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Lane Bryant Does Not Value or PAY Their Employees at Even an Average Level
Complaint
Review by findingmelmo on 2012-06-10
Rating: 
I have to say, that I love the store team I work with, but it is the upper management that neglects, yet expects the world from their underlings. I HAVE WORKED THERE ALMOST 4 YEARS WITH 7 POSITIVE REVIEWS WITHOUT EVEN A COST OF LIVING OR LOYALTY RAISE. No one in our district got a raise. When confronted, our last district manager basically said it was because the company spent billions of advertising on American Idle, and so there were no raises to be had at store level...SO WE LITERALLY PAID FOR THEIR MISTAKES even though the company was extremely profitable considering.
But that was just the excuse 2 years ago. Last year it was because we didn't make our plan, and the same for this year in a RECESSION. We bust our butts all year long, eating up all of their retail propaganda, barely scraping by and are not even thown a metaphorical bone let alone a measley quarter raise. But the employee discount is great! Except that with the use of coupons on store promotions and clearance, many times customers can buy merchandise on average 10 to 20 percent cheaper than our highest discount (By using Real Woman Dollars or online coupons for example)
Today I checked a special sale at LB online, and it said "Employees not eligable" for the sale. What corporate needs to remember is that we too are CUSTOMERS, and we work HARD for very little...pay or respect. Our district was just taken over by another manager, and she agrees that everyone is underpaid by the former manager, but she says she can do nothing about it. Corporate lectures us in our daily emails and frequent conference calls and store meetings about ACCOUNTABILITY with credit, sales, etc and PUSH, and push and push. WHERE IS CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THEIR LOYAL EMPLOYEES!? Actions speak much higher than words...and there are no actions on their part.
No matter what kind of euphemism upper management uses to dismiss their store level employee issues, or how much management claims that NEXT YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT for raises, I know their is no respect for us. None, whatsoever. We are easily replaceable as shown by the lack of raises, benefits, hours etc through the years. DO NOT WORK, and if you can help it, DO NOT SHOP at Lane Bryant. A company that values profits so highly, people in the for of their employees so little, and a company that really has some questionable product for the outrageous prices should not be supported by anyone.
But that was just the excuse 2 years ago. Last year it was because we didn't make our plan, and the same for this year in a RECESSION. We bust our butts all year long, eating up all of their retail propaganda, barely scraping by and are not even thown a metaphorical bone let alone a measley quarter raise. But the employee discount is great! Except that with the use of coupons on store promotions and clearance, many times customers can buy merchandise on average 10 to 20 percent cheaper than our highest discount (By using Real Woman Dollars or online coupons for example)
Today I checked a special sale at LB online, and it said "Employees not eligable" for the sale. What corporate needs to remember is that we too are CUSTOMERS, and we work HARD for very little...pay or respect. Our district was just taken over by another manager, and she agrees that everyone is underpaid by the former manager, but she says she can do nothing about it. Corporate lectures us in our daily emails and frequent conference calls and store meetings about ACCOUNTABILITY with credit, sales, etc and PUSH, and push and push. WHERE IS CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY TO THEIR LOYAL EMPLOYEES!? Actions speak much higher than words...and there are no actions on their part.
No matter what kind of euphemism upper management uses to dismiss their store level employee issues, or how much management claims that NEXT YEAR WILL BE DIFFERENT for raises, I know their is no respect for us. None, whatsoever. We are easily replaceable as shown by the lack of raises, benefits, hours etc through the years. DO NOT WORK, and if you can help it, DO NOT SHOP at Lane Bryant. A company that values profits so highly, people in the for of their employees so little, and a company that really has some questionable product for the outrageous prices should not be supported by anyone.
Comments:
Posted by BigAl on 2012-06-11:
You may consider yourself a hard working and valuable employee, but to tell people not to shop at the store you work at and to claim that their merchandise is high priced and questionable, speaks volumes as to your worth as an employee. I know you are disappointed in your current position but you should strive to do your best until a better opportunity comes along. There is a recession going on now, as you stated, and many retail companies are struggling just to make payroll.
Posted by raven2010 on 2012-06-11:
Living in Central Ohio, where Limited Brands is headquartered, I can tell you Wexner's businesses are known for NOT paying a high salary or giving a lot of raises.
Limited Brands focuses on the "fun" of working there, not the pay. They set a lot of team goals from the retail stores to the customer service call center. They do things like offer contests where you can win trips to the shareholders meetings or get picked for a focus group.
As for cost of living raises the last four years---I believe that is a trend in many industries across the country. I manage at a law firm and no one has had a raise at all in at least three years.
Limited Brands focuses on the "fun" of working there, not the pay. They set a lot of team goals from the retail stores to the customer service call center. They do things like offer contests where you can win trips to the shareholders meetings or get picked for a focus group.
As for cost of living raises the last four years---I believe that is a trend in many industries across the country. I manage at a law firm and no one has had a raise at all in at least three years.
Posted by KevinTX on 2012-06-11:
Everyone has a story about a current or ex-work place... luckily, we all have the option TO QUIT. No one deserves a bad job, some stay because they are afraid to move on... some quit and find the silver lining. It's up to you, what do YOU want to do?
Posted by trmn8r on 2012-06-11:
The three previous replies all look like excellent advice. I think I will vote them so and move on.
{oops, I can't vote BigAl's helpful - sorry big guy, but your advice is great as usual}
{oops, I can't vote BigAl's helpful - sorry big guy, but your advice is great as usual}
Posted by FoDaddy19 on 2012-06-11:
I've gone 5 years without a raise despite being recommended for a raise on each an every review I've gotten. This is due to budget constraints (I'm in education). With the economy the way it is, many people both in the public and private sectors just aren't getting raises these days. You situation isn't unique unfortunately. Your options are to A. Stick with it and hope things improve in the future. B. Try to find employment elsewhere. It's your call.
Posted by Slimjim on 2012-06-11:
I know raises are a thing of the past right now in most cases. Employers are trying to save jobs as much as anything. In my opinion, putting something like this about my current employer all over the web doesn't relay to me, this is a loyal employee. If I was the manager at LB and saw this, you would have my attention, but not a raise.
Posted by raven2010 on 2012-06-11:
Agreed, Slim---and if I did post something like this about my employer, i would not use the same screen name I used on about a million other websites---the way this OP did.
A simple search of her screen name via google and I know exactly who she is. I hope no one from corporate or even her local store sees this.
A simple search of her screen name via google and I know exactly who she is. I hope no one from corporate or even her local store sees this.
Posted by KevinTX on 2012-06-11:
You can always work for a company that gives people raises EVERY year, then fires you once they wear you out and you can't take anymore. Then you're stuck making unemployment and trying to find a job that's CLOSE to what the company prior was giving you (kind of a catch 22)... everything comes with expectations. I'll leave this company nameless (see, everyone has a story). :)
Posted by Comfortably_Numb on 2012-06-11:
or,maybe the boss will see this and it will be wake up call, in favor of the employee. even during a recession, good companies find ways to reward long term employees.
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