Good discount. Poor management and leadership. - Anonymous employee REI Employee Review

2.0
Jan 11, 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The discount is great and you can prodeal from a number of different companies. Work life balance is really good and def helpful if you have a family.

Cons

Management has been grandfathered into positions purely because they have been there a long time. Processes are not in place or there are too many new processes that doing your job is not efficient. REI is the opposite of a well oiled machine. HR sits on their hands if you come to them with issues about management. The anonymous hotline is a joke and since people have been there for 20 yrs they will never get fired. Even though they are incompetent. One manager made someone read a book out loud to her in a meeting room and then she corrected her on her English. This person was humiliated and this was a weekly meeting. Calling the hotline did nothing. HR did nothing. This manager still works there and I find it appalling REI would allow this behavior. Location is in Kent and the Private Brands office is in a warehouse. It's not inspiring and fighting with semis before parking in the lot gets old.

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
Jun 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good managers, deals, coworkers, products

Cons

No cons, I really liked my time.

3.0
May 9, 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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