Sur La Table-A Hostile Work Environment - Sales Associate Sur La Table Employee Review

1.0
29 Nov 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Sales associates and customers alike share a love of all things cooking. Sur La Table products are well selected for the foodie. Cooking classes are excellent.

Cons

With over 30 years experience in all levels of corporate business, I have never experienced the level of unprofessionalism and incompetence as evidenced by my local Sur La Table store manager. The store manager consistently created a hostile work environment where sales associates were routinely reprimanded in front of both co-workers and customers for no apparent reason. Favoritism was prevalent. Sales associates and assistant managers have been systematically terminated or their hours diminished to zero to force resignation. Management does not seem to understand the concept of teamwork and respect for co-workers and staff. These practices are particularly alarming as the majority of the sales associates and assistant managers have many years of experience in either retail sales or other positions in corporate America. All employees that I worked with had a strong work ethic as well as the skill set needed to attract customers and build sales at Sur La Table. Finally, we were discouraged from addressing any personnel issues with HR, and were not even given access to a phone number or e-mail address to address our concerns. I highly discourage anyone from making the mistake of joining this company as a sales associate or assistant manager.

Explore other reviews about Sur La Table

5.0
21 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This is a good job for benefits and teaching experience

Cons

Don’t have autonomy over cancelling classes

2.0
31 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Staff was friendly and willing to help through the hiring and training process, and tasks were shared evenly

Cons

Management implements rules that harm the flow of sales and make for terrible checkout lines. Scheduling was always done last minute and it was impossible have a stable work schedule due to last minute changes and no stable scheduling duties for managers

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