Culture & Values Are Only Skin Deep - Anonymous employee Mary Kay Employee Review

Buckle up, we're going for a long drive. I was initially so excited to start working at Mary Kay, an iconic brand known for its strong values. However, upon my first day after orientation, I discovered that the position sold to me during the interview process was very different from the actual work I was expected to perform day-in and day-out. Additionally, the environment was not very welcoming. One downside to folks working decades at the same company is that they become complacent and threatened when someone new with more experience and skills comes along. This is what I experienced firsthand. It was such a contrast to my NEO experience, that I started crying in my office after returning from the positive orientation experience. The lack of collaboration, communication, and professionalism in my work environment sometimes even bordered on hostile. I started going to therapy due to the lack of respect I was experiencing in the workplace because it was truly affecting my confidence and mental health. When I told my counselor where I worked, she said, "Oof. Yes, I've heard the Mary Kay environment is pretty rough." It was really validating to hear that. I share my experience to give someone a full picture before they decide to work here. I have never experienced so much toxic positivity in a workplace before. It may have just been the particular department I worked in, but good work was not rewarded. Instead, seniority is the only thing that gains you recognition. Even if the methods these folks use are ineffective and even counterproductive, wasting company time and money.