Living in fear of getting fired for no real reason. Sales Associate. - Sales Associate Von Maur Employee Review

I don't know where to begin. They condone and encourage really bad behavior from their customers by coddling them and letting them return merchandise that is 10 years old or sometimes not even from the store. This in turn creates a really entitled customer base. At this point I realize I can probably get fired just from a customer saying I looked at them wrong. I live in fear that some overly entitled person is going to complain about me and BAM that's it. They say to page for help when needed but the phone/computer system is so outdated that this is actually impossible. So we, the sales associates, are really the ones who provide the great customer service. Not my managers. So many managers. And speaking of customer service, if you want it provided at such a superhuman level maybe consider paying your employees a living wage or at the very least one that matches your main competitor less than mile away. I'd be getting out asap but they are so vindictive and delusional that even though I've worked INCREDIBLY hard I know they would say something bad about me to a new employer so I am frantically looking for a new job so they won't even contact this place. That's how bad it is. And for the love of God, stop asking me if my friends want to work here. I wouldn't recommend this place to my worst enemies. The favoritism is absolutely obscene. They blather on in the interview process about getting promoted but...that doesn't happen. Even if you get promoted to DM there is really nowhere to go from there. Maybe a floor manager in another store? But why would you give up your life and move to another state just to manage a store full of completely unhappy and demoralized people? So all that about "promoting" is really just a ruse. Speaking of favoritism, the store is dominated by a few power sellers, who are allowed to do absolutely anything and everything. The rules DO NOT apply to them. The commission is a paltry 1% but since you're making practically nothing in hourly wage it is enough to make people competitive. Other departments constantly steal sales but management couldn't care less because hey people are buying. What they don't realize, or more likely don't care about, is how demoralizing it is to the person slaving away in that department day after day. Then they complain about how you aren't making your sales goals, and what they never EVER mention is that if they choose they can fire you for this. HR is a joke. Worse than a joke, an abomination. If I had a problem I don't even know where I'd go, to be honest, but HR would be the last place. Hiring a vindictive, mean spirited early 20 something for such a serious position is just...unforgivable. WHAT COMPANY WOULD DO THIS????? Oh, right, Von Maur. I have never seen such turn over in my life. People working on the floor 2 days, 2 weeks, and then gone. The culture of secrecy is such that it could be due to them being 61 seconds late and getting fired or just running for the hills, who really knows. The non-existent morale and terrible HR/store manager create a vicious rumor mill that otherwise nice and normal employees participate in, as there is no other outlet for release. I can't really blame fellow associates for that, as it is management that created and fostered this environment. My store is staffed at about 70%, tops, which leads to people working 10-11 days in a row and in departments they would NEVER have signed up to work in. Again, if you expect us to provide super human customer service, DO NOT work me 10 days in a row because at that point I cease to care as all I can think about is how much I hate you and hate my life and how did I fall into this trap? Oh I remember, it was all the lies you told me when hiring me. Speaking of lies, new rules are constantly made up all the time and dropped on you on the spot, so therefore you live in fear constantly of breaking some rule you didn't even know about. It's just absolutely insane. And god forbid you get sick or are 61 seconds late. They'll fire you. Ultimately the problem is with management. At first I wasn't sure if it was mid or upper level. Now I realize it is both. I'm aghast at the turnover in this place. I'm wondering what rationale they are using to tell themselves that it's "normal". There are times I walk in to work ( oh, did I mention I now absolutely dread going to work?) and I look around and see the like 6 people working in the store and think a) How is this place even in business still? and b) "WE are the ones making this place run, it's just us". And we get paid nothing and treated like dirt. The HR manager needs to go. She is responsible for several great associates quitting and not to mention firing countless others. I used to think the store manager was maybe ok, but at this point I know that she has to be pretty bad too because it's her store and therefore HER FAULT that no one wants to stay there. She was selling cosmetics just like 3 years ago, how quickly she seems to have forgotten how things really work. I could go on for about 5 more pages. Don't work in this terrible place.