The worst job I've ever had. - Store Manager Old Navy Employee Review

2.0
17 Dec 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Salary and benefits really good. Co-workers and staff great. Customer is a strong focus. 4 weeks of vacation.

Cons

Work between 50 and 60 hours a week with 1 day off. DM is under qualified and condescending. Never a praise, regular threats of being written up even terminated. Borderline abusive. Mandatory to work thanksgiving and next year Xmas eve and possibly Xmas. If you become a p1 store you are told you cannot take any days off for 6 months. You are responsible for everything that could and does go wrong including your customers, staff and even inclimate weather. Most peers and leaders are unhappy and currently seeking employment elsewhere. Customer surveys are unrealistic and include topics such as product development, shortage of staff and defective product to name a few. Bonuses are based on this which is unfair. Be prepared to receive phone calls or texts from your DM and managers on your day off or late at night. Only 6 hours of office time a week is permitted for avg 25 needed. Severly understaffed. You will never have enough employees to adaquately do your job or staff your store. Company will not budge on this. If you are not hired in as a DM, you will most definately not be promoted. Many DMs have never worked as ON store managers and do not truly understand restraints or have realistic expectations. You will not be supported. You will be told to fix it and given a deadline. Your hands are tied in letting go of emloyees or managers that are underperforming. You are told to coach them into better employees. Their poor performance is viewed as your fault not theirs. Be prepared to be reported to hr/ corporate for things that you did not do. You will not be supported just investigated. I do not believe that top officers are aware of the extent of abuse and mistreatment by DMs. Be prepared to get a daily email to you and your peers containing a 911, threat, unrealistic or unnecessary task, another deadline due by end of day, even on your day off. No work/life balance. Most SMs and DMs are single or divorced with parttime parenting responsibilities.

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Pros

Work life balance is hard to achieve

Cons

Requirements changing all the time

2.0
26 May 2026
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Pros

You might meet some lifelong friends! Long tenure if you are willing to give up everything to try to be a successful employee Good EAP program for short term intensive therapy…

Cons

Public criticism, condescending communication, inconsistent accountability, and fear-based management styles became increasingly common. Feedback often felt reactive rather than constructive, and many employees did not feel psychologically safe speaking openly about concerns. There was also a significant lack of consistency between leaders and stores. Expectations changed constantly, communication was often unclear, and favoritism sometimes impacted accountability and decision-making. Long-term employees who consistently stepped up during difficult periods often felt taken for granted rather than appreciated. Reporting to HR will get you no where. You will be gaslit if you choose to speak up.

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