Tale of two cultures - Business Analyst REI Employee Review

2.0
17 June 2020
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- To say it is the people is an understatement. The individual contributors and immediate manager teams are some of the most outgoing, dedicated, and helpful coworkers that I have ever worked with. - If you love the outdoors, the prodeals are great. - Its less than it used to be, but there are great community service partners that you get connected with that create great civic partnerships.

Cons

-There are two REI cultures. The one at the retail stores where there is a high level of engagement and complete service to the customer. Then there is HQ. The leadership at HQ is as hierarchical and self-absorbed as you will find; where leaders say the PC thing and then do things behind others backs to delay or sabotage those they fear. -Leaders get paid very well with little accountability, and there are no other businesses in the market today that offer them this kind of place to hide. -For 4 years straight, employee surveys say leaderships inability to make decisions is holding the co-op back. So, when layoffs happened, few leaders got let go and they axed a large number of people actually doing the work. It now makes it harder on all of us to get the work done.

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
16 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

People and incredible work culture. REI truly walks the walk when it comes to company culture. Significant amount of focus on people and values in a genuine way. Exceptional benefits and pay. Making medical coverage available for all employees part time and full time.

Cons

Not many negatives to share.

3.0
9 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Most coworkers, some managers, discounts, outfitting people properly without extra nonsense

Cons

Some truly horrible managers, pressure to sell credit cards is a morale killer, the union people. Employees drinking the union kool aid fail to see the company’s position, REI cannot give higher pay, better benefits , consistent hours, etc… with the erratic revenue stream that comes in , if a 5 year average is X in revenue and 5 year average is Y on wages and costs, how are they supposed to increase wages and benefits? It’s numbers and they don’t line up, if REI gives the increases which increases the expenses greatly, they will cut staff, a lot fewer employees which will eliminate a bunch of union supporters, an REI job is not supposed to be a lucrative deal, when you get hired the part time , part time plus and full time options are there and you choose what you want fully understanding what hours you are going to get at minimum, they will hire those positions on a need basis, to cry later that you don’t make enough money is your fault, the terms were clear and you signed off on them. The union is promising rainbows , reality will be far different, careful what you wish for

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