Strand Book Store Reviews

Pros

Set hours (no getting cut early), easy work, some of the most wonderful people as employees, good discount

Cons

Upper management can be difficult even in management, Managers deserve better time off and just more trust and ease in general, Staff can be disgruntled by mismanagement from coworkers who should move on or upper management in general, some staff can take ease of job for granted

Pros

You get to work with books all day and be surrounded by awesome co-workers who are interested in the same things you are.

Cons

Management will take advantage of your love for books and extort your talents without reward or compensation. Upper management is corrupt and does not pay employees what they deserve.

Advice to Management

Treat employees with the respect and wages they deserve.

Pros

Fairly accommodating and flexible, but without the union, would they be? Lots of great people.

Cons

Too much pressure on everyone, low wages, but at least there was health insurance. Too many more cons to name.

Advice to Management

Less strict hierarchy, more democracy and input

Pros

I've made countless friends while working at Strand for less than a year. It's a great place to befriend like minded people and it really feels like you're part of a community. The discount you get on books and merchandise is pretty awesome too. Strand is part of the UAW so we also get union benefits which is super helpful since we're not paid very well and insurance can be expensive

Cons

The upper management seems to have very little consideration for their employees in terms of well being. For the last few months there's been construction within the store and we've been constantly breathing in dust and harmful chemical fumes, which management has done very little to solve. We're paid garbage wages. We sell merchandise that preaches liberal ideals like "equal pay", and yet the owner of Strand makes millions...

Pros

It a good place to start out, it offers full-time work, has health care after three months (though not very good) and has union representation.

Cons

Doesn't pay living wage, not a lot of opportunities to grow. Upper management doesn't take us seriously and they only take care of themselves. It's very physical labor and they don't accommodate people accordingly. Even if you are doing additional work for other departments you get paid minimum wage.

Advice to Management

Take your employees seriously and respect them. Be open to suggestions. When you say you exclusively hire from within follow through and hire from within, give your people an opportunity!

Pros

There were some fun projects and lots of freedom to develop new ideas and projects. Work varied from day to day.

Cons

Lack of opportunity for growth. There was no position higher than manager besides the GM so there was no were to go after your initial promotion.

Advice to Management

Find ways to train managers in a variety of tasks so they can grow with the company and not feel like they are just treading water.

Pros

Cool working environment at a historic institution. You'll most likely be working with laid back and creative people. They offer benefits.

Cons

A lot is expected for such little pay. Long hours on your feet. Lots of heavy lifting and manual labor (bringing books in). You get the feeling that management looks at you like cattle since there's a high turn over rate. It wasn't terrible but it didn't make me want to stay.

Advice to Management

Pay your employees better and don't look at them like they're disposable.

Pros

The people you work with at Strand are intelligent, dedicated to books, and easy to work with.

Cons

Low pay, management resists change.