Substandard Retail Job at the Time - Sales Associate/Cashier Five Below Employee Review

2.0
Sep 10, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

People who didn't quit or steal stock while working decent hours were likely to be offered a promotion to manager. Pay for that wasn't much better than standard part-time work, but it offered additional guaranteed hours. You get a small discount on store products.

Cons

Frequently understaffed with an extremely high turnover rate. Those who stuck around for any length of time were likely to be stuck managing the cash register, as the new employees were not trained effectively in its operation. Teaching them the correct locations of items needing to be restocked seemed to also not be a priority. Requiring involvement from managers on specific register functions, such as giving refunds, meant that during times when they were unavailable the line could be held up drastically. Cashiers were required to greet every incoming customer, regardless of how busy the register was, or else face reprimands.

Explore other reviews about Five Below

5.0
Jun 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Fun environment Fun coworkers Always something new to discover

Cons

Low pay Not enough hours

1.0
Jul 14, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Salary and bonus opportunities, and talented colleagues.

Cons

I rarely write reviews, but I hope this helps others understand the culture I experienced. I joined the company excited about the opportunity and dedicated myself to delivering results, building strong cross-functional partnerships, and supporting the business. Throughout my time there, I consistently received positive feedback from stakeholders and colleagues and was never made aware of any performance concerns or gaps. I was a top-performing team member and delivered consistent business results. My employment ended without warning. The explanation I received was simply that the company had “decided to move in a different direction." There had been no prior coaching, performance improvement plan, or conversations indicating my role or performance was at risk. It was a complete shock—not only to me, but also to many of my peers who reached out expressing surprise and frustration. The most disappointing part wasn’t just the decision itself, but how it was handled. Transparency, honest communication, and respect seemed to be missing from the process. Employees deserve timely, candid feedback and the opportunity to address concerns before life-changing decisions are made. Instead, I was left trying to make sense of a decision that didn’t align with the feedback I had consistently received. No workplace is perfect, and difficult business decisions sometimes have to be made. However, if you’re considering joining this organization, I encourage you to ask thoughtful questions about leadership communication, performance management, and how employees are supported when priorities shift. Your experience may depend heavily on the team and leadership you work under. Cons: Lack of transparency, inconsistent communication, limited psychological safety, and an environment where employees may not receive honest feedback until it’s too late.

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