Avoid These Companies That Are Rated Worst To Work For
When employees want to share their true feelings for a company they worked for, they go to Glassdoor. It's also the website job seekers go to when they want to read honest reviews by the company's previous employees, in order to see what they're in for. Eighty-five percent of job applicants say they research a company's reviews and ratings before applying -- they matter that much. Among all of the companies rated on Glassdoor, these are some of the worst companies to work for, according to their employees.
Family Dollar Stores Only Care About The Customer
Dollar stores are a billion-dollar business, but some are forgetting about their employees along the way. More than 3,000 employees of Family Dollar Stores took to Glassdoor to rate the company a low 2.7 out of 5 stars. Only 32% of them would recommend the company to a friend, even though it's one of the fastest-growing discount store chains in the country.
This company appears to be all about the customer while pushing its staff to the side. Employees note that "long hours on your feet" with short breaks to sit and low flexibility in scheduling made this an undesirable place to work.
LA Fitness Offers High Pay At A Cost
Fitness enthusiasts may be excited about the prospect of working for a gym that aligns with their interests, but LA Fitness isn't a top choice. According to Glassdoor, only 36% of LA Fitness employees would recommend the company to a friend, and CEO Louis Welch carries a mere 36% approval rating after weighing 778 employee reviews.
While employees admit the pay is great, they note that it's difficult to get a day off, nearly impossible to get a shift covered, and unorganized management leads to a lot of headaches.
According To Employees, Steak 'n Shake Is Being "Run Into The Ground"
Another billion-dollar company to make the list is Steak 'n Shake. The restaurant chain has been around since 1934, serving premium burgers and milkshakes for over 80 years. Yet, only 29% of Steak 'n Shake's employees would recommend the company to a friend and a low 24% approve of CEO Sardar Biglari.
Of those employees who left reviews on Glassdoor, many point to poor, unorganized management that takes advantage of their staff, having them work long hours for low pay. One employee described the restaurant as being "run into the ground." Another review advised, "Quick money, get out asap".
Charter Communications Is Stuck In Their Ways
Mass media company Charter Communications has a very low approval rating of 2.7 on Glassdoor. Ouch. Several employees admitted on Glassdoor that the management was overbearing, creating a stressful work environment that did not help productivity.
Glassdoor reviews also showed that employees did not have confidence in CEO Thomas Rutledge and that low wages and rigid politics within the company greatly affected workers' job satisfaction. This company is not one to look out for their employees.
United Biosource Employees Beg The CEO To Step Down
Now, we see a company from the pharmaceutical industry making the dishonorable list. United Biosource is a large, growing company that needs to have a better pulse on its inner-workings. Its employees rated United Biosource a very low 2.1 stars with only 16% of employees recommending the company to a friend.
CEO Patrick Lindsay was slammed with a 25% approval rating. Reviews mention that senior management is "dishonest," "think they are better than you," and one employee even sharing, "Mr. CEO please step down you are destroying this place!"
Managers Seem To Be The Problem At The Children's Place
The Children's Place may sound like a great option for parents looking for part-time work, but once they get in the door, things change. Employees of The Children's Place rated the retailer a low 2.7 rating with only 36% of employees approving of CEO Jane Elfers.
Low wages and poor growth opportunity are two of the factors that lead employees to leave a poor review of the retailer. They also note constant pressure from managers to promote the store's credit card and an overall micromanaging approach are a big turn off.
Employees Of CompuCom Didn't Hold Back
Owned by Office Depot, CompuCom is an office supply retailer that has room for improvement when it comes to keeping employees happy. Even compared to other companies on this list, CompuCom's employee reviews on Glassdoor are concerning.
With over 10,000 employees in their workforce, only 7% of them approve of CEO Mick Slattery. Yikes. They wouldn't want any of their friends experiencing the low wages and limited growth they've suffered through, so only 36% would recommend the company to a friend.
Xerox Has A Long History But Low Satisfaction
Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, Xerox Corporation has been in business for over 100 years. Xerox has over 10,000 employees, but many of them aren't happy. Based on reviews on Glassdoor, only 47% of Xerox employees approve of CEO John Visentin, and a mere 39% would recommend the company to a friend.
Employees note that lack of benefits, out-of-touch executives, and poor structure and communication are among the top reasons for their dissatisfaction working for Xerox.
Dillard's Prefers The Hire-And-Fire Method
Dillard's is a billion-dollar company that should pay more attention to what its employees are saying. One of the largest retailers of fashion, cosmetics and home furnishings, Dillard's has a surprisingly low approval rating on Glassdoor.
Employees aren't confident in CEO Bill Dillard II's leadership and give the company a rating of 2.8 out of five stars. Many employees say the company's commission goals are out of reach, and the retailer often cuts workers for not reaching their unrealistic sales goals.
Conduent's Employees Get Yelled At With Low Pay
Conduent is a large company whose growth is not reliant on employees' satisfaction. With only a 2.8 out of 5 Glassdoor rating, the business process services company has a low opportunity for growth and maintains poor pay for the majority of its employees.
These employees say that the pay does not match the workload given, especially considering they're often yelled at by customers over the phone. Tack on night shifts with no option of a scheduling change, and it's easy to see why employees are quick to call it quits.
Forever 21 Employees Are Not Happy
Many Forever 21 stores began closing their doors after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September 2019. Judging by employee reviews on Glassdoor, it seems as though the fast-fashion business had problems beginning from the inside out.
Only 40% of the stores' employees said they would recommend the company to a friend, which is pretty astounding. Forever 21 has also been tied up in several lawsuits filed by former employees. Glassdoor reviews include complaints of long hours, no paid sick days, and low pay.
After Regal Cinemas Was Sold, Employees Wanted More Than Free Movies
While some Regal Cinemas employees are satisfied with the free movies and popcorn, others are desiring more out of their workplace. Less than half of the employees of the movie theater chain would recommend the company to a friend.
The company was sold to UK-based Cineworld Group in 2017, at which point all of Regal's board of directors left their positions. Soon after, employees wanted more than free movies as low wages, consistent under-staffing and poor working conditions wore on them.
Alorica's Employees Work In A High-Stress Environment
Half of the employees at Alorica have had a negative experience working for the company. The customer experience and call center firms deals with its fair share of angry customers that employees are required to work with.
Without the proper training and adequate pay, employees quickly burn out. Employees said that job stress was their major con while working for Alorica, as well as communications from high management.
Walmart Manages 2.2 Million Employees
Walmart is one of the richest companies in the world, so it's surprising to see it qualify for this list. The billion-dollar retailer earned 3.2 stars out of 5 on Glassdoor, with slightly over half of employees willing to recommend the company to a friend.
With more than 11,000 store locations worldwide, Walmart has a difficult task of managing a lot of employees -- more than the entire population in the state of New Mexico. Out of the more than 50,000 employee reviews listed on the site, many commented that the long hours spent standing are rough and there weren't many job growth opportunities.
Speedway LLC Thinks The World Revolves Around It
Gas station and convenience store company Speedway LLC has more than 4,000 locations in the U.S. Out of the more than 1,600 employee reviews on Glassdoor, just 36% would recommend the company to a friend, and half approve of its CEO, Tim Griffith.
Employees shared that it can be a tough environment to work in, and the shifts are long and challenging for work-life balance. One employee said they were "required to fill any shift."
Expect To Work Hard Without A Competitive Salary At CDK Global
Typically, the technology industry has a good reputation when it comes to the workplace and taking care of employees. However, that's not the case when it comes to the hardware and software company CDK Global.
The CEO of the billion-dollar company has high ratings from CDK staff, but workers admit that the work is very demanding, and without competitive salaries. Many say they're required to travel too often (some say up to 95%) leading to a weak work-life balance.
U.S. Security Associates Workers Want More Training And Respect
Security is an important business, so we'd hope that the people working those jobs were happily employed. However, this doesn't seem to be the case for U.S. Security Associates.
Low pay, lack of knowledge and training, and poor management are a few of the reviews shared by former employees. The company has a 2.5 stars rating on Glassdoor and only 32% of employees would recommend U.S. Security Associates to a friend.
Frontier Communications Knows Its Reputation Is Hanging By A Thread
Frontier Communications has a dangerously low recommendation rating on Glassdoor, coming in at 2.4 stars with only 23% of employees recommending the company to a friend. Over 1,600 employees reviewed the company, saying they encouraged "dirty sales tactics" with poor management.
The company is highly aware of Glassdoor. Frontier's Senior HR Specialist posted a (scripted) reply to hundreds of the responses, acknowledging that their reputation is on the line. The question is, are they willing to go to the source and improve the way they treat their employees?
You Can't Build A Career At The Fresh Market
A healthy neighborhood market chain can sound like a great place to work -- that's why it's always important to check Glassdoor! Only 21% of The Fresh Market employees would recommend the company to a friend, and a mere 24% approve of the company's CEO, Larry Appel.
So what's going wrong behind the scenes? Employees are concerned about the low pay and lack of benefits. They also note a lack of job growth and poor management.
Union Pacific Is The Bottom Of The Barrel For Employees
Union Pacific has a lot of history to it -- the company has been in business since 1862! It isn't an easy task to keep a business thriving for over 150 years, but judging by their ratings and reviews on Glassdoor, it's time for Union Pacific to revisit their management.
The billion-dollar company received more than 1,600 reviews on Glassdoor, amounting to a 1.8 stars out of 5 rating. Not good. Not good at all. The hits keep coming, as only 13% of employees would recommend the company to a friend, and only 7% of employees approve of CEO Lance Fritz, making Union Pacific the lowest on this list.
Belk's Employees Don't Feel Appreciated
Belk department store is a billion-dollar company that's almost 150 years old. Serving the Southern U.S., Belk has 293 locations and has managed to stay afloat while other department stores are closing their doors, unable to compete with online shopping.
When it comes to their employees, Belk is rated 2.9 stars out of 5 on Glassdoor, and fewer than half of the employees would recommend the company to a friend. Employees shared that they "did not feel appreciated" both in communications with management and with pay.
Rent-A-Center Offers Zero Flexibility
Rent-A-Center is a well-recognized brand that employs 17,000 people nationwide. They're located in every state, which can be a challenge for consistency in management and brand. More than 1,600 employees shared their experience working for Rent-A-Center on Glassdoor.
Employees rated the company 2.7 stars out of 5, and only 30% say they would recommend the company to a friend. Many shared a theme of "long hours and very hard work." Employees also noted they wish they had more time to spend with family.
Hertz Employees Get Burned Out Or Cut
Hertz is the largest worldwide airport rental car company and has been in operation since 1918. It has an impressive 8,800 locations in 150 countries. On Glassdoor, employees rate Hertz as 2.9 stars out of 5.
Employees noted "no job security" and "not enough pay for the work we do" as top complaints. It's a tougher job for employees working in the colder states, who spend most of the day working outside year-round.
Sprouts Farmers Market Management Might Be The Problem
Another grocery store chain to make the list is Sprouts Farmers Market. Founded in 2002, Sprouts employees rated the company 2.8 stars out of 5, with only 39% of them agreeing they would recommend the company to a friend.
Employees pointed to little job growth, unfair scheduling and poor management for their reason for low approval. With more than 250 stores nationwide, it appears that some locations are better-managed than others.
Sears Employees Are Pressured To Sell Credit Cards
Sears has been in the department stores business since 1886, but they aren't doing so well today. The retail giant survived the Great Depression but Sears is among the many retail chains that have suffered since online sales continue to grow and mall-goers are on the decline.
On Glassdoor, only 32% of the employees who rated the company said they would recommend Sears to a friend. The company had an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5 stars by its employees, with a dramatically low 18% approval rating of its CEO Edward S. Lampert. Employees who gave the company a low rating noted that there's "Little to no training" and say managers tell staff to effectively "shove credit cards down customers mouths."
Employees Say There's A Leadership Problem At Reynolds and Reynolds
Based in Ohio, Reynolds and Reynolds has been in the auto industry for nearly 155 years. Current and former employees of Reynolds and Reynolds have given the company mixed reviews. Overall, 64% of employees said they'd recommend the company to a friend, on Glassdoor.
However, 69 employee reviews agreed that "Upper management expects rules to be followed that are not followed by themselves" and 47 reviewers on the site agreed that there were "minimal promotion opportunities" and a "high turnover rate."
Farmers Insurance Group Treats Employees Differently
Farmers Insurance Group has more than 48,000 agents and 21,000 employees. Glassdoor reviews provided by employees of Farmers Insurance show that their management isn't consistent across all of their locations.
One hundred and thirty-two employees agreed that the company has a good work-life balance, while 82 reviews counter that Farmers Insurance Group does not, in fact, have a good work-life balance and that the overtime is a burden. Around half of the company's current and former employees would recommend Farmers Insurance Group to a friend.
Gibson Guitar Employees Love The Product But Can't Stand The Sales Pressure
Many people believe that if you follow your passion, you'll never work a day in your life, but that isn't true with Gibson Guitars. The company has an astonishingly low 2.1 out of 5 stars on Glassdoor and only a quarter of their employees would recommend the company to a friend.
It's clear that Gibson's employees are passionate about the product they're selling, but the company is pushing its staff far too hard on sales. Employees vent on Glassdoor about having to push guitar sales far beyond their comfort, but because they love the brand and product so much, 89% still approve of CEO James Curleigh.
RadioShack Employees Wish Upper Management Would Improve
RadioShack is another retail company that used to thrive but is struggling today. It follows the theme of many once-successful large companies on this list in that poor upper-management has caused their ship to slowly sink.
On Glassdoor, only 37% of its current and former employees would recommend the company to a friend, and fewer than half approve of the CEO. Reviewers agree that "failures of upper management" and "too much pressure to sell" were major points against RadioShack.
Office Depot Pays Their Employees The Bare Minimum
Office Depot doesn't sound like an exciting place to work. Let's be honest, it's difficult to get excited about office supplies. Fewer than half of their current and former employees would recommend the company to a friend, and only 38% approve of its CEO.
Employees who reviewed the company on Glassdoor say that upper management "doesn't seem to take into consideration any feedback given to them." Nearly all of the negative reviews agree that the pay is extremely low, hovering just above minimum wage.
Lowe's Offers Good Pay But Part-Time Workers Are Suffering
Lowe's Home Improvement employs more than 10,000 employees across the country. Of the current and former employees who've rated the company on Glassdoor, around 50% would recommend the company to a friend.
Although their employees have rated Lowes 3.2 out of 5 stars, and agree that the pay is decent-good, the negative reviews include "long hours" in 452 reviews and "not accommodating for part-time employees" in 574 reviews.
CVS Store Managers Are Out Of Touch
The public relies on pharmacy stores like CVS Health, which employs more than 10,000 people, and would suffer if a chain of its size would go out of business. However, reviews on Glassdoor are an indication that the company needs to make some adjustments.
Only 35% of employees who reviewed the company on Glassdoor would recommend CVS to a friend, and 34% approve of the CEO. A whopping 712 reviewers noted that there was "not enough help" and 584 reviewers said that "upper management doesn't understand the store's needs."
State Farm Employees Are Concerned About Lack Of Benefits
State Farm Insurance has been around since 1922. In 2011 they were rated one of the Best Places to Work on Glassdoor, but in 2020 fewer than 50% of current and former employees would recommend the company to a friend or approve of the CEO.
The company employees more than 10,000 people. Of the reviews on Glassdoor, the lack of benefits was a concern for 243 reviewers and 416 reviewers agreed that "management can be hard to deal with."
Employees Of Sprint Believe Promotions Are Unfair
Sprint is a major communications service company that has more than 54.6 million customers. More than 8,000 its employees took to Glassdoor to rate their current or previous employer. Overall, their employees rated them lower than their competitors' employees.
Negative reviews include 334 noting "a lot of favoritism when it came to upper management" and 246 employees included poor work-life balance in their review of working at Sprint. Over 200 employees said the commission structure changes frequently.
Dish Network Can't Motivate Its Employees
Dish Network Corporation is a United States television provider based in Engelwood, Colorado. It is the owner of the direct-broadcast satellite provider known as DISH Network.
Unfortunately, on Glassdoor, the company only has a mere 2.9 stars out of 5. On top of that, only 42% of the workers at the company would suggest a job to a friend, and approval of the CEO is a low 52%. This company could do better.
Walgreens Employees Wished They Worked At A Different Pharmacy
Walgreens is an American company that is the second-largest pharmacy chain in the United States, just behind CVS Health. On top of prescriptions, they also sell a variety of products ranging from food to photo services.
While many people might frequent Walgreens, the store's employees aren't the biggest fans. In total, only 41% would suggest their friends work there and there is an astonishingly low 28% acceptance rate of the CEO. One employee noted that the job was "Low pay compared to most pharmacy technician salaries."
Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods is a multinational corporation based out of Springdale, Arkansas. It is the world's second-largest producer and marketer of chicken and pork. Along with its subsidiaries, it also operates other companies including Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farms, Ball Park, among others. Regardless of the company's success, employees aren't necessarily reaping the benefits.
On Glassdoor, only 54% of employees would recommend working for the company and complain about an inability to grow. One employee commented, "Reduced opportunity for professional growth. Inconsistent training with practice follow up. Financial Fitness Program has put a strain on the moral, and increased excessive work, creating opportunities for error."
Genesis HealthCare Employees Need More Flexibility From The Top
Genesis Healthcare, Inc., otherwise known as "Genesis" is a holding company that is one of the largest post-acute care providers with over 400 nursing centers and senior living centers in 26 states worldwide.
The company has a rating by its employees of 3.2 stars with only 57% of the workers willing to recommend the company to a friend. On top of that, the approval of the CEO is only at 61% with employees noting that "The upper management needs to be more flexible."
DXC Technology Employees Aren't Thrilled With Their Pay
DXC Technology is an independent "end-to-end" IT service company. Although the overall approval of CEO Mike Alvino is an impressive accomplishment for the company, they appear to be lacking in other aspects.
Only 44% of employees would recommend working for the company to a friend, and the company has an overall rating of 2.9 stars. Unfortunately, a lot of employees are dissatisfied with their salary and their inability to rise in the ranks. One employee even commented, "Wages and benefits are behind times."
Kroger Workers Need More Than Minimum Wage
Kroger is a typical chain grocery store that is the fifth-largest retailer in the world as well as the fourth-largest American-owned private employer in the United States. Yet, they don't seem to be doing all that much for their employees.
Only 44% of current employees would recommend a friend to join the Kroger team with a bleak 47% being in favor of the CEO. Of course, like most others working for minimum pay, one employee noted that "Minimum wage ain't much to live off of."
