Bottom-line focused, not employee-focused. - Team Leader The Buckle Employee Review

2.0
Apr 7, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

40% discount Learning how to fold clothes. Hands-on visual merchandising. Product knowledge. Opportunity to move up into leadership. Travel on impact teams if you excel. If you have high energy and thick skin, Buckle can be a great place to work. I did learn a lot (but at a personal price). Any job after Buckle will be a cake-walk.

Cons

Management favoritism. Lack of reviews. Inconsistent pay rates. Pay is not necessarily based on performance, degrees, or seniority. You are rewarded only if you keep progressing, rather than doing really well at the level you are at while still contributing to the team. Constant weeding out of people/turnover. Working really hard for little pay. Immature, vindictive and catty co-workers that aren't career minded, very much like high school popularity contest. Cannot make a living as a single person without being in management. Hard to get schedule accommodations, time off. Very aggressive sales goals and tactics. Work/life balance is non existent. Sucks the life out of you. Hard to be independently creative, out of the box. Top down company. Burn-out is highly likely.

Explore other reviews about The Buckle

5.0
Apr 6, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible hours for part time work.

Cons

Holiday hours can long and busy.

3.0
Jul 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Good work-life balance. -Team-building is encouraged. -The experience can vary by location. -Buckle has the potential to have some of the best retail teams, depending on the store. -There are opportunities for growth and career advancement for employees who have supportive leadership.

Cons

Management's willingness to lead, communicate effectively, and support employees is what creates opportunities for growth, but that was not my experience at this location. I felt the work environment was negatively affected by inconsistent communication, a leadership style that felt overly controlling, and discussions about employees that appeared to undermine teamwork and trust. I believe a more respectful, supportive, and collaborative approach to leadership would create a healthier workplace culture and better support both employees and the overall success of the store.

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