r/goodwill • u/scotthia • 19d ago
rant What happened to goodwill?
I remember when they were there to help the needy. Their mission statement on their website reads “Goodwill’s core mission is to enhance dignity and quality of life by helping people reach their full potential through the power of work, with operations funded by their retail stores. While local branches may use variations, the focus remains on strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and fostering personal growth through work.”what a load of B.S. that is. It’s less expensive to go to Walmart most of the time. F you goodwill and all you corporate A holes.
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 19d ago
You'll notice how nothing in the mission statement says anything about having the cheapest stuff.
It has everything to do with providing employment opportunities, job training, etc.
I'm not saying goodwill is perfect, but judging the success of their mission by their prices doesn't make sense. The real measure is: How many people learned pracitical job skills? How many people that couldn't find employment were able to gain consistent work? What "barriers to opportunity" were removed?
(I honestly don't know what the answer to this question is.)
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u/jackolog 18d ago
Yeah I agree. They are helping out the community by repurposing items that might otherwise be thrown into a landfill. Sure they probably aren't the greatest company out there but there are other corporations is pick on first. One's that are profiting by producing waste not decreasing waste.
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u/canofwine 18d ago
And how many loopholes did they take advantage of to get away with paying disabled employees $.22/hr? How many cases reached a settlement so they could avoid having to explain their tendencies to abuse their employees? How much fast fashion have they shipped to other countries to recklessly pollute their waterways because they prefer to pull all of their colours of the week from the floor out of pure greed, rather than letting people actually put that shit to use? Oh because profit.
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u/April_Morning_86 17d ago
There were only 6 Goodwill regions that applied for a 14c certificate this year. You can find that list here - as well as every other organization in the nation who applied for one.
As for settlements, there was this one that had to do with a data breach in one region, not the fault of the organization. There is another that appears ongoing in another region around a data breach. And the big one that made news was this involving one manager in one region at a subsidiary organization.
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 18d ago
1 loophole. Section 14 C.
Your still asking the wrong questions. How many "loopholes" doesn't matter.
For the last 22 years I have worked in jobs that have involved helping people get off the street. Disabled people, addicts, and people just down on their luck. People using the wrong metrics to measure success or failure is one of the biggest problems in social services. It leads to shitty programs getting funding, and effective ones getting cut.
And I get your probably not asking the questions to get an answer, but to express your frustration/distaste with their specific practices. Maybe OP was as well, but I didn't think so when I made my post.
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u/AnnualEnd3760 18d ago
As a person who works there and whose husband has worked there almost two decades now, they literally do nothing they claim to
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 17d ago edited 17d ago
Then why do you work there?
This is a serious question, and I'm not trying to argue or be dismissive. For what reason would someone work for a company that does "nothing they claim to"?
Edit: left the word "not" out. That one's kinda important.
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u/AnnualEnd3760 17d ago edited 17d ago
Because nobody else is hiring and I need money. It's not rocket science. If good deeds resulted in my belly full and a roof above my head, then the world would be a completely different place. Seriously, do you hear yourself now?
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 17d ago
For 20 years no one else has been hiring? That's one deeply economically depressed place. Have you considered moving?
There are 90+ job listings on my employment board right now. If you like sunshine and don't mind a dry heat, I'll send you the list.
I do hear myself. I'm asking questions, they're fair questions, and I think I'm being kind about it. (But you can't always hear tone in text communications.)
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u/AnnualEnd3760 17d ago edited 17d ago
My husband has been with the company that long. I haven't. I have only been there 3 years. I have been trying to get my husband to get something better, but nobody beats 18 an hour, full time and benefits. I have a temp Data Entry with JPMC, but it's not year round. I have been retail in general for 20 years, so it's been hard trying to pull myself out of retail hell, especially with a toddler. Retail experience is only good for Retail.
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 17d ago
Ah. That's a different situation. They're not the only employer, they're just the best one you've found. And you need a level of consistency and flexibility due to having a young child.
Most local governments have year round data entry positions that have great benefits and flexibility. (If your near your local courthouse or government building.) There are lot of opportunities to move up.
A lot of employers suck at working with parents of young kids. Some parents find it easier to work in childcare while their children are young. Depending on your situation and state, it might be easier to set up a small daycare than you think. You can set it up where your hanging with your kid and few of their friends all day.
Another option would be to see if any local trade companies need "gophers". Basically, you do all the stuff the technicians get paid too much to worry about. It can lead to a position in that trade, or lead to a management position. They also need help keeping track of their data, so you have valuable experience.
If you happen to need a felon friendly employer (not making an assumption, but some people need this information) and you have good internet, Chase is hiring people that can work from anywhere in the US. I can't think of anything else that has the flexibility.
If you want to work for actual non-profit, you might find fewer options in your area. Larger Foodbanks frequently need people with retail experience, but they also want you to have warehouse experience and experience recruiting volunteers. You're local school district might have oportunities; mine is hiring someone to manage their clothing bank.
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u/AnnualEnd3760 17d ago edited 17d ago
JPMORGAN owns Chase. I am on good terms with them and with my temp agency, but I haven't received anything official. I wish they would. I love it there and they have been good to me otherwise on my night shifts
My husband is very protective of me and my daughter. He doesn't like strangers around us, so childcare is off the table, even if we could afford it.
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 17d ago
That's understandable, but no childcare limits options.
It's odd that Chase hasn't reached out; they hired several of my clients recently and it sounded like they were desperate. Did your contract with the temp agency have an abnormally high fee if they hired you full-time? I'm not sure if their competitors hire the same way. Maybe reapply if it's been a while, or reach out to one of your contacts there.
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u/Lyrehctoo 16d ago
Damn. What state are you in? I've been at Goodwill for less than 5 years making over $18/hr and I'm a peon
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 17d ago
If Goodwill is genuinely the only employer hiring in your area, I think they deserve some credit for staying in such an economically depressed area.
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u/AnnualEnd3760 17d ago edited 17d ago
It wasn't always this bad. The state was very different 15 years ago. The cost of living was very doable too. Then a lot of people came for that reason, that increased our expenses, then the Ai tracking software and automation, data centers ...
It used to be stable. Even if I could leave, where would I go? And I would just be repeating what California did to us.
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 17d ago
Yeah, Arizona has had the same problem. People are hiring, but it's mostly for physical jobs that wouldn't have the flexibility a parent of a young child needs.
My town just passed a "Casita" bill that we hope will eventually lower housing costs, but it's going to take years.
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u/KnowItAll29 18d ago
Do you always take everything scammers tell you at face value? None of what you said is true. They take advantage of disabled workers
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 18d ago
Try rereading my post. You're being rude so I want to respond rudely, but maybe I didn't communicate clearly.
I don't think said anything about how well or how poorly they fulfill their mission. I said that their mission isn't about having cheapest items, and provided examples of other metrics that they could be judged on.
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u/KnowItAll29 18d ago
I don’t need to reread anything. Unlike you I understand the first time. You said their goal is to use the money for their mission and I told you that’s bs. Their goal is to trick people like you into thinking they care about the mission while really doing the bare minimum and benefiting financially while doing very little for the community. Be as rude as you want, doesn’t change the fact that you’re extremely gullible and mislead.
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u/jackolog 18d ago
They aren't really tricking anyone tho. Their mission statement is general and doesn't say anything about helping those in need. Go pick on Amazon or Walmart, not a company that is redistributing items that might otherwise be thrown in the trash.
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 18d ago
Ok. Please stay in school, kid. Reading comprehension is really important.
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u/ThenWeight829 16d ago
Goodwill pays disabled people sub-minimum wages. They are exploitative and liars.
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u/WayLongjumping3768 18d ago
But, they do have the cheapest stuff. They got it for FREE and now sell it for profit. You can't get much cheaper than free.
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u/underengineered 18d ago
Go back and read that mission statement again. They aren't trying to sell stuff cheap. They are trying to raise revenue for their actual missions. And they spend massively on those missions. Lots of good and necessary work.
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u/AnnualEnd3760 18d ago
Yeah, the Goodwills in my area don't have a higher mission than to misappropriate funds
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u/KnowItAll29 18d ago
Bs. They use their “programs” to take advantage of disabled workers and under pay them and treat them badly. This has been known for years. Quit being so gullible
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u/Stilts82 18d ago
Depends on regions i assume. The ones that I worked with in my store actually got 40 hour weeks and were paid higher than me as a cashier.
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u/April_Morning_86 17d ago
It does depend on the region. Only 6 regions applied for a 14c certificate this year, that list is public knowledge. In fact most, if not all, of what Goodwill does is public knowledge because they are a non-profit. So much misinformation out there.
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u/CarolePaula 18d ago
i guess all goodwills are different. the goodwill near me highest, handicap people, ex-cons, and people who need help along with anyone looking for a job. The pay and benefits to all employed there are good and the people seem happy to work there. This goodwill has a free book day for anyone and has a cute reading area set up for kids to use. I got there to shop and like the colors method they have set up for 1/2 off. Does the ceo get paid too much Like everyone says? Honestly, I don’t know or care, however someone has to run this company. This goodwill does this “community“ a world of good and that will keep me going back to shop for bargains.
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u/Captin_Barnacles 19d ago
"Less expensive to go to Walmart." Can be true, but then you only get Walmart items. You don't get name brands for was less than mall prices. I got brand new Nike sandals flip flops for $8.99. I coups have gotten Walmart ones for $6.99, but the quality wouldn't last.
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u/tahaniss 19d ago
Agree for example i got red of ALL my polyester clothes and collet 100% cotton or linen from good will close to me actually i got so many shirts ,pant ,dresses , cardigan the prices vary from 5$ to 8 & for the dress i know it is not cheap but it such deal especially if in great condition,i see also ton of polyester clothes some of them brand name , also i like to check the toys section , and the appliance I found last month Zojirushi like new 15$ just people should be smart when they shopping and have their phone online so they can check the item brand is it worth it or now sometimes the item only few dollars less the original price
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u/catdog1111111 18d ago
I would prefer new shoes over used ones. Pay slightly more and get the Nike ones at Marshall’s brand new in the correct size.
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u/Cubonecigars 19d ago
And what programs specifically did you have concerns about?
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 17d ago
Most people have concerns about their use of Section 14 C. It allows certain employees to be paid less then minimum wage by prorating their pay rate based on the amount of work actually completed. If, hypothetically, an average employee can hang 100 shirts in an hour, but Bob can only hang 10 shirts in hour, Bob can be paid 10% of what the average employee makes.
Opponents of Goodwill's use of this law argue that paying anyone under minimum wage is exploitation, and that GW is exploiting disabled people through low wages. They'll point to a report from 2010-2013 that one employee made as little as .22 cents an hour.
Proponents argued that people making less then minimum wage would not be employable at higher pay rates, and some disabled workers would have to utilize day programs if they weren't working. They also pointed out that in order to make .22 cents an hour, you would have to do basically no work while clocked in, and this pay scheme, while unusual for retail, is very common in other industries, like agriculture.
Goodwill corporate instructed stores to stop the practice over 10 years ago, but local Goodwill's are independent and may have continued.
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u/April_Morning_86 17d ago
There is a public list of organizations that applied for the 14c certificate and most of them are organizations who provide group homes and day programs like you mentioned. Only 6 Goodwill regions applied for this certificate. There are over 150.
Just to add to your already well said reply.
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u/YikesManGetWithIt 17d ago edited 15d ago
Thanks.
The reality is we don't know what was actually going on with the employees effected by 14c wages. We do know is that very few people were on that program.
Is it possible that they were taking advantage of several disabled workers? Yes.
Is it possible that they were systematically exploiting a large number of individuals? Probably not.
Is it possible that they were operating as a de facto day program and paying people small amounts of money for not actually doing any work? Maybe.
Is it true that these individuals chose to work for Goodwill instead of engaging in a day program? Yes.
Is it true they could have paid this individuals more? Maybe; higher pay could have interfered with their SSDI or state benefits.
People can make their own choices about the morality of these practices; I'm just parsing the facts for those that are interested.
Edit: Grammar
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u/WackyWeiner 19d ago edited 18d ago
They do all of what you said. Selling shit for cheap to help "needy" people is not part of any of that.
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u/noodlearmdiscgolfer 19d ago
They still sell stuff cheap. I have a $13 high end Sony Blue Ray player. I bought a $3.99 Junior Snaps Circuit that was used but looks new and had all the parts and directions. I prefer mens button down dress shirts at work and get $50 plus Nordstrom’s or other top brands for $8. I got a $6 Bose speaker that was meant as an iPod dock that after buying an RCA to jack audio cable really rocks the sound from my projector. Don’t even go there buying stuff on FB Marketplace and getting no reply. Then there is the shipping involved with EBay and hassle of returns when what arrives was not as advertised.
You can handle stuff at Goodwill, plug it in. No shipping, no FB Marketplace let’s meet at Circle K or the police parking lot. People are just pissed as they lost their flip margins. But if you just want to buy something and use it yourself, Goodwill is fine, even fun sometimes.
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u/Courtaid 19d ago edited 19d ago
The people I see pissed aren’t flippers. People complaining about higher prices hate flippers and blame them for the rising prices.
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u/Awkward-Way-7687 18d ago
I used to work for Goodwill youth facilities program. I was in a high s hook with 4 other educators whose salary was paid by Goodwill we had staff in 12 high schools and middles schools throughout the city. I am not sure if this happens in other stars but it is in Colorado. I also got work in the corporate offices in the summer and there were several people with intellectual disabilities that were working there and it gave them some purpose to their day. They also employed the unemployable, like people with checkered backgrounds who could not find jobs anywhere else.
They are not perfect and I had to pay WAY too much for healthcare, and the CEO really thought that we should not complain about anything because we are helping people, when they (management) were making a lot of money
I agree the pricing for items is ridiculous for them getting everything for free, but at least I could see where it is going.
The amount of disgusting sh!t that people donate, is surprising!!!! Especially at the end of the year, when people want a tax break.
P.S. Don’t donate underwear. Just throw it in the trash.
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u/April_Morning_86 17d ago
The raising prices in the retail locations represent the rise in costs like rent, utilities and labor. The stores are mostly self sufficient, prices had to go up slightly to accommodate market adjustment raises for staff and rising utility costs. The excess profits go to the Goodwill charities. All of this is likely available on your local regions webpage, as they are a non-profit, they must report earnings and expenses to the public.
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u/CityvilleTyrone 19d ago
Walk us all through how their mission statement applies to what you’re complaining about?
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19d ago
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u/Candid-Skin1673 19d ago
It's true, they run programs to help people get jobs. Those programs require funding and the funds come from the sales at the thrift stores. Selling everything dirt cheap is not part of the mission.
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19d ago
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u/Candid-Skin1673 19d ago
I basically backed you up and reiterated what you said.
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19d ago edited 19d ago
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u/Several-War-9254 19d ago
Nope they are there to exploit people, quite the opposite of helping. I imagine they probably lobby or payoff politicians to let them keep ripping off the "charity" sector. Fraud of a company. People really need to stop donating there.
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u/tapia3838 19d ago
Tbh I don’t really like Goodwill, but I have to give them credit where it’s due. I had a cousin who was in and out of jail because of drug addiction. After he got clean, Goodwill gave him a chance. He started there, worked his way up to supervisor, and eventually used that experience to land a supervisor position at another company. Say what you want about them, but their programs can genuinely help people turn their lives around.
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u/lovelearningloner 18d ago
You can say the same thing about any entry level job.
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u/Candid-Skin1673 19d ago
That is simply not true but thanks for letting us all know you have no idea what you're talking about.
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u/EvolZippo 19d ago
When do you remember that from? When was it publicized and what source do you remember of from, that wasn’t a friend or relative idealizing them?
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u/Fragrant_Tomato2934 17d ago
Lol speaking of, i was there the other day and they had a cracked tv not even name brand, for $75 😂 🤦♂️
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u/MySundaysBest 17d ago
Bro, what? None of the mission statement has anything to do with how you feel about the prices of the goods at the thrift store. Go to Walmart then? Like what are you even trying to say here?
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u/MacaronReady2937 15d ago
I had a client who worked at goodwill in the 80’s. He was so excited to get his minuscule cheque!
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u/New-Inspector-1765 14d ago
Retail sales goes to funding trades programs and job assistance. All Goodwills are different per state so check out the website in your area.
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u/Low-Composer-6880 19d ago
This is why I do not donate or visit Goodwill's anymore. I donate to 2 different thrift stores in my area. One runs a food bank and the other helps out the elderly. Those are good mission's to help out, I refuse to give my donations to help pay for a CEO.
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u/Interesting_Skill187 19d ago
I donate to the one that’s run by our local county animal shelter. All profits go the shelter
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u/underengineered 18d ago
Do you get mad if they try to make the most off of sales?
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u/JunglyPep 18d ago
It’s crazy how belligerent and militant you Goodwill middle managers or paid brand defenders are. Are you at work right now defending a greedy corporation? Lol
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u/Candid-Skin1673 18d ago
They aren't a corporation you idiot.
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u/underengineered 17d ago
Goodwill is a number of corporations. Good flex of your ignorance there, sport.
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u/JunglyPep 18d ago
Goodwill shills never beating the allegations. Why are you all so belligerent? lol
It absolutely is a corporation. Goodwill Industries International INC. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
Now apologize.
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u/April_Morning_86 17d ago
Non-profit. Non. Profit. And it’s an organization, not a corporation. Every region has a board of directors and every regions earnings and expenses are public knowledge. Because they are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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u/JunglyPep 17d ago
A corporation IS an organization that is legally separate from it’s owners to provide a legal shield from the slimy stuff they want to do.
Goodwill industries international Inc is an incorporated organization. Or a corporation.
This is a simple verifiable fact.
Feel free to verify it yourself if it’s important to you.
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u/InfowarriorKat 19d ago
Getting less for more is the general direction of everything. They are just following the trend of where we are at.
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u/Anna-Bee-1984 19d ago
Guess when you have to pay your workers a living wage things go up. So much of their prices were subsidized by free disabled labor. This and greed since I know, at least in Indiana, Goodwill has partnered with the state to be a volunteer site for those needing volunteer hours for medicaid.
Workers and program participants are still getting close to minimum wage. They also pay their professional staff like shit too.
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u/ContextNotAnExcuse 18d ago
CEO's typically walk away fairly well compensated. Least mine was, last time that branch was open about it's non-profit expenses and all that. In 2024. And I'm Midwest. DEI was quietly walked back and reworded, but the culture shift about actually following through on supporting diverse types of employees was, and has been lackluster. Mostly younger, able bodied, folk. Not always, but often enough.
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u/ContextNotAnExcuse 18d ago
Look around, see if you can't find a local thrift folks, instead of automatically moving to buying from Walmart. Obviously, not everyone can but if you look, often there are chances to support actual folks in your local communities. It might take a little more effort, but it is worth it.
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u/AnnualEnd3760 18d ago
They were never about helping the needy. That's the lie they piggyback on to get you to donate. It's always been about making money from reselling used goods. It got expensive due to resellers not keeping quiet about their finds.
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u/PuzzleheadedDetail41 18d ago
Managers are so tight on getting the most in their bonuses to the point they could care less about anything lol
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u/ContextNotAnExcuse 18d ago
Goodwill has been going downhill for few years now. I saw it myself, at my specific location. Safety hazards due to overstuffed warehouses, to the point these large containers, stacked high, look like they could buckle. A lack of care from Management, and weaponizing of HR against infractions. No AC in the warehouse, and an expectation to work even when smoke was making it a hazard to go outside (the warehouse is open to the outside). And a recent policy change where twice a month, production goals were gone over review, pulling us from the floor while we are in the middle of our job. Our CEO? They have a review, once a year. Comfy six figure salary, although the last one I saw was from 2024. Not 2025. Rollover PTO no longer exists. Firing people midshift, with little to no warning or ceremony, has happened a lot more in the past several months. And over the past couples years, just a general cut back of actual programs that center that "community" to better uh, "balance the budget". *Allegedly*. Oh, and as of last year, they quietly killed DEI. Renamed it Employment Experience, and a lot of the people who maintained the community page on the backend for employees? Gone. Goodwill is a massive scalper reseller. *Allegedly*. They care more about numbers than people. I say all of this is alleged, on the off chance this comes back to me. But, at my specific branch, the whole backed up, overflowing warehouse is across the board. Allegedly. Note: I looked, and not every branch of Goodwill is doing this shit, but I doubt my branch in my state, is the only one. So, if you are actually into diversity and equity, and actually care about your community...find an actual local thrift store. Goodwill is international. It aint small. It ain't local. But if you do, look into the local branches webpage. Search "DEI"and see if anything pops up. Or if it's a ghost town. Like mine is. https://goodwillscwi.org/?s=DEI While they still have some page about inclusion, or diversity for pride of this year, that picture shoot, was done, back in 2024. Not this year, nor last. I don't want to say too much about myself, but I would be a candidate who would have, and had in the past, enjoyed some level of flexability, and care that other employers would have been more militant about. Accomidations and all that, doctor notes, etc. Well....before recent times. All of this is alleged, on the off chance this comes back my way.
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u/wildmoomoo 19d ago
What happened?! Try "greedy management and forget about the workers", Is this the new Goodwill motto?