The Worst Companies to Work For

Source: Miosotis Jade / Wikimedia Commons

4. The Fresh Market
> Rating: 2.4
> Pct. employees would recommend: 30%
> Employees: 10,000+
> Industry: Grocery stores

The Fresh Market was founded in North Carolina in 1982 and has grown to more than 170 stores in 24 states. The company has faced stiff competition from companies like Whole Foods and was acquired last year by Apollo Global Management for $1.36 billion. New ownership may result in some much-needed improvement in the way the company is perceived by its employees. Fresh Market is one of just a few major corporations with less than a 2.5 out of 5 average review on Glassdoor.

Source: pinterest.com

3. CompuCom
> Rating: 2.4
> Pct. employees would recommend: 28%
> Employees: 11,500
> Industry: Information technology

CompuCom has more than 100 sales and service locations in North America, Latin America and India. Founded in 1987, the privately held company whose U.S. headquarters is in Plano, Texas, says it had revenue of $1.15 billion in 2016. While many of the companies on this list are in the service or manufacturing industry, CompuCom workers tend to be better paid better than service sector workers. CompuCom current and former employees using Glassdoor frequently complain about a lack of career advancement and raises.

Source: Kraft Foods Incorporated / Wikimedia Commons

2. Kraft Heinz Company
> Rating: 2.4
> Pct. employees would recommend: 27%
> Employees: 41,000
> Industry: Food products

The worst-reviewed major public U.S.-based corporation, current and former employees of Kraft Heinz rank the company at just 2.4 out of 5.0. Only 27% say they would recommend the job to a friend. Common complaints about the Pittsburgh and Chicago-based company include mentions of long hours, high turnover, a hostile environment, and poor management. Less than one in four reviewers approve of the management of CEO Bernardo Hees, who has held the position since 2015.

Source: alorica.com

1. Alorica
> Rating: 2.3
> Pct. employees would recommend: 34%
> Employees: >100,000
> Industry: Customer service

Alorica makes billions providing customer support for large companies that prefer to outsource customer interactions. The company is the worst rated on employee review website Glassdoor among those with at least 1,500 reviews.

While Alorica likely aims to provide its customers — large companies — with optimal service, its employees are left to deal with those companies’ customers. The challenge of patiently and courteously providing helpful service for often irate customers — a challenge Alorica employees experience in large doses daily — could help explain the high level of dissatisfaction. Although, not all call center companies have such high levels of employee dissatisfaction. In addition, Alorica call center workers tend to earn relatively low wages. The average wage based on hundreds of reports from Alorica customer service representatives is less than $10 per hour.