Dangerously Unhealthy - Design Trainee Crate and Barrel Employee Review

The Ecomm design team is one of the best teams I've ever worked for. Excellent management, support, and real-human connection. One of the rare design teams without ego. Highly recommend to designers looking to learn from the experts.

As a Contractor, I don't have a lot of insight to the rest of the company.

The office had a good coffee machine, which employees appreciated. The cafeteria staff member was friendly and welcoming, which made the environment feel a little more positive. Opportunity to observe how long-established corporate operations function.

Management style felt very micromanaged. The management in the IT appeared heavily focused on older management methods rather than collaborative leadership. Favoritism was noticeable among certain employees and teams. Contract workers were treated differently from full-time employees, including exclusion from social events, food gatherings, and team activities. The IT teams often seemed disconnected and unwilling to support or train others properly. Communication issues were common, including employees talking negatively about coworkers behind their backs. Training and onboarding lacked structure and consistency. The workplace often felt disorganized, with unclear processes and coordination problems.