Red Cross Reviews

Pros

The Red Cross is a great company that is an overall happy place to work. We work hard, and we know it's for a good cause!

Cons

Whenever there is a disaster, the hours are very long. But I am fully aware that is necessary in this line of work!

Advice to Senior Management

There are some people who have been at the company for years who have a lot to give, but they haven't been given the chance to promote. It would be great if some people who are the "do-ers" would get a chance to be more vocal about changes.

Pros

The Red Cross compensates employees competitively. Mission oriented. Very good benefits are offered. You can feel good about your work.

Cons

No work life balance. Senior management is incompetent. A "boys club" exists at the senior management level.

Advice to Senior Management

Scrutinize expense reports of DVPs, CEOs and Directors. Hold senior management accountable for results and don't accept so many excuses.

Pros

Can influence the organization from any position, regardless of title.

Cons

Uneven advancement opportunities and pay across the organization.

Advice to Senior Management

Develop career patching for all employees.

Pros

Staff and volunteers in the field offices are usually very helpful and try very hard to help clients. Mission is admirable if it was accomplished.

Cons

Senior Management at National Headquarters is disorganized. Unfortunately, many senior managers in the Service to the Armed Forces department play politics and don't really care about helping the customer (military members and their families). They seem to be more concerned with seeking personal recognition. Inexperienced employees at call centers with callous attitudes handle most calls from service members and families in need.

Advice to Senior Management

Get into the field instead of staying sequestered in your offices so that you actually understand the business. Take some customer service classes. Hire and retain efficient and caring workers instead of just those who agree with you.

Pros

The American Red Cross mission, values and people make it a great place to work. Employees work very hard and support each other.

Cons

Management is overly conservative and too slow in decision-making and implementiation of ideas. Management is unable or unwilling to think creatively/outside the box. Too many employees promoted into managment who are not leaders and don't belong in management.

Advice to Senior Management

Stop promoting based primarily on technicial abilities and focus more on leadership skills. Stop retaining those in management positions who are administrators instead of leaders.

Pros

Lots of instructional documents that made training simple.
The controller was very helpful and explained new tasks and new programs well.
Nice people.
Organization does great work and there is a feeling of directly helping with the aid provided.

Cons

Unpaid like most volunteers, but that was the point of it being an internship.
Little professional growth opportunity.
Most of the work was data entry.

Pros

Some of the best people I have worked with. But there were others that didn't belong there. Great learning experience.

Cons

Wrong people in key positions. Very bureaucratic and politically charged. High turnover.

Advice to Senior Management

Senior Management really needs to improve their relationship with employees.

Pros

Excellent mission and personal fulfillment. Flexibility. Most of the people are wonderful people to work with. We save lives everyday.

Cons

Too big to make logical, nimble business decisions. When easy fixes are found for issues in the field, there are too many hoops to jump through to get changes made that would make the work easier and more understandable for those performing the front-line jobs.

Advice to Senior Management

Those making decisions at HQ level do not have an understanding of the real work in the field. When you ask for opinions from the field, don't ask in order to say that you asked. Listen to what is being said. Ask, learn and then make logical, informed decisions.

Pros

There were, at one time, very good benefits....now they are on par with a mediocre company.

Cons

There is absolutely NO respect for personal/family time (regardless of your position or seniority). Senior Management have little to no management experience which leads to frustration when attempting to direct employees. Abusive and unhealthy management practices toward employees.

Pros

Good pay and good benefits.

Cons

They treat you as if you can be easily replaced. No respect for anyone. So much pressure on doing everything right that you cant get anything done. and once you mess up or potentially make them upper management mad then say goodbye to your job.
A schedule that is all over the place. One day you would be working and have to get up at like 3 am to go down to price or st george etc. and you are there for 14 hours and then the next day you work is another long day.. or when you have a shift that gets out late at 10 or 11.pm doesnt matter about sleep you have to get up at 3 am again!! surprise.. but then after that they have you scheduled at the donor center which has odd hours and is only like 6 hours of work. For one week. then back on the crazy schedule again!!

Advice to Senior Management

Need to treat employees better. Need to listen to what people are saying! colaborate with employees! if someone does something wrong like speeding in a courier truck give them a chance to fix it! instead of firing them!!