I was so miserable here, I resigned without a job ligned up. - Account Manager Univar Solutions Employee Review

1.0
29 Jul 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Univar has a lot of technological resources. Benefits are just OK, slightly below par in my opinion. Bonuses are paid frequently (if they decide to actually pay you what you earned.

Cons

Man, where do I start? The only benefit I got out of my time with Univar, was that I have something to add to my resume. Working at Univar was such a horrible experience, it almost made me want to shift my focus to a whole new career field. I literally became depressed when working here. You really can trust no one. Everybody is out for themselves, and management is extremely manipulative and dishonest. I felt so betrayed here, as I truly believed my boss wanted the best for me, and later discovered it was essentially all a facade. Management encourages sellers to inflate their numbers, in order to meet weekly goals. Micromanagement is severe. The organization is constantly changing, so as soon as a strategy is implemented, it changes. In my less than 1 year, I had an experience where bonuses were paid out at less than half of what was earned. Univar he a "fifth quarter" bonus, that is paid out based on full year numbers. This bonus is uncapped. At least that is what they say. For the most recent Q5 bonus, which was supposed to be paid in early 2016, for the year 2015, these were capped after all sales had been recorded. During a conference call, each general manager announced that whatever the Q5 bonus was calculated to be, employees would be paid at 40%. Less than half of what was owed! To add insult to injury, we were not told this, until after 2015 had closed out. I don't understand how they did not know that there would not be enough $ to pay bonuses in full, until after the end of the full year, especially as the bonus calculations are figured by quarter. A lot of people did not get a lot of $ that was promised to them, and was expected. All management cares about is revenue and margin. They do not encourage you to pursue relationships with your customers, rather to get as much out of the customer as possible. I understand that this is sales, but taking advantage of customers is not wise or ethical business. Management is dishonest, and will say one thing to your face, and another behind your back (to your peers nonetheless). Nothing that was said about me ever got back to me, but a lot was said to me about other employees, that should never have been said. Univar is a commodity, rather than value-added, technical distributor. Management does not allow the time needed for opportunities to be created, and Coe to fruition. I'm not even posting this review because I am mad. Honestly, I did not enjoy writing this at all. But I wanted to help others keep from making the same mistake as me. If you are considering Univar, I would very strongly suggest you reconsider.

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5.0
3 Feb 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I enjoyed the job very stable and friendly people

Cons

A little outdated tech systems but doable

2.0
26 Mar 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Exposure to large, high-value accounts and complex operational challenges. The role builds resilience quickly and provides strong experience in account management, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration. There is a high level of ownership in day-to-day responsibilities, which can accelerate skill development for those who are self-driven.

Cons

Since the acquisition by Apollo, the work environment has noticeably declined. While new processes were introduced, leadership often did not take the time to fully understand or follow them, creating confusion and inconsistency across teams. Employees who raised questions or tried to improve processes were not always received positively, which discouraged feedback and innovation. There is also a lack of alignment between departments, leading to inefficiencies, miscommunication, and added pressure on employees managing critical accounts. Workloads are frequently excessive without adequate support, contributing to burnout and turnover. Compensation does not consistently reflect the level of responsibility and workload expected, which further impacts morale and retention. Overall, the organization feels reactive rather than structured, and direction has become increasingly unclear.

2
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