Pros
An enjoyable work atmosphere because of the customer base. Helping people and their pets is very rewarding.
Cons
This once family run, fun place to work is becoming run by a more corporate fist. People who are extremely hard workers are being kept from being promoted because of their age, or because of a "black list" created by a few of the higher ups in the company. These higher ups don't know the names of 90% of the employees in this company, let alone their hard work. Sales associates are forced to learn managerial skills because of lack of staff, but are not promoted nor compensated with correct pay. At $8.25 an hour a regular sales associate handles taking care of animals without proper training because of lack of staff and time to do so, organizing product without planograms - causing more time having to be spent merchandising products with lack of staff, cleaning floors nightly, throwing 20-50+ pounds of weight around weekly, cleaning bathrooms and offices weekly if not daily, climbing ladders to clean light fixtures, taking care of fixing anything as it would cost more to call in someone qualified to handle the repairs - the list goes on and on. To be qualified as a "Pet Lifer" is to give yourself selflessly to the company, which many of us have. It would be rewarding if we were respected for doing so, or at least compensated for the amount of back breaking work we put in. Complaints taken to headquarters are hidden and kept from the owner of the company, although even if they do hear about issues they tend not to care. Pet Life hasn't even reached it's 20 store capacity and there are huge issues with management and staffing. Managers are paid $8.50...store managers are salaried with a minimum of 45 hours a week expected to be worked, but 55+ hours make headquarters complain less - salary being roughly $13/hour. Managers run without enough lower managers to handle the store when they are not there, and are expected to work flawlessly without an assistant. Reviews are not sent in on time for employees. Unless you are working part time for this company and do not put an effort into being a "Pet Lifer," you will love working here. It's fast paced and entertaining and fun - BUT if you want to build a career and be well respected in what you do, do not apply here.