Working at Bath and Body Works — Reviews by Employees

I worked for Bath & Body for a short time, they have what they call "on call" shifts where you basically are not allowed to have a life or plans outside of the possibility of working (only if they need you). You had to call them to find out if they needed you for a part-time, minimum wage position. It makes no sense... they basically let me go due to my availability not matching their requirements for the "on call" part of the job. Thankfully my second job paid better and provided a solid work schedule.

I would like to know is it true that if you are an employee at a Bath and Body Works location that you are NOT ALLOWED to shop at ANY Bath and Body Works ANYWHERE ELSE BESIDES AT THE LOCATION WHERE YOU WORK????? A shift leader at another Bath and Body Works location threatened me my job because I was shopping at a different BBW store than from the one I work at. Where I work is in another city that I don't live in and I would prefer to shop at the one closer to my home. I had no idea that I could be FIRED for doing so! I think it is completely ABSURD! I could not believe it! I did not find that information anywhere in the policy handbook and if that was so I wish could have been warned. It does not make sense! What if I was out of state and needed to make a purchase at a BBW? Should I risk my job and buy what I need or should I travel hours to BBW where I work just to make a purchase? Someone please clear this up for me!

While it was located close to home, and I was able to get promoted to sales lead (which made me a little more than minimum wage), what I found when I entered my new position was a lack of respect from the other managers on staff. I was the youngest and they treated me so. They got upset if I was a little tired from a lack of sleep, the literally told me I was not allowed to go out with my friends if I had to work the next day. Even though I was a manager, I got no benefits. I practically did all the same stuff that the managers above me did, but didn't get as well compensated for it. But the worst part about this job was after working really hard to get hired as a manager, and being with the company for TWO YEARS (an eternity in retail), I was wrongfully terminated. They had no cameras for proof, but told me that I left the funds unsecured and fired me for it. I am curently in the middle of fighting it, but the fact that they would do such a thing appalls me. I don't blame the company itself, I just very much dislike the management in the Bloomington, IL. store.

I absolutley hate working here!, I worked for another store a few years back and was actually blessed with more hours than I needed, they really like to play games with your life, never knowing when or if you are going to be put on the schedule , and the call ins are horrible, wake up early just to hear them say sorry we don't need you, its insulting as a person, I am in a bad financial situation , and the time of day I get from them cant even afford to buy me a cheeseburger for lunch, or pay a bill for that matter, I am going to school to become a nurse, but in the mean time bath and body works would rather see me starve than have me on the schedule and mind you that I am a hardworking employee also

I enjoyed some of the things about B&BW, but like any job, it definitely has its downsides. I was hired right before the big semi-annual summer sale in 2008. I was about to graduate high school and decided I would take on a second job to make some extra cash before starting college in the fall.

The pay was slightly above minimum wage by .40 or so. The problem is, when you aren't getting scheduled you aren't making money! I live 20 minutes away from the mall and it was not worth my time (or gas) to drive there for a 3 hour shift! Don't even get me started on the call-ins! I called-in most times to see if they needed me and they never did. I got calls when I wasn't scheduled for a call-in and was asked to come in for a few hours and I did so, unwillingly. It is impossible to have a life when you work for this company because you can't plan anything.

One of my supervisors (J) had me cleaning the store nearly every time I worked. I was one of 7 new hires and I NEVER saw them or anyone else cleaning the store. What really pissed me off was that it looked like that place hadn't been cleaned in years and yet she was making me do all this work because she just felt like it! I definitely wouldn't have minded cleaning a little if the responsibilities had been shared. I didn't feel like my abilities were respected. She also made me feel like crap. I don't know if it was just her personality or if she didn't like me but we clashed.

Most of the other girls I worked with were very nice and helpful, except for my supervisor J. Honestly, I would have stayed if it were for the way J treated me and the scheduling situation. I enjoyed the job itself and got great satisfaction from helping a customer and seeing that they were satisfied with their purchase.

I worked for BBW for 6 months. I started during seasonal and I have to say I loved it. I was promoted quickly since they recognized how hard I worked. I always felt respected by management and by the majority of my co-workers. Yes there were some idiots hired that I could have lived without, but that can be said of any company. I think the pay was reasonable for a part time job. I will always look back fondly of my time there.

Pay: Even with retail experience you can be started with less than the projected minimum wage of $7.25. Not really acceptable when you factor in all the other inconveniences. Respect: Non-existent. Your bags are checked in front of customers. See below for more examples. Benefits: What benefits? Job Security: The good news is, as long as you're willing to put up with it they won't let you go. Work/Life Balance: With 3 hour shifts once a week if you're lucky, this has to be the 2nd job. Problem is you're never told in more than 2 hours advance notice that you'll be needed for those 3 hours. Meanwhile you don't plan your life around it and out of nowhere you receive the phone call. You're never told these things in the interview or in training for that matter, which is also next to non-existent. And did I mention tedious floor changes? This seems to be the only time the company has need for associates who are not shift leaders. They can go on in marathon time, long after you're exhausted and scheduled to leave. Career Potential/Growth: I guess it is possible to become a shift leader, but by then you wonder if it was wort it? Location: Decent. It's a store you'd expect to find at the mall. Co-worker competence: Same as anywhere else. Work Environment: The place smells nice, there is no outward hostility displayed between employees.

I feel compelled to break down the manager's review of B&BW since her review seems to discount how the part-time associate is treated within the company.

"First, in regards to the ratings: The pay is 25% higher than any wage I ever received as a Store Manager in any other company."

Yes, if you are a store manager! As an associate, the pay is low.

"The respect level is high for me, because respect is reciprocal. You have to give it to get it, thus meaning, its mutual."

Yet associates receive little to no respect. On-call shifts alone are disrespectful and unreasonable. Why should I give up my entire day for a shift that I probably won't even have to work?

"Benefits are incredible."

You only receive benefits if you are a store manager. Not even sales leads (shift managers) receive benefits!

"Job Security is tight."

Job security is tight because B&BW is one of the most passive-aggressive companies I've ever worked for. They never fire anyone; they just give them lousy shifts to urge them to find another job. And store managers have it easy because they can blame any and all problems on sales leads and associates!

"My Work Life Balance is the most important aspect to my boss, as my associates work life balance is the most important to me."

At my store, the manager couldn't care less about associates' lives. She schedules however is convenient for her.

"Career Growth is immense, this is a company which will provide you with all the resources, you have to come with the will"

While career growth is possible, not everyone wants B&BW to be her career. I work part-time to make extra cash, not to become a B&BW lifer, and I am treated as dispensable and given all of the grunt work. And I had to beg for hours in the first place even though I'm a hard, reliable worker with a good attitude and retail experience!

"Co-Worker competence is incredible because we all learn and grow together and from each other and from our customers."

This is completely subjective and depends on the store where you work.

"If you aren't open to learning and coaching, or you just expect it to 'work' for you, you have set yourself up for disappointment."

The learning and coaching are not really applicable to associates. There is no real formal training, and I had to teach myself everything from day one by asking a lot of questions that shouldn't have needed to be asked if the training were less about plopping us down in front of horrible videos and more about working with us on the floor and in the back.

"Work environment is perfection. Great fragrances, the best customers and some of the highest quality products available for the price!"

I will say that the work environment is pleasant for the most part, but my store was filthy and disgusting until we did a massive spring cleaning--and the cleaning only happened because some company big wigs were visiting.

"In regards to the other comments about this company. Every single complaint I can link to complete lack of personal accountability."

How insulting and untrue. Many associates want hours and will work hard but are not given the chance! This company only cares about managers and to a much lesser extent sales leads. It does not respect or value part-timers at all and treats them like a dime a dozen.

"Bath and Body works is by far the absolute best company I have worked for in my 15 years in retail."

I can see this being true if I were a store manager. But again, coming from the associate perspective, I've worked for far better companies.

First, in regards to the ratings: The pay is 25% higher than any wage I ever received as a Store Manager in any other company. The respect level is high for me, because respect is reciprocal. You have to give it to get it, thus meaning, its mutual. Benefits are incredible. Job Security is tight. My Work Life Balance is the most important aspect to my boss, as my associates work life balance is the most important to me. Career Growth is immense, this is a company which will provide you with all the resources, you have to come with the will. Location is a little further from my home than my last Manager job, but I would drive another 30 miles for this job. Co-Worker competence is incredible because we all learn and grow together and from each other and from our customers. If you aren't open to learning and coaching, or you just expect it to "work" for you, you have set yourself up for disappointment. Work environment is perfection. Great fragrances, the best customers and some of the highest quality products available for the price! In regards to the other comments about this company. Every single complaint I can link to complete lack of personal accountability. Bath and Body works is by far the absolute best company I have worked for in my 15 years in retail.

I have only been there for about 2 weeks, I love the product, but something def. needs to change about how the store treats the employee. The work schedule is never posted on time, I be lucky to work 4 days a week. Not only that, but with all the employees that work in that store why don't they have enough space for them to put there belongings, I have to share a locker 2 other people. I don't know anyone in that store yet well enough to put my purse and wallet in a locker, when someone else has the numbers. The first day I opened the locked and someone had there smelly shoes in it, and Thats where they wanted me to put my things in!!!!!. The microwave that they use is dirty, the refrigerator is dirty, and has so much ice packed into it, that it doesn't close. The back room is very cluttered and dirty. They took there time and showed me the register which I can handle, I went on a 15minute brake after being there 2hrs which was ok, but b4 I could leave to go on my 15minute brake I had to have a manager walk me to the front of the store b4 I could leave. when I got back they put me on the floor to help customers, now I've never been in this store b4, don't know the products, don't know where they are located, don't know what's on sale, but they wanted me to help customers!! they told me " Just explain to them that you are new" ( what good that did, I had customers going back and forth trying to find things, they were getting a little frustrated and I don't blame them) they didn't even give me time to look around and get familiar with the items so I would have some idea of what I'm talking about. Or better yet have someone give me a quick tour of the store b4 making me try and help some. I can't tell you how many times I had run up to the register or find someone and ask them the same question someone just asked me... And some of them my co-worker/managers had the nerve to get a little frustrated that I kept asking them for help. When it's time for and employee to leave for they day they have to be walked up front by management, once they get to the front, a manager stands there in front of all the customers, and they other 25 people walking past the store at that time and pats up down, checks your pockets and goes through your purse and other personal belongings to insure there satisfaction that you didn't steal anything that day. That is wrong on so many different levels... There are other ways of doing that..... I'm about 100% sure that I would be working for this company tooooo much longer, they treat there customers better them the employees.