Equity Residential reviews

4.2

79% would recommend to a friend

(1,118 total reviews)
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Mark Parrell

87% approve of CEO

74% positive business outlook

Equity Residential has an employee rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars, based on 1,118 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an excellent working experience there. The Equity Residential employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Real Estate industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

1K reviews
3.0
Apr 11, 2026

Losing sight of the people focus...

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Nation wide presence with opportunities in different areas of the country -Wide support system between centralized and corporate teams, you feel like part of a larger network and not isolated at your property -Internal growth is encouraged -Strong company culture and values -Many leadership started on site and grew in their careers -Lots of employees with years with the company, shows it can be a good place to work and invest a career in

Cons

EQR was considered one of the more people first orgs in property management. In the last 2-3 years, things have shifted away from a people-focused mentality. Changes, some that can feel penny-pinching, are being made with little regard to how it will impact residents or on-site staff. Some recent changes include: -Allowing tour appointments to book an unlimited amount of appointments for the same slot. You can have 3 tours show up at the same time and this is expected. This creates a terrible experience for both the employee and the tour. Offices can no longer block off time even for move ins. -Most communities now participate in programs that allow the general public to rent parking spaces, common areas, or AirBnB. This creates an additional burden to on site staff and has a negative impact on residents. -Changes are being made with little to no input from, or notice to, onsite managers. Feedback used to be invited and valued, now it feels swept aside. There used to be regular listening sessions, focus groups and Q&A that now seem to be a thing of the past. -Staffing is under a constant microscope. Communities operate with 1-2 less staff than they used to which makes a huge impact to the people remaining. Some places run with 1 person on a Saturday. This increases workload on staff, makes it draining on the team when someone is away for PTO or sick time, and makes it stressful or guilt inducing to use that time away from work in the first place. -Increased centralization of operations has left on site teams with less agency to make things happen and deliver results and answers quickly to residents -In the last 12-15 months there has been a noticeable amount of turnover in Regional and VP level leadership. This makes people wonder what is going on. -There is an increasing focus on metric/kpi driven management, losing sight of the behaviors and only focusing on numbers -Most higher level corporate opportunities are exclusively located in Chicago. If you have interest in career growth on a corporate level, be ready to move

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Equity Residential Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed and thoughtful feedback, and for your many years with Equity Residential. We truly appreciate your long-term perspective and the recognition of our culture, growth opportunities, and the strong foundation that has made Equity a place where many build lasting careers. We also sincerely appreciate your candid insights regarding recent changes to operations, staffing, and the overall employee experience. We understand how important it is for our onsite teams to feel heard, supported, and empowered, especially as the industry and resident expectations continue to evolve. Your feedback around communication, involvement in decision-making, workload, and maintaining a people-first approach is incredibly valuable. We recognize that balancing operational efficiency with the day-to-day realities of our communities is critical, and we are actively focused on strengthening communication, increasing opportunities for feedback, and ensuring our teams feel connected to the decisions that impact their work. We also encourage you to continue sharing your perspective with your HR Business Partner and leadership team, as those conversations play an important role in shaping how we move forward. Thank you again for your honesty, your contributions, and the care you’ve shown for both your teams and residents over the years. Your feedback helps us continue to evolve and improve.
4.0
Mar 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Its a good company to work with. Managers are always accessible to talk and the environment is very friendly, at least on the location where I work (UWS)

Cons

The software we use is frequently difficult to navigate and unreliable. It often takes several minutes just to clock in or out, sometimes requiring me to sign in three times with the same credentials to reach the punch page. Furthermore, the system occasionally crashes while I am logging work, resulting in a total loss of progress. Regarding compensation and recognition, while pay is consistent, there are no performance bonuses. The recent $30 Grubhub card for appreciation day was insufficient to cover a full meal, and the "diploma" provided for work anniversaries feels like a symbolic gesture rather than meaningful recognition of my service. I hope this feedback is helpful in identifying areas where the employee experience could be improved.

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Equity Residential Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for your many years with Equity Residential. We’re glad to hear that you’ve experienced a supportive and friendly environment, and that your managers have been accessible; that kind of culture is incredibly important to us. We also appreciate your detailed and constructive feedback regarding the systems you use and your experience with recognition. We understand how frustrating technology challenges can be in day-to-day work, and your insights help highlight where improvements are needed. Additionally, your perspective on recognition and appreciation is valuable as we continue to evaluate how we celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of our employees in more meaningful ways. Thank you again for your honesty and for all that you do. Your feedback helps us continue to improve the employee experience, and we truly appreciate your contributions over the years.
2.0
Mar 16, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The housing discount is a significant perk and one of the biggest advantages of working here. The benefits package is solid overall especially the PTO given. Another highlight is the people, you can end up working with some really great colleagues who are supportive and make the day-to-day more enjoyable.

Cons

Over time, the company has moved away from the in-person connection that used to be a big part of the culture. Market events, classes, and opportunities to collaborate across teams have largely disappeared, which has made the environment feel less engaging. Market leadership often seems disconnected from the day-to-day realities of onsite teams, and decision making can feel inconsistent, with clear favoritism at times. Compensation is also relatively low considering the scope of responsibilities expected in the role. Additionally, the shift toward centralized operations was intended to streamline processes, but in practice it often creates additional layers and frustrations that make routine tasks more difficult rather than easier.

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Equity Residential Response
2mo
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed and thoughtful feedback. We’re glad to hear that you value the housing discount, benefits, and the strong relationships you’ve built with your colleagues; our people are a key part of what makes Equity Residential a great place to work. We also sincerely appreciate your candid insights around leadership connection, culture, and operational changes. We understand how important in-person collaboration, consistent decision-making, and feeling heard are to the overall employee experience. Your feedback regarding centralized operations and day-to-day impact is especially valuable as we continue to evaluate how we support our onsite teams. We are actively focused on strengthening communication, reconnecting with our teams, and creating opportunities for engagement across our markets. Feedback like yours plays an important role in helping us move in the right direction. We also encourage you to continue sharing your feedback with your HR Business Partner or leadership team, as those conversations are an important part of how we continue to improve the employee experience. Thank you again for sharing your perspective and for the work you do each day. We truly appreciate it.
Viewing 7 - 9 of 1,118 Reviews

Glassdoor has 1,163 Equity Residential reviews submitted anonymously by Equity Residential employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Equity Residential is right for you.