Experience as both an associate and a manager. - Sales Manager Macy's Employee Review

1.) High turnover - as a sales associate, it was frustrating when new people got hired because most of them left quickly and you were left to pick up the slack. It's also frustrating to try and bond with people when you know they won't stick around. As a sales manager, it's frustrating because they pay so poorly and expect so much of a sales associate. It's embarrassing to offer a position half the time. 2.) Constant interviewing - They interview for positions that aren't open/don't exist. Hiring took time out of my day and I hated wasting people's time. We were always supposed to say that "we'll call you when a position opens up" but it never happened. 3.) Constant (fake) emphasis on customer service and being cheerful/bubbly. They want you to fake being happy when you're overworked and don't give managers the staffing support they need to achieve customer service expectations. 4.) Inconsistent policy enforcement - one of the most frustrating things as a sales associate was when the manager didn't have my back even though I was enforcing a policy. This goes up the ladder. As a sales manager, you typically give in to the customer simply because they will take it further up and get what they want anyway. It leads to a culture of apathy for the workers and entitlement for the customers. 5.) "You're only as good as you were yesterday" - constant emphasis on outperforming everyone can lead to unhealthy competition. What's the point of having a goal when you have "stretch goals" and no recognition. 6.) Work/Life balance - as a manager, you are expected to work constantly. There are always staffing nightmares, everything is always behind schedule, there are constant interruptions, and always some corporate visit. I entered an overworked, depressed state and knew it wasn't healthy, especially when my boss revealed the same thing.