employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Lincoln Electric

Is this your company?

One of the Worst places in America to work! - Anonymous employee Lincoln Electric Employee Review

2.0
Dec 7, 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The pros of Lincoln is that they've been around a while and have multiple locations. They are also easily accessible off of the freeway.

Cons

I can't name all of the cons but I'll give you a few. Lincoln is still living off of its old reputation. They used to actually take care of their employees and compensated them well. But now the times have changed and management thinks that the people on the floor make too much money. The piecework system is antiquated and is almost akin to working in a sweatshop. I've seen people work 12hrs and make $20 for the day. The company can arbitrarily cut prices on a products piece price to cut wages for employees. For instance, today you could produce 10,000 lbs and make about $22.00/hr. Tomorrow you can run the same amount of material and be making $15.00/hr. All the while that products price wasn't cut in the store. Lincoln will make more money off of that product now that they are paying their employees less to produce it. The bonus system is a joke. If you've worked there for any length of time you'll know that it's not a bonus. Its deferred compensation. They are just holding part of your pay until the end of the year and then will decide if they will distribute it. How can the company do better than last year financially, but the bonus this year is slated to be less than last year. Its profit sharing right? Many employees come to Lincoln with the promise that if you show up to work and work hard, that you will have a big bonus at the end of the year. Then after busting their behinds all year trying to live up to expectations, they soon find that you will never meet those expectations. Alot of times, you aren't even given a set of goals to meet. But that won't stop them from using it against you in your review. Many of the supervisors have a phrase that they use as an excuse to steal your points. It might be in the Lincoln management handbook of bs. If you hear "we are raising the bar", just know that you've been had. They continuously change the rules in the middle of the game. Its a game of politics and if you are well liked, then you may get good points. But the minute you stand up for yourself or ask why something is happening, you will be branded and your points will suffer. This time of year, people used to walk around the place smiling and laughing. Not so much anymore. Its very depressing showing up to work. If you work there, you know with the swing shift, Lincoln controls most of your life. Especially if you are on 10-12hr shifts. Preferential treatment is given in some depts to individuals to accommodate them or management so that they can work a straight shift and not have to swing. That happens at the expense of those that do swing and causes discontent in some depts. Last but not least, it is widely known that Lincoln loves snitches, brown nosers, and those who cheat. When I first started working there, I encountered tattle telling on another level, by a grownup. It blew me away. The company stresses teamwork but the whole system is geared towards individuals. I've seen employees get their ideas stolen by management, after being told that it was too expensive to implement. I've seen people get told in because someone didn't like their body language. (No lie). Its crazy! This may sound like a disgruntled employee but that's not the case at all. I've actually done ok there. I just recognize bs when I see it and would like to let everyone know before they submit their application.

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.

1
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All