Pros
Schedule flexibility. Nothing else in all honesty.
Cons
I began my first steady, pay-by-the-hour job in August of 2014 by the sheer luck of submitting a forgotten application through the popular website Snag-a-Job. I didn’t know much about the company, and I almost failed my first interview – the only thing that got me that second one was that I said I would be willing to work a full week for free. My employer told me that impressed him and while I had to be paid, he was eager to see me again. Though it was to my misunderstanding that the job wasn’t full-time, but rather part-time. I needed more hours, so I began submitting applications through Snag-a-Job for another part-time occupation. My requirement was flexibility because I desired to work at my current job a whole lot more than the jobs that were available to me. In October I was hired as a customer service associate at Kohl’s. It began like my first job did: training, payment, dealing with arrogant customers who think the world revolves around them, yada yada yada. But it wasn’t long until I discovered the sneaky truth (or rather, lies) about Kohl’s. It’s a good thing that the minimum wage for my State is $9.32/hour, because Kohl’s would be super happy to pay us sales associates as little as possible. They didn’t even tell me my wage when I was hired; I was forced to research it covertly online, and try to calculate it on my direct deposit payment into my bank account. Not only that, they never paid me for overtime when I was required to take a tax survey. Isn’t that illegal? I was on the clock. But what really bothers me about Kohl’s is the superficiality of it all. I’m not interested in getting into a lawsuit over a couple of dollars with them, but rather the lies they force us to tell our customers. And each other. In the break room there is a billboard with a title that says “Why I Love to Work at Kohl’s”. There are post-it-notes that all have similar handwriting that say things from free donuts to nice co-workers. It’s like Kohl’s is trying to convince the new associates that it isn’t as terrible as it seems. Though what is it that Kohl’s makes its associates lie about? When we cashier a customer, the receipt prints out how much money that customer saved because they chose to shop at Kohl’s. The only real money a customer ever saves while shopping there is when they spend too much to get Kohl’s Cash. I’ve seen customers pay for a whole back-to-school wardrobe using just Kohl’s Cash, and it’s pretty awesome. But the prices for the tackiest things or the must-have brands are outrageous. A customer NEVER saves money when they shop at Kohl’s unless they have Kohl’s Cash. In fact, they just waste their hard-earned-dollars and are diluted into thinking they’re saving hundreds. I guess now would be a good time to reveal where I work. I work at one of the TJX locations: there’s TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods. To be fair I didn’t know much about these discount stores until I started working there. But when I tell a customer they saved $5 by spending $30 on Adidas boxer briefs, I want to bang my head on a wall. The exact same brand and product is $12 at the place where I work. Or when a customer buys Lauren Conrad leggings for $20 when you can get them for $6 elsewhere, the only thing that keeps me from pulling my hair out is the fact that my boss is standing in the walkway watching me. Even with discounts and certain dollars-off coupons, customers always spend more at Kohl’s then they would at any of the TJX stores. I’m an honest person with a moral code. I can’t stand lying to these poor people spending tens to hundreds of dollars more than they have to. But being a sales associate for Kohl’s, I can’t tell their customers to shop elsewhere, at their competitor’s. But wait, what about the volunteering and charities that Kohl’s does? The charities are great and all, but they make it all about them. Kohl’s Cares is a marketing scheme, and while it’s a great cause, the other place where I work takes donations without slapping their name everywhere. It’s all about the charity and raising money for the cause, not propping up the business on a shiny silver podium. As for the volunteering that Kohl’s organizes for its associates, while it’s really awesome, how do they expect a ton of college kids in a college town to spend their time working for free when they could be working for the money they need to pay tuition? We shouldn’t be feeling pressured (and we are) to volunteer to plant a tree or clean up a community just so we could feel like we impressed our employer. They’re great causes, but they seem more like unfair responsibilities. I know there are businesses out there that are too expensive for the average consumer’s own good. Macy’s is a great example. But at least Macy’s gives an excellent employee discount; Kohl’s is 15%, is advertised as an amazing deal when really it’s crap. An employee cannot even use the discount unless they pay cash, store credit or check; meaning, we can’t pay with our credit or debit cards. Not even the Kohl’s Charge card. Also Macy’s isn’t up-in-your-face all the time about the charities they endorse. When the season of giving rolls around, they market it in the interest of the cause, not themselves. TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, and Home Goods are excellent places to get a great deal every day for outstanding quality. I purchased a Juicy Couture sweatshirt at Kohl’s for $80 (with my discount). I found the same thing at one of those three locations for $30. Another example, my best friend bought some Coach perfume at my place of work for $14. The exact same thing was available at Kohl’s for $58. I have ended up being unable to further lie to customers and violating my moral integrity, so I will be sending in a resignation letter after Black Friday, out of professional courtesy (since that is their busiest day). But there is a very good reason why associates keep resigning from Kohl’s. If the forced lies aren’t one, nor are any of the other reasons I just mentioned above, then I can give you a never-ending list: the bosses never remember who you are, the employer’s aren’t personable, the managers are always pessimistic and rude, the ‘benefits’ are terrible, etc. Honestly, the only good thing I can really say about Kohl’s is that they’re genuinely flexible and good about flexibility. So if you are so desperate for a job that you’re willing to work in a place full of lies and deceit, then Kohl’s is the perfect place to go.