Question 1

Do workers at Hot Topic get paid breaks?

Accepted Answer

Sometimes. Only some people get paid breaks.
46% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.
Based on data from 82 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 2

Does Hot Topic pay people when they’re sick?

Accepted Answer

No. Most people don’t get paid when they’re sick.
76% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.
Based on data from 90 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and July 2026.

Question 3

At Hot Topic, are sick days and vacation days separate paid time off?

Accepted Answer

Only some people have separate paid time off for sick days and vacation.
39% of people say they have to use vacation days when they’re out sick.
Based on data from 57 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2025 and April 2026.

Question 4

Are part-time workers able to get health insurance from Hot Topic?

Accepted Answer

Only some people who work part-time can get health insurance.
62% of people who work fewer than 30 hours a week say they can’t get health insurance
Based on data from 45 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between November 2024 and March 2025.

Question 5

Do part-time workers get paid time off at Hot Topic?

Accepted Answer

Most people who work part-time don’t get paid time off.
80% of people who work part-time say they don’t get paid time off
Based on data from 51 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and July 2026.

Question 6

Is the health insurance from Hot Topic affordable enough for their workers?

Accepted Answer

Most people say the health insurance costs are okay.
86% of people say the health insurance costs are okay
Based on data from 57 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2025 and March 2026.

Question 7

Do people get paid time off at Hot Topic?

Accepted Answer

Some people get paid time off from work.
52% of people say they don’t get paid time off.
Based on data from 87 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and July 2026.

Question 8

How far ahead of time do people find out their work schedule?

Accepted Answer

Most people find out their schedule less than four weeks ahead of time.

80% of people with changing schedules find out their shifts one week or less ahead of time.
14% of people with changing schedules find out their shifts two weeks ahead of time.
2% of people with changing schedules find out their shifts three weeks ahead of time.
3% of people with changing schedules find out their shifts four weeks or more ahead of time.

Based on data from 91 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 9

Do workers at Hot Topic worry about hours?

Accepted Answer

Some people worry about getting enough hours.
59% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.
Based on data from 93 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 10

Do Hot Topic workers get to choose the shifts they work?

Accepted Answer

Most people get to choose which shifts they work.
70% report that they have enough control over which shifts they work.
Based on data from 83 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 11

How easy is it for Hot Topic workers to change shifts?

Accepted Answer

Most people find it easy to change shifts.
69% of people report that it’s easy to change shifts if they need to.
Based on data from 64 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 12

How easy is it to get time off at Hot Topic?

Accepted Answer

Some people find it hard to get time off.
44% of people report it’s hard to get time off.
Based on data from 62 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 13

Do Hot Topic managers change schedules at the last minute?

Accepted Answer

Most managers don’t change people’s schedules at the last minute.
73% of people say their manager doesn’t change their shift schedule at the last minute.
Based on data from 88 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 14

Do jobs at Hot Topic spill into time workers aren’t paid for?

Accepted Answer

Rarely. The job doesn't usually spill into unpaid time.
20% of people report that their job takes up time that they don’t get paid for.
Based on data from 79 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 15

How easy is it to take sick days at Hot Topic?

Accepted Answer

Some people find it hard to take sick days.
37% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.
Based on data from 79 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 16

Is a Hot Topic job good for students?

Accepted Answer

Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
84% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
Based on data from 49 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2025 and April 2026.

Question 17

Is working at Hot Topic good if you’re a parent or caregiver?

Accepted Answer

Only some parents and caregivers say this is a good place to work.
58% of people who care for a child or other relative report this isn’t a good place to work.
Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between December 2024 and February 2026.

Question 18

Do people at Hot Topic feel treated with respect by their managers?

Accepted Answer

Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
76% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.
Based on data from 96 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 19

Do people at Hot Topic get to take their breaks without interruption?

Accepted Answer

Most people get breaks without interruption.
78% of people report that they get to take their breaks without interruption.
Based on data from 86 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 20

Is it stressful to work at Hot Topic?

Accepted Answer

Most people feel stressed here.
71% of people say they often feel stressed at work.
Based on data from 92 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 21

Do people at Hot Topic enjoy their jobs?

Accepted Answer

Most people enjoy their job.
83% of people report they enjoy their job.
Based on data from 78 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 22

Do people at Hot Topic recommend working with their team?

Accepted Answer

Only some people recommend working with their team.
41% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.
Based on data from 102 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 23

Do people get enough training when they start at Hot Topic?

Accepted Answer

Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
39% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.
Based on data from 89 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 24

Do people get support to advance at Hot Topic?

Accepted Answer

Only some people are given support to advance their career here.
In the last year, 35% of people report not being given support to advance their career here.
Based on data from 83 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

Question 25

Do people think Hot Topic’s headquarters understands what’s happening where they work?

Accepted Answer

Most people think headquarters doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
77% of people think that this employer’s headquarters or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.
Based on data from 92 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between July 2025 and July 2026.

Question 26

Do workers feel well informed about how Hot Topic is doing?

Accepted Answer

Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
41% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.
Based on data from 90 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between August 2025 and July 2026.

BoxLunch & Hot Topic

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Seasonal Sales Associate

Part-Time Assistant Manager - Level 2

Part-Time Assistant Manager - Level 2

Part-Time Assistant Manager - Level 1

Part-Time Assistant Manager - Level 1

Seasonal Sales Associate

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Job description

What Hot Topic employees say

Get the real story on frontline employers

Pay

Only some people get paid breaks

Most people don’t get paid when they’re sick

The job rarely spills into unpaid time

Benefits

Only some people get separate paid time off for sick days and vacation

Only some part-timers can get health insurance

Part-timers don’t get paid time off

Hours and flexibility

Less than 4 weeks notice of work schedule

Some people worry about their hours

Most people can choose their shifts

Workplace

Most people feel treated with respect

Most people get breaks without interruption

Most people are stressed

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