Better History Than Future - Manager Kohl's Employee Review

1.0
Oct 16, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Kohl's was the darling of the retail industry for many years and rightly so. While other retail companies looked to get into businesses outside their core competency, Kohl's remained focused on it's core retail business. Good benefits, but increases for good performance are pitiful.

Cons

Kohl's always prided itself on empowering it's people to make decisions and running a lean ship, but in recent years, no one below senior management is truly empowered and the lean machine has become fat, as each pyramid head builds their kingdom. Decisions are made by committees, dictated by upper management or not made at all because one mistake will get you fired. How can you run a fashion business without taking risks? Look at today's merchandise assortments; boring, lacking fashion, poor quality and the proprietary brands lack distinction from each other. This is what happens when the lowest price versus the best value for the customer drives the decision making. Hard work, results and company loyalty no longer advances you through this company. Politics, having the right look and allegiance to your hiring manager, not the company, are the route for promotion today. Many positions are now filled by political lackeys, rather than professional retailers. The true merchants have all been killed off.

Explore other reviews about Kohl's

5.0
Oct 4, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Well paced and supportive team members

Cons

Lack of resources and pay

2.0
Jun 16, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

(Mostly) amazing coworkers and flexible schedule most of the time. Good part time job for college students. Pay was decent.

Cons

Very limited full-time positions, leaves little room for career opportunities. Terrible team environment, feels like a fend for yourself fiasco everyday. I didn’t feel as if my managers or anyone at corporate really cared about any employees and it was just the employees caring for each other. Training times were wildly short, usually only a short shift or two on each area to train (registers, floor, bopus, etc). Corporate is difficult to get in touch with even for customers and they WILL take it out on you and management at any level does not seem to care.

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