Pros
+ 30% employee discount + semi-flexible scheduling + work with an amazing team! + work in a fast-paced, challenging environment + learn a lot about retail / fashion / business + many levels of promotion with many things to learn + lots of transparency -- always be in the know about sales/company goals regardless of position + some employee benefits (e.g. retirement and health plans) + very understanding management, depending if someone good replaces the ones that constantly quit
Cons
- favoritism runs wild! -- promotions are seldom based on merit, and based on very subjective evaluations and dumb reasons; some higher-ups may know less than some associates - employee stagnation -- only favorites get a chance to move up in the company; provides little feedback and support to improve workforce morale / productivity; minor infractions of work expectations can rid you a chance of moving up - lack of formal training for new employees - occasional mandatory graveyard shifts, no matter what your availability is - STRICT standards - low incentives for promotions, little pay raise, eliminated competitive wage - condescending corporate visits -- expects employees to live up to an image in spite of lack of practicality, expects utter/complete perfection, constant threat of disapproval, only address workers via their own subordinates - HIGH emphasis on profits, but no incentives for workers to achieve sales goals other than to expand the company - lack of professionalism from higher-ups -- lower level employees must work non-stop, yet upper level people can get away with doing less (sometimes, can hear them chatting it up amongst themselves on duty) - lack of concern for employee well-being -- obvious stress / depression amongst certain workers, but profitting comes before addressing workers' needs / issues - claims "zen-in keiei" (management by everyone) philosophy, but practically non-existent -- employees actually have little/no say on how to improve the operation of the store - high turn over