Positive relationships with customers overshadowed by sexism and harassment
Pros
Despite my negative experiences with management, I genuinely enjoyed the relationships I built with store managers and backroom staff throughout my time there. I took pride in providing consistent, high-quality, and respectful service to my customers, and I truly thrived in the customer-facing aspects of the job.
Cons
Personally, when I worked for Pepsi about 10 years ago at the Baton Rouge location, I experienced constant sexism from staff and management. I also experienced sexual harassment from one of the mechanics there, although at the time I was too young to fully understand what was happening to me or how inappropriate it was. I did attempt to report the sexism and treatment I was experiencing to HR, but instead of being taken seriously, I was later brought into my boss’s office and told, “You know the HR lady and I are good friends?” Needless to say, my complaint went nowhere. At the time, I was the highest-rated merchandiser in the department, and whenever I filled in for my sales rep, I often became one of the top-selling reps as well. Despite that, I was repeatedly passed over for promotions. And when I was finally given my own route, it was the worst-selling and farthest route in the entire department. Management also allowed coworkers to harass me and overload me with extra work because my performance was making others “look bad.” I was even told I didn’t “look” the part for a promotion, despite wearing the exact same Pepsi uniform as every other merchandiser. I’m sharing this now because, as an adult, I can clearly recognize how poorly I was treated and how unacceptable that environment was. Looking back, I believe management understood I was young and inexperienced, and they took advantage of that.
