Pros
Great benefits, and employee perks including up to 6 weeks PTO, great product discounts at 3 Gap Inc. brands (ON, Gap, BR). Super inclusive environment with programs and initiatives to increase the representation of women and minorities in leadership positions.
Cons
Lack of work-life balance. This is not a 40 hour work week by any means. Despite having more paid time off than 95% of the people in my life, I never truly felt like I was living until I left. Having a large percentage of your weekends and holidays as required work time really takes a toll on your personal relationships. Retail is great and I will always be thankful for this company and everything I learned while working with them, however the reality is most people work Monday through Friday during normal “business” hours, 9-5. Thanks to this fact, your ability to spend quality time with the people you love (outside your immediate home environment) is very difficult. Also not having a set schedule, meaning you work different days/times each week is very disruptive. This is disruptive with social life, but also more importantly with one’s health. Having to regularly change the times you go to sleep and wake up, eat, exercise makes it extraordinarily difficult to create and stick to proper routines outside of your job. I am not saying that it’s impossible to do these things with a retail schedule, but it is extremely difficult, and speaking for myself, it is exhausting. I no longer struggle in anyway to adhere to routines pertaining to my health, relationships or work. The work retail schedule is NOT for me, and probably not most people.