Would Not Recommend - Anonymous employee Starkey Employee Review

2.0
Feb 1, 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

* They pretend they want real people. They want you to speak up and speak out. * Some of the lower level management are actually good people. * Most of the lower level employees genuinely want to do good work. * The smoke and mirrors of how great the company is and how generous they are is extremely attractive until you see behind the curtain. * If you have tuition assistance and leave the company, they will not recoup the payment from you. * If you keep any of the hardware assets provided to you when you leave the company, nothing will happen to you as there is no Hardware Asset Policy. HR might send you a letter asking you to return them, but, as they put it, "there's no meat to it". * The Hearing Aid benefit to employees and their families is decent. If you want the "latest and greatest" Genesis - there's an added fee of $1000, at least for the group listed in the "free" category.

Cons

* Wages are low. If you ask for fair compensation, you will be told "if money is so important to you, maybe this isn't the right place for you." * Wage disparities are alive and well. If you are brought into the company from a family member or friend, your pay will be higher based on the merit of the person referring you. * Nepotism is alive and well. * The company has a considerable amount of legal action cases. Look it up, seriously. * The 'good old boys' club is alive and well. * The Chief People Officer will tell you that speaking up, asking questions and having difficult conversations is paramount to the company's success, however, that only applies if you're not considered to be "other". * Your private social media pages will be hacked and will be used against you if you are considered "other". * People will scream at you, berate you and verbally attack you. When that happens, if you bring this issue to HR - you will be the problem. * There are family members who are listed as employees, and have executive benefits as an employee - who do not actually work for the company in any capacity. * The owner is not licensed to fit or dispense hearing aids - he is not an Audiologist or a Certified/Licensed Hearing Aid Specialist. * Retail Audiologists are expected to function similarly to a used car salesman or the older expression "carpet baggers'. They are expected to not only help your hearing issues, but are expected to get patients to pay out of pocket for the "best", even if they cannot afford this option. * If you choose to work here - document everything! If you raise a concern, at least record the conversation on your phone. You might not think it matters, but it will should you leave.

Explore other reviews about Starkey

5.0
May 26, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Flexibility, good pay, rewarding work, great employees, private company

Cons

Some silos between departments can be difficult to work with sometimes

3.0
Jan 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Mission-Driven Impact: You get the unique satisfaction of knowing your technical infrastructure directly supports technology that restores hearing and improves the quality of life for millions. • Innovation Hub: Because Starkey integrates AI and sensors into their hearing aids, IT engineers often work with sophisticated, modern stacks that bridge the gap between traditional enterprise IT and wearable tech. • Strong Local Culture: As a privately held company with deep roots in Minnesota, Starkey offers a stable, family-oriented environment that often feels more personal than a massive, faceless tech conglomerate.

Cons

Legacy Debt: Like many established manufacturing giants, you may encounter older legacy systems and "on-prem" hurdles that can slow down the deployment of more modern, cloud-native solutions. • Corporate Rigidity: Some employees report a traditional top-down management style, which can occasionally feel restrictive if you are used to the agile, flat autonomy found in Silicon Valley-style startups. • High-Pressure Environment: Given the precision required for medical devices and global distribution, the IT uptime requirements can lead to demanding "on-call" cycles and high-stress troubleshooting windows.

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