REI Reviews

At headquarters, the co-op is a shadow of its former self. I believe that it's years of under-investment in technology, poor feedback mechanisms and a complete lack of accountability for leaders that have finally caused the organization to implode. REI is struggling financially more than it ever has. In an attempt to resolve this, many experienced employees (in some cases 15 years+) were let go in early 2023. Those layoffs were the worse-planned I've ever seen. The individuals who made decisions about who to let go seem to have done so without actually understanding what those employees did. Leaders had to be told in the days after that several of the projects they were identifying as the top priorities post-layoffs could not actually be completed because they had just fired the team that was working on them. Months later the chaos continues. Many people have quit due to the bungled layoffs and decline in culture. There are days that systems break and no one left has any idea how to fix them. The layer of middle management left is an absolute nightmare to work for. Micro-management, favoritism, and generally manipulative behavior run unchecked. Anyone that says this is still a great place to work is either sitting in a position that has isolated them from REI's core problems or is simply delusional. I don't believe this organization can ever recover.

Crippling middle management, institutionalized heroics, complete lack of ambition or creative direction. Performance and knowledge of your craft/industry are completely overlooked and advancement is dependent on how likable you are (and I dont mean just having a positive attitude and working well with others... I mean an almost cultish fixation of "appearances and perceptions". If you dont enter or participate in the company chili cookoff, or weekend camping excursion, or some other corporate kumbaya activity, expect to lose the respect of the people who decide your future at the company). Rumors are spread in hallways faster than on a political reddit post. There is more drama at this company then a party of highschool thespians. Which is a shame, because REI at its core, is wonderful and has the potential to change the world. Instead, they roast twinkies and pray for snow every year.