Understaffed, Overworked and Undercompensated - Part Time Shift Lead/ Sales Associate Five Below Employee Review

1.0
29 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The location was understaffed with no cameras which was a con but a pro in certain ways. You were given the ability to easily discount items to prevent customer friction as a sales associate. The one retail job where I was rarely ever roped into doing freight. I never worked at the new location with the cameras, and self check out. From what I see it it's even a bigger pain in the butt. So a pro is that it being an older store meant that I was on register a lot of the time.

Cons

The manager turnover rate was terrible. Just when you got used to doing things a certain way there would be a new store manager. I worked there from 2018-2023 and there were five store managers. Also like nearly all other jobs they don't reward hard work. I went above and beyond going so far as to even duties that shift leaders/other types of managers should've been doing and despite applying for being part time sales lead many times I didn't get it until my last year of employment with them. A racoon once got stuck in the backroom and corporate refused to send someone to take care of it. Thankfully local animal control captured it without asking for payment the next day.

Explore other reviews about Five Below

5.0
24 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great people, staff, and people to work with

Cons

None I loved it all

3.0
16 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-20% discount -med, dental, vision benefits -20-ish minimum hours per week -genuinely can be a fun store to work in when run well

Cons

-store managers have little to no oversight and cross professional boundaries often - hr is ineffective, document everything yourself, report to the EEOC -growth opportunities in the store are very limited and they will lowball you no matter what you do or sacrifice -crazy turnover because the expectations are unrealistic store managers lie about pay budget to everyone -more likely to hire teens and students because they are easier to take advantage of for little pay, only needs adult for when teens and students cannot work (night shifts, school days) - nearby stores, especially if in a strip mall or shopping center, like tj maxx have higher base pay, better benefits, better security, and more hour availability

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