Lots of nice people, few stars - Anonymous employee Pacific Life Employee Review

2.0
8 Oct 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The benefits are very good. Comprehensive medical and dental options are provided, as well as a retirement account with a generous company match. The cafeteria has delicious cookies.

Cons

Pacific Life does very little to gain or keep high performing employees. Good performance is rewarded with more work and longer hours, while poor performance has no consequences. Office politics are rampant and utterly crippling to efficiency and progress. Training is nonexistent, and new employees often do not have a workstation until their second week or later due to poor planning. Bad/nonexistent management is rampant, as people who are skilled individual contributors get promoted into management with no training and no screening as to their management skills. New hires are barely interviewed (we once hired someone for a highly Excel-based job who had never used Excel, because no one bothered to ask about his Excel experience!) No one really seems to know how to interview at all - they just go through the motions and hire whoever tickles their fancy. The most skilled employees leave for other opportunities, while HR turns a blind eye. It is almost impossible to fire anyone. The culture values face time far above work product. A person who puts in overtime to complete a task is valued more highly than a person who completes the same task more efficiently without needing to put in overtime.

Explore other reviews about Pacific Life

5.0
29 June 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

What I'm most grateful for is my team and the culture. Pacific Life is full of supportive, knowledgeable, encouraging, and just genuinely great people. I feel challenged, appreciated, and lucky to be a part of this culture.

Cons

In-person requirement of four days a week is not consistent. There is lots of flexibility with that, though.

3.0
12 June 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great benefits and great team members!

Cons

The Return to Office policy is driving away one of our talented team members. Blindsided by reorgs. No polls done to determine what is best for our team.

6
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Pacific Life Response
2w
Thank you for sharing your perspective and for recognizing the strength of your team and our benefits. Our in-office approach is designed to support collaboration and connection across teams, while still offering flexibility through one remote workday per week, along with our flexible workdays benefit, which allows for additional remote days throughout the year. Feedback like yours helps us continue learning how this is experienced day-to-day across different roles and teams. We appreciate you taking the time to share.
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