Fun at first, horrible towards the end - Keyholder Manager Five Below Employee Review

1.0
Jun 13, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

20% discount. Most co-workers were easy going and fun to be around. First look at all of the cool new products. Fairly easy to move up if you're 18+. Relaxed dress code.

Cons

I really loved this job when I first started working there, and after I was promoted I started seeing how horrible it really was. Management sits in the back office and talks bad about the employees, most of the time I was on the floor the managers would sit in the back and gossip instead of helping on the floor. Turnover rate was HORRIBLE, no one wanted to work there because no one was trained well enough or paid enough. You start out minimum wage and if you're lucky, you MAY get a 2-3% raise after a year. If you're promoted, you'll get .10¢-.50¢ raise depending on the position. On call shifts are required and they're not good about working around school/other jobs. I was often given an on-call shift outside of my availability and when I got a second job I was scheduled outside of my availability. Very short shifts, often only 3-4 hours. You only get a 30 minute unpaid lunch if you work more than 5 hours (and often you wouldn't get one at all). If you work 8+ hours, you don't get an extra or longer break. Overall a VERY immature work environment. I felt like I was attending high school all over again. The pay isn't worth the hard work you do (especially if you're a stock associate).

Explore other reviews about Five Below

5.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great people, staff, and people to work with

Cons

None I loved it all

3.0
Jun 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-20% discount -med, dental, vision benefits -20-ish minimum hours per week -genuinely can be a fun store to work in when run well

Cons

-store managers have little to no oversight and cross professional boundaries often - hr is ineffective, document everything yourself, report to the EEOC -growth opportunities in the store are very limited and they will lowball you no matter what you do or sacrifice -crazy turnover because the expectations are unrealistic store managers lie about pay budget to everyone -more likely to hire teens and students because they are easier to take advantage of for little pay, only needs adult for when teens and students cannot work (night shifts, school days) - nearby stores, especially if in a strip mall or shopping center, like tj maxx have higher base pay, better benefits, better security, and more hour availability

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