Pros
I have a background in branding, UX, and product design and was highly dedicated to my role. I took initiative to mentor new hires, fix store displays, and provided feedback on branding, even visiting other stores on my own time. I was passionate about the brand and hoped to move into a corporate position.
Cons
The store was plagued by management instability and a toxic culture. There was a revolving door of managers, with a "mean girl" mentality, favoritism, and racially-motivated comments toward a specific group of staff. My reports to HR were consistently ignored. My termination on August 11, 2025, was, in my opinion, a direct act of retaliation for being a whistleblower. I was falsely accused of "time theft" and fired without a single written warning, just two days after two other employees resigned over similar misconduct. Management failed to address serious issues like safety violations and timecard errors, and I was passed over for promotions in favor of less-experienced new hires.