This was the ultimate dysfunctional, unorganized, terribly orchestrated and frustrating employment I've ever been associated with and the problem starts with the lack of capable employees at the very top. There is no true vision in the company that anyone actually follows or is accountable for. Mostly a group of managers (hired from the outside-just like me) that have no clue what is the best way to attack issues- and there are a lot of them! There is NO training. I have had much experience in the management world and when I tried to implement actual policies to create solutions, there was no support from anyone. Employees are allowed to do as they please, there is absolutely no accountability for anything, managers are self-serving and unwilling to work with one another, and there is just a general sense of individualistic and toxic attitudes. The worst part is, for the most part, the hourly employees are great individuals that want to do a good job and want to work hard but they are met with deleterious management styles due to their lack of experience and the continuous confusion the company provides.
The hours are long and they are filled with continuously being reactive rather than being able to make a plan and stick to it. You just cannot do that at this company. I have no clue how they can even fix it. It is so bad, everywhere. I believe it is simply because the company has grown too fast and has not had a clear vision in place. It just kind of exists however the person in charge at that particular location sees fit. Keep in mind, many of the store managers don't have college degrees and don't really have much experience other than starting out as hourly employees themselves.... and because there is no real training (they recently started a store manager training program-doesn't seem to help) and even if they did have training, refer back to my comment regarding lack of accountability... they don't need to use it because no one will check on you. District managers will ignore problems as long as profits are made. And that really is questionable... I watched how inaccurate inventories were conducted and false numbers were reported. The fact that you really didn't even know if the DC even sent inventory (or if it was mistakenly given to another store/etc.) blew my mind. They have no clue regarding actual numbers or inventory!
Hourly associates, sorry to say, but you will most likely have a manager that is not the best and here's why... no good manager would ever want to work for this company. It's horrible, so you are left with the kind of people that can't get better positions and a heavy turn-over. Managers are in and out. Constantly leaving... it's that bad. Additionally, you will most likely be asked to do a project and then re-directed, either by another manager, or by the same manager half way through or when you finish. This is because you will have untrained managers that do not understand what their direction was or because the store manager is poor and forced them to do the wrong thing, then was later directed (typically by a district manager that is probably also horrible -definitely so in my case). Also, your hours will be constantly in flux. This is because managers will schedule more hours than allowed and be required to "pay them back" by cutting hours. You may show up one day and without notice, you have been taken off the schedule and may not have a day scheduled for a week, maybe longer- depends on if they like you and your situation. Also, you may be cut back to 4 hours for the week... almost not even worth the drive. And don't forget when you are scheduled, since your fellow associates have been cut, you will work alone, or at least it may feel that way because there will be no one to help you. Tons of clothes to re-fold and put back.... it's not easy. And in most cases, don't expect help from your lazy manager. I was a manager.... I helped (some don't) but it was never enough.