J. C. Penney Reviews in Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Area

Pros

Pay structure is one of the best in the industry

Cons

Even though JCP is 100+ years old company, it is not the most technologically advanced companies in the retail industry. Long way to go before new management can clean the not-so-strategic thinking mid-managers and bring someone who can lead them to next generations.

Pros

Great culture and fun work environment. Lots of amenities at the Home Office.

Cons

Salaries are not competitive and career advancement takes a long time. Size of company and too many layers of management make it hard to implement change.

Pros

Really nice environment and friendly staff

Cons

no recognition, you receive no feedback

Advice to Senior Management

They do not care as long as they get their money they are fine.

Pros

Relationship building, cross-training, training classes available

Cons

unclear career path, too many structure changes, too little advancement opportunites

Advice to Senior Management

Be honest and clear about objectives. Value your people. Find the right people for the job, especially managers. Make them take management and leadership training before people have to report to them. Understand and recognize work/life balance.

Pros

The best reasons to work at the home office are friendly co-workers, great location, nice corporate office, good compensation, and lots of amenities within the home office.

Cons

It can be hard for non-management associates to advance.Some areas do not promote a creative atmosphere. Associates are constantly being moved to new areas without being asked.

Advice to Senior Management

Promote from within more (for non-management associates). Ask associates what areas they want to work in, instead of just moving then without acknowledging their area of expertise.

Pros

Sliding commission scale, flexible management.

Cons

The salon industry has slowed since the recession started. Traffic is slower in most retail stores.

Pros

Home office is beautiful, on-site daycare and gym.

Cons

Layoffs happen all the time. Health care benefits are expensive and don't cover much. If you're too old or making too much money, watch your back. Company is going through a major shift in culture, much of it not good. New CEO was hired by a ruthless hedge fund manager who swooped in last year when the stock price was low and bought his way onto the board of directors. He controls the shots, and he doesn't care about you or anyone else.

Advice to Senior Management

If you believe your "winning together" mantra that JCPenney is the place people should go to for their retail career, let them keep that career when they get past 35 years old.

Pros

The amount of time off is very liberal and increases as you continue to remain at JCPenney. There are good flexible work arrangement policies as well.

Cons

It is a very top-heavy organization. There are a lot of politics and red-tape. Using the latest technology or techniques is not encouraged and oftentimes is discouraged through a focus on tight deadlines and right to left planning. There is not as much concern for "how" something is done since it is not considered as important. There are exceptions to this, but those groups are the minority and face heavy politics fighting against their attempts.

JCPenney does not care about its employees, although they will adamantly state that they do. In 2011 before I left there were 70 technology employees that left for one reason or another. Management called it "attrition" however I do not think that all of those employees left voluntarily. Many long-term employees found themselves faced with either early retirement or all of the sudden their performance was brought in to question and they were facing "Performance Improvement Plans" and possible termination. In their place, college interns were being brought in or external companies (both offshore and onshore) were being used.

Advice to Senior Management

Look at other organizations that effectively leverage their IT department and learn from them. Just because you are a retail organization does not mean that your management should view IT as a financial drain on the company. When used properly, IT can prove to be very beneficial to your organization. When managed the way that you are managing it however, I am not surprised that you do not hold it in high regard.

Pros

Fast-paced, fun, energetic, lots of opportunities.

Cons

The workload is intense son work-life balance is a challenge. Most people are over-worked and brain-dead by the time Friday rolls around.

Advice to Senior Management

Get bigger servers so staff can telecommute and have a better work life balance.

Pros

Girls get to dress up for work. Associate discount. You get to know about the newest clothes coming out. The customers can be nice and will remember you occasionally.

Cons

Management is very negative. You are always forced to sell people their credit cards. Can't leave until the store is "clean" Would be there until usually 1 to 2 am. The managers can be very rude at unnecessary times. Lots of drama. Some of the customers will yell or curse at you. Hours can be long. HORRIBLE training.

Advice to Senior Management

Make sure the mangers are nice to employees so they feel they can approach them with out being yelled at.