Good Mission -- Awful Execution - Director AARP Employee Review

1.0
Dec 16, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are lots of well-intentioned people at AARP who believe deeply in the social mission of the organization. Great salaries (too great in many ways) and great benefits Amazing policies with regard to retirement and pension

Cons

The organization wastes a remarkable amount of money with ill-conceived projects and programs, then quietly disappears them when they fail. No accountability at all. Certain high-level managers are abusive, bullying, even cruel and are tolerated, in the words of an HR representative, they "get results." Frequent reorganizations ostensibly to streamline but - the ugly truth -- to get rid of "low-energy" employees who have been around for "too long." Dog whistle for "old!" Absolutely no attempt made to retrain or re-assign them, despite all the lip service paid to the value of older workers. Scandalous!

Explore other reviews about AARP

5.0
May 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

great benefits even for interns like free lunch, reimbursed parking, hybrid work. good opportunities to network, hone your skills, and potentially get a permanent role within the organization.

Cons

long onboarding. lots of hr training.

2.0
Apr 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

benefits are strong - pension, vacation, sick, caregiving work life balance is generally good

Cons

AARP suffers from a serious toxic work culture, particularly in the IT and Digital Transformation departments. Leadership is atrocious. People leading the 2 key technology functions for the business are incompetent and ego maniacs. Both departments are extremely toxic with burned out employees and contractors. Money gets wasted in the extreme due to these factors. Constant signal switching on projects and priorities. Everyone you work with is unhappy. Bullying and retaliation are common. Avoid these departments in particular, but the whole organization is top heavy, with terrible leadership all around. Still there are some great and talented people, but it's not the norm, and senior leadership is wrought with incompetence and arrogance. The organization flails around endlessly, and blows money with no discipline or rigor to their work and methods. Think someone is juicing the Glassdoor numbers with people saying the place is great. No opportunity for growth. The organization tries to do good work, and does in many ways, but it's so poorly run that it severely hampers its potential.

4
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