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American Red Cross

Is this your company?

Please ask for the highest salary you can. - Anonymous employee American Red Cross Employee Review

2.0
9 May 2021
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Serves the needy in society.

Cons

Please ask for the highest salary you can when offered, because HR has no qualms unblinkingly lowballing qualified candidates. It doesn't get better after. Do not expect HR to be your friend, they're just there to maintain the status quo. Individuals who have contributed years can be given more responsibility and a glorified field title without being promoted or otherwise remunerated for their new leadership responsibilities. Getting promoted is a very opaque and elusive process, seems strongly correlated with whether your boss is chummy with the top guy. In closing: -If you need an inspiring leader or someone who leads by example, please think twice. -If you need a clear and good career progression, please think twice. -If you think that decisions from the top should be data driven, evidence based or rooted in research, please think thrice. -If you feel that voicing disagreement and dissent can lead to positive outcomes, please think thrice.

Explore other reviews about American Red Cross

5.0
16 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

My experience working with the Red Cross has been great. The work is fulfilling and the people are passionate. Benefits are good - Kaiser is $6 a month!

Cons

There is work life balance, but there is an expectation to work nights and weekends.

2.0
15 Mar 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You feel connected to a larger mission, and go to bed knowing you did good work. Most of the volunteers are amazing people. The job is a good stepping stone to other disaster management jobs elsewhere. PTO policy is generous and Healthcare is decent.

Cons

You are INCREDIBLY overworked and GROSSLY underpaid. You get zero work-life balance. Even when you're not on call, you'll still get tons of calls from volunteers with questions and concerns. If a volunteer is unavailable to respond to a fire call or tend to any other responsibility day or night, you're on deck. You're salaried, so there's no overtime pay. Your pay barely covers the basic cost of living in today's economy ($40k-$50k). Diversity is bottom heavy, meaning there are lots of employees of color in entry level or lower management roles, but beyond that there's a steep drop off. Most of the volunteers are great, but the Red Cross is so desperate to keep them, that poor behavior and language (racist/sexist/phobic) is not properly disciplined or responded to, if at all. Employee retention is poor, especially in the Disaster Specialist role, because they burn you out so quickly without decent pay.

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