Constant turnover in newer associates and associates that should have never been hired in the first place results in under-staffed sales floors. Understaffing creates undue stress on the most experienced associates and I expect that my store in particular will have unnecessarily high senior associate turnover or transfer requests within the next six months.
Unqualified department supervisors tend to be the highest cause of turnover, in my opinion. Promotion of one unqualified DS can result in the entire department wanting to transfer out or leave the company, especially the most senior associates in that department
Associates in certain departments have higher liability (not necessarily legally, but in general terms) and are at higher risk for personal safety. These associates are not compensated any higher than other associates and these departments become very undesirable. These departments include lumber/building materials, flooring, and garden. Hardware, paint, and millworks are probably the easiest-to-work and easiest-to-learn departments with electrical and plumbing being average. Lumber is the easiest department to learn overall, but I would not want to be breathing in cement dust and wood-treating chemicals or hand stacking 80 lb bags of cement mix for $10/hr. I also find that flat-stacking lumber in confined spaces and cutting lumber on the saws are the two main sources of hearing damage in the entire store.
I never started working at Home Depot as a long-term strategy. This is merely supplemental income and I try to maintain an objective opinion about the store and company. If you are looking for a long-term (5+ plus) career, you must either be the absolute best or expect to spend your time here as a floor-level associate. Full-time positions are extremely rare and coveted and opportunities to advance are limited. I do not consider myself to be the #1 employee in the store or even my department. I have a decent work ethic, but I do not strive like those who do want THD to be a career. I have opportunities outside of this company, but it is disheartening to see that those who do strive the most are almost never compensated accordingly, financially or otherwise. They advance at nearly the same pace as the most mediocre employees and it devastates their morale, thereby increasing turnover.
