Van Leeuwen employee experience
I worked for Van Leeuwen Ice Cream for several years and wanted to share my experience because I don't think the issues I saw were isolated.
I started with the company in 2022 and, for a long time, genuinely enjoyed the job. However, things gradually became more stressful and disorganized, especially under newer management.
One of the biggest issues I personally experienced involved a promotion. In May 2024, management approached me about becoming a Team Lead/Assistant Manager. I went through interviews, onboarding, and began taking on responsibilities associated with that role. I was repeatedly told the promotion and raise would be finalized by August, but it never happened. Despite continuing to perform duties above my position, I never received the promised pay increase or title.
Around the same time, I developed a large cyst in my hand from the repetitive physical demands of the job. My doctor recommended that I wear a brace to prevent it from returning, but I was told I could not wear it while working. The cyst eventually came back, and I still experience pain, numbness, and discomfort.
I also had an uncomfortable experience after a manager learned that I am gay. She began discussing explicit sexual topics with me, including details about parties she attended and custom leather harnesses. During the conversation, she specifically told me not to tell HR. It left me feeling uncomfortable and uneasy around her afterward.
The circumstances surrounding my termination were equally confusing. I was told I was fired, then told I wasn't fired, then told I would be terminated but was still expected to finish my scheduled shifts. At one point, I was asked over text what "our lie" would be regarding the situation and what I planned to tell HR. The reason ultimately given for my termination involved lateness during a severe blizzard, despite previously being told I wouldn't face consequences for that incident.
After leaving the company, I thought I could move on. Instead, current employees and even some new hires have continued reaching out to me about problems at the stores. Many of them are stressed, overwhelmed, and actively looking for other jobs.
The biggest complaint I hear is inconsistency and poor communication. Employees are scheduled for doubles between stores, sometimes repeatedly after being told it would be a one-time thing. People who ask for coverage are scrutinized, while others seem to face no consequences for missing shifts entirely. Some workers are reportedly shamed for calling out sick, while management simultaneously offers extra money to other employees to cover shifts.
There also doesn't appear to be enough management support for some locations. Employees frequently describe feeling ignored when they need help but pressured for immediate responses whenever management has concerns. Schedules change with little notice, operational issues are blamed on store staff despite a lack of support, and employees often feel their mistakes are highlighted while their hard work goes unnoticed.
Training has become another issue. New hires are sometimes sent into stores without proper preparation, uniforms, or notice to existing staff. Employees are expected to train people during busy shifts without additional compensation or even advance warning.
What stands out most is how many people seem emotionally exhausted. Multiple current employees have called me crying after interactions with management or because they feel trapped in an environment where they are overworked, unsupported, and constantly worried about making mistakes.
I'm not posting this to create drama or attack anyone personally. I genuinely believe many of these issues stem from poor leadership, communication problems, and a lack of support rather than intentional malice. But regardless of the cause, the impact on employees appears to be significant. A lot of people have already left, and many more are planning to.
I'm curious if anyone else who has worked for Van Leeuwen, especially in NYC locations, has had similar experiences.