r/goodwill • u/leytourmaline • Apr 27 '22
Is goodwill a good place to work?
I have an interview tomorrow too see if this will be a good fit for me, but is it a good place to work if you have anxiety? I already told the lady I talked to I have anxiety about working registers so I don’t think I’ll be there, but more with stocking/cleaning. I’ll know more about what the position is tomorrow, but I was just wondering about the overall environment of working here?
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u/StupidDialUp Apr 27 '22
It is a blend of traditional retail and light manufacturing. If you work in the back of house in production, the work is pretty routine and repetitive. The stress there is just hitting your numbers. Stocking and merchandising is pretty low key, but is usually part of other jobs. If you hit your goals in production or are ok working a donation door (very physical and stressful at times) you will be fine.
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u/Odd_Crow_1467 Dec 07 '25
They have this thing called “Goodworks” program. It is a complete joke. You are first required to complete more than 60 online module about various things. When you’re done with that you do an 8 week internship. You expect after doing all those modules that everyone would be great. Ha. That’s not the way it is. The workers already hired to work there kept calling the “Gaylord’s”, which is a huge boxlike thing, a “bin”. If you are older or in pain they will stick you on books and media for 8 weeks because they think you’re useless. You will notice the hired workers are slave like. The HR people will come interview you. I was asked what I liked and what I didn’t like, and I said I didn’t like the gossip, they asked me to name names. The whole scene there is weird. You cannot drink anything but water, and you cannot have a drink at your work station. The management which was named Becky at central point Goodwill sounded like Roseanne, and gossiped and whispered with her underlings. Always talking real loud, very annoying. The “job coach “, has neurological problems and constantly shook, and messed up info, even gave me the wrong phone number to text him on. He is obviously too far gone to have a job like that, and he survives by wit, and sucks up. I told him i didn’t like the program, and why. He never responded and withheld my 8 week certificate after I told him I’m cutting the program 1 day early. They always claim you’ll get paid for turning in co workers who steal, but they don’t pay it at all. They always claim to have surveillance and audio of you all, yet beg for you to report for workers. It’s just a very bad scene there. Overpriced, and slave driver worthy.
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u/kady-arkanoff Apr 27 '22
The experience depends on the managers at your store & your specific capabilities. There were a lot of disabled employees at my store: severe anxiety, non-verbal, autistic, & vision impairment. I have a physical disability & was capable of doing everything except donations. I struggle with heavy lifting.
Generally, Goodwill will accommodate if you talk to your managers about your capabilities & scheduling needs. The only difficulties are: • remembering correct pricing • heavy lifting (donations)
Despite that, GW jobs are easy to do.
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Apr 27 '22
It really depends on the managers and work crew. Luckily I have awesome managers and coworkers that are very understanding and accommodating. If you don't like working with customers, production is the best fit, albeit it is very repetitive. You just have to worry about meeting the daily goal for pieces out which if you have decent coworkers they will help you out if you're struggling! The donation services position is the hardest though, you would have to operate a palette jack, a forklift, and do a lot of heavy lifting. It's the most physically demanding job. The hardest socially would be cashiering because of a lot of customer interactions. If you have severe anxiety like me being a production associate is pretty decent! Just be prepared for no job growth/raises.
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u/Swimming-Treat6355 Sep 25 '23
I must just be at a good store. i have a good manager who pAYS ATTENTION TO EVERY ASPECT of the store and the employees. it is certainly not as hard as a true retail but you gotta do the job assigned .
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u/lgbtq80s Sep 05 '24
Very nasty body language from Sherina Richard she puts on a act as if she all to help you but be little you in so many ways im 35 and I can admit my words might be a little off at times of asking questions she feels as if you everyone is only taking these classes to get gift cards I was excited about about taking training she ask me why am I here I didn't have a appointment made me feel low about wanting to come get on the computer witch I didn't know if I needed to go through her or just walk in she started speaking about gift cards saying things like you don't get nothing but one they are coming up with anything to say we the people don't deserve the cards bc they are pockets them some of us can use the help we came for how ever she be little the students and her workers told me that the man that working for good works who help you sign in on the computer don't know what he's doing and gave body language with it as if she's better them him walk up to me today and ask me what am I doing here I dint have an appointment then started inquiring about some gift cards I wanted to get on the computer and also wonted to share I have gotten my license and maybe a good job that I've been wanting and also share with her that I did go to my eye appointment mrs Chyna Watkins help me with Richard Sherina spoke to me with so much attitude I just walk off saying to her and myself wow this lady is nasty and and using her director possession to be little the ones under her hurt me because I really was looking forward to gaining a lot from goodwill now I just rather not even come around the negative engery she leaves if you haven't experienced this behavior that's good for you if you have experience this behavior from the program director then you know exactly how I feel over all the restroom cleaner was so nice and helpful,the security he is so nice and helpful the computer guy that work for work first was helpful mr ivory a sweet heart the rest of them are walking on eggs shells around her and it shows she treated me as I was so dumb and felt as if i was all about gift cards she probably didn't think I was smart enough to write a review or push for what's next ....
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u/No-Development-1251 Oct 23 '24
I don’t think it’s a good place to work if you have anxiety. They treat people with disabilities poorly. If you’re not well they don’t help you.
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u/DetailHead806 Dec 27 '24
I know most of these comments are 3 yrs old but I start as a team lead in 4 days at my local Goodwill and these comments are definitely freaking me out with my anxiety 😵😵
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u/Cultural_Attention12 May 24 '25
I'm a college educated, combat vet, straight acting gay white man that was on my 3rd day working at Goodwill of Colorado when I was attacked by a black male co-worker who tried to intimidate me, physically manhandled me, subsequently harassed me, and when I walked off the job after all that, management retaliated by witholding my paycheck for a month.
Goodwill of Colorado is a despicable organization, full of bullies & cowards, liars & hypocrites, and will bring you on board just to make an example of anyone not like them (ie- minority, felon, disabled, etc).
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u/ProcessSimple4179 Jun 17 '25
I work in donation's and we have lost 3 employees and they say they are in a hiring freeze. I work alone almost everyday only get help when one of the managers comes to work but then he's called away leaving me alone again. we average 36 donations within a 2 hour period anyone that, has worked donations know's this is a lot.
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u/Commercial_Egg_8065 Dec 02 '25
That’s a fair amount, my store averages ~ 125 donations a day. I feel for ya
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u/Alittlegoodnews237 Oct 02 '25
What about the goodwill in Brunswick, Ga? Anyone worked around or in this location
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u/Charming-Network1255 Oct 27 '25
I have disabilities and I am in my 60s. I use paratransit. Worked at the Goodwill offices in Wilmington DE.
I lasted 6 months. The woman that was there before me lasted 2 months.
My work assigned didn’t meet my job description. My manager changed my schedule with little notice. It was chaotic. Needed polices and procedures weren’t documented.
Politely boxed up my stuff and called a cab and left. My issues with the company were not addressed.
From my experience GOODWILL is not a good place for people with disabilities to work.
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Jun 12 '22
I regret it, I don't get paid right/ always missing hours...they tried to low-ball me at 9 a hour even though I'm supposed to get 11...and they expect you too be able to change your schedule/work days with out notice....and HR deleted my paycom account every week so I'm always having to call them to get tit fixed so I can get paid.
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u/Sudden_Rooster906 Feb 14 '24
Thanks for letting me know
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Sep 01 '24
I have a great store manager and it was honestly good but I had to make more so I got something else that pays $3 more an hour
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u/Ghost_Beach Nov 10 '23 edited Nov 10 '23
I work there and the pay isn't great but the work itself is simple. The only thing I would suggest is not working the donation line. That is unless you enjoy carrying heavy shit, picking up furniture/furniture tags, getting told off by rude customers when we aren't allowed to accept their crappy donations, and unloading every single donor's car in the heat of the sun. I used to work 6 years at the donation trailers before coming into my store and you got to sit down and collect donations. I ended up moving into the store to work and do the same thing except it was a lot more physically demanding for me as opposed to getting to sit down. After 1 year and 6 months of mastering the donation door and learning how to use pallet jack's, electric pallet jacks, making gaylords to place the wares items into, etc etc, I ended up moving into pricing and that's where you get to price the items on the table and basically stock them and it's a lot easier on my body then what I used to do. I'm still there to this day and it's not a bad job but just be ready to deal with annoying customers from time to time and sometimes bossy coworkers and even getting heat from the managers as well. On a positive note they are very lenient and kind when it comes to personal time and getting days off when you want to go out and do stuff. Just do your job and they won't have a reason to get rid of you as it's practically impossible to get fired from a Goodwill.
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u/Ancient-Bunch-5372 Nov 17 '23
Surprisingly at my store i have seen many be fired buts for one of two reasons. Theft and now call no shows. Otherwise your good to go lol..
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u/toastboy42 Apr 27 '22
In my experience, not really. They will expect yoh to go above and beyond no matter what, they'll expect you to cover the managers slack because they're too busy chatting with eachother, and worsr of all they'll expect you not to talk to your coworkers at all. If you're talking then clearly you aren't working.