Corporate done wrong - Research Advisor AARP Employee Review

1.0
Aug 11, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great salary, good benefits, pension. Depending on your department you may be allowed to telecommute, most managers do allow some flexibility.

Cons

AARP does not respect the humanity of its employees. The relentless focus on the bottom line (aren't you supposed to be an organization with a human wellness mission?) creates a constant atmosphere of stress and tension, and prevents any real sense of togetherness or shared goals. The veneer of caring and compassion is fake. People get fired for trumped up reasons everyday. Don't worry though, they're well paid on the way out so they won't/don't talk. It doesn't have to and shouldn't be that way. Hopefully when the current head leaves that will change.

Explore other reviews about AARP

5.0
May 28, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

great benefits even for interns like free lunch, reimbursed parking, hybrid work. good opportunities to network, hone your skills, and potentially get a permanent role within the organization.

Cons

long onboarding. lots of hr training.

2.0
Apr 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

benefits are strong - pension, vacation, sick, caregiving work life balance is generally good

Cons

AARP suffers from a serious toxic work culture, particularly in the IT and Digital Transformation departments. Leadership is atrocious. People leading the 2 key technology functions for the business are incompetent and ego maniacs. Both departments are extremely toxic with burned out employees and contractors. Money gets wasted in the extreme due to these factors. Constant signal switching on projects and priorities. Everyone you work with is unhappy. Bullying and retaliation are common. Avoid these departments in particular, but the whole organization is top heavy, with terrible leadership all around. Still there are some great and talented people, but it's not the norm, and senior leadership is wrought with incompetence and arrogance. The organization flails around endlessly, and blows money with no discipline or rigor to their work and methods. Think someone is juicing the Glassdoor numbers with people saying the place is great. No opportunity for growth. The organization tries to do good work, and does in many ways, but it's so poorly run that it severely hampers its potential.

5
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