No longer a good place to work! - Anonymous employee REI Employee Review

1.0
Apr 30, 2014
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Co-workers are great, caring, active people that are trying their best to stay positive at a time when morale is low. Great discounts on gear.

Cons

Rei (Fairfax)was a great place to work for many years but sadly the company is moving in the wrong direction. The pay is low, the hours are inconsistent and employees are scheduled just below the minimum threshold of hours so we don't receive holiday pay. Many of us have had to add vacation time to every pay period to keep our hourly average up so we don't lose our health insurance benefits (20hour average needed) because we are not scheduled enough hours. A few employee lost their insurance coverage. Many of us earn vacation time but don't make enough money to go anywhere. Morale is low and many employees would leave if they had an option and trust me they are looking. REI Fairfax is all about the numbers, selling memberships , cutting payroll and has become a very tense place to work with upper management watching your every move. Corporate control is high and my direct managers are really powerless to be advocates for their staff. Job advancement is virtually non existent since the restructuring a few years ago. Pay raises don't cover a cup of coffee a week. The only people who can afford to work here have a spouse who is the main bread winner or have a good full time job and work here part time for discounts.

Explore other reviews about REI

5.0
May 16, 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
Jun 20, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Excellent coworkers - REI does a great job of hiring enthusiastic and personable staff - Slightly better pay compared with other retail in the area - Prodeals and discounts - Flexible hours - Good (although rapidly diminishing) healthcare benefits

Cons

- Once a (better) company known for its investment in knowledgeable and friendly staff via extensive training and investment, the company has been slowly slashing away at most of what makes it special since the pandemic - Hours and benefits are worsening, proper employee training is becoming hard to come by - lots of mediocrity and sometimes questionable ethical calls made by management - Punitive disciplinary policies that seem to be designed to create higher turnover (advantageous to them given the gradual pay, benefit and policy changes)

4
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