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Lincoln Electric

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Poor employee morale - Anonymous employee Lincoln Electric Employee Review

2.0
Apr 5, 2016
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Lincoln is historically known as a hard place to work. They reward hard work with very nice profit sharing bonuses. The more you contribute to the success of the company, the better you get rewarded. Lincoln has been around for nearly 120 years and is a stable company to work for with a reputation for producing well made welding equipment and consumables. There are many people that work at Lincoln that have stuck with it for 40+ years. Most management treats employees in a professional manner and there is a diversity group that can assist with employee issues. Lincoln has a really good program for new hire engineering/sales trainees.

Cons

Lincoln is a HARD place to work for. The employee morale is very low. The work environment is hot and dirty on most of the factory floor. Opportunity for advancement is limited for most. The entire cost of the employee's health insurance comes out of the profit sharing bonus - leaving many with little to no bonus. Pay raises are far and few between and the manufacturing personnel are paid on piecework. It keeps getting harder and harder to make money the longer a person is there. Many people make about half of what they did a few years ago. There is a very big division between the engineering/office staff and manufacturing personnel. Employees are usually on edge because of prospect of having their pay cut. The Lincoln facilities have no frills. There is no exercise rooms, no wifi, or any of the things that you may find at newer, more progressive companies. There is a simple cafeteria, and vending machines scattered about the factory.

Explore other reviews about Lincoln Electric

5.0
Mar 7, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

great development opportunities and employees

Cons

bureaucracy and pay not reflected in performance

2.0
Mar 2, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Lincoln Electric is an organization in the midst of significant transformation. Under CEO Steve Hedlund, the company is operating with a markedly different leadership philosophy than under prior leadership. The pace of change is fast and highly visible, which has created both opportunity and strain across the organization. The environment is dynamic but also complex. Many teams are navigating shifting priorities, evolving structures, and unclear processes. There is a high degree of ambiguity, and process discipline is still maturing in several areas. For some leaders, this creates room to build, shape, and influence. For others, particularly those who prefer clarity, established infrastructure, and strong cross-functional alignment, the environment may feel disorganized and taxing. Culturally, the organization is competitive. Senior leaders are often highly focused on positioning their own functions and succession trajectories, which can limit collaboration and mentorship. Feedback mechanisms are not consistently structured, and communication can sometimes occur indirectly rather than through transparent dialogue. Individuals who require hands-on development, coaching, or strong sponsorship may find limited formal support. Workloads tend to be heavy relative to available resources, and internal capability varies by function. Leaders who thrive here are typically those comfortable operating independently, driving change without perfect information, and managing through ambiguity.

Cons

That said, for executives seeking accelerated visibility and a shorter path to advancement—particularly given ongoing turnover at senior levels—the environment can present real opportunity. Those who are resilient, politically astute, and energized by transformation may find the experience career-accelerating. In summary, Lincoln Electric is best suited for leaders who are self-directed, comfortable with change, and motivated by building in imperfect conditions. It may be less aligned for professionals seeking structured development, stable systems, or collaborative mentorship-driven cultures.

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