W.W. Grainger Reviews

Pros

There is an opportunity to transition into other work environments if you want to experience a job change.

Cons

With the inability to hunt and add more business, Grainger rolls out un-realistic and inconsistent semi annual sales goals of 12 - 16% growth over prior year. Additionally inexperienced DSM's with questionable ethics and inconsistent standards compounds an employee’s frustration to understand expectations.
Favoritism is a concern.

Advice to Senior Management

Consider setting consistent standards to sales expectations. Unrealistic goals may result in loss of good employees. Mandatory managerial seminars or courses should be required for all DSM’s / leaders. Corp should seriously take a look at what is really going on right now in the field with how managers are treating their employees.

Pros

Your salary is just enough to survive.
You are given resources to start your job
Branch support
Team support is is the best you will find

Cons

Managment rules with a iron fist.
Managment is abusive and retalitory.
Goals or based on how they like you.
Goals are created based on your pipeline.
Expect to pay expenses out of your own pocket.
If you are close to retirement you will be forced out.
You can not voice your thoughts or opinions.

Advice to Senior Management

Wake up! You are killing one of the best companies of all times. Listen to your employees what is the use of employee surveys. Mid-managment uses the information to retaliate agains the employees

Pros

This is a thriving and forward thinking company not afraid to take the steps to survive in a changing business environment. While a lot of other retailers cling to their catalogs, Grainger embraced online shopping even to the point of cannibalizing their own books. It is a strategy that works.

Cons

Such a big company gets very small with "little chieftens" allowed to run their little empires. Leadership doesn't have the time or care to reign in this layer of insulated bureaucrats and, unfortunately, in some cases abusive bosses. While it is clear that people on the same level as these offenders recognize the patterns of favoritism and abuse as they are repeated over and over by the worst, very sick offenders, they admit they fear for their own jobs and while privately sympathizing with victims, don't do anything.

Advice to Senior Management

There is way too much of a disconnect between leadership and general employees. Your middle management is running amok. When you run anonymous employee satisfaction surveys, don't make the employees sit in mandatory meetings with their supervisors where they have to defend why they answered the questions the way they did! That only encourages lying and wastes a huge amount of time and money. If you care, believe your employees and act on the results of the survey.

Pros

Working hand in hand with customers on solving daily problems, every day is something different.

Cons

Too many products/product categories to become familiar with all, I have to choose a few categories and become as familiar as possible to best serve my customers.

Advice to Senior Management

Lead the way, think more innovative. Be proactive and not reactive.

Pros

Good company and positive growth have created great opportunities

Cons

Faster promotion would be preferable

Pros

Very open and supportive environment within the group, with genuine desire by other employees to help in any way.

Cons

There is so much "promote" from within mentality that many in management aren't always the best fit.

Advice to Senior Management

Decisions of individual managers should not be allowed to conflict with the company goals and ethics. Individual managers can act as rogues.

Pros

Good pay, commission, benefits, brand, and performance.

Cons

Ever changing environment can be challenging. Selling the Grainger Value is difficult during specifically tough economic environment. The commission and goal structure changes too often and frustrates the sales force.

Advice to Senior Management

Go to a sales/commission program based on a % of revenue as opposed to goals. Make it simple, your people would appreciate it and be more motivated to sell.

Pros

good compensation, great benefits, fun people to work with, very philanthropic within the community, very customer oriented, tuition reimbursement, FORTUNE 500 COMPANY with lots of brand recognition.

Cons

Not recognized for individual accomplishments and contributions enough, some supervisors and managers can be "Glory Hounds" and "Steal your Thunder"

Hard to advance without having to relocate, due to the fact that things stay very stagnant and opportunities to move up within any one market rarely occur.

Advice to Senior Management

Try some occupational therapy with your employees...... Maybe then you'll be able to start filling open roles with the employees that are a good fit for them

Pros

They seem to be making a good effort to retain their internal talent through career development programs and education benefit. Great profit sharing plan.

Cons

It is difficult to move up unless you are in the Lake Forest area. A little instability because of frequent reorganization.

Advice to Senior Management

Continue to try to grow the business and gain market share. Keep developing your internal talent and continue to offer profit sharing.

Pros

Great name recognition. Clear sales approach when handling Government customers. Well engrained within the business. Great profit sharing plans and health benefits.

Cons

Sales support is an issue. The new compensation plan is very confusing (purposely maybe?) I have noticed that the compensation plans are better elsewhere.