Pros
Great coworkers, we all had each others backs.
Cons
"Downsides" is a pretty cute way of putting it. Advancement is non existent hard working employees are never promoted. I've known people to be moved stores across town being promised promotion and never receive it. Managers are promoted from Craigslist ads and never last long. Hours are insane and productivity is jammed down our throats. You are expected to work off the clock to help catch up. People are scheduled to be alone during the day even during 5 dollar foot long month and expected to have everything spotless while helping the line of customers out the door. I was called in on Thanksgiving to make sure bread was ready for the next day and that's when I found out we don't do holiday pay. No benefits are offered whatsoever and no full time positions are offered either. Oh you might find yourself working 50 hours a week for a month and then be punished by management and get 10 hours a week for the next 2 months even though it was their scheduling fault. Speaking of overtime if you get more than 40 hours a week find yourself fighting for your overtime money. Keep your time cards they have no problem shaving off hours. Naturally all of these things lead to a high turn over rate and the lack of full time employees means there is no stability and the store is always in chaos.
