With more than 300 stores, this Austin, Texas based chain promotes protection of the environment and healthy living with emphasis on ‘natural and organic products.’ Just maybe, Whole Foods Market ain’t all that it’s cooked up to be.
‘YOU’RE A FAUX HIPPY WALMART’: WHOLE FOODS MARKET WORKER QUITS IN ‘EPIC’ RESIGNATION EMAIL
By Lee Moran
Mail Online
July 25, 2011
A Whole Foods Market employee has launched an hilarious attack on the firm with an extraordinary letter of resignation.
Fed up with what he described as the fakery of the store - which he claims is more of a 'faux hippy Wal-Mart than an 'earth-and-body-friendly organic foods paradise' - he sets about righting some of those perceived wrongs in a 2,343-word essay to former bosses.
In his outburst he says the firm mistreats and underpays employees, flouts its environmental responsibilities, and allows customers to abuse staff.
He also labels the food, the portion sizes of which he says are shrinking, as 'really quite awful on average' and not as healthy as advertised.
If his intention was to go out in a blaze of glory then it has certainly worked as the email, which was sent to every employee in the entire company, has now become an internet sensation.
In his parting shot picked up by Gawker website, the disgruntled Toronto bulk buyer, who has not been named, starts out noting point-by-point how the chain does not live up to its corporate ideals.
He writes: 'I was hired about five or six years ago. I appreciated and respected what the company said it's philosophies were at that time. The 'core values' essentially.
'However, it didn't take long to realize what complete and utter bulls**t they are.'
He then turns his attention to individual co-workers who he addresses, in turn, about how he cannot stand to work with them anymore.
In one post he says: 'We get it, we get it. You go to the gym. Nobody is impressed. In fact we all just laugh at your inferiority complex.'
And in another he adds: 'For the love of god, learn to respect women. You have no idea how insulting and aggravating it is to be around someone who is so condescending to all the women you work with.
'Stop calling them 'mamma' don't refer to them as 'beautiful'... for christs sake, just keep all pet names off the table.
'You are NOT complimenting women, you are being open about not knowing their names, and lazy enough to not read a name-tag.'
His diatribe, which was obtained by the Gawker website, ends with advice for the employees he has left behind.
'As I've said above a few times: you work at a grocery store. Go ahead and relax. Also, Whole Foods will try to make you feel like they are doing you a huge favor by employing you,' he says.
'It's really a mutual agreement or transaction. Don't fall for the guilt trips. Call in sick if you need to, etc.. There are laws in place to stop them from taking advantage of you.
'And if you're thinking 'This is just the way it is. Suck it up!' You're the biggest part of the problem. I'm afraid we can't be friends. Just enjoy life. It's pretty short, you know?'
A Whole Foods Market spokesman said: 'We disagree with this former team member’s statements, and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.'
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