As one of the largest supermarket chains in North America, Safeway offers a generous employee discount program to attract and retain talent in a competitive retail labor market. If you currently work at Safeway or are considering applying for a job, it‘s important to fully understand the employee discount and how to maximize its value. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll break down everything you need to know about Safeway‘s employee discount.
Safeway Employee Discount Overview
All Safeway employees are eligible to receive a discount on their purchases after completing an initial probationary period, which is typically 90 days. However, the specific discount amounts and terms may vary slightly based on location and employment status. In general, here‘s what you can expect:
- 10% discount on Safeway store brand products
- 5% discount on most other eligible brands and products
- Discount can be shared with members of the employee‘s household
- Employees must use a registered Air Miles card to apply the discount
It‘s important to note that while the discount can be quite valuable, especially for employees who do a lot of their shopping at Safeway, there are some exclusions and limitations. We‘ll dive into the details later in this guide.
How to Qualify for the Safeway Employee Discount
If you‘ve recently gotten hired at Safeway, you‘re probably eager to start taking advantage of the employee discount. However, there are a few key steps you‘ll need to take first in order to be eligible:
-
Complete the probationary period: In most cases, new Safeway employees must work for the company for 90 days before they can start using the discount. This probationary period allows the company to evaluate your performance and make sure you‘re a good long-term fit.
-
Obtain an Air Miles card: Safeway‘s employee discount is linked to the popular Air Miles rewards program. To apply the discount to your purchases, you‘ll need to obtain a physical Air Miles card, which will be swiped or scanned at checkout. If you already have an Air Miles account, you can link your existing card.
-
Register your Air Miles card: Once you have your Air Miles card, you‘ll need to register it in Safeway‘s employee portal, known as Employee Self Service (ESS). This will link your employee information to the card and activate the discount. Your manager or HR representative can assist you with this process.
It‘s worth noting that while employees are not required to be Air Miles members to receive the discount, they do need to have a physical Air Miles card registered to their employee profile. The discount will not be applied to purchases made with an unregistered card or other form of payment.
Sharing Your Safeway Employee Discount
One of the most generous aspects of Safeway‘s employee discount program is that it can be shared with immediate family members who reside in the same household as the employee. This includes spouses, partners, children, and other relatives.
To share the discount, the employee simply needs to add their family member to their registered Air Miles account. The family member will then be issued their own Air Miles card which can be used to apply the discount to their purchases at Safeway. There is no limit to the number of household members an employee can add.
This benefit can result in significant savings for larger families, especially since the 10% discount on Safeway brands can really add up over time. However, it‘s important to use the discount responsibly and not abuse the privilege, as Safeway does monitor accounts for unusual activity.
What Can You Buy With Your Safeway Employee Discount?
Safeway‘s employee discount can be used on the vast majority of products sold in the store, including grocery items, household essentials, and general merchandise. The discount is most valuable on Safeway‘s exclusive store brands, such as Signature Select, O Organics, Lucerne Dairy Farms, and Value Corner, since it amounts to a 10% savings.
However, there are some notable exclusions to be aware of. The following items are not eligible for the employee discount:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Tobacco products
- Lottery tickets and other games of chance
- Gift cards and prepaid debit cards
- Postage stamps and other postal services
- Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
- Fuel and other petroleum products
- Made-to-order items from the deli or bakery
- Items that are already on sale or discounted
- Certain governmental taxes and fees
While it may be disappointing that you can‘t get a discount on your favorite bottle of wine or pack of cigarettes, these exclusions are fairly standard across most retail employee discount programs. It‘s always a good idea to check with your manager or refer to the official employee handbook for a complete list of discountable and non-discountable items.
Where Else Can You Use Your Safeway Employee Discount?
In addition to Safeway stores, employees can also use their discount at a variety of other supermarket chains owned by Albertsons Companies, the parent company of Safeway. These include:
- Albertsons
- Vons
- Pavilions
- Tom Thumb
- Randalls
- Carrs
- Jewel-Osco
- Shaw‘s
- Star Market
- United Supermarkets
- Market Street
- Amigos
- Lucky
- Haggen
This means that if you find yourself shopping at one of these stores while traveling or after a move, you can still take advantage of your employee discount. Just be sure to bring your registered Air Miles card with you.
However, there are a few Albertsons-owned stores that do not currently accept the Safeway employee discount:
- Plated (meal delivery service)
- Monier (online marketplace)
- Acme Markets
- Kings Food Markets
- Balducci‘s Food Lover‘s Market
If you‘re unsure whether a particular store participates in the discount program, it‘s always best to ask a manager or check the official policy before making a purchase.
Additional Benefits for Safeway Employees
While the employee discount is certainly one of the most appealing perks of working at Safeway, it‘s not the only benefit the company offers. Depending on your location, employment status, and length of service, you may also be eligible for:
- Health, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
- 401(k) retirement plans with company match
- Employee assistance programs (EAP)
- Paid time off, including vacation, sick days, and personal days
- Disability and life insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Employee training and development programs
- Service awards and recognition
- Volunteer opportunities
These benefits, combined with the employee discount, make Safeway an attractive employer for many job seekers. Of course, eligibility and specifics can vary, so it‘s important to consult with your HR representative or manager to understand your full range of benefits.
How Does Safeway‘s Employee Discount Compare to Other Grocery Chains?
Safeway‘s employee discount program is competitive with many of its peers in the grocery industry. For comparison, here‘s a quick overview of what some other major chains offer:
- Kroger: 10% discount on store brands, 5% on other brands
- Publix: 10% discount on store brands, 5% on other brands
- Whole Foods Market: 20% discount on all products, including prepared foods
- Trader Joe‘s: 10% discount on all products
- Wegmans: 5% discount on all products, 10% on store brands
- Aldi: No employee discount offered
As you can see, Safeway‘s program is roughly on par with Kroger and Publix, while Whole Foods and Trader Joe‘s offer a higher discount percentage. However, it‘s worth noting that Whole Foods and Trader Joe‘s tend to have higher prices overall, so the actual dollar amount saved with the discount may be similar.
What Do Safeway Employees Think of the Discount?
To get a sense of how valuable the employee discount really is, we reached out to some current and former Safeway employees to get their thoughts. Here‘s what they had to say:
"I‘ve been working at Safeway for over a year, and I definitely appreciate the employee discount. It‘s not a huge amount, but it adds up over time, especially since I do most of my grocery shopping here anyway. It‘s also nice to be able to share it with my family." – Sarah, current Safeway employee
"Honestly, the discount is nice to have, but it‘s not a make-or-break benefit for me. I think the health insurance and 401(k) match are more valuable in the long run. But I do try to buy Safeway brands whenever possible to maximize the discount." – Tom, former Safeway employee
"I think the discount is pretty generous, especially compared to some other retail jobs I‘ve had. It‘s definitely one of the reasons I‘ve stayed with the company for so long. The only downside is that it doesn‘t apply to alcohol, which is a bummer since I like to buy wine for dinner parties." – Emily, current Safeway employee
Based on these perspectives, it seems that while the employee discount is appreciated, it‘s not necessarily the primary factor in job satisfaction or retention for Safeway employees. Other benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans, are often seen as more important.
The Psychology of Employee Discounts
So why do companies like Safeway offer employee discounts in the first place? From a business perspective, there are a few key reasons:
-
Attracting talent: In industries like retail and hospitality where turnover is high and competition for workers is fierce, offering perks like discounts can help companies stand out and attract qualified candidates.
-
Boosting morale: Giving employees a tangible benefit like a discount on products they likely already buy can make them feel valued and appreciated, leading to higher job satisfaction and engagement.
-
Encouraging loyalty: If employees are able to save money by shopping at their place of work, they may be more likely to stay with the company longer and recommend it to others as a great place to work.
-
Increasing sales: While offering a discount does eat into profit margins, it can also encourage employees to spend more overall, since they feel like they‘re getting a good deal. This is especially true for big-ticket or frequently purchased items.
From a psychological standpoint, employee discounts can also tap into some powerful cognitive biases and heuristics. For example:
- The endowment effect: This refers to our tendency to value things more highly when we own them. In the case of employee discounts, the mere fact that we have access to a special price can make us feel like we‘re getting a great deal, even if the actual savings are modest.
- Social proof: If we see our coworkers taking advantage of the employee discount and speaking positively about it, we‘re more likely to view it as a valuable perk and participate ourselves. This is especially true in close-knit work environments where there‘s a strong sense of camaraderie.
- The scarcity principle: In some cases, employee discounts may be limited to certain times (e.g. holiday weekends) or exclude high-demand items. This sense of scarcity or exclusivity can make the discount feel more valuable and motivate us to use it while we can.
Ultimately, the psychological impact of employee discounts depends on a variety of individual and situational factors. Some workers may see them as a nice extra, while others may view them as a key part of their compensation package.
Conclusion
Safeway‘s employee discount program is a valuable benefit that can help workers save money on groceries and household essentials. By offering a 10% discount on store brands and 5% on other items, the company aims to attract and retain talent, boost morale, and encourage employee loyalty.
To take advantage of the discount, Safeway employees need to complete a 90-day probationary period, obtain an Air Miles card, and register it in the employee portal. The discount can be shared with household family members and used at most (but not all) Albertsons-owned stores.
While the discount is competitive with many other grocery chains, it‘s important to consider the full range of benefits offered by an employer, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. And from a psychological perspective, employee discounts can tap into cognitive biases that make them feel more valuable than they may be in strict financial terms.
Whether you‘re a current Safeway employee, a job seeker considering the company, or just someone curious about how employee discounts work, we hope this guide has been informative and helpful. Happy shopping!
