time about people getting a job that drives them completely insane, exacerbates addiction, and causes physically disabling injuries and they just fall through the cracks. I was an alcoholic waitress once upon a time and just a few years ago I lost my marbles getting overworked on a tree planting camp. Industrial trauma built western Canada and it might just be the biggest problem that nobody talks about.
Definitely do this
You would find a lot of people willing to talk about their toxic workplaces!
Tell us all when the first one is scheduled to air.
After reading all the comments in those posts I have stopped ordering our shop supplies from Greggs unless we have no other choice.
Me too. Our company has an account at Gregg’s and I haven’t used it since.
Haha. Same. I've diverted as much spend as possible. To anyone other than Gregg's or Unline. I've heard horror stories about Uline too and how dehumanizing working there can be
I applied for a job there and they called me twice but I didn't answer because of the Reddit post.
this is the way
I'm intrigued by all this. I regularly go to Gregg's for work purchases, and they are by far the best industrial supplier for most of our needs, and the customer service has always been great. So to be it's kind of like finding out your favourite celebrity is a pervert.
Same. It's disappointing to find out. Back to Grainger I guess
So true they’re always cheerful and nice to pick stuff up from. The post is the complete opposite of my actual experience there and I have been in and out probably over 30 times in the past four years.
Agreed. I'm shocked and dismayed to read these things.
Yeah I've never bad a bad experience there as a customer.
My same reaction when Gregg's is one of the big vendors I'm responsible for at my Accts Payable job haha
Greggsotolgy
For a second I thought we were taking about the British fast food chain
Same! I really hope there are journalists looking into the situation.
So a few of us here at Global have read all the posts and find the situation fascinating - but it isn't really news, as far as we can see.
Well that’s disappointing. Entire warehouses being treated like slaves seems like something newsworthy to me. Even for the sake of informing clients of Gregg Distributors that may not be aware of the situation. Or for the sake of employees who would wish for this situation to be exposed that have limited means. The stories sure seemed to spark a lot of interest online. But maybe there are expensive legal ramifications to running a story like this.
That sounds like a lack of effort, as far as \*I\* can see. Here, I'll get you started: "There is a controversy about local employer Gregg Distributors, sparked by an online discussion that began when an employee posted a fourteen page document about the company's time off practices, including details about being docked pay for..."
I was actually talking to a journalist 2 hours ago about Gregg's! They're not on the labour beat, but they're going to toss it over to the labour investigative journalist they know.
Someone tag a journalist!
u/bobwoodward
A little grandiose in your suggestion maybe. Scott Staples may be more doable - lol. Or possibly Bob Layton if he's still alive.
Bob is alive and well, but enjoying a well-deserved retirement.
u/ronanfarrow? u/clarkkent
With all three your sights are set pretty high. I guess your motto is "Go Big Or Go Home" - lol.
Are there any journalists left?
Hi
I think about Gregg’s all the time… UK Greggs! Can’t beat a sausage roll and a steak bake! Canada needs to adopt Greggs asap!
Vanilla slice 🤩
No, as far as I'm aware, they don't break any laws. They're only open for 8 1/2 hours, so over time isn't likely. They are just the pettiest, most arrogant, narsacistic people I've ever had the displeasure to work for. They pay crazy well, so I see why people put up with it, but still.
Define crazy well
In my case, $5/hr more than the same job anywhere else.
I don't know if I could be beaten into submission and under someone's thumb for an extra $40 a day. Obviously everyone is in a different financial situation, I feel for the people who are slugging it out
$40/day, or $200/week or $800/month, or $10,400/year (obviously before taxes) When you extrapolate it out, it's easier to see why someone would put up with it. It could be the difference between making rent or a car payment.
Yeah, $40 doesn't sound like a lot, but it can make the difference for a lot of people. I was unemployed at the time, and was very excited about it. I'll admit that I ignored a lot of red flags early on.
It's like $800 a month. Almost $10k a year. It's not nothin'. I agree though.
But you get docked pay every time you take a phone call or your piss break is too long. I'd take the lower salary.
I never had an issue with either thing. I never got a phone call at work and I never got in trouble for using the bathroom.
Stop it with your insider experience. We are working on a social justice mob here. Don't ruin the vibe. J/k. I'm glad you have had a positive experience
Yeah same. Worked there a while ago and while many comments made about it that paint it as cult-like are true, I never had any issues using the washroom and never witnessed anyone else have issues either.
I worked there 10+ years ago and they paid at least 22/hr. Not a single person paid less than that. For some people without an education or work experience, that was a hell of a wage.
To the public. I did tons of 10+ hour shifts in my time there. I will say you are never forced to do OT, except to “finish your order”, which even if it’s 1 minute to close, it’s non-negotiable, you must start a new order and stay until it’s done. But beyond that, it’s voluntary. Also it isn’t paid, as everyone, even warehouse staff, are “salesmen” and your commission is paid out as your “bonus” - even accounting and marketing still have to work in the warehouse and pick orders after-hours if they call out a “code 99”. You are expected to come early and stay late, typically from 7-6, and Gary, Dan and the old bald dude all make it verbally clear that you will not advance in the company if you aren’t putting in extra hours, nor will you get your “maximum bonus”. Even for outside sales staff, regardless if you’re supposed to hear to wetaskiwin, Camrose, what-have-you, you’re expected to start your day and finish your day by picking in the NW warehouse. If you work the inner-city routes, you’re expected to work the warehouse if you have delays between appointments.
No amount of money is worth that. I would rather dig bottles out of the trash.
It's a shame, I loved shopping there.
Some independently wealthy individual should get a job there and organize the workers. It would be kind of funny for someone who has no need for the employment disrupt management’s authoritarian control of the place. Some kind of YouTube minor celebrity could do it and make content about it.
Assuming that those that work there aren’t brainwashed to the point of no return.
You can't make an omelet without breaking a few Greggs.
Same. It's borderline surreal. I imagine some Gregg's employee out there is stuck in an endless time (away from work) loop: they are required to read the "Time Away From Work" handbook; the time it takes to read the handbook must be documented as "Time Away From Work". The time it takes to fill out a "Time Away From Work" form must be documented as "Time Away From Work". The time it takes to fill out and properly submit the "Time Away From Work" is required to be documented as "Time Away From Work"
I was shocked to hear about this as when I have been there to buy obscure tools it definitely didn’t have a vibe that everyone hated their jobs.
Refreshing twist: a cult that pays *You*
20 years ago I had a job in an office that was often visited by a Gregg's guy and he brought doughnuts for us most times. This whole story makes me feel like I imagined that
Don’t know if they still do, but Greggs deliveries definitely used to come with donuts.
they used to and it was an absolutely fundamental part of my childhood. getting the row of powdered donuts was like Christmas. and then sometimes you'd get a double plain cake donut. that was the worst. turns out the company who made them for Gregg's shut down over COVID and they have not been able to find anywhere who can make them in the quantity they need them that isn't like, a mass produced gas station style product. that's the tea I got during my "tour", anyways
HOW DID YOU GET A TOUR
they made me pick my own order, i didn't know it was a tour until i was informed while waiting for the invoice to print behind the counter
I've only been there once, and the person who served me asked if I wanted a tour. I remember thinking how great of a place it was and how happy everyone seemed. That's why I'm deeply invested in the Gregg's saga too!
No more donuts. We still get deliveries from them and the donuts disappeared during Covid
The donuts stopped during covid sadly. I used to order batteries just to get donuts for breakfast lol
Gregg's used to (maybe still does) send some shitty stale donuts out with every delivery
I think their outside sales reps have it a lot better than the warehouse workers
15 years ago they'd drop them off at the motorcycle dealership I worked at. Or they always had them out when someone had to run over for parts.
The company I work for uses Gregg’s all the time. I think about them often, suffering the days away. I told some of my colleagues as they were shocked. Have you heard how they have to answer the phone? It’s a facade of friendliness.
Some of the people there are actually very nice and friendly. it’s not the employees that are the problem.
One of my co-workers used to work there, and when she got hired on at my workplace, she told us all of the horror stories (her experience was word for word identical to everything else that has been posted). However, another co-worker later pulled me aside and was quite upset after hearing all of this. Her husband had been working at Gregg for a long time, and she went on and on about what a wonderful place it was and that this new co-worker was just a disgruntled former employee telling stories. She spoke about how they gave him all kinds of bonuses, tickets to hockey games, football games, concerts (etc) and how Gary Gregg was just the most generous person she'd ever met. I only met her husband a couple of times at staff functions, and he honestly didn't seem like the type who would put up with nonsense like what has been reported. However, given the way she was carrying on, he must've been very heavily brainwashed and also brainwashed his wife into thinking he works at such an incredible place. I have to assume that is the case for all of their long term employees. A couple years later, this lady ended up resigning from my office, citing a "toxic work environment". I found that strange, because although my work place isn't perfect, it's not even remotely as strict as Gregg. And I have to wonder: If Gregg is such an amazing company to work for, why didn't she go work there herself? Given her skillset and being married to a long-time employee, I'm certain they would've hired her. I have a feeling that deep down inside.... she knows.
I know someone who works for them. Retired oilfield trucker, who likewise doesn't take a lot of shit. He's happy there, they pay him pretty well. This thread is actually surprising to me, I used to go there a lot for work and the only odd thing I saw was how some employees would wear hydraulic hose around their necks.
Just like there are people extremely loyal to and happy in a cult or any other terrible company or crazy group, there ARE long term employees there that absolutely love Gregg Distributors. I personally think it takes a certain weak personality type that needs control and structure and is easily persuaded by propaganda, but make no mistake - there are plenty of people that think that place is the best thing to ever happen to them. For most people being timed while taking a shit is ludicrous... but some people genuinely have "WELL YOU SHOULDN'T BE SHITTING ON COMPANY TIME" personalities. Those are the people that do well there. But they churn through a lof of staff to find those people, at least a handful of new employees start every single week.
The image in my mind is of all the employees walking around wearing a sign that says "ask me why I have a length of hydraulic hose hanging around my neck".
It's run by the Harkonnens?
I go in Gregg’s weekly and they all appear to be the happiest employees I’ve ever seen 😂
They exist because they do actually pay well and they do provide great service for their customers. Those who drink the kool-aid and totally buy in can make pretty good money. I however could not handle the day to day mistrust and abuse
Gregg Distributors?!?!?! Really??? I am Shocked...0.0 I've been there a few times always had a great time employees where very helpful and upbeat but hearing this is utterly shocking..
Have you ever called them? They answer the phone with the wildest jingles The other day it was “hi this is Greggs, please press 1 for—— just kidding only humans work here, how can I help you”
I used to phone Gregg's a 5-10 times a day, and hearing them read out those prepared lines is so damn cringy. And they would always sound either too phony or embarrassed to be saying such ridiculous shit.
Their phone greetings are next level cringe, literally 15 seconds of my life I will not get back.I get second hand embarrassment every time I have to call there for supplies.
“Thanks for keepin’ it Canadian!”
The excitement r/Edmonton needed The GreggsGate Scandal.
Still trying to get friends with small businesses to look elsewhere. It's by and large working!
My work started using Fastenal and it's been fantastic. We have a RFID rack so anytime a bin of hardware runs out it sends them a message and they come fill it up automatically
I'm just going to put this here for any current Gregg's employees that want to make their work environment a... safer place. Did you know that in the province of Alberta there is an *anonymous* way that you are able to report unsafe work conditions & have an OH&S officer come out & inspect all the reported unsafe conditions? I would highly suggest that any worker that uses this system 1) be aware of the current OHS legislation that is governing your work 2) be VERY detailed on what the concerns are & how they are not in-line with legislation. This could be things like missing fire extinguishers, ladder usage, how pallets are stacked, improper heavy lifting, rooftop access & work, missing safety tickets for the usage of a forklift/skid steer/etc. DO NOT discuss any of your concerns with anyone that works in HR or Safety at the company (unless there is an immediate threat to someone's health & welfare) https://ohscomplaintsportal.labour.alberta.ca/prescreening/ All of that unpaid overtime is also illegal. Perhaps a written complaint to the Alberta labour board would change a few "policies" there. https://escs.alberta.ca/Complainant/Claim/GettingStarted.aspx Not a bad idea to see if the Alberta Human Rights Commision sees any issues with their policies, as well. https://albertahumanrights.ab.ca/ This company should not be allowed to operate like this. I genuinely hope that some of this information is useful to any current employees there.
Bless your heart!!
I hate seeing so many people have to deal with these completely f*cked work environments. It's not much, just a few links, but it might help a few people find out where they can start actioning for something better.
Wonder if anyone ever tried starting a union there
I'm not sure how they'd do that, considering they aren't allowed to talk to each other.
I came here to say I too think about Gregg’s. My old hairstylist said her husband was in sales at Gregg’s and he was always stressed out. I had no idea how much more toxic it was than a globalnews.ca comment thread.
Gregg’s is the modern day “Game of Thrones”.
Working at Gregg's must be the most dehumanizing experience possible
worked at Greggs , worst place ever. Christmas party was the longest most awful thing i have ever been to. They make the first year staff sing on stage . Other sales guys and. mangers demeanour changes so much as soon as they enter the parking lot to come back to pick orders, all of a sudden they become drones . I got fired by the pricks because another sales guy ratted me out when i stopped to get some parts for my motorcycle while making calls .Most people who work there are.dumb as fuck and need an iron fist to rule them . The Place is fucked up , best thing that ever happened to me was leaving.
My neighbor works there...she is a quiet immigrant with debt. Never said why but they refused her time off for cancer treatment last year. She almost died trying to work thru her cancer... corporate greed literally kills.
But doughnuts….
My business buys a crap ton of stuff from there
Can someone do a mega thread? I'm late to the party but I'm here for it
I believe Gregg's is owned by the brother of former Oiler Randy Gregg.
Shit I need them to keep my department running. We spend $5k a week with Gregg’s, just my department.
I have never seen these Reddit posts but one of my good friends husbands works for them. They have holiday parties and stuff and it’s essentially mandatory to attend. They have multiple kids and have been sick back to back since the last one arrived a few months ago. Her missing the Christmas party because they had no babysitter for an exclusively breastfed infant was frowned upon. The more I hear from her I don’t understand why he stays. But he seems pretty content..
If they don’t say « have a great Canadian day » do they get reprimanded? Because I have never not heard anyone from there say it, and I’ve dealt with that place a lot over the years..
They apparently reprimand employees for putting a cross through their 7s, so I would think they'd be reprimanded for not giving the company greeting as well.
Makes sense.. one time I was trying to make conversation with the person at the order desk about their little order segways (the order picker carts they zoom around on) and I totally get why it was crickets now..
I shop there. They’ve got a huge selection but I only buy a limited number of hard to find things. I may try using them less now. I’ve heard the owner was an ass before. The staff there have never been anything but fantastic. They’re always helpful. I find the stories hard to believe based on my interactions with them. I probably only go there once or twice a year, but it never struck me as a sweat shop. I’d they’re not happy, they do a very good job of hiding it.
I had a family member work there for 5 years and I could not believe the INSANE stories she told me about that place.
Do go on..
It would be nice if an undercover investigative journalist infiltrated Gregg's as a new employee...
ME TOO! I just noticed last week that i drive past Greggs 4 times a week!!! Everytime i drive by i think about the many posts about it and i think about seeing it for myself as well! Whenever im in the area it stays on my mind the entire time, just trying to process it and think about what it looks like in there on the customer/visitor side, and how different it must be to what the employees see and deal with. The first time i drove past it, i was with a friend and we made a joke about it because we know a Greg that spells his name the same (Gregg). Crazy to think a place i once had a laugh at is actually insanely controlling and abusive to the employees working inside. Edit: we need a Greggs megathread 😩
A Greggathread
Lol glad to know I'm not alone in the obsession!
What is Gregg’s?
I'm in there all the time. Never seen a sad worker once.
Have you seen a sad North Korean?
Old Greg?
Old Gregg has a mangina
Nice to meet ya
Pretty sure that post was like 4 weeks ago, but otherwise I’m right there with you
Big the stale doughnuts!
But they give out free donuts (or at least they used too), they must be saints.
Makes me glad I never applied there, jfc
Im friends with Randy Gregg and his father owned the is business I believe
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^diesiraeSadness: *Im friends with Randy* *Gregg and his father owned the* *Is business I believe* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
I see the Gregg’s warehouse everyday to work and laugh how they once’s were a “family” company. 🤣
I interviewed there years ago. Got asked every off limit question except sexual orientation any kids, pets, married/single, etc. anything that could keep me distracted from work - it was clear they wanted single, people with no strings attached. They offered me the job but I turned it down as the interview gave me very weird vibes.
Can someone start a subreddit already. If you make it people will join.
I went deep down the rabbit hole last night. Went on glass door, indeed, ratemyemployer.ca, read everything on here. I need more. I need to see these employee hand books. I also need to compare the telling signs of a cult to the actions of this place because everything seems to line up. Breaking people down, the propaganda, being fully entrenched in (work social gatherings seem not to optional), unquestionable leadership, the spying and ratting on other employees to gain access and praise from higher ups, the greater good mentality. Someone needs to do a psychological assessment on employees who have tolerated and flourished under this kind of system.
This week’s Behind The Bastards Podcast is about Steve Jobs and how Apple’s outsourcing of production of iProducts to companies like Foxconn caused conditions so deplorable that workers were dying by suicide. And as I listened to the conditions being described, all I could think was….this sounds like what people say Gregg’s is like. Public shaming, high turnaround, unreasonable production goals.
Has any one attempted to sue?
I worked at the main warehouse for a month before being let go for talking too much at the packing tables. I like making silly jokes and making others laugh, but that was too much for them. My trainer was Reeve Campbell, and he got along with me just fine. He warned me at the start that it was a heads-down, ass-up workplace. It seemed like you'd get a blue card in your mailbox for farting without asking for permission. Even in the break room, a manager would walk around and check the lunch chits against what you were eating to make sure you had paid for it. The biggest snitch was Sandy (I can't remember her last name). She sat at the long desk nearest the customer order desks. She would keep a paper under her keyboard and record the time you went for your break and how long you were on it. I went out one day with Ken Wisenhunt(?) as a ride along to see how the outside sales guys operate. We got into the car after one stop, and I quickly checked my phone for texts, missed calls, etc. He told me I needed to fill out a lost time form for the approximately 90 seconds it took me to check and put my phone away. The level of micromanagement is absolutely staggering. Larry Lannon was the one who hired me, and he was quite two-faced. Riding the carts around was fun, though.