Was an excellent place to work, but has fallen to low depths in the past couple of years - Customer Development Organization Colgate-Palmolive Employee Review

2.0
Feb 6, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Strong compensation package Good dental benefits (many places dont have these) Decent vacation policy Global opportunities (but expat benefits are no longer the same either)

Cons

Very slow decision making - has gone from a result oriented company to a consensus oriented company. Will follow through with something other than the best decision, if it meets with consensus and the safer route...vs. trying something that might be better but where not everyone is on board. This has led to a handful of people controlling all the decisions with most of middle management really playing the role that most fresh MBA graduates could handle straight out of school. Mixed messages from management - poor overall direction, conservative, not open to any new or different ideas. Usually sticks to the same formula that's been tried and tested. But talks a big game about "open culture' and "fostering experimentation" More driven by short term financial implications vs.considering the longer term view . Its living from one quarter to the next, while they talk about planning out 18 months - big joke !. Completely fake HR - on the sales side (used to be great !). They don't really care about the employee's progression. HR serves more of an execution function vs. running a true HR dept. They have forgotten how to retain real talent...instead focusing on an arbiitarily chosen few - usually favorites of a few in management. Also does not follow through on promises made.

Explore other reviews about Colgate-Palmolive

5.0
Jun 11, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

People-first culture, work flexibility, wide range of opportunities to advance

Cons

RTO 4 days in office, usually need to relocate to move up in company

1.0
May 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good fringe benefits. Above average insurance.

Cons

Very toxic work environment. Company promotes work life balance however meetings are scheduled during lunch and at 5:00pm. People are made to stand in daily plant meetings, no chairs in the rooms. Particularly hard on shop floor staff who work 12hr shifts. I NEVER had time to take a lunch hour the entire time I worked there. Phone calls at home daily/nightly(middle of the night) and almost every day every weekend as OTLs are poorly trained. Company promotes inclusion however Americans are bullied particularly by hispanics within the company. Company touts multiculturalism but does no training on dealing with other cultures. Entire plant Planning staff turned over in less than 2 years. Very stressful work environment cause by high-school like drama by LT. Managers are routinely put in PEP for issues months after they occur. No support whatsoever from Planning manager, HR or Leadership Team. Training is ALL online, when asked LT for help with SAP questions...response was to GOOGLE it. Direct manager was initially a STA with major inflated sense of self. Final manager was novice at managing people and very childish. Again, very toxic work environment overall.

See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All