Low annual increases (like 1% annually). Lack of work life balance - taking personal or sick time is frowned upon. Scheduling vacation is nearly impossible and you will be required to work if you are a manager or above (to be available at least via email/phone the entire time).
The leadership team is judgmental and cruel. They will make permanent and unalterable decisions about you based on a 5-10 minute conversation or short term observations (god forbid you have a cold or the flu or just having a bad day on the day you meet them - might as well paint a target on your head). You are literally only as valuable to the organization as your last sale (or achievement to a sales plan). Not a single person who is on the leadership team has a concern for the people in the stores or even management in stores on personal level; they will terminate any employee who voices disagreement or questions their motives. It is 100% an environment of retaliation - in fact this review could get me terminated. Wow that might even constitute a hostile work environment. It's a shame that employees have to vent frustrations about how an organization could be better on a forum like glassdoor for fear of losing one's job.
As an organization, L'OCCITANE is actively eliminating long term employees and are replacing tenured employees across the board with younger staff who are able to be paid lower wages and work longer hours for those lower wages (especially in light of the economy many young professionals will happily take these jobs even at below market wages and even if the jobs offered by L'OCCITANE are not competitively paid).
There exists unrealistic expectations for follow up from the most senior level down to even PTSAs. The company is 100% all about micro management. You will be expected to confirm receipt of emails, phone calls, and sometimes even confirm a confirmation for a request of information. this expectation often offends one's vacation time (see above about not taking time off). Micromanagement at this level is redundant and petty. It would likely not be necessary if L'OCCITANE retained or hired more tenured or seasoned employees (again see above).
There is absolutely no room for advancement for PTSAs or managers.
If you disagree with ANY directive the company takes or makes you will be terminated. If you disagree with a business tactic or system you will be terminated. If you criticize or "offer feedback" to a senior member of the team (regional managers, VPs, CEO, etc.) you will be terminated.
There are zero full time jobs outside of being a store manager or above. Promotions from the Part time level only happen if someone is terminated above you (which can happen quite frequently so maybe there is potential to grow - just wait for someone to be fired).
