L.L. Bean reviews

f the store I worked in is any indication of the company’s view of its employees, LL Bean is in big trouble. Whether you’re full time, part time or seasonal, you are assumed to be a third-class, expendable entity. You’re treated in a curt, dismissive manner by most of the managers — there are too many "chiefs" (who have blatantly little real business experience and who regularly give conflicting orders) constantly scanning for any perceived "slacking off”; you are not to be seen speaking, even briefly, with your coworkers. There is constant fault-finding — no matter how fast and efficiently you work, or how well you sell. Pay is sub-par but you are constantly pushed to drive more sales (as though most sales staff aren't giving it their best already) and a culture of competition with other stores is emphasized with incessant announcements over the (cheap, faulty) headsets on how your store is stacking up at any particular hour with others in the region (We're “behind” $1000? Let me henpeck this customer harder). The truth is, manager bonuses are what motivate them; the company did away with employee bonuses. Culture of fear and intimidation results in morale being dismally low, to the point that coworkers retreat into their own private silos. Combined with the typical retail ever-shifting last-minute weekly schedule assignments and low pay, people either feel trapped or are actively looking for other employment and biding their time. You can be given more responsibility, but that responsibility does not garner more pay or respect, only more pressure — and you will still be treated poorly. It can best be described as a warden-inmate environment, with worse hours. In fairness, according to veterans, the problems only became really untenable in 2017 with the hiring of a new lead manager.

Most teams are micro-managed which trickles down from the top. Tough environment if you are entrepreneurial minded and enjoy a dynamic, fast-paced workplace. More emphasis on being "buttoned up" and organized than on your contributions to growing or improving the business. Risk averse culture. Little room for advancement.