Values overshadow good work and design - Anonymous employee RH Employee Review

2.0
10 Jan 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

RH is a wonderful brand, with quality products that really reflect design trends and it is visually a great environment to work in. They love for employees to take an interest in a certain area and really learn the ins and outs. This is beneficial to all staff because they cross train each other. While I was there I learned more about textiles, rugs, and bedding then I thought I could. Most of the coworkers were really sweet people.

Cons

Working at the Westport location is a nightmare. The managers don't really seem to have a grasp on how to lead a team of mostly women effectively. They put an emphasis on the values and attitude above everything else which results in inconsistencies among the team and fear of getting in trouble. The training can take weeks and is mostly about pushing the values instead of learning the product, how RH wants you to engage in sales, and honing design skills. RH wants to be seen as a leader in interior design offering full design services. At Westport this is a joke. There were 2 designers there that were the leads that did not have as much experience as some of the other "sales people" and it is clear you cannot step on their toes. I was hired to believe I would be doing interior design along with others hired with me. Instead we were trained to take design leads and pass them to the 2 lead designers who would then take over. If RH wants to have talent and really "design" people's spaces, you can't operate this way. Why 4 managers are needed at a tiny store is beyond me, sometimes all working at once.

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5.0
2 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Experience working for on of the leading innovators in the design industry.

Cons

The scheduling department being in a regular call center and not the gallery

4.0
20 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

One of the strongest aspects of this role is the autonomy. I’m trusted to make decisions that genuinely support the customer experience without constant approval from leadership. If I believe an exchange plus a $250 gift card is the right solution to preserve a relationship, I’m empowered to do that. That level of trust creates confidence and allows us to move quickly when issues arise. Leadership is accessible when needed, especially in escalated situations. I’ve never felt left alone to manage something beyond my scope. There is also regular voluntary overtime available, which is a plus for those looking to increase their hours. For someone transitioning from another industry, the environment feels more structured and brand-focused, which has been refreshing

Cons

The clientele can be challenging. Some customers assume that spending thousands of dollars entitles them to treat frontline employees disrespectfully, even when those employees had no involvement in the original issue. It can also be frustrating to hold a boundary with a customer, only to see it reversed after escalation. While I understand the desire to preserve relationships, it can unintentionally undermine employee confidence and consistency in standards. Because RH carries so many collections and product variations, the learning curve is steep. Customers often expect immediate, detailed product knowledge, which takes time to develop.

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