Broken promises and toxic management overshadow initial training - Anonymous employee Henkel Employee Review

1.0
4 Jun 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The brand looks good on a CV, and the initial onboarding/training process was okay. Some colleagues in the local team are decent people, but the corporate management ruins everything.

Cons

The "Internal Mobility" Trap: When the company decided to downsize our department, management looked us in the eyes and promised: "Don’t worry, this is not a shift of people, it’s just a shift of positions. We will help you relocate internally." It was a complete lie to prevent panic and keep people working until the last day. 4 Months of Rejections: Over the course of four months, I actively applied for various internal vacancies (including Operational Controlling and others matching my background). Result? Immediate, generic rejections for every single application. The internal recruitment system is a joke; they do not care about retaining experienced employees or honor their promises. Toxic Bureaucracy: Management protects their own interests while treating operational specialists as easily replaceable headcount numbers. False Stability: Henkel loves to pitch itself as a stable, family-owned global giant with great values. In reality, their "values" disappear the moment they need to cut costs.

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Henkel Response
8h
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We are truly sorry to hear that you felt disappointed by the outcomes during a period of business transformation. At Henkel, we strive to treat all employees with respect, transparency, and fairness, particularly during times when evolving business needs require organizational adjustments and role transitions. To support transparency, employees have access to an internal career path overview, which provides visibility of role requirements across different career levels, from junior roles to people leadership and expert career paths. Each internal application is assessed against the requirements of the specific role, including mandatory criteria, relevant skills, experience, and business needs. This transparent process helps ensure fairness and consistency for all candidates. We understand that such situations can create uncertainty and that individual experiences may differ depending on personal circumstances and the opportunities available at a given time. Internal mobility remains an important part of our talent strategy, and we continuously encourage employees to explore career opportunities across the organization. While we aim to support internal career moves wherever possible, decisions are influenced by a combination of role requirements, business needs, and the overall selection process. We recognize that unsuccessful applications can be frustrating, especially during periods of organizational adjustment. We take comments regarding communication, management practices, and employee experience seriously, as they help us identify areas where we can improve. We appreciate your contributions during your time at Henkel and wish you every success in your future career.

Explore other reviews about Henkel

5.0
13 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Good benefits. Clear communication from upper management flow-down. Good working environment.

Cons

Fast pace environment. Work-life balance concern during peak seasons

3.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The job is not too difficult. You mainly work on your own, Pay and benefits are outstanding.

Cons

12 hour shifts. Only one tech per shift so vacations can be a bit dicey. Support from peers is low and there is a lot of back biting in the lab. Sometimes they seem to be lookng for a scapegoat.

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Henkel Response
1w
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and for your contributions over the past year. We’re glad to hear that you value our pay, benefits, and the level of independence in your role. Creating a collaborative, respectful culture where employees feel supported is a top priority, and your comments around peer dynamics and communication will be shared with site leadership. We also appreciate your feedback on training; insights like yours help us identify where we can improve. Thank you again for your honest feedback. It's essential in helping us create a better experience for our teams. Best, Your Henkel HR Team
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