Not what it seems....
I've worked for Sheetz for a little while now, about 3 1/2 years, and when I first applied to the company I was so excited! A company that TRULY believes in customer-service, and friendliness, and community! I mean, we even get bonuses based on friendliness, how amazing is that! And although I still believe that Sheetz offers wonderful benefits, I've finally just accepted the fact that the whole "TCF" (total customer focus) and friendliness schtick is just a gimmick, like EVERY other company/corporation does. And maybe the Sheetz family truly does believe in those things and considers them important, unfortunately it doesn't matter what the CEO believes, if the vaaaast majority of the employees in the company do not share those beliefs, and if there is no oversight to ensure that those principals are being upheld. Gosh the horror stories I have that I could tell about the locations I've worked at and the coworkers I've worked with... I'm saving those for the book, though, lol... to make a long story short: the only thing that seems to matter to this company are metrics, numbers, and statistics. I wonder if when a business becomes a corporation, do they HAVE to sell their soul? Or make a deal with the devil? Because from EE's, all the way up to the highest level of personnel I've encountered and dealt with, I would say about.... 97% of people in the company do not give a rat's ass about ACTUALLY being there for customers or ensuring that each individual feels seen and appreciated. For a place that tries so hard to give off the "cool-mom of convenient stores" vibe, they really be letting the most hateful and lazy people run their businesses. I've had superiors tell me that the job would be easier for everyone if I would just stop caring. If I could just come in and do the absolute bare minimum that is required of me and nothing more... let that sink in, the people ABOVE me want me to stop caring, so that the job would be easier for them... It sucks to work so hard to keep the place in it's best condition, only to have a few days off and to come back to your customers saying "where have you been? It's been terrible these last few days and I'm never treated so badly when you work," and on and on and on. But a good majority of our customers either dont receive a survey email, do receive an email but ignore it/never see it, or get the email and intentionally don't take it because they think it will hurt me in some way if they were to be honest on it. As long as the tiny percentage of customers that DO fill out a survey are more or less pleased, then all is fine in the kingdom. And to the people who don't want to get our store punished by giving a bad survey, I always try to explain that it's ok to be honest, and actually it's preferable. I don't go into detail with them about why, I just say that "Here at Sheetz, we prefer an uncomfortable truth to a comfortable lie..." So I mean, yeah, I lie to them. As hurt as I am, I guess the company still has me whipped pretty good, lol. But i mean, our customers aren't stupid, they can clearly see how things are done... and yes, I've went to the "people in charge," the supervisors, to the HM, to the KM, the the Store Manager, to the District Manager, I've called the employee hotline, and sure, they will pretend like they agree with you in person, but it's become obvious that they just say all that stuff because they are "supposed to," and that genuinely caring for our customers and our communities is NOT a priority for this company. All about the numbers. Good at your job and want to move up? Well, that's great, as long as Sheetz needs to boost their numbers for "in-house promotions." Bad at your job and want to move up? Same thing. It doesn't matter, if you are good or bad at anything. Doesn't matter if you are a people person. Doesn't matter if youre a good worker. It matters if you, A: Know someone in a higher position(or a hiring position, even. *Ba dum tss*), or B: the company wants to boost their numbers. You know that technically we are supposed to say "welcome" to everyone? Nope, not us. Our manager says that it's not important to make every single customer welcome, as long as we get a few of them every so often. And sadly, they aren't the only manager who thinks like that. I've tried to ask for the reasoning behind this, and they gave me a response, but unfortunately no answer. Just a bunch of words with no meaning. So it's just really, really frustrating to know that I believe and care more for the company's standards than the people that are being chosen to lead and represent the company. The "higher-ups" are the same here as everywhere else, too. If corporate does a walk through of your store, the only time you can expect them to acknowledge your existence is when sometimes the store manager will take them around like they are at a petting zoo, in which case you will have a short little conversation, where the corporate rep will spew off some nonsense and act like they just made the biggest revelation in customer service history. I always think "wow.... they must have A LOT of degrees, because they certainly dont know how to treat, or act around, us lesser beings..." otherwise, you will be ignored. I've went out of my way to speak with them, even coming in on my days off to try and pick their brains about the company. And even then, I've been straight up ignored. "Hey, so you must be "so-and-so," it's so good to meet you! Just wanted to say that I really love this company and what it stands for!" Their response? Crickets.... ok, guess I'll just go f*ck myself, then! Anyways, sorry for long post. I guess I just want to say: if youre looking for a typical gas station/convenient store that offers pretty good benefits, then this could be the place for you! However if you are looking for a business that genuinely puts customers first, that genuinely cares about the communities they serve, and that genuinely only wants the best people for the job.... well, if you find a place like that: please let me know! I know a woman that works at a different store, and honestly, working for the company was totally worth it, since I got to meet and know her. She is one of the kindest, most patient, friendliest, hard-working people I have EVER met. I'd like to think I'm not so bad, myself, but this lady lives, breathes and sleeps the "Sheetz" lifestyle and personality. She's been at the company longer than I have, and honestly.... my heart breaks for her. We've built a friendship since meeting one another, and the times this woman has called me bawling her eyes out, because of how her superiors have treated not only her, but her coworkers, and her customers. I think if it was just about how she was treated, she wouldn't even bat an eye. But it's the fact that the people she works with and works for and whom she cares so deeply for, are being treated so poorly that really tears her up. And some of the things she's told me, and the things I've personally witnessed happening at her location.... whew, child. I've told her that she should at least contact the Better Business Bureau, or file a claim with the EEOC, but even after how she's been treated, I think deep down she still holds out hope that the company is good, it's just the local workers who are so uncaring, and that she truly does love the company. I feel bad for her, though, and would even file a claim on her behalf... but I can't, (i mean, technically, I think I could) she already probably feels betrayed, I just couldn't go behind her back and betray her trust like that. I dont want to mention anything too specific, either, because I have no doubt in my mind that if I were connected to this post, that would be the end of my sheetz career. I guess I'm holding out hope, too, that things can change. That things WILL change... but it's dwindling, certainly. If anyone from Sheetz reads this and disagrees, PLEASE tell me where your store is and I will gladly go there. I dont care if it is out of state or whatever, I'll figure something out. It's just me in the household, at least, so I can move around more freely than plenty of people I know who can't, and for that I am grateful. But really, if you have any advice or words of wisdom or whatever, feel free to let them be known.