Staples Reviews

Pros

Financially strong and good restricted stock program

Cons

Not a good culture for me.

Advice to Senior Management

show you really care

Pros

Good product line, good retail set up and store layout.

Cons

Communication from leadership inconsistant and incomplete.

Pros

Time off requests honored.
Major holidays off.

Cons

Very unfair. Double Standards.
Favoritism. Scheduling.

Advice to Senior Management

Treat your employees with fairness.

Pros

Great environment, you learn alot.

Cons

everyone thinks they are still in high school and false rumors about other people spread throughout the store overnight.

the schedule runs from sunday to sunday and saturday night you are calling to see if the schedule is made yet, if it is not you have to call early sunday to see.. Sometime when it is ready on sunday only sunday and monday are figured out and you have to wait for the rest of the schedule to be made. The managers are young and believe they are "kings of the castle". They might be if they treated their employees fairly and with respect.

Advice to Senior Management

Take a further look into management throughout the store. Drug test everyone.

Pros

Fast Paced, for the size great communication. Always growing always evolving and very friendlly environment. Wish I found Staples years ago.

Cons

To promote you have to leave the state...

Advice to Senior Management

Lets grow to open more mid level opportunites to jump from BDA all the way to DSM to have to move us a stressor and will loose a few that cannot make that jump to a different city but needs advancement. The 3k per year bump is nice but....

Pros

- Flexible Hours
- Friendly Environment
- Helpful Management
- Overall Easy Job

Cons

- Low Wage (while they advertise "competitive" wage)
- Frequent Change in Management
- Only 10~15% discount for associates
- Required to Sell Protection Plan and Sign up Rewards Cards
- No incentives or Commission Pay
- No Real opportunity for Growth inside the Compay

Advice to Senior Management

Have some incentives for Sales Associate to work harder to sell the protection plan, a little more than a good job. GM gets a bonus check based on store sales, why shouldn't the hard working associate get a cut ? And do not scrutinize an associate for not selling a PRP or Rewards sign ups, while there is nothing in it for us.

Pros

Staples is a place where you can move up if you work hard (while that may take a very long time) Staples values culture & diversity, gives its associates scholarships and adoption assistance. You will learn essential job/life skills from the constant training that you get.

Cons

Working in the Copy & Print department is extremely intense. You are expected to uphold a very high standard, with very low pay. You are expected to deal with very stressful situations, quickly gain an immense amount of knowledge, constantly learn new techniques, manage customers in a business environment, understand your customers needs and make recommendations tailored to them, answer phone calls at home etc. all for a very low pay. The amount of mental stress that an associate undergoes in this department is alarming, and their compensation is even more shocking. This is a very difficult job, and they pay the associates in the position the same as they pay their cashiers. You are expected to act as a salesman, however there is no commission structure and the bonus program is almost unattainable and stingy. Simply put: if you work in the copy & print center, you will pour every ounce of blood, sweat & tears into your job, and you will get a paycheck that is less than that of the guys who pump gas at your local convenience store.

Advice to Senior Management

If you want to attract and retain good associates, push for corporate to do something about the low pay.

Pros

It can be a fun place to work, depending on your fellow coworkers.

Flexibility in scheduling is satisfactory.

Hour availability is usually solid 3 seasons a year, that being the holidays in winter, inventory in spring, and back to school in the summer...

Each retail store has it's own environment. I've worked at really great stores, and not so great stores. It really depends on who's running the joint.

Our store is lucky and grateful to have a GM that goes out of way to make it fun at work, celebrating any holiday, birthdays, having potlucks, contests, etc. It really helps bring the store together.

Cons

Retail. It's rough being part time, unless you have another job elsewhere.

After the back to school season, there's a lull where hours are cut to the bare minimum. Then the complaining, gossiping, and paranoia starts.

The problem with retail, is that nobody cares enough to put in their best efforts, people will as little work as possible, just to collect a paycheck.

If there's no manager to lead, inspire, and praise associates as needed, then the slackers aren't really to blame- management is letting them get away with laziness.

Advice to Senior Management

Store leaders: They should be organized and knowledgeable when it comes to operations, empathetic and inspiring towards all associates, overall passionate about their work and always have a game plan. This statement really goes for any and all people in any workplace. All shall more than likely follow in their footsteps!

Pros

Knowledge of sales, technology training, management opportunities, steady work, predictable, benefits, variety of duties, educational opportunities, autonomy, fast paced environment

Cons

monotony, lack of communication, associate responsibility, frequent policy changes, priority management, overbearing loss prevention, lack of security and cameras, old work equipment

Advice to Senior Management

When going into a career with Staples, make sure you can work in an environment where you're okay with being harassed on a daily basis about sales.

Pros

Good pay, nice managers, bonus checks and room for advancment, some nice training and paid so it all works out

Cons

not enough hours at times, the pay can be slack when starting out for the tech side cuz we do have the knowledge to make them money