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American Red Cross

Is this your company?

Choose somewhere else... Unless you have NO other choice (Seriously)! - Anonymous employee American Red Cross Employee Review

1.0
22 Jan 2015
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-You're working for an organization that's generally viewed positively. -You will make a difference if you do your job. -Looks great on your resume as a volunteer or paid staff. -Relatively easy to get a job. Especially, if you volunteer first and take on leadership roles. -You can go far as a volunteer. -If you love what you do despite the faults, you will make it through

Cons

-Overworked -No job stability/security -No investment for applicable employee professional development (everything is Red Cross training) -Nowhere to move to (your lucky you kept your job... for now) -People can be moody, whiney, and nitpicky because they're living on the edge -You can't help everyone who shows up -The cons are a NATIONAL problem. Every Red Cross... Everywhere in America! -Work/life balance? Doesn't exist, even on the calmest day

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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