No job is perfect, but working for Macy's has certainly exceeded my expectations.
Pros
The atmosphere of the workplace is the best part about being at Macy's West. The people I work with personally are friendly, positive, and go out of their way to make you feel like you belong. Though I rarely get face time with senior management, they seem to have to same motivational qualities and give recognition to their employees whenever possible. Work/life balance is also a big company priority, and although there aren't many paid holidays, employees are rewarded in other ways (like weekly half-days throughout the summer). Macy's is very loyal to their employees through their policy to promote from within, and this loyalty seems to be mutual, as many employees have been with the company for quite some time. Also, from a more worldly perspective, Macy's is a charitable company and supportive of communities. That makes me feel good about working there, too.
Cons
In the current economic climate, Macy's is going through the same type of difficulties as many other retail companies. Though the cutbacks at Macy's have not been as dramatic as elsewhere, employees are certainly expected to take on a challenging work load and are absolutely held accountable for their own areas of responsibility. One of the positives I cited about Macy's West is their policy to promote from within, but at the same time, that rigid hierarchy makes it difficult for a person to follow a more individualized career path. Once you are in a position, there is a set period of time for which the job must be held, and specific training objectives that are to be met. After that, you move on to the next position in the flow chart. I haven't heard of many circumstances where that chain was broken.