Corporate greed aka don’t work here and expect to be treated well - Anonymous employee ECRS Employee Review

1.0
Mar 10, 2025
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

One of the best job options for surviving in Boone/high country

Cons

ECRS is not a sustainable place to work and pays only a select few a fair wage especially considering the city they chose to be in. ECRS takes advantage of App State hires and hire for salaries much lower than what is the industry standard. ECRS has generally unorganized management and upper leadership. Passive managers that are fearful of the executive team and micro manage due to that fear. In my time I saw many people leave ECRS so although they claim to have a low turnover rate what I saw would display otherwise. They will most likely say “only the best thrive here!” or some bull**** in response to that but that is extremely subjective and should be a red flag if you are thinking about working here. A lot of blame is thrown around until someone inevitably takes the fall whether fair or not fair. CEO is definitely surrounded by yes men. I have heard people talk about disagreeing with Pete and then been advised by peers to tell him what he wants to hear. Last but not least, the whole executive team is related. Family values etc are great but just like everything else in Boone, NC…it’s who you know. CEO, CFO, president, head of HR and probably more that I don’t know are ALL related. Again, the response will be “we care about family values” and there’s no issue with that typically…but please be aware of that red flag. All in all, do what you need to do to be able to live in the high country but don’t go in to this company blind.

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ECRS Response
1y
Thank you for your review. At ECRS, we take pride in our long-standing commitment to sustainability and fostering meaningful, long-term careers. With nearly 35 years in operation, we have employees who have been with us for 10, 20, and even 30 years. Our average tenure of approximately 7 years reflects the dedication of our workforce, and we expect this number to continue growing as our company grows. Being located near Appalachian State University allows us to tap into exceptional talent, especially through our scholarship program. Appalachian State graduates bring impressive expertise, professionalism, and strong character to our team, contributing significantly to our success - which is why we like to hire them. At ECRS, career longevity stems from a simple ethos: those who excel here dedicate themselves fully to their roles each day. We are committed to providing competitive base pay, benefits, and discretionary bonuses. Employees who demonstrate responsibility, take on challenges, and consistently add value to their roles are rewarded through our "value for value" philosophy. Transparency regarding compensation and expectations is a cornerstone of our approach, starting well before the hiring process. Regarding leadership dynamics, our CEO was surprised by the "yes men" comment. ECRS thrives on a culture where employees actively bring problems to the table, offering thoughtful solutions rather than simply agreeing. This balance ensures alignment with the company vision while empowering employees to think critically and contribute to driving business results. We hire and pay people to innovate, solve challenges, and add value—not to conform without question. Another distinctive aspect of ECRS is the presence of families within our workforce. We value the unique relationships that come from having spouses, siblings, cousins, aunts/uncles, and parents/children working together. These family units span multiple generations and contribute to our culture of loyalty, collaboration, and trust. As an Evergreen company, this strategy forms part of our long-term vision and helps build a sustainable, people-centered organization.

Explore other reviews about ECRS

5.0
Jun 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Direction from executive leadership is clear and attainable. Opportunity for growth at every level.

Cons

Not for people who aren’t motivated

2.0
Jun 17, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Some of the greatest people in Boone work here. It allows you to live in a lovely (albeit expensive) area. A lot of people care a lot about what they do and no one is slacking. Pay is decent for the area and industry. If you like job security, no one ever stops needing groceries, and ECRS supports that industry!

Cons

Leadership suffers from alignment being related to a person rather than a set vision, goal or target market. Meaning whatever the CEO desires at that time is most important or valuable. Regardless of if that new desire goes against some previous thing. Success can be defined by being liked by the CEO or disliking someone not in good graces, or blaming someone for a problem that happens rather than shared ownership. If you are okay with politics or blaming others before anything bad falls on you, you can succeed, and heavily. One instance that stood out to me, was watching a particular individual petition against a decision/direction made on a project, be told to disagree and commit to the CEO alignment call. They did so, and then got blamed several months later, for letting the decision get made. In addition they were told, if they disagreed so heavily they should have challenged, and clearly "did not care about their job or company enough to push back". It was appalling to watch. This company could be great instead of mediocre. It has access to so much talent.

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