Pepsi started in 1893, as an experiment in the back of pharmacist Caleb Bratham’s small drug store in New Bern, North Carolina.
Caleb wanted to see if he could concoct a fizzy beverage that would be similar to the immensely popular new Coca-Cola.
By 1910, there were 240 establishments that served Pepsi.
In 1931, Charles Guth acquired the small beverage company and turned it into the PepsiCo we know today.
Guth modernized bottling, distribution, advertising, and distribution.
Today, PepsiCo is a multibillion-dollar a-year business that is much more than just the soda pop that started it all.
PepsiCo owns and and is responsible for a slew of products including:
- 7-Up
- Mountain Dew
- Tropicana
- Starbucks (bottled beverages)
- Aquafina
- Life water
- Frito-Lay (so many chips)
- Naked Juice
- Quaker Oats
- Lipton
- Dole
- Pizza Hut
- Taco Bell
These are just the big companies.
To produce and distribute all of these products, PepsiCo employs over 309,000 people.
From plant workers and drivers to managers and sales agents, it takes a lot to keep this mega-conglomerate going.
What is it like to work for PepsiCo?
Below we explore some of the pros and cons of working for this fizzy beverage company.
Table of Contents
Pros Of Working At PepsiCo
1. Benefits
Most employees agree that the benefits PepsiCo offers are better than most other blue-collar jobs.
Not only do full-time employees get full medical, dental, and vision coverage, they receive disability insurance, a 401K plan, and a pension that is 100% funded by the company.
In an age where healthcare is needed more than ever and harder to come by, having this security for you and your family is definitely a great part of any job.
There is also a generous number of vacation and sick days for full-time employees.
The number of days increases with seniority.
2. Employee Well Being
If you’re looking for a company that looks to help its employees beyond work hours, PepsiCo could be a good fit.
They have some pretty amazing programs in place to help keep workers happy and healthy.
Pepsi offers mental health care for those in need.
Most locations have on-site health care centers that can treat minor injuries and common illnesses.
Emergency loans are available to employees who have unforeseen expenses.
There’s also free legal services available for certain circumstances.
3. Work-Life Balace
Though this is not agreed upon by some former employees, the vast majority feel that PepsiCo does recognize employees’ lives outside of work is just as important as the time they spend at the workplace.
Therefore, they have instituted several programs to assist employees and their families achieve their goals.
They offer generous family leave, assistance with child and elder care, adoption assistance, tuition assistance, and commuter reimbursement.
PepsiCo will also help you find low-cost mortgages, as well as home and car insurance.
4. Perks
During work hours, employees can treat themselves to free beverages and snacks.
When not working, there are various family discounts offered on all PepsiCo products, including Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
Special coupons and gifts are given to everyone on their birthday.
Employees with children can get help with back-to-school supplies.
Upper management positions come with company cars and flexible spending accounts.
The company regularly hosts optional team building activities and family days that allow all employees to socialize, have fun, and unite as a group.
Bonuses are offered throughout the year to top performing employees.
5. Workplace Flexibility
Employees that work in sales, dispatch, and other office positions have the option to work from home, come into the office, or work on a hybrid schedule.
This is definitely a great aspect to working at PepsiCo.
Especially if you have children or elderly parents to look after.
Workplace flexibility has become one of the top attractions employees look for during a job search.
6. Co-Workers
Many PeosiCo employees report that one of the great things about the company is their fellow employees.
Most workers feel that everyone works as a team and has each other’s backs.
If one employee has an issue, other employees will do whatever they can on their own end to help resolve it.
It’s always great to work at a company where your co-workers are supportive and helpful.
7. Salary
Across the wide spectrum of positions, the consensus is that PepsiCo pays well.
The average driver makes about $28.50 per hour.
This adds up if one takes advantage of the vast amount of overtime that is available.
The average account representative makes $60,000 per year.
Meanwhile, middle managers average $70 to $80,000 per year.
Cons Of Working At PepsiCo
1. Physically Demanding
Many of the positions at PepsiCo require employees to constantly be on the go.
Drivers and delivery personnel spend up to 10 hours a day going from place to place lifting heavy cases, stocking shelves, machines, and various dispensers.
They must climb into and jump out of the truck several times a day.
Workers in the distribution plants are also lifting, bending, and are on their feet most of the day.
Even managers need to visit various locations often and there is a lot of walking and standing involved.
2. Management
Many employees have complaints about management that go beyond the usual workplace clashes.
They say that PepsiCo hires management from outside the company.
Most managers are right out of college, so they are young and inexperienced.
The frustrations are that they have never done any of the jobs which they are supervising.
So, they have no idea what they entail or how stressful they can be.
This leads to unrealistic expectations and unhappiness among general workers.
Working “under” people is not for everyone, especially when they don’t know everything they should.
This is something to consider before taking a job at this company.
3. Customers
In this case, the customers refer to franchise owners and store managers.
In some scenarios, these people can lack compassion and understanding if a driver or account representative is delayed or unable to fulfill requests.
Others can be rude and make it difficult for the PepsiCo representative to perform their duties.
In these cases, drivers often feel unsupported, even betrayed by the company, because more often than not, they will side with the customer.
If you’re not the type of person that can let issues like these roll off your back and bite your tongue, this job might not be for you.
4. Long Grueling Days
Many workers report that the days are often longer than what they expected.
For instance, delivery drivers’ average shift is 9 to 10 hours a day.
Their daily route consists of 12 to 20 stops a day.
That is not only a lot of driving, but a lot of unloading and stocking.
Many times, though, the day can extend to 12 to 14 hours.
Workers also report not being able to take breaks or eat lunch.
Phone cells are provided that track your movements, so you feel like you’re constantly being monitored.
Workers are also on call throughout the day and asked to work on the weekends.
5. Little Opportunity To Advance
A common complaint of entry level employees of PepsiCo is that there is not much room for growth within the company.
Beyond some supervisor positions, the company rarely promotes its employees.
Rather, they choose to hire people right out of school or recruit managers and other upper level positions from other beverage and food companies.
This makes employees feel “stuck in a rut” and under appreciated.
If you’re looking for a job that you can advance in, you may want to consider broadening your search.
6. Lack Of Communication
According to some employees, the flow of information is not always organized.
Decisions are made and changes are implemented that all workers are not included in.
Not only does this make people feel left out, but it hinders job performance.
People can’t follow directives if they never received them.
Employees have voiced concerns about being written up for non compliance when they never received notice of a change.
7. Strict Quality Control
While it’s great to know that PepsiCo takes safety and quality seriously, for some people, the standards may be too much to deal with.
All workers must comply with and follow a rigorous plan of food safety standards and safety.
This could include the way items are handled, how you dress, the use of safety equipment, and how you wear your hair.
Often, there are checklists and other methods to ensure workers have followed protocol.
Due to the importance of these procedures, workers are often reviewed for their performance in this area.
14 Pros And Cons Of Working At PepsiCo – Summary Table
| Pros Of Working At PepsiCo | Cons Of Working At PepsiCo |
|---|---|
| 1. Benefits | 1. Physically Demanding |
| 2. Employee Well Being | 2. Management |
| 3. Work-Life Balace | 3. Customers |
| 4. Perks | 4. Long Grueling Days |
| 5. Workplace Flexibility | 5. Little Opportunity To Advance |
| 6. Co-Workers | 6. Lack Of Communication |
| 7. Salary | 7. Strict Quality Control |
Should You Work For PepsiCo?
The decision to work at PepsiCo really depends on what your personal needs entail.
If you need a good, steady paycheck with excellent benefits, it may be worth it for you.
At the same time, if you’re not able to work well with the general public or managerial staff, it might not be for you.
You’ll also have to consider the physical aspect and the long hours.
Overall, PepsiCo seems like a good company that cares about employees and their families, but they do expect hard work and commitment.
We hope our list of pros and cons was helpful in your decision-making process.
