Pros
It was a paying job - that is about the only Pro I can muster up.
Cons
I am writing this review as a public service to all of you who are considering working for Lands’ End. I am writing this review for all of my co-workers, past and current, who suffered the same torment as I did. Lastly, I am writing this review for Garry Coleman and Edger Hubber – may Garry turn in his grave over what I am about to write (as I’m sure he never dreamt of emoloyees being treated the way they are) and may Edger Huber take a moment to look a bit more closely at the horrors that occur on a day to day basis within his own building. I worked at Lands’ End for several years, all of which turned worse than the previous year. Please note that prior to LE I had a lot of corporate experience, all across the country. My first truly negative experience occurred just two weeks into my job and from there on out it was nothing short of a nightmare. I won’t bore you will endless tails, but instead I will bullet some of the major faults this company possess. Reader/Job Seeker – you have been warned. Managers lead by force, threat, humiliation, and intense bullinying. Frequent “touch bases” are scheduled to keep you at a level of fear, to make sure you are scolded, and to keep your level of happiness at a minimum. They have no problem saying to your face that you are “stupid,” “slow,” “annoying,” “fat/skinny,” or whatever else it is that makes them feel good at the moment. Directors are too busy with their heads in the clouds to notice and/or care how their team Managers are treating their minions, so nothing is ever done to help those who are being tormented. Directors have what I’d like to call a Kanye West Complex and find it within the rights to make jokes about your hair, clothes, color of your skin (yes, you read that correctly), your likes and dislikes, and anything else that suits their fancy on that particular day. Be prepared to be humiliated in front of anyone, anywhere, at any given time. Ready to start a family or need to have surgery? Don’t. Not only will everyone resent you for it, but you will be expected to work 3x harder and faster when you return – even if that means sacrificing your health and extended recovery time. Why you ask? Because, “You made the team suffer.” Also be prepared to be asked to do work while you are on approved medical leave. Like taking vacation? Well then I’m truly sorry for you. When you work 50+ hour weeks there is no time for vacation. Even if you do get the time off, again, be prepared to be resented and don’t even think about complaining about having to make up that time after-hours the following week or expect to get another fun-behind-closed-door touchbase on how hard the team had to work while you were out. Interested in a particular job but also interested in moving within the company within a few years? Be aware – several individuals have been fired for taking interest in other internal positions (even with positive yearly reviews). If you aren’t 100% thrilled with your current job they will have no problem replacing you, ASAP. Worried about the 45 minute drive from Madison to Dodgeville? You should be. At first it is beautiful, filled with endless fields of corn and cows, but after months of staying at the office till 10pm that 45 minute drive is going to be the death of you. Unless of course you first die during a snow storm when your boss demands you go into the office with 4ft of snow on the ground, or when the temperatures are below -30. Of course your boss won’t be able to come in…but you damn well better. Prepare to get used to doing not just your work load, but also your bosses work because they need to make personal phone calls, read their Facebook news feed, text their significant other, text their friends, write personal emails, and simply not do their job. Once both of your work is done, make sure to use your best poker face when your boss continuously accepts positive feedback for everything you did and not once giving you an ounce of credit. Crossfunctional teams act as if they are at war with one another. There are no teams at Lands’ End, just people taking sides on battlefields. On average about 50% of team meetings end in arguing, someone crying, someone storming out, or a nasty email being spread. It is absolutely pathetic watching grown adults, not to mention PROFESSIONAL ADULTS, snap at one another over prints, fabrics, pricing, etc. It is just apparel and home goods, people. They are not saving lives or curing cancer – they are creating meaningless physical objects that should not cause such uproar. Turnover at LE is exceptionally high and is continuously inclining. It was common to hear about 3-6 people leaving on a weekly basis. Plenty of which left without a single days notice. Many people left before their contract was up because they were better off paying back their 15K relocation assistance versus staying with the company. Those who can’t pay back their fees are already planning to resign the day after their contract is up. And there you have it – a miniscule glance at the wrenched world of Land’s End.
