Kmart reviews

3.5

56% would recommend to a friend

(6,686 total reviews)

Edward S. Lampert

58% approve of CEO

55% positive business outlook

Kmart has an employee rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, based on 6,686 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Kmart employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Ventas al mayoreo y al menudeo industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

7K reviews
3.0
Aug 29, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

This job is so easy to get because they desperately need cashiers. Scheduling is pretty flexible, especially when school starts up. The best is when they send you to gardening or electronics to cover a shift. Gardening is nice and air conditioned :) Your coworkers are the absolute best! We're all easy going and friendly :)

Cons

You have an arrow on your register screen that measures the percentage of your customers that are Rewards Members... 75%+ =Green, <75%=Red and 85%+ =Gold. God help you if your arrow is red. Some stubborn customers will refuse to sign up or refuse to give you their phone number to see if they're in the system, and that is somehow your fault and management will harass you for it. Prices will always ring up wrong on the register, and no one at the service desk ever knows the price, so we have to page for a price check, which takes forever, and customers just get mad and impatient. They are always busy at the service desk so if you need an override or a void, you will have to wait forever. They NEVER have enough cashiers so your lines will be looonnngg. You will never get a raise or move up in the company. Ever.

1.0
Dec 10, 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Kmart offers a path to management for hourly employees not otherwise available with other large retailers. In addition, the company does provide extensive training at all levels that is both in depth and pertinent to the position an employee holds.

Cons

Virtually every aspect of being a store manager is a downside. The workload is unmanageable due to the fact that no resources are provided. Staffing is unbelievably inadequate, due to no payroll being provided. Management from the district, regional and corporate level provides no support. Programs and initiatives are added by the district, regional and corporate levels with each not being coordinated and no resources given to execute them. With no employees to assist customers; maintain the store; unload trucks and man the registers, customers and employees are frustrated and dissatisfied. In all, the stores are in a constant state of chaos and management is unsupportive and plays ignorant to the lack of resources, choosing to hold management responsible for the inabiloity to execute at the store level. The company is disorganized and lacks the experience and expertise at the corporate level to effectively manage the company. When Kmart purchased Sears, all resources and focus has been on the Sears operation. Kmart's ability to remain profitable has not been due to a successful business model, but largely attributed to cuts in payroll, benefits, store equipment and resources. Being a store manager is an exercise in futility and frustration. In addition, managment lieves in constant fear of retribution and loss of job. The hours are horrendous. WIth the lack of employees and other management, the store managers are in the store from virtually open to close six or more days a week. When I was hired in 2008, the pay for store manager was competitive to other large retailers. However, in 2009 the pay structure was reduced dramatically due to the economy.

1.0
Aug 8, 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

When i started back in 2003, I lived only 5 minutes from the store, flexible in allowing you time off. If you can breathe, they'll hire anyone.

Cons

-Starting wage and "raises" are a joke. I've been there for 6 years and still barely above $8/hr. Oh, and they froze our pay this year. Hell I would think Wal-Mart pays better, they need to have a Wake Up K-mart campaign -Too many people in departments don't know squat and were thrown there to get more hours. -They frown if you work a 10-13 hour shift. Uh, I need the most hours I can get, and if that is the only way, then shut up. -You gotta have 1000 hrs to qualify for vacation, but how is that possible when hours are constantly being cut? Last paid vacation I had was back in 2005 -Management doesn't follow policy and isn't consistent with rulings when dealing with customers. -We gotta keep pushing those damn sears cards, email captures, and smart plans. They're gonna push us to hold a gun to people's heads to apply for a card.

Viewing 4 - 6 of 6,686 Reviews

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