In Australia this is a very poor company to work for. - Associate Staples Employee Review

1.0
16 Sept 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

This company was fantastic before it was Staples. The former 'Corporate Express' had a true grasp on the business, its people and the Australian market in general. There are currently very few pros under the Staples banner apart from some outstanding Associates still working there at the lower levels.

Cons

It is questionable if the newly injected senior management (US origin) know what they are doing. Promotions are seemingly awarded to the most subservient employees which exacerbates the continued poor results. There is little to no interest in staff innovating, challenging the status quo or questioning the ideas of senior management. Anyone working in this organization remains employed by not question management decisions. Recently a Senior Manager was appointed in WA. Previously, this Associate had a history of HR related issues whilst in his former Management role, however was promoted because he would tow the company line. This is testament to the continuing poor judgement of senior leaders (who knew of his questionable history) making the easiest decision and not the best decision. This coupled with poor leadership and questionable sales direction has bred a culture of instability and distrust among staff within the office. Associates are leaving every day and not being replaced. Not a good sign.

Explore other reviews about Staples

5.0
12 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great store manager. Good starting point. Good store location.

Cons

Have to sell products you don't believe in. No commission

4.0
15 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Stable corporate environment Staples is a long-established retail company, so roles usually come with: Structured processes Predictable workflows Lower volatility compared to startups 2. Exposure to large-scale retail systems You get experience with: High-traffic e-commerce platforms Product catalog systems (thousands of SKUs) Order management and supply chain integration This is useful if you want to move into bigger retail or tech e-commerce companies later. 3. Good learning ground for beginners to mid-level professionals Common learning areas: Digital merchandising SEO for product pages Pricing and promotions systems Basic analytics (conversion, traffic, funnel metrics) 4. Cross-functional collaboration You typically work with: Marketing teams Merchandising teams IT / engineering Supply chain / fulfillment Good exposure to how retail ecosystems operate end-to-end. 5. Employee benefits (varies by role/location) Often includes: Health insurance Employee discounts Paid time off Corporate training resources

Cons

Limited innovation compared to tech-first companies Staples is primarily a retail company, so: Processes can be traditional Innovation may move slower than in Amazon/Shopify-type environments 2. Tooling may feel legacy-heavy Depending on team, you may work with: Older CMS or merchandising tools Internal systems that are not always modern or flexible 3. Role specialization can be narrow Some e-commerce roles can become repetitive: Product page updates Catalog maintenance Routine reporting tasks Less exposure to deep engineering or advanced product innovation unless you're in a technical team. 4. Moderate salary growth compared to big tech Compared to companies like Amazon, Microsoft, or Google: Compensation growth may be slower Bonus structure can be more conservative

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