Nordstrom is a great company that has spread itself too thin. - Department Manager Nordstrom Employee Review

Nordstrom has been in a really dramatic cost cutting mode for the past few years. Employees are forced to be much more efficient and in many cases do the job of two people (without the pay). For department managers we are dependent upon our support teams to help handle freight and unfortunately they have cut many stock positions and turned managers into stock people. It is not uncommon to do 2-6 hours of freight a day during our heavy seasons. Our bonus structure is pretty bad because when you start to trend an increase they raise the levels that they pay you out. Also being selling managers we have small salaries and are expected to be on our floors selling to shoulder to shoulder with our teams (which is a good thing.) But unfortunately with so many duties and responsibilities it can be difficult to find the time to get it all done. Which also leads to the biggest issue of work/life balance. Sadly we work far more than the 86.5 hours we are quoted and you are not compensated for your overtime work. And the worst thing is that there are few opportunities for growth outside of being a lifelong department manager. The company has seen fit to consolidate buying offices and cut as much overhead as possible. Its short sighted because all those extra offices helped coach and pass along knowledge to new generations. Perhaps we are more profitable in the short term but so much has been lost in the consolidations that it will hurt us in coming years. When you add all the new realities up Nordstrom is really taking a hit in morale and losing a lot of its "old school" culture.