Great Work/Life Balance - Anonymous employee Brooks Running Employee Review

4.0
Feb 21, 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

You work with some of the best people in Seattle. Coworkers often become like family. Unlimited PTO is great and people stay at the company for 5+ years, which shows how little burn out there is. The product and company mission are also something most employees are proud to stand behind which is always a plus.

Cons

Pay is low, low, low both for the industry and especially Seattle. Discounted product is great, but at the end of the day free shoes don't offset Seattle rents. Promotions are rare so make sure you bargain for the highest entry salary you can!

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Brooks Running Response
7y
I’m glad to hear your time with Brooks was positive. I'm proud of the business, brand, culture and team we’re building. It’s a gift to be part of a purpose-driven brand that is improving people’s lives. On the topic of pay, every year we consult third-party market data to benchmark each role at Brooks to ensure salaries remain competitive in our industry and against similar companies. Free/deeply discounted gear is only one additional part of our total compensation package. Our generous PTO, annual bonus and 401k programs also add value for many. Regarding promotions, some teams are growing faster than others given the needs of the business. I’m excited that about one-third of open positions in 2018 were filled internally, and 2019 is off to a great start in that regard. The growth we're seeing in our business and the opportunities it’s creating for our team members is exciting. Thanks for being a part of the Brooks journey. I wish you well wherever your path takes you! Jim

Explore other reviews about Brooks Running

5.0
Jun 16, 2026
Anonymous contractor
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- excellent employee perks - gorgeous HQ office buildings with amenities - free lunch - supportive and passionate team members

Cons

- parking is not free for employees, but there are commuter benefits to offset that

2.0
Jun 7, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

PTO and benefits are good. There is free lunch and an onsite gym. Employees are encouraged to run and stay active, with office next to the Burke-Gilman running trail.

Cons

The culture is presented as fun and healthy but in reality it is fairly toxic within specific departments and feels very “high school”. It is also very hierarchical with lots of corporate bureaucracy. The company caters more to middle and upper level management, so expect limited growth and development opportunities. Unclear, constantly changing expectations and overlapping job roles are a common theme. Leadership is not held accountable within the organization. People who play the game and assimilate to the culture are rewarded and perpetuate the status quo way of doing things. This leads to a lack of diversity in thought but also diversity in general especially at the leadership level. There is an added complexity to everything that makes even the most simple work difficult. Everyone is overwhelmed by too many meetings and yet there is not a lot of cross-functional collaboration, as all of the teams work in silos and compete for resources. The company is trying to become a more global, but there are a lot of growing pains associated with this. For a growing company with headquarters in a location like Seattle, the pay is low and not competitive enough to attract and retain top talent. The office buildings also face local area constraints like expensive parking which is passed on to the employee. The company incentivizes alternative transportation but it can be difficult to figure out the best way to get to work. There has been reduced flexibility to work from home with more emphasis put on being in the office.

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