Pros

I worked with great buyers and planners during my time at Macy's West. Macy's always encouraged employee development, whether it be from on-the-job training or through instructional trainings.

Cons

For such a big company, I found that available jobs at Macy's were few and far between. I've known other people who have also felt demotivated due to the lack of available positions.

Advice to Senior Management

Learn to listen to your employees. In the end, it cost more to train a new hire than keep your existing talent.

Pros

There is strong teamwork amongst the people who work at Macy's West. It is a fun environment to work and very relaxed.

Cons

The pay may not be as competitive as other major retailers and even smaller retailers. The pay is often capped and there is no way to advance without jumping through a series of hoops.

Advice to Senior Management

To retain employees, be more competitve in salary and offer employees more ways to advance. Do not be so strict in the associate to manager programs and make them more available to more people.

Pros

- encourages work life balance
- recognition of job well done
- good people and sense of community and team work

Cons

- low compensation, towards low end of retail spectrum
- low transparency
- poor health care benefits with high premiums

Advice to Senior Management

- increase pay based on merit, especially for assistant and associate buyer levels
- increase transparency of decisions by upper management

Pros

Employee discount is nice, reliable company that has been around for a while. There are also advancement opportunities if you want more then just a sales position.

Cons

It would be a better company to work for if you weren't pushed to open credit cards so much. Also what is the point of having a return policy if you'll take back anything cosmetics wise?

Advice to Senior Management

I loved certain members of senior management but direct managers need to take more time with their employees.

Pros

A few friendly people here and there.
Able to pick own hours if there was any available for that week.

Cons

Some rude employees, a lot of employees were very non friendly to me on my first day.
Scheduling conflicts, kept changing hours without even letting you know. You get to pick your own hours if you work in all departments but you had to get online at six in the morning to view the hours available for that week but most times when I got on to pick my hours, therer was hardly any left because everyone else took them all leaving me sometimes with only 10 hours a week and I was supposed to be full time! I didn't like how that work. If other people picked all the hours, then tough luck you don't get to work unless something comes up. Then peoples hours kept getting changed or they would give my hours to someone else and not even tell you. You have to somehow found out yourself.

Way too pushy with credit applications. I don't like forcing people to get a credit card which is pretty much what you have to do. A lot of people didn'y want more credit cards and I can understand why with the economy but if you don't keep bugging people you get in trouble. I got let go just because I didn't reach my credit goal during my probation even though my sales were higher than a lot of people. My family and I did not think that was fair at all.

Advice to Senior Management

Care more about employees as an individual, maybe fix the way the scheduling works and don't push people so much. Makes the work place uncomfortable.

Pros

The people at the location I worked at were great. That is the main reason I keep working there. Sometimes you get some really rude customers, and your coworkers help you get past it by making you laugh or forget about it. How many of you can say you actually have fun at your job? I can.

Cons

The pay isn't the greatest for sales associates, but what can you expect? Sometimes the scheduling is difficult because you can't plan more than 2 weeks ahead.

Advice to Senior Management

I think your approach to outstanding customer service is great. Sometimes you need to have the same kind of attitude to your employees too though, because we all count.

Pros

The company structure allowed you the opportunity to express your creativity in your job in the way your job was performed.

Cons

The company's new sttucture has taken away the ability to express one's creativity.

Advice to Senior Management

Under the new company structure, the company must show appreciation for the experience that Macy's West Executives have to offer. Be open to their ideas -- as these ideas may continue to help towards the company's success.

Pros

travel
fashion industry
well known brand name
most people outside of retail think it's a better experience than it is

Cons

limited respect in workplace (yelling, insults part of the culture)
old school mentalitly (i did this way back when so you must suffer - limited opennes to new ideas)
let's do what we did last year mentality

Advice to Senior Management

good luck

Pros

fun and energetic position
the envirornment is always changing
Most coworkers are easy to get along with
Great gratis givewaways

Cons

Worst management in history
Worst turnover rate out of any company
Everyone is always quitting or going to another company

Advice to Senior Management

Treat your employees with respect
Give training that actually works

Pros

West coast attitude! Dress code was casual, summer Fridays, and great city!

Cons

Old school! Buyers used assistants as little minions to go shopping with them. Then would expect you to stay late to finish work. We were constantly working overtime and some of us were reprimanded by HR for not clocking in and out correctly. When I mentioned my need for overtime to my Buyer, it was implied that I was too slow and not using my time efficiently. Hardly the case.

Ethics was the buzz word that was talked about, the small people followed, but the people that were making the decisions and the money would ignore. Buyers routinely accepted gifts in front of assistants.

Favoritism was obvious. Promotions were not about what you knew or how hard you worked, but about who you knew. Old school!

Advice to Senior Management

I wish the best for Macy's! Maybe the East can do it better than the West!