Unprofessional executive team, negative work environment - Anonymous employee RH Employee Review

1.0
11 June 2013
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Plenty of employees, at all levels, are very friendly and welcoming. Base salaries are above-average. Employees receive a generous associate discount on all RH furniture/product. The reverse commute from San Francisco is mostly free of frustrating traffic issues.

Cons

As the saying goes: "the fish rots from the head." This could not be more true for RH. I was a direct report of a chief officer of the company and was exposed to much of the toxic leadership that lowers morale, productivity, and motivation from employees. Communication is not valued by the company's leaders. Listening to staff opinions is not a priority--one of the many ridiculous company rules is "Love us or leave us." And that's exactly how the management team operates. A negative tone is set in the work environment - it is no wonder RH has a high turnover rate. Employee perks and benefits are subpar. There is no 401(k) employer matching program, and employees cannot participate in a plan until they have been with RH at least 6 months. The company recently went public, but those below VP level did not benefit because there is no employee stock purchase plan available to them. Goals were also set at unattainable levels only as a tactic to distribute disappointing annual bonuses.

Explore other reviews about RH

5.0
2 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Experience working for on of the leading innovators in the design industry.

Cons

The scheduling department being in a regular call center and not the gallery

4.0
20 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

One of the strongest aspects of this role is the autonomy. I’m trusted to make decisions that genuinely support the customer experience without constant approval from leadership. If I believe an exchange plus a $250 gift card is the right solution to preserve a relationship, I’m empowered to do that. That level of trust creates confidence and allows us to move quickly when issues arise. Leadership is accessible when needed, especially in escalated situations. I’ve never felt left alone to manage something beyond my scope. There is also regular voluntary overtime available, which is a plus for those looking to increase their hours. For someone transitioning from another industry, the environment feels more structured and brand-focused, which has been refreshing

Cons

The clientele can be challenging. Some customers assume that spending thousands of dollars entitles them to treat frontline employees disrespectfully, even when those employees had no involvement in the original issue. It can also be frustrating to hold a boundary with a customer, only to see it reversed after escalation. While I understand the desire to preserve relationships, it can unintentionally undermine employee confidence and consistency in standards. Because RH carries so many collections and product variations, the learning curve is steep. Customers often expect immediate, detailed product knowledge, which takes time to develop.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All