Kohl's reviews

3.3

53% would recommend to a friend

(20,278 total reviews)
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Michael J. Bender

65% approve of CEO

33% positive business outlook

Kohl's has an employee rating of 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 20,278 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Kohl's employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Retail & Wholesale industry (3.4 stars).

Reviews by job title

20K reviews
3.0
Jun 18, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are a lot of social events and volunteer opportunities that they encourage, when you're able to attend. The corporate office cafeteria offers a lot of great food options, as well as snacks and drinks, and they try out new things once in awhile. And being able to drop off your mail in the mail room is convenient. If you have a good manager, which I have had a few, they are very understanding with flexibility in terms of pregnancy appointments, family/doctor needs or being sick; like any manager, as long as workload is covered or can get done or wait, time off requests were always approved.

Cons

The womens' buying division expects a certain type of attitude, look, and even interests and non-individuality in order for you to truly feel like you're a part of the team, you have to drink the drink if you know what I mean. It's fast paced, the work load is insane with how much they turn out for orders, yet they expect you to also be social, volunteer, and take part in office events, of which there are many. Not saying all these fun things are bad, but it's hard to do all that while managers are also pressuring you to resolve issues and get deadlines in, and yet also pressure you to be a part of the team. And all while having to troubleshoot programs that are so old or just launched, which means you're having to figure out the tech issues and give feedback on said new programs. They promote young grads into roles way too quickly, like if they've completed their one year role as an analyst, they just move into the assistant buying role the next year (or less), as if we're just meeting another deadline. It doesn't seem like they focus on experience when promoting (You're experience is the one year or so and they deem that enough), since they need to make room for the next huge batch of interns to hire. And they seems to shift around team members into different depts (to shake things up, I guess) even if the person is already doing well or established within their dept, so you're having to relearn the job again and rebuild relationships with new-to-you vendors since all depts run business differently, I saw this happen about every 6 months. Diversity is a problem at this company, at least in the buying dept, everyone is very young and blond and wants to look like they work in a NY fashion office. POC, even in interns, weren't very present. All this being said, everyone is friendly, but don't expect to truly be accepted unless you walk the walk.

1.0
Apr 19, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I worked with very few great associates.

Cons

I don’t feel valued here. I haven’t been given the training I need to be successful at Kohl’s. I am not satisfied with my manager. I did not feel comfortable being myself at work. My experience at Kohl's does not match the way the role was described. Constant bullying and harassment around the whole store. Management treated me like they were better than me, didn't treat me like we were equals. It made me feel like I wasn't doing my job correctly. I was supposed to be given communication books every month but for some reason the manager wanted to keep my set to herself making “sure” the store was on track of everything. When in reality she stayed in her office majority of the time. ALL management (except for one) made inappropriate comments throughout my 6 months of working here. Asking condescending questions and making comments after I express how I feel. I did not have the support to fulfill all of my duties as a Visual Merchandising Manager, I was told that I would be able to do it myself when in reality I was supposed to be given associates to help me. If they were scheduled with me they were taken away from me throughout the day. Leaving me with a heavy workload and having the store unbalanced. Management would constantly questioning my ability to do my job the way it should be done aka micromanaging. I would have tasks on my plate that are not under my job description. But management will get upset if I move away from my Visual Merchandising list of priorities. For example, if we were to have an important visit then the Manager would want everything to be done her way instead of what is really priorities, this includes adding stuff on another individual's plate. Management (except for one) was very disrespectful over the walkie talkies and intercom. Asking questions like “WHAT DO YOU WANT?” or “COME TO THE OFFICE” (Sometimes 2 times if you weren’t quick enough) but in a rude tone where all the customers can witness and brings down the employees self confidence. I was never recognized and if I was given a nice comment in person it wasn’t genuine at all it was more like a get out of my face kind of thing. When I wanted to speak with management I wouldn’t always get eye contact making me feel like my questions were not important and that they were focusing on something else. I would get comments from the management and a supervisor about how ugly the mannequins were dressed. Asking questions like “Why would Corporate dress them in these outfits?” then switching the whole department up the way she wants it cause she doesn’t like the communication books. The admin asked a lot of personal questions and made me feel very uncomfortable and judged every time I was in the room. Managers do not treat all employees the same as they have favorites. This Kohl’s store does NOT work as a team. I do not recommend working at this location and it ruined my experience with Kohl’s. As I fell in love with it at The NRF Retail’s Big Show. I did not feel comfortable telling my manager where I was going to work instead and she kept pushing me to get some information out. She asked me 4 other times, after yelling my name to come to her office after I put my two weeks in. I could tell she was mad at me and everyone else in management because no one said bye to me on my last day. Or no other management that I told I was leaving confronted me or talked to me for my last two weeks, I was brushed to the side. Very unprofessional environment. I noticed a lot of good people started leaving for the same reasons I was and that should say a lot by who is in charge. I feel as if some individuals in high positions there are in it for themselves and want to grow with the company for better experiences.

1.0
Sep 3, 2019
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There are NONE to mention unless you desire to be underpaid, overworked and underappreciated!

Cons

PAY- $9.50 per hour is slave labor rates these days. All competition (Walmart, Target, JC Penny, etc.) pays $12.00 to start with no experience. AMAZON RETURNS- this sucks. Amazon gets to reduce its labor costs from $15.00 per hour by "using" Kohl's employees who are paid $9.50 per hour. Very nice Mr. Bezos. Thank you so much Kohl's for screwing your employees by doubling their work, not giving them ANY INCENTIVES, and adding all the additional responsibilities which you do NOT LOGISTICALLY SUPPORT!!!! The work is complete crap, additional duties and double/triple duties abound, and all of this is completely unsupported by Kohls. DO NOT return your Amazon items to Kohl's as there is a 1 week delay with their trucks. Better yet, abuse Kohl's Amazon system by shopping online with Amazon for the same item you can get at Kohl's, return it to Kohl's, and get a 25% discount at Kohl's for the same item. KOHL's- it's all about the credit folks..that is why you are hassled endlessly by cashiers and have to stand in line so long for your purchases. It's because the only thing Kohl's cares about is signing you up for their credit card at 26%+ interest! DO NOT DO THIS! Customer service is non-existent as there are not enough employees in each store (UNDERSTAFFING IS RAMPANT) and logistically, the company does NOT support their staff. There are frequent shortages of supplies and equipment to do the job- so associates leave employment in droves, and go to better organizations with more pay and better working conditions. This is the absolute WORST job I've ever had, and I'm so glad I went to TARGET!

Viewing 64 - 66 of 20,278 Reviews

Glassdoor has 21,447 Kohl's reviews submitted anonymously by Kohl's employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Kohl's is right for you.