Pros
The only real positive is the team- supportive, hardworking, and the only reason it makes it possible to get through the day. The few bright spots in upper leadership were Jimmy and Chris. Especially Jimmy, who genuinely made a difference whenever he came to town. His presence brought a level of professionalism and care that was otherwise missing from the leadership team.
Cons
The company has potential, and many of the people are great. Unfortunately, the leadership over the past year has created a deeply stressful, toxic, and unhealthy environment. The GM is a controlling micromanager with little experience or confidence, which is evident in his insecure and erratic behavior. Since his arrival, turnover has been extremely high, at least seven team members have left in the past year alone. It’s even been said internally that if the GM doesn’t like someone, he knows how to “make them leave,” which speaks to a toxic and manipulative culture. Upper leadership hasn’t helped the situation. The CEO of Operations shows little regard for staff. When he visits the Vancouver store, he often ignores most of the team, creating a clear sense of exclusion and disrespect. His time seems more focused on smoke breaks than on meaningful engagement. A few years ago, there were repeated inappropriate encounters with a former employee during his visits, and when behaviour like that comes from someone in power, it erodes trust and makes you lose faith in the company’s integrity. There’s a culture of empty promises, below-industry pay, and no real accountability from HR. The toxicity stems from the top, not the team. Unless there’s a major shift in management, I wouldn’t recommend working at McLaren Vancouver.