employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

American Red Cross

Is this your company?

Toxic, watch out - Hr Shared Services Supervisor American Red Cross Employee Review

2.0
23 Jan 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

They work they do supporting items like natural disasters

Cons

As a former employee, I feel compelled to share my experience working under a leader who single-handedly fostered a toxic workplace culture that affected every aspect of our daily operations. The lack of clear standards, shifting expectations, and a constant sense of instability made it impossible to thrive or even feel secure. The leader in charge during my time there was, unfortunately, the root cause of this dysfunction. There was a significant gap between what was expected of us and what was actually communicated. Decisions were often made on a whim, and any form of constructive feedback was either ignored or met with defensiveness. This created an environment where employees were left in the dark, scrambling to interpret vague guidelines and contradictory instructions. But the real damage came from the micromanagement and power struggles at the top. Leaders were constantly shifting, condensing, leaving teams directionless. The most unsettling part was watching talented individuals being undercut by those more focused on maintaining their own power than fostering the team’s success. It was demoralizing to witness, and morale plummeted as a result. Now, after the dust has settled, it’s clear the organization is trying to undo the damage. Leaders who inherited the mess seem genuinely invested in improving things, but they’re facing an uphill battle. The toxic culture is deeply ingrained, and the systems that perpetuated it are still in place. While I give credit to those attempting to bring about positive change, it will take significant effort and time to rebuild trust and redefine what leadership truly means at this company. For anyone considering joining this team, proceed with caution. Until the leadership can demonstrate consistency, clarity, and true accountability, I’d advise seeking opportunities elsewhere where healthy cultures and clear direction are prioritized.

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.

1
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All