Pros
Steady and secure for Full-time associates. I get at least 35 hours.
Cons
They really don't like you to get over time, which is why they schedule you for 35, instead of 40, to be sure that you're less likely to go over. They don't want employees to be comfortable there. You aren't supposed to have anything that stays there, nothing that you need in the break room, including plates, forks, etc. We had pads and tampons in the break room for emergencies and the district manager made us throw them away. The cash registers are so low that, even at only 5'5", I have to stoop to do anything at the register. It kills my back and shoulders, especially if I'm on the register a lot. The teen associates compassion about it hurting their back. There is just no real reason for it to be that way. We shouldn't be in constant pain. Anything that makes our job easier seems to be against corporate policy. We cannot be at the register if we are not actively checking someone out, but they "don't like" us having a bell so that we know when customers are ready to check out while we are stocking or cleaning else where. We can't have "register closed" signs which would help since customers don't seem to understand that a register isn't open when the light is off or that one is closing because someone needs to take their break. They just kept lining up or line up at the wrong register when an associate isn't right there. Almost always understaffed. I started at a new store and, when we first started, we were very overstaffed because the DM hired 50 people, thinking that most would quit. We got stuck letting go almost 50 people and the community blamed the manager, even though he wasn't the one that hired so many people. Now, however, were understaffed and the manager isn't willing to hire more people because hours keep getting cut. We don't have someone to fill in when someone calls out or just doesn't show. I often have only one associate working with me during the busiest days and time of day. Yet, were expected to get a certain amount of product out, which is impossible when both of us are on the register most of the time, because it is so busy. I often get stuck opening the day after closing, which does not give enough time to be able to go home and rest. Associates aren't properly trained at the store I work at now. They have tracking videos and everything, but the SM just quickly clicks through them instead of having them actually watch them and take the tests. I went through all of them when I trained before our store opened and there is important information in there. It is impossible to properly cover everything otherwise. I almost never get connective days off, even though most others do. You don't really be get enough rest when you spend your day cleaning and catching up with chores and then have to go back to work the next day. I never feel rested when my two days off aren't one after the other. The thing is, some of these aren't issues at every store. I was never expected to open after closing at the store that I trained at. I was scheduled no earlier than ten am after closing. If the district managers don't give them a hard time, then they let associates be more comfortable at a store and have what they need. I went in excited about the prospect of being able to advance, but son came to find that store managers (SM) are salaried and often get stuck working way too many hours for it to be worth it. As many hours as the SM at my store works, I probably make more per hour than he does. He wouldn't have to work so much if they weren't understaffed. I don't want to move up anymore because of this. I have a family and a life, the purpose of my job is to be able to take care of my family and have an enjoyable life with them. It isn't worth working constantly and having no life. I've been here almost a year now and I have come to hate my job. All of the reasons could be fixed, but corporate just doesn't care.