A company’s reputation is everything. If you have a respected and ethical brand, offer quality products and services, and have earned your customers’ trust, then you’ll likely succeed in business. On the flip side, any shady things that happen have the potential to undo everything that you’ve poured your heart, sweat, and tears into over the years.
The reality is that many companies have things they’d like to keep under wraps. We’re looking at an AskReddit thread where former employees finally blew the whistle on the very worst and most disgusting secrets they found out about their workplace. Scroll down to read about their awful experiences.
#1
I worked for 2 years for LEGO, and have nothing but nice things to say about them. For the most part, everyone I encountered there was awesome.
Image credits: anon
#2
I worked at a pet store once. It was probably the worst job I had. Animals were generally well taken care of in our store but almost never touched or played with (unless the managers were gone). This pretty much makes any animal we sold pretty hostile to its new owner or unmanagable. It also sucked because when stupid kids would come in and want to hold animals, we all would groan on the inside, knowing we were probably gonna get bit. The kid was definately gonna get bitten too. Probably will also drop it in surprise and make us run around trying to catch it again. If the management had let us handle them a bit more we wouldn't have had kids freaking out over being bitten by a gerbil or a parakeet or people bringing the animal back when it wasn't instantly warm and receptive.
EDIT: I'd like to say though if you or someone you know thinking of buying/adopting a pet don't give up just because it doesn't take to you right away. They need love, support, training and time from you. Just because it isn't all loveydovey now doesn't mean it won't be if you treat it right. Just remember the places they come from, where they don't get affection very much. Its new to them.
Image credits: anon
#3
Used to work at an ice cream store part time.
We made our waffle cones from scratch and at regular intervals. Not just because of the demand. The strong scent could be smelled from outside the building and draw people in. Also, people were more likely to buy waffle cones or increase their serving size when we were cooking up a fresh batch.
Good business strategy. And hey, made my clothes smell nice (I had a jacket that smelled like fresh waffle cones for 3 months after I left that place)
Image credits: SkysEevee
#4
I worked at a Walmart. This is the biggest secret I can share with the public:
Believe it or not, the floor associates have no control over how much of something is in stock.
Image credits: spicymelons
#5
Google spies on you. A lot.
Image credits: mgollllll
#6
I used to work at a Disney store. If you ever hear them mention a customer as a "customer" and not a "guest" it means they are suspected of shoplifting or something else bad.
Image credits: 5JuicyFlavors
#7
I worked at American Apparel for two years. During the time that I worked there, the company implemented a company-wide recruitment policy where any person applying for a position must be photographed (1 headshot, 1 body shot) The actual resumes were thrown in the garbage. These photos were then sent to a company email address where someone would either give a thumbs up or down to the photographs. Staff were encouraged to recruit instore and on the street and were given a $100 bonus for every person they got approved.
Before this was implemented, all existing staff were photographed (again, 1 headshot and 1 body shot) Anyone deemed to be physically unworthy was let go from the company. Of course this wasn't legal, however right before they started this process every employee had to sign a waiver form, that was pretty much a lot of legal gibberish, on the spot. I wanted to have a lawyer take a look at the form however I was told I had to sign it on the spot or I would be let go.
There was also a company intranet website which all employees where to check on a regular basis. This was Dov's main line of communication to all staff. The site would have pictures of girls from the stores where he would rip them apart for having too thin eyebrows, for having "ugly make-up" or bad tattoos and piercings. They were basically publicly shamed for not looking the way he wanted to. He would also post memos saying things like "HIRE MORE ASIANS"
Needless to say, I no longer work for the company and will never shop there again.
Image credits: anon
#8
It's common for restaurants to fill Heinz ketchup bottles up with off-brand ketchup once the bottles are empty.
Off-brand ketchup haters, beware.
Image credits: ravenpride
#9
I used to work for toys"r"us and majority of the rare toys that people try to collect usually don't even hit the shelves because the workers already put them aside for themselves.
Image credits: nbertolino
#10
I used to work at Petco. They had this 'spa upgrade' added to their grooming package. (included special scented shampoo, conditioner, and teeth brushing). By corporate, each store had to sell a certain number of spa packages to meet the quota or they'd be written up.
The manager at my store added it on to every dog, even if thd customer didn't ask for it. Suddenly a dog who's haircut should cost $50 now cost $70. We had many complaints and lost a log of customers.
Image credits: thedoc617
#11
I used to work at the YMCA as a lifeguard, and we had a security camera at the indoor pool. Multiple coworkers were fired because they were "caught" texting on the job on that camera.
I became good friends with the boss, and he ended up telling me about how our security camera was useless because the lense was constantly fogged up so the footage showed nothing but blurry figures.
He had instead fired my coworkers based off rumors of texting or if he didn't like them.
Image credits: flame-princess
#12
At Walmart the code for the intercom is #961. You are welcome and have fun.
Edit 1: Ok just to clear up a few things. #961 is default intercom number. I have worked at 5 different Walmarts and at each this code could be used. One store had a different number (like #445) but #961 would still work. Every Walmart used to use the same code (#960) until someone decided to shout racist things over it lol. Then they changed the default by one number making it #961. Trust me....it works lol.
Image credits: Galactiiiic
#13
I've actually wanted to get this out there cause it has really bothered me and its been a few years. I worked at Dollar Tree (terrible decision btw). The store had a charity drive for toys during Christmas. We would ask people at the end of their checkout if they wanted to donate a toy for active Military family's kids. The incentive for the cashier was to sell the most and you would win like $100 or something (I got second place so I don't remember). Anyway, we sold what had to be thousands (so we thought). It was easy since what's one extra dollar right? Well, whenever the customers bought a toy it went into a big bin at the front. However, after every day, this bin was unloaded and was recycled to be sold yet again, over and over. In other words there were only so many toys that they just sold over and over. I guess they figured that we sold so many, that every local kid would buried in toys but I will never forget it. It makes me sad and reluctant to donate unless I know it'll actually go somewhere. This wasn't the only thing that was sketchy either.
Image credits: soggybagelboy
#14
Someone close with me works at Forever 21. They cannot ask or accuse you of stealing. They cannot do anything. Even if they see you put it in their bag they cant really do anything. Mall security wont handle it, and they dont do LP. They cannot contain you, or chase you, etc. They can just comment on that shirt thats in your pants would go nicely with a bracelet.
Edit: It's kind of disappointing with how many people are saying "so tempted" and "going to try this". I'm sorry, guess I'm one of the few people who still has morals. Probably the same people who think police are pigs when they get caught breaking the law. I hate people.
Image credits: anon
#15
I worked at Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems in Arlington, VA as a Quality Assurance Engineer. It came to light that Japanese engineers without a Professional Engineer license in the US were falsifying signatures of American PEs on design documents for their new APWR-1700 to be built in Virginia and Texas.
I reported them to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, but since I had already resigned after they contually asked me to violate internal procedure and the customers contract (legally binding quality control specs), and no one who still worked there would corroborate, I recieved a pretty letter that pretty much said "there isn't enough proof to investigate."
TL:DR - nuclear reactor maker falsifies design documents, I report, nothing happens. Think Fukishima in your backyard since this will be on the fault line near Richmond.
Image credits: eldawsome
#16
Working for Borders (I'm going to assume this policy holds with other bookstores as well), whenever we did inventory, we would strip the covers off old paperbacks and magazines that weren't supposed to be shelved anymore, and toss the reading material itself. We would then either scan in the covers' barcode, or mail them back for inventory purposes.
It hurt my soul, wasting all those books and magazines... =(.
Image credits: anon
#17
Every last bit of food made at Macaroni Grill is either frozen, canned, or out of a serving pouch. ABSOLUTELY. EVERYTHING.
Image credits: anon
#18
This is no secret, but whenever an annoying customer asks if we have something in the back, we go take a break, come back out, and say "hey, sorry, we're all out"
Image credits: CherrySlurpee
#19
Worked at a facility which was an operation center for the Affordable Care Act.
All of the systems were connected so poorly that the Government systems were exposed, and the software was extremely vulnerable to exploit.
I wrote a threat assessment and turned it in to my floor manager. He passed it along and shortly after, one manager quit, one was fired, and my floor manager never spoke to me again.
Shortly after, we suffered an 'internal attack' and when systems were restored, I had access to deep company emails with military and other government officials, domestic and foreign, detailing weapons sales and transport. One of those countries was North Korea.
Image credits: HisLordshipTheDude
#20
I used to work at an Apple store.
If you bring in a computer 3 times for the same issue, they will replace it with a brand new model.
Image credits: ilovethetaste
#21
I used to work at a local movie theater that only costs $2. I don't know if other similar places do this, but the manager used to take out the used cups from the trashcans wash them out and use them again. Lesson i learned: Never buy a drink at a cheap movie theater.
Edit: I've decided to report them! I figured they would be caught and shut down by now, but the place is still open.
Image credits: anon
#22
Former Casino employee here. Avoid slot machines near the exits and cashiers. They are designed to pay out poorly.
Image credits: stockefeller
#23
Even though there are very specific rules regarding the amount of hours a commercial truck driver can be on the road, and if you ask the employer they'll always say that the driver is told to always follow those rules, I was always encouraged to work over houred by falsifying my log book. Those drivers that followed the letter of the law were given significantly less work and made WAY less money (the difference was close to $20,000/year.)
Image credits: ikeBruceSpringsteen
#24
As a former cart pusher at walmart, one thing i always noticed was how they pushed all of their employees, i mean "associates" , to 39.5 hours a week so that they wouldn't get full benefits. That and the 10% discount card only worked on taxed items.
Edit: Thanks for all the responses. For those that asked, NY state considers 40 hours to be full time, back in '09. Also the tax in my area was 8%, so the discount was pretty much nonexistent. I have since moved on to another job.
Image credits: scion107
#25
The managers at Public Storage steal from units going up for auction, thinking that no one will ever know...until one of the customers buys their stuff out of auction at the last minute.
Image credits: Mandalasan_612
#26
Back when I used to work at McDonalds we would get shipment time to time for buns, fries, etc. Every time shipment came the manager had to sign and check that everything was there but my manager would always mark certain things missing and hide them in the store so that she can get a few extra boxes for free. I have no idea how she got away with it for so long but it's been a couple years since and she is still there so I guess it worked for her.
Image credits: baexio
#27
EVERYTHING AT PANERA IS FROZEN (pretty much). Phew. That felt great.
Image credits: miiiichhelllle
#28
Former Office Depot "Technician" reporting in.
You bring your computer in for a $100 virus clean up - we hook it up to the network and let some guy overseas fix it. Most of the tech employees know about as much about computers as the average 45-year-old shopper.
Edit: a lot of people have messaged me stating that the techs on the other end of the network connection were not, in fact, over seas. I apologize to all of you, that was unfair. I never had any interaction with you guys except through the little chat box. My store manager told me we outsource over seas, and when I saw how some of you type in that box, I didn't doubt him
Edit 2: I also never meant to imply that the real technicians didn't know what they were doing. I was simply showing the incompetency of the actual employee.
Image credits: jbor613
#29
Those security cameras? Nope. Not real.
This is really pretty common.
Image credits: Chtorrr
#30
If you shop at a grocery store that sells whole rotisserie chickens, the chicken you're buying probably isn't older than about 3 hours (that was when we had to pull ours.) However if you buy a chicken pot pie or a BBQ chicken pizza, it's hard to say exactly how long ago that chicken was cooked. Why? Because the chicken that we pulled after it sat for 3 hours, we pulled off the skin and tore the meat off the bones and then threw the meat in a big container in the prep fridge. So your Safeway chicken pot pie is made out of rotisserie chickens that no one bought.
EDIT: As 500 people flooding my inbox have noted, this is as it should be.
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Image credits: Red_AtNight
