Good people, horribly compensated - Anonymous employee 1-800 Contacts Employee Review

3.0
Sep 13, 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Benefits are mostly great - health, dental, vision insurance; tuition reimbursement; free comprehensive eye exam per year; ways to stay connected with other employees and get involved with the environment and culture.

Cons

Pay is awful and advancement isn't realistic when you could simply find a better paying job (flipping burgers at McDonald's). Your PTO accrual in your first year is non-existent so you kind of have to work with little to no break in order to get paid time off. You are also HEAVILY monitored, especially if you work remotely; supervisors can watch your screen any time and you wouldn't know it and your breaks are monitored by the minute, so some managers tend to micro-manage and it makes for a really awful working experience.

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1-800 Contacts Response
3y
Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review. We appreciate you taking the time to share some of the pain points you have experienced. We’re always looking for ways to improve our associate experience and will definitely pass along your feedback to our compensation and benefits team. As we do have an open-door policy, we encourage you to reach out to your business partner or any member of the People Department to share these points and discuss ideas on how we can improve together.

Explore other reviews about 1-800 Contacts

5.0
Jun 18, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Leadership genuinely cares about employees and creating a good company culture. Most companies claim to live their values but rarely ever do--1-800 Contacts is the rare exception that actually does. During my time here, I have felt genuinely supported by my team and leaders, and I know I am trusted in my role and that my work is valued. The company also has great perks (the 20/20 Grille!) and benefits. There are high expectations, but if you are willing to work hard and care about your impact, you will do well here!

Cons

They love gathering feedback and getting lots of opinions--even when those opinions aren't necessarily informed or likely to provide good direction. This can slow things down.

1
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1-800 Contacts Response
2w
Thank you for your kind words! We try to live our values every day, and we're so happy your experience reflects that. We thank you for all your hard work and contributions to our organization, We do love gathering feedback from our associates, but appreciate your thoughts on how we can improve that process. Thank you again. We hope to work alongside you for years to come!
2.0
Jun 6, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Remote Work Opportunities, On-Site grill

Cons

I worked at 1-800 Contacts for four years in the marketing department. During that time, I consistently produced high-quality work and handled a workload that often exceeded that of my peers. One of the biggest issues I experienced was a culture of toxic positivity. Employees were discouraged from raising concerns about workload, team dynamics, processes, or opportunities for improvement. Constructive feedback was often viewed negatively rather than as an opportunity to make the organization better. My experience ended during an extremely difficult personal period in my life. Rather than receiving support or even a meaningful check-in, I was terminated. What followed was even more concerning. During the termination meeting, I was given conflicting explanations by the individuals involved, and despite requesting the reason for my termination in writing, I never received one. When I later filed for unemployment benefits, the company reportedly provided Workforce Services with a different explanation for my separation, one that did not match what I had been told and that I believe was inaccurate. I subsequently learned of similar experiences from other former employees. I was also disappointed by the severance package, which fell well below what I would have expected after nearly four years of service and contributions to the company. Overall, my experience left me with serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and how employees are treated when difficult situations arise. What I initially perceived as an unhealthy workplace culture was ultimately reinforced by the way my departure was handled.

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1-800 Contacts Response
3w
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We’re truly sorry to hear that your time with us, especially your departure, didn’t meet the level of support and clarity we aim to provide. At 1-800 Contacts, we strive to foster a culture where feedback is welcomed and associates feel comfortable raising concerns about workload, team dynamics, and ways we can improve. We recognize that experiences can vary, and we take feedback like yours seriously as we continue to evaluate and strengthen our culture. We’re also committed to treating associates with respect and transparency throughout all stages of employment, including during difficult transitions. We regret that this was not your experience. We appreciate your feedback and wish you nothing but success in your future.
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