Mediocrity Rules - Recruiter Grainger Employee Review

3.0
16 Aug 2010
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Grainger is a pretty relaxed environment, you can work from home and you aren't bothered if you are getting things done (basically fly under the radar). The money is good, the benefits are great (profit sharing is awesome). If you want to just go someplace and do the minumum for 40 hours a week and get paid this is the place.

Cons

Working hard and going above and beyond is pointless here because it only matters who likes you that determines if you get ahead. This is not a place for a high achiever who wants to be an expert in their field (any field) I worked with all parts of the business and found the same politics that were in HR within the business groups I supported. Leaders fall for the polished communicators over the intellectual game changers all the time, which does nothing to promote diverisity. It's a shame that such a great company with great product lines can't get out of it's own way.

Explore other reviews about Grainger

5.0
13 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

* Work-life balance (paid holidays, no work on weekends, no late evenings * Manager has experience in role, can relate to workers * Lots of resources do to job * Total package is strong (pay, benefits, retirement)

Cons

* Lots of metrics to watch * Some customers expect too much

4.0
6 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Benefits are decent and reasonably priced. They offer a 401k match, BCBS insurance, FSA, HSA, dental, vision, life insurance, and accidental D&D coverage. They also do a 3‑to‑1 match for donations to non‑religious 501(c) organizations. There’s a big emphasis on volunteering, with plenty of opportunities to get involved. The building itself is beautiful, with a free on‑site gym, a coffee shop, real trees in the atrium, a waterfall, and a large cafeteria (though the food can vary). They’re also flexible about which days you come on‑site, depending on the team’s schedule. If I needed to switch a Monday for a Thursday, it was never an issue. My manager was also supportive of remote work on days when the weather made commuting difficult.

Cons

Admins do not get an annual bonus. They're really strict on Overtime, really weird about worrying about mini costs. Like they'll spend 50k on a week-long training but freak out if people want to rent a car while being in town. Can't buy lunch for this 3 hour meeting to cut costs, but we'll drop 10k on this other thing. It's also so unfair that some people get to work remotely and others are forced to come in 3 times a week, for the exact same roles. Every meeting is basically online, so it's just silly and a power trip.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All