delivery driver

retail experience supervisor

retail store manager

retail assistant manager

shift leader

Friendly Stranger

For a job that you need a CanSell, a criminal background check and ongoing product knowledge, the pay is low (minimum wage) and the expectations are ridiculously high.

Sales are pushed HARD.  Your metrics are posted for all team members to see, and you are expected to perform or be written up.  There is a constant pressure to sell more, which is wild, considering the products are a controlled substance.  LCBO workers don't have it easy, but at least they aren't being constantly pressured to perform by selling more.

This is a way different vibe than bartending - customers at a bar are happy.  Most customers at a dispensary are not happy.  They are vocal about the products that they want being not strong enough and too expensive.

There is also an expectation that you will be constantly busy if there are no customers - cleaning and stocking.  

There is no real advancement unless you want to become a keyholder, which is paid $1 extra dollar an hour.  For this you get more hours, but you are responsible for open and close shifts.

There are plenty of staff on the ground level who are wonderful to work with. Upper management has no idea what they are doing and are quick to cause tensions, cutting down the good intentions of their staff. Often stepping into the wrong direction, decisions made by upper management are at times non-sensical and often disrespectful toward their employees. They do not respect the time of their customers, many of those in head office don't even use cannabis and know very little about it, and they sell analytic information about their registered members to 3rd parties for profit. If you're passionate about Cannabis Retail, do not work for a corporation such as this. You'd be better off working at a non-corporate dispensary.

I initially enjoyed my job at Friendly Stranger, I learned plenty as I was working and got along with my coworkers. Gradually I began to notice the lack of care from management, the gossip that was spread by management, and how money hungry the company is. Customer interactions could be very pleasant but if you weren’t selling enough you were a problem. Excuses were constantly made by management regarding why we weren’t being taken care of properly as employees. Overall I recommend finding a workplace that isn’t just talk, a place that genuinely cares about their staff and shows it.

you'd think such a long-standing pillar of cannabis in Toronto would be a dream for someone passionate about the cannabis industry - and it probably was, until the corporate buyout. suddenly, it's massive oversight, miscommunication, being treated like children, and having all agency over the workplace completely stripped. covid certainly didn't help, but there's no justifying the disrespect and incompetence that made every day a new struggle. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
Horrible company to work for. Treats employees as disposable things. No respect, compassion, or empathy.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The lack of respect from all levels of the company.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
It's extremely toxic. Again no respect and the apparent lack of knowledge.

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Was not fun, like they want you to believe.

Got hired for the Lead Educator position. Asking for more hours is a problem, even when they need help at other locations it's a problem when you offer to help. When given my performance review, I was told I'm doing amazing just for management to turn around and say I'm not a good fit. Don't expect the bare minimum of decency and honesty from this company. A high turnover and a waste of time if you're looking to get your foot in the door in the industry.

Poor management. Didn’t care about safety or well-being of employees. Takes advantage and expects the most out of you while giving you no incentive to do so. Poor communication. No discussion about how you can improve until they’re threatening your employment. Overall terrible experience and would not recommend. Unless you’re okay with shady atmosphere and petty environment. 

Great company to work for if you're looking to move up in the Canadian Cannabis Industry. They take care of the management and make sure you have the tools you need to succeed. Those tools allow your staff to feel welcome & have the ability to do their job successfully!

Terrible company to work for. At first they give you all false these false promises. There’s so much nepotism going on within this company. You can be on top of everything and still don’t get the respect you deserve. Management lol what a joke!! Just don’t work here, go somewhere you’ll be appreciated for all your hard work. Trust me it will not get recognized here!!

Love the culture employees and even the customers. But management didnt evenly or fairly give hours to associates and it was purposeful. Managers worked way too much, sometimes 13 hour shifts back to back to back to back-- but then weren't allowed to call certain associates because other managers "didn't like them" so those people wouldn't even work 4+ hours a week. 

Top Job Titles	Average salary
Delivery driver 11 salaries reported	$19.08 per hour
Retail experience supervisor 7 salaries reported	$18.66 per hour
Retail store manager 5 salaries reported	$49,740 per year
Retail assistant manager 2 salaries reported	$18.00 per hour
Shift leader 1 salary reported	$18.00 per hour

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