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Fender Musical Instruments

Is this your company?

Dichotomous. Many good people. No future vision. Still wedded to outmoded brick & mortar sales. Terrible top management. - Vice President Fender Musical Instruments Employee Review

1.0
Jan 13, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some of the product and manufacturing people are very passionate about the brand and heritage. Impressive new building.

Cons

Far too few people actually doing the work. Too many chiefs (VP-level and higher) and not enough indians. Model variants have exploded; product portfolio needs to be shrunk by 50 percent.

Explore other reviews about Fender Musical Instruments

5.0
Aug 21, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Flexible schedule and good environment

Cons

It's hard to get a good rise

1.0
Jun 27, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The employee discount is one of the best perks. My teammates were supportive, collaborative, and genuinely enjoyable to work with. Depending on your department and manager, work life balance can also be very good, with flexibility and reasonable expectations

Cons

The biggest challenge is career growth. Upward mobility is limited, and promotions often require taking on responsibilities from other roles before you're considered for advancement. You will be asked to act as a senior or next step for years before actually acknowledging and providing you with a new title and salary Compensation is also below market, with annual raises typically around 3% or less The company has experienced recurring layoffs, creating uncertainty year after year. Communication from leadership could also be more transparent. There were multiple instances where executive messaging changed, including around return to office expectations and organizational changes, making it difficult for employees to plan with confidence Over the past several years, many IT positions have shifted from the US to teams based in Mexico while US roles were reduced. Regardless of the business rationale, this has changed the makeup of the organization and created concerns about long term career opportunities for US based employees Employee investment has steadily declined over time. The company reduced its 401(k) match, eliminated employee bonus opportunities, and no longer provides the same level of support for employee resource groups. While each change may make business sense individually, together they contribute to the feeling that employee development and engagement have become lower priorities HR support during layoffs was inconsistent in my experience. Communication was often slow unless issues were escalated, which added unnecessary stress during an already difficult process. Employees should also carefully review company policies regarding severance and unused vacation so they understand what to expect before they need that information

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