Great place to work. - Senior R&D Director Dow Employee Review

4.0
Sep 22, 2008
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Dow always allows an employee to take as much responsibility as an individual is willing to take on. For example, when I was in technical service, the company allowed me to develop new business and develop new business models to create new value for the company and create new customers for the company. When leading a pilot plant operation for the company, the leadership supported revolutionary new ways to conduct the research such as using mathematical models in lieu of pilot operations and using manufacturing assets to make samples. Lastly when leading a new venture for the company, leadership supported new finance models to explore opportunities in India.

Cons

Like any big company, it is hard to get a decision or clarity on what needs to be done. It seems like no one ever has the power to say yes to an opportunity but there are dozens of people that can say no or veto an idea; therefore consensus building is very time consuming. Ideas needed to be well vetted with key stakeholders before decision meetings and many times what is agreed in private is not agreed in public and political postering is evident in decision making. Strategies tend to be vague so it is difficult to determine which ideas best align with the direction of the company.

Explore other reviews about Dow

5.0
Apr 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Culture and the technical expertise within the company provide for a working environment where you don't work in silo and everyone is willing to help support you

Cons

Administrative systems can be burdensome to overcome.

2.0
Mar 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Safety culture, flexibility (although less and less over time). Good health insurance and 401k match

Cons

Dow’s recent years illustrate the challenges of trying to simultaneously satisfy Wall Street’s demands for strong financial performance and aggressive DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) priorities. The company has heavily emphasized inclusion initiatives, including its openly gay CEO publicly sharing that coming out was one of the best days of his life in an internal communication, along with a notable increase in women appointed to senior leadership roles. Hiring practices reportedly require diverse candidate slates—including female candidates—and diverse interview panels before filling positions. These efforts, while well-intentioned, appear to have contributed to a series of questionable strategic decisions. Employees have borne the brunt through repeated rounds of layoffs (including significant cuts announced in recent years), minimal merit increases often in the 2-3% range, stalled promotions, and little turnover at the top levels of leadership. Senior executives seem insulated from the consequences, potentially overlooking how these factors—including their own leadership—may be central to the company’s ongoing struggles.

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