Pros
Working with the customers can be a fun and challenging experience. There is always plenty to do and the day goes by quickly.
Cons
I worked for the company for six months and found these specific problems that account for this: 1. The company is technologically challenged. The way by which the company handles cash register transactions and especially credit card/check transactions is prone to cashier errors. Unfortunately, it is the cashiers that are held accountable and are often terminated for the bad system that the company keeps in place. 2. Daily paperwork, inventory control and other key operational systems are obsolete, labor intensive and counter intuitive. This comes from the company not having a technology director or a clear vision on how implement changing technology within the business model. It is impossible for the company to move forward without understanding how to effectively incorporating technology changes. 3. The upper management staff lacks effective management skills because these individuals are allowed to be hypocritical and inconsistent in messaging and policy enforcement. 4. The company continues to make change after change that contradicts previous changes. These changes are often made with no explanation or consideration of final outcome. 5. Their oppressive top-down micro-management continually demoralizes the employees, making for a hostile work environment. Part of this micromanaging is the pass/fail methodology of evaluation. This method of evaluation does not promote a sense of improvement and is highly discretionary. 6. The company refuses to make needed repairs to the stores, even when it involves safety hazards. At my former location there remains an open hole in the floor that has never been repaired since I began working there. Also the docking bay loading plate is also broken placing employees who load and unload the trucks in considerable danger. 7. Goodwill betrays the company’s own social corporate values. The company treats their volunteers like slave labor, which are court referral or work experience volunteers and have no choice in being there. Production of merchandise is done in a hot warehouse setting, where employees and volunteers sort through other peoples discarded and donated for hours on end with no air conditioning or fans allowed. Upper management shows no appreciation, provides poor working conditions, and little concern for the volunteer's safety or comfort. 8. Finally, there is little to no chance for advancement because of a poor or non-existent corporate training program for the stores. This results in high turnover for employees.