What it's REALLY like to work at one of America's favorite chains
Holman joked that that's why employees get insulted at the thought of anyone thinking of Wawa as "just a gas station." She added that, at the end of the day, the culture is driven by the people who work in each store. "They have a commitment that goes way beyond just getting a paycheck every week," she said.
Whether it's handing out free pastry to customers or chatting with regulars about their day, Holman said the most successful employees tend to focus on connecting with others. "Each day when our customers walk into our stores, we have approximately three to five minutes to make their lives better," she said.
A couple of customers passing through got to grab some of the free treats, too.
During my visit, staff also let me try some of their latest pastry items — my favorite was the new lemon squares.
Wawa isn't only about making sandwiches — nor does it just sell food you can get anywhere else. The chain has run a dairy farm since 1903 and sells its own ice cream and milk, along with its own iced tea, soda, and coffee.
Whether or not the store is packed, Wawa's associates man the cash register and the deli station around the clock. In the Williamsburg Wawa, they also bake fresh bread twice a day.
The store was relatively quiet during my visit. Holman and Daughtrey told me that because this particular Wawa is located right next to a college campus, it tends to get crowded at certain times — namely, after the bars close on the weekends — and then emptier between semesters.
She said the most successful Wawa associates have "goose blood" — a reference to Wawa's goose mascot. Having "goose blood" means someone is "humble, energetic, fun-loving, trustworthy, motivated, and caring."
When it comes to employees, Holman said the chain looks for people who love to interact with others. The company publishes a book every year highlighting contributions Wawa associates have made to the lives of their customers and the wider community.
One Glassdoor reviewer said the employee stock ownership plan allowed employees to get "up to 10% of your salary per year." Another said: "Being employee-owned you have the stock buy in with a good solid company."
Source: Glassdoor
"The best thing is the employee stock option and the low cost health benefits," said one Virginia employee on Glassdoor. Employees can utilize the company's stock option after their first year at Wawa.
Source: Glassdoor
Store general manager Kendal Daughtrey said the chain's paid-time-off policy encourages a work-life balance that's not commonly found in retail. "It's beyond refreshing to have a life outside of work," he told Business Insider. According to Glassdoor, managers get a minimum of three weeks off — and everyone starts accumulating PTO after working for a year full-time.
Wawa's benefits include a 401k plan and an employee discount. Employees rate the company 3.9 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor.
Source: Glassdoor
Holman said she started her career with Wawa 14 years ago working in a store as a part-time customer service associate. She didn't expect to stick around this long in the beginning, but she said the company's values and benefits couldn't be beat.
I arrived at the store on a sunny morning in October. Inside, I met with Wawa area manager Amanda Holman. She oversees 13 Wawas in the area.
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