The confession of a five below employee - Sales Associate Five Below Employee Review

2.0
Feb 11, 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people were very friendly, I never got into any trouble with anyone.

Cons

The pay was awful, the hours were either too little or too many. They'd call me in school knowing I couldn't come in. I never knew when I was scheduled for work. No one will cooperate with you if you ask to switch shifts with them. The manager got huffy when I called out for being sick. When I quit, the manager I was talking to said if I quit somewhere with not enough notice beforehand, I could get arrested (which you can't, it's just considered rude and unprofessional) so who knows what else they were lying about. All in all, it just wasn't the best experience. If you're just trying to make some extra cash in high school, go for it. But anyone else who is trying to make a living and such, don't do it to yourself.

Explore other reviews about Five Below

5.0
Jun 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Fun environment Fun coworkers Always something new to discover

Cons

Low pay Not enough hours

1.0
Jul 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Salary and bonus opportunities, and talented colleagues.

Cons

I rarely write reviews, but I hope this helps others understand the culture I experienced. I joined the company excited about the opportunity and dedicated myself to delivering results, building strong cross-functional partnerships, and supporting the business. Throughout my time there, I consistently received positive feedback from stakeholders and colleagues and was never made aware of any performance concerns or gaps. I was a top-performing team member and delivered consistent business results. My employment ended without warning. The explanation I received was simply that the company had “decided to move in a different direction." There had been no prior coaching, performance improvement plan, or conversations indicating my role or performance was at risk. It was a complete shock—not only to me, but also to many of my peers who reached out expressing surprise and frustration. The most disappointing part wasn’t just the decision itself, but how it was handled. Transparency, honest communication, and respect seemed to be missing from the process. Employees deserve timely, candid feedback and the opportunity to address concerns before life-changing decisions are made. Instead, I was left trying to make sense of a decision that didn’t align with the feedback I had consistently received. No workplace is perfect, and difficult business decisions sometimes have to be made. However, if you’re considering joining this organization, I encourage you to ask thoughtful questions about leadership communication, performance management, and how employees are supported when priorities shift. Your experience may depend heavily on the team and leadership you work under. Cons: Lack of transparency, inconsistent communication, limited psychological safety, and an environment where employees may not receive honest feedback until it’s too late.

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