What is it Like to Work for Hannaford? “A Barely Tolerable Grind,” Say Employees

What is it like to work at Hannaford? It can be frustrating, intolerable, and potentially unsafe, according to employee surveys, complaints, and online testimonials.

From harassment and intimidation to low wages and dangerous conditions, Hannaford employees report a slew of arduous experiences laboring for the New England grocery chain. And that’s just the workers in Hannaford’s stores. Look further down the supply chain, to the farms and factories that stock Hannaford’s shelves, and the alleged abuses continue to mount. There, workers say conditions are so bad they’ve made formal human rights complaints.

We’ve seen widespread allegations that Hannaford employees across the region are underpaid, unappreciated, and overworked — to say the least.

“What started out as a decent employer over time became less enjoyable and a barely tolerable grind,” one longtime employee reported. “When I first began, Hannaford was a place that valued its staff. No more,” another said. “I've been with Hannafords since 2018, and trust me... the place is going to hell in a handbasket,” yet another complained. Many echo this sentiment, saying that what was once a steady, safe job has become more exploitative, even intolerable, over time. “[My] wife left after 24 years because of how everything was changing the past 6 years,” a Reddit commenter said.

Some say the chain has gone downhill since the Ahold Delhaize takeover: “That’s what happens when you sell yourself to a bigger corporate company,” said one worker. Hannaford “will continue to exploit its workers in its stores as long as the companies' shareholders continue to hold supremacy,” said another.

We’ve seen employee testimonials from Indeed, Reddit, whistleblower complaints, and a 2025 reported titled, Inside Fleeman’s Failures.* Across many employee reports, several clear themes emerge:

1. Low pay and poor benefits: Countless Hannaford employees voice serious concerns about poverty-level pay, terrible benefits, and miniscule raises as low as $0.25 for significantly more responsibility.

“It’s sad because we all see the numbers of sales and how the company is trying to make cuts to save money but can’t/wont pay their hard working employees a fair wage even though we are the ones who make this company stand on its own 2 feet.”

“Raises are pathetic. Been there 15 years and still make under $20.”

2. Unsafe working conditions: Hannaford employees report ineffective safety training and little action taken to address safety issues. Only escalating reports to OSHA has proven fruitful for these workers.

“I've never seen anyone's internalized complaints taken seriously. It's a waste of energy. The only luck I've had is on the subject of safety issues - taking pictures and anonymously sending them to OSHA will get them fixed within the day.”

“This company, like so many, only cares about the bottom line. Money. Their safety ‘training’ comes down to the ones assigned to teach it, and how intelligent [trainees] are. Accidents happen. You just don't hear about them. By design of course.”

3. Insufficient staffing, high turnover: Hannaford workers describe their stores as in constant need for more staff. As a result, workloads become unbearable, and burnout is rampant.

“My depo manager and I are pulling 50-60 hour weeks and working 10-16 consecutive days in order to keep our extremely understaffed meat depo running as efficiently as we can.”

“My store has had as many different store managers as years I’ve worked there. [The] new one is probably already trying to get out.”

4. Poor sanitation and health code violations: Many Hannaford employees’ testimonials will make your stomach churn –– and make you never want to step foot in a Hannaford store again.

“I work with food and honestly sometimes it feels like I'm one of the only people who cares about food safety.”

“Equipment is constantly broken AND being used while broken, which is a health violation … It's also pretty dirty at my location because they refuse to hire enough maintenance crew.”

“Good to know the one I worked at wasn't the only one with regular health code violations and unsanitary conditions.”

5. Harassment: Online and through surveys, Hannaford employees describe being harassed, including by their managers. Some describe being sexually harassed or targeted for being LGBTQ.

“I was on the brink of suicide while working for Hannaford because of a front end supervisor who harassed me to no end. It was really bad when I called corporate [and] they said that is how she is.”

“When you’re being physically and verbally threatened at your workplace, you would imagine your manager would care maybe a little bit more … I was used and taken advantage of.”

“We have a 3rd in charge manager that likes to make chewbacca noises at female employees and gets away with it. He encourages other males to do the same as well.”

6. Toxic workplaces and bullying: Hannaford workers describe a company culture in which toxic, threatening behavior is ignored or even normalized.

“Rampant rumors, spreading of malicious gossip, and managers who basically did nothing to effectively address it.”

“Unfortunately, I too am experiencing a bullying, unhinged coworker on a regular basis … This whole thing has been going on for a year--but nothing has happened. I am told that the store manager likes this employee (she works night crew) because she ‘gets stuff done.’ In the end, that is all that matters to the company.”

7. Nepotism and favoritism: Merit doesn’t factor into managers’ decisions, according to many Hannaford employees. Instead, nepotism and favoritism determine who gets ahead.

“Hannaford is wrought with racism, bullying, and nepotism, whereas they expect you to ‘kiss the ring’ so to speak in order to be recognized within the company, not based on merit.”

“[Nepotism] should probably just be one of the official company values.”

8. Anti-union policies and management: Although interest in unionizing seems widespread, many Hannaford employees report being discouraged from forming a union and describe aggressive, possibly even illegal, anti-union behavior.

“The location I was at made it pretty clear that if management even heard rumors of union talk they wouldn't hesitate to write up or fire you.”

9. Illegal, reckless activity condoned or ignored: Workers say they’ve witnessed managers ignore unacceptable behavior among other staff.

“Serious issues including drug possession with intent to distribute, suspected drinking on the job, etc.”

Hannaford’s Hypocrisy

Hannaford claims it’s “committed to being the most welcoming place to work and shop, where all associates can bring their whole selves to work, every day.” But employee testimonials tell a vastly different story. “Needless to say, almost a year after resigning, I'm still haunted by the experience,” said one employee who described enduring a toxic work environment. Sadly, many employees report feeling hopeless about the possibility for change: “It’s a horrible company that cares nothing for its employees, and nothing about it gets better.”

At Hannaford, employee mistreatment goes hand in hand with high prices and low quality. It’s clear that the store once offered decent jobs for decent pay, but since selling out to a foreign-owned mega-corporation, it now treats workers like widgets. Even those who have been deeply loyal to the grocer, working for ten, fifteen, even twenty-plus years, say they’ve been abused and unceremoniously discarded. But considered in context of Hannaford’s other actions (and inactions) on food safety, sustainability, and animal welfare, its mistreatment of workers almost makes sense. What else do we expect from a company so rife with negligence and scandal?

*Disclaimer: The information and views expressed in this blog are those of the individuals who provided or posted publicly the testimony contained herein and do not necessarily reflect the views of the New England Consumer Alliance. While efforts were made to ascertain the factual accuracy of these statements, the testimony collected is based on personal experiences and recollections which may not be readily verifiable. No confidential or proprietary information has knowingly been disclosed, and this publication is for informational and advocacy purposes only.