Store Associate - Anonymous employee HomeGoods Employee Review

*The brand-new Home Goods store that I worked at was extremely disorganized during its pre-opening phase. Multiple managers with competing and conflicting directions frustrated many staffers, causing a glut of resignations. Staffers were repeatedly directed to do one thing, and then, by another manager were told that was wrong. For any professional new hire, it was hard to understand why simple tasks were complicated by management in this way, and why those who apparently had experience in opening stores were unable to exhibit leadership in this direction. It was a chaotic atmosphere. *New hires were treated to repetitive, insulting and anti-labor union videos, and videos that requested and provided incentive for staffers who turn each other in for any suspected theft. Granted, TJX is a non-union organization, but the video showcasing that opinion was stunningly condescending, not to mention inaccurate. Also, there was a video and a follow-up session regarding the store's desire that staff turn each other in to management or loss prevention for any infraction or suspicion of theft. Again---it's very valid that a retail organization be concerned with minimizing shrink, but the repetitive message to not trust co-workers (and constantly be under surveillance) felt very Soviet. *"Rewards" are handed out, not unlike Scooby Snacks, to hires asking valid questions or responding during the training sessions. These took the form of little scratch-off cards that could lead to a prize. OK, a cute little incentive to keep attention---but again, for a professional working part-time, or a retail professional, this type of "reward" was insulting at best. *Finally, I was hired, I thought, to work register and provide customer service (after assisting with stocking shelves in order to ready the store for opening). However, I was repeatedly working building furniture, lamps and in the warehouse, picking trash, breaking down boxes and styrofoam, etc. There seemed to be no differentiation between warehouse staff and customer service staff. *Management also complained to staff during this pre-opening phase about their fatigue, long hours, no days off for weeks at a time, etc. While sympathetic to management's plight during an obviously stressful time, I cannot help but wonder why an organization with so many stores has failed to create a workable template for store openings. *This management team needs additional training in store opening, hiring appropriately, and staff development. The low salary ($9.00/hour, no benefits for part-time) combined with the chaotic store atmosphere will not lead to a professional work staff.