A Smile or a Consequence - Trader Joe's Problematic Stance on Positivity
HR Stories Podcast - A Lesson in Every Story!
More Info
HR Stories Podcast - A Lesson in Every Story!
A Smile or a Consequence - Trader Joe's Problematic Stance on Positivity
Sep 17, 2024 Episode 92
John Thalheimer, MS and Chuck Simikian, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Send us a text

A story in the New York Times brought to light a different side to the Trader Joe's so many know and love, talking about how a policy of positivity and happy greetings was creating quite the opposite of a work environment for employees. In today’s episode, Chuck and John talk about this contradicting policy and environment, particularly with how it came across with a “smile” policy.

How do you create a positive environment for customers without putting employees in uncomfortable or unreasonable situations?

In the HR News + Updates segment, the team touches on the following topics and more:

  • Dating rumors in the workplace
  • Terminations disguised as layoffs
  • Recruiter settlement on discriminatory practices
  • Ultimate Guide to HR book update! Listen to find out how to get a freebie!
  • A government agency discriminated against pregnant workers
  • Quiet vacationing

Support the show

The Ultimate Book of HR Checklists – Getting HR Right: Your Step-by-Step Reference for Avoiding Costly Mistakes. Go to HRChecklists.com (On sale - take $100 off ...only $79 ) Certified and approved for 3 SHRM Recertification Credits.

Join the HR Team of One Community on Facebook or visit TeamAtHRstories.com and sign up for emails so you can be the first to know about new things we have coming up.

You can also follow us on Instagram and TikTok at @HRstoriesPodcast

Don't forget to rate our podcast, it really helps other people find it!

Do you have a situation or topic you’d like the team to discuss? Are you interested in having Chuck or John talk to your team or Emcee your event? You can reach the Team at Email@TeamAtHRStories.com for suggestions and inquiries.

The viewpoints expressed by the characters in the stories are not necessarily that of The Team at HR Stories. The stories are shared to present various, real-world scenarios and share how they were handled by policy and, at times, law. Chuck and John are not lawyers and always recommend working with an employment lawyer to address concerns.

Episode Artwork A Smile or a Consequence - Trader Joe's Problematic Stance on Positivity 46:44 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: When you want to fire a customer 20:04 Episode Artwork From the Vault: "I’m Going to Run You Over with this Forklift" - An Intense Tale of Sexual Harassment 51:27 Episode Artwork Nose Pickers and Scab Pickers - It Gets Weird In HR 43:38 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: Working for Competitors and Social Media Problems 39:51 Episode Artwork Interviews: Getting Them Right 41:45 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: FMLA, Merger Timelines, and Layoff Worries 23:00 Episode Artwork You Can't Make Me Take This Training! 48:26 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: Will all this be declassified? Or is this confidential? 26:50 Episode Artwork Celebrating the Civil Rights Act - There are Still Lessons to Learn 41:43 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: Out-of-work behavior, Termination Blues, and PTO Swaps 22:46 Episode Artwork Gender Discrimination: How to Ensure an Inclusive Workspace and Avoid a Lawsuit 48:42 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: Job Descriptions, Balancing Accommodation with Production, and Celebrations 22:29 Episode Artwork Preventable Death in the Workplace 49:20 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: The Dos and Don'ts of Exempt vs Non-exempt 14:49 Episode Artwork The Hidden Dangers of Social Media Retaliation - What Employers Need to Know 43:56 Episode Artwork From the Vault - Breaking Legal Barriers: The Part-Time Secretary Who Rewrote Harassment Laws 51:47 Episode Artwork It Spreads Faster Than Covid! - Watch out for this contagion in your office. 43:22 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: They're threatening to sue for wrongful termination 21:04 Episode Artwork The Headline Stories - You've Read About It. Let's Talk About it. 27:58 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: The Trolly Car Predicament for Saving Jobs 30:11 Episode Artwork Testing the limits: when Honest Belief meets Workplace Reality. 52:12 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: Got a policy for your policies? 24:22 Episode Artwork A Pig’s Head : I am going to make him an offer he can’t refuse 38:05 Episode Artwork Listener Q&A - We Answer Your Questions: Vulgar Vehicles, Restricted Workloads, PTO Negotiations, and Poor Performers 20:50