A lot of amenities are just tricky ways to keep you there all the time - Manager Urban Outfitters Employee Review

3.0
Apr 13, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Pay was decent for the area (though other coworkers have complained about their low salaries and people left every day for better pay in other areas) If you have a good manager, your experience can be wonderful. There is an on site cafeteria, coffee shop, dog friendly office, beautiful open spaces, and a gym. All of these things make you think you are working for a great company, but in reality they are just to keep you tied to it. Benefits and employee discount were fair.

Cons

In reality, these "Pros" are all just ways to keep you on site and working more. If you can go to the gym after work, you can go back to your desk and answer emails until 9 pm (very common!). If you can bring your dog in, you don't need to make any excuse to get up at 5 pm and leave to let the dog out. (Good thing, because other than your coworkers your dog will be the only social life you have). If you don't need to go anywhere for lunch, you never have to leave the campus! A lot of young employees move across the country (or world) to work here and have no outside friends or life once they get to the city. All said, it breeds a creepy inbred family of coworkers whose lives revolve around URBN. (It was not uncommon to get emails about how the building closed at midnight and you needed to be offsite by then, or what hours the security guards were working on Saturday and Sunday.) I've seen a lot of people get pushed out by their managers for not fitting the mold. There would be BS awards ceremonies that were reminiscent of high school. Rather than reward people's merits or hard work, they were popularity contests for the bloggers with the most followers, or the designers with their heads in the clouds 99% of the time. Most hard working employees left feeling slighted and under-appreciated. A few "stars" were the only ones that the CEO ever rewarded. Business minded people were rarely recognized, and it was more about having a "look" than having brains, but I guess that's just the fashion industry! Unfortunately, no HR Department means that employees are often left to fend for themselves with untrained management and directors who were promoted not for their skill, but for their seniority at the company, or their friendships with the hiring managers, or their cool outfits.

Explore other reviews about Urban Outfitters

5.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Loved working in the middle of campus, meet lots of fun people

Cons

Can be boring at times working retail, repetitive but have to be busy.

2.0
Jul 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Somewhat flexible scheduling. Bonuses if your store exceeds monthly goals. Employee discount for other URBN brands.

Cons

Lack of work-life balance. Salaried managers are often expected and obligated to conduct work that surpasses the 40 hour work week. Overtime is not offered for salaried store managers. Salary increases and internal mobility are very limited. The company claims they are under tight budgets, yet they are making record profits and spending money on unnecessary expenses. The only way to increase salary is to move to higher-volume locations, which are limited due to availability. A lot of other store managers have been in their same positions for 10+ years and have remained at the same title. Company directive is constantly changing with little to no support. Store managers are expected to cover the slack when resources are minimal. Physical deterioration is common for management. The job requires a lot of physical exertion. Higher ups expect displays to be conducted on a store-level, which includes moving heavy objects and operating power tools. Even if you are not trained, you are expected to learn as you go or “phone a friend” for help. “The customer is always right” mentality supersedes company policy, which leads to friction within team members and the client. Mental stress from dealing with disgruntled customers is common due to this.

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