Toxic, Undertrained, and Unprofessional - Hemet, CA Burlington store (Store #1007)
Pros: Meet some great coworkers and supervisors! Some were so supportive and kind. I appreciated the ones that helped teach me new skills. It was nice to help customers and put a smile on their faces! You also get a 15% discount, sometimes discount 30% depending on the month.
Cons:
I received almost no proper training. I was expected to handle complicated customer situations with little to no guidance.
There is very poor management. When I asked for help, my manager (Jennifer) publicly humiliated me many times. She once stood behind me while I helped a customer and yelled, "I'm done. I'm over it," clearly referring to me. Then she continued, "She's been here since September; she just has too many questions. She came from Temecula." She mentioned these details so I would know she was talking about me. This was in front of customers and coworkers. Moments later, she was talking to me like nothing happened.
When I ran into an issue at the register and needed help, she made a rude comment again about me "always having questions." If I had been trained properly, I wouldn't need to ask.
The schedule app glitched, and I missed a shift that wasn't showing on my end. I apologized and showed them proof on my phone. Instead of understanding, Jennifer called me a "loser" three times in front of another manager, who laughed at me.
After that, the discomfort continued for the rest of my time. Jennifer often acted passive-aggressive towards me.
Supervisor Emily was also known for yelling at employees, especially new hires, both in person and over the walkie. This only added to the toxic atmosphere and made it harder for newcomers to feel supported.
The store manager, Steve, was cold and judgmental. After I submitted honest feedback in a company survey (which was supposed to be anonymous), I started being targeted.
Every time I worked with him, I was the only cashier on duty, even during rushes with 15+ people in line. This happened multiple times consecutively, and it was clear it was intentional.
Steve would stand silently at the front of the store, arms crossed, not speaking or offering help, just staring while I struggled. He would call people out for mistakes but never offer support.
Managers regularly talked about customers behind their backs, judging their outfits and behavior, which was incredibly unprofessional.
Public yelling over the walkie was common, both for small mistakes and for new employees. Expect to be embarrassed in front of coworkers and customers.
If you're new, you'll likely be thrown on the register without knowing how to process layaways, tax exemptions, or desensitize products (like jewelry and accessories that constantly beep when customers leave).
Unsafe working conditions we regularly closed after midnight, and the parking lot is not safe. I encountered people under the influence near the store doors. I often had to be on high alert walking to my car alone.
Overall, this was a toxic environment where management made employees feel replaceable and unsupported. The bad far outweighed the good.
Advice: Invest in proper training. Don't just throw new hires into situations they aren't prepared for.
Don't humiliate your employees for asking questions, it means they care about doing the job right.
Calling someone a "loser" or making rude, personal comments is never acceptable in any workplace.
If you're going to ask for employee feedback, don't retaliate when it's honest. Protect anonymity.
Steve: Leadership is not silent or loud judgment, it's active support. Standing at the door with your arms crossed while your team struggles is not leadership. Stop relying on yelling and public shaming as a way to correct mistakes. It only creates fear and resentment, and doesn't help employees improve or feel supported.
Jennifer: Being a manager means leading with patience and professionalism, not passive-aggressive behavior. Embarrassing a new employee for asking questions isn't leadership; it's bullying. You may be used to doing things a certain way, but tearing someone down doesn't make you more experienced; it makes you unapproachable.
Be mindful of safety. Late-night closings without any attention to parking lot security are a difficult situation for employees.
Address the toxic dynamic between long-term managers and new hires. Everyone deserves respect, no matter how long they've been there. read more