Pros
The pay was comparable to similar jobs, and I had the chance to work with a few really great people.
Kontras
There was very little training provided, so for the first few weeks you're on your own until you figure things out for yourself. There's no positive communication, and associates are treated very poorly. People would turn in applications and managers would toss them onto the counter where the applicant's personal information would be in plain sight for anyone walking by to see. There are no standards for anything. One manager would instruct an employee to do something one way, and an hour later that same employee would be in trouble by a different manager for not doing it "properly". A manager took a picture of an obese customer and went around the store making fun and very inappropriate remarks to other managers and employees. This is not an isolated instance, and I wonder how successful Big Lots would be if customers knew how often they were being made the brunt of jokes. There were numerous safety violations while I was an employee; none of which were addressed until I filed a complaint with OSHA. I was fired because I questioned inconsistencies one too many times, was yelled at in front of customers and other employees, and told to walk out the door. It was the best day I ever had as a Big Lots employee because I knew I would never have to go back. The bottom line is the priority. It is a very dysfunctional environment, and one in which it is very hard to hold onto your self-respect.