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American Red Cross

Is this your company?

Love that we help people... but can't employees be important too? - Exempt Position American Red Cross Employee Review

2.0
20 Dec 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

My direct superviser is great, so I'm shielded from a lot of the stuff that goes on around us.

Cons

Management applies policies when and how they choose. One manager makes employees take 15 minutes of PTO if they are late for work, even if they not only make it up at the end of the day, but stay hours over to get work done. And this is in a position requiring a bachelor's degree and is an exempt position. I've never been in another salaried position where I've been so babysat. Too top heavy with nothing constructive for the high paid execs to do. New policy, we can only take our PTO as it's accrued, it's not credited to us at the beginning of the year like it was before. Our sick time is wrapped up in our PTO, so don't get sick at the beginning of the year, you'll be off without pay.. But , how is it legal that I can work for 42 hours, and still have to take PTO because I had a doctors appointment? So, it should look like I have 45 hours in, 42 worked, and 3 stolen from me to make my 40?? They make exempt employees keep the time cards we approve every two weeks at Monday through Friday 9-5 regardless of what we really work. We wouldn't get overtime because we are exempt, but they also shouldn't be taking our PTO when we put in 40 hours of work.

Explore other reviews about American Red Cross

5.0
16 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

My experience working with the Red Cross has been great. The work is fulfilling and the people are passionate. Benefits are good - Kaiser is $6 a month!

Cons

There is work life balance, but there is an expectation to work nights and weekends.

2.0
15 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You feel connected to a larger mission, and go to bed knowing you did good work. Most of the volunteers are amazing people. The job is a good stepping stone to other disaster management jobs elsewhere. PTO policy is generous and Healthcare is decent.

Cons

You are INCREDIBLY overworked and GROSSLY underpaid. You get zero work-life balance. Even when you're not on call, you'll still get tons of calls from volunteers with questions and concerns. If a volunteer is unavailable to respond to a fire call or tend to any other responsibility day or night, you're on deck. You're salaried, so there's no overtime pay. Your pay barely covers the basic cost of living in today's economy ($40k-$50k). Diversity is bottom heavy, meaning there are lots of employees of color in entry level or lower management roles, but beyond that there's a steep drop off. Most of the volunteers are great, but the Red Cross is so desperate to keep them, that poor behavior and language (racist/sexist/phobic) is not properly disciplined or responded to, if at all. Employee retention is poor, especially in the Disaster Specialist role, because they burn you out so quickly without decent pay.

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