Goodwill reviews

3.2

46% would recommend to a friend

(9,237 total reviews)

Catherine Meloy

50% approve of CEO

39% positive business outlook

Goodwill has an employee rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars, based on 9,237 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Goodwill employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Nonprofit & NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

9K reviews
1.0
Jul 14, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The donations are funding good community programing, but as you will see from the VERY high employee turnover they treat their employees very poorly.

Cons

I feel compelled to share my nightmarish experience at Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona, as a cautionary tale to anyone considering joining this organization. I cannot stress enough how detrimental this company's culture is to its employees' well-being and career growth. Spare yourself the anguish and avoid this place like the plague. From day one, it became evident that Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona fostered a hostile work environment. Psychological safety was non-existent, and it seemed the management thrived on breeding fear and paranoia among the employees. The backstabbing and vindictiveness were pervasive, with colleagues more interested in sabotaging one another rather than fostering collaboration or teamwork. What struck me the most was the surveillance-like atmosphere that permeated every aspect of the workplace. Coworkers were encouraged to spy on each other and report back to their superiors. It didn't matter if you were a hardworking, ethical employee; they would still monitor your every move, scrutinizing every word and action. The pervasive culture of fear instilled a constant sense of unease and hindered any chance of open and honest communication. Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona is plagued by tall siloes, with each department operating in isolation and no inclination towards collaboration. Instead of working together to improve processes or rectify issues, employees were too preoccupied with safeguarding their own positions. This fear-based mindset stifled innovation, perpetuating a cycle of mediocrity and inefficiency. The toxic workplace culture starts right at the top, with the CEO strongly setting this tone for the organization. Even the Board of Directors seem blissfully unaware of the true state of affairs, only receiving carefully curated reports that shield them from the real problems. During your interview or even in your time at Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona, pay heed to the red flags waving ominously in the wind. Do not dismiss them; they are harbingers of the soul-crushing environment you will face. If you value your career and your mental health, protect yourself and stay away from this company. Those who have the means and options leave as soon as they can, leaving behind those who are financially trapped or have been lured into unattainable promotions. Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona preys on these individuals, subjecting them to the worst mistreatment imaginable. It's a toxic, unhealthy environment that no one deserves to endure. In conclusion, spare yourself the pain and misery by avoiding Goodwill Industries of Southern Arizona at all costs. Find a company that respects and values its employees, a place where collaboration and growth are encouraged, not feared. Don't let this company tarnish your career or compromise your mental well-being. You deserve better.

1.0
Oct 9, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I loved my co-workers, and some of the customers were great!! It had the potential to be a great job, if management wasn't so awful.

Cons

They work you like a slave with unrealistic expectations, threaten your Job if you at unable to meet your quota. Or work fast enough, You are treated like a child and belittled every time you speak. I was one of the best workers and still I was made to feel like I was not good enough. And as for their outrageous strict policies that they stick to and will get rid of anyone the first chance they get after you have given them 110% of yourself. The company makes sooooo much money, its so ridiculous how much they make yet they barely pay above min. Wage, will use any excuse to deny raises at reviews, and cut your hours often. They think they are like Macy's or something when they are a thrift store.... It's bad when your own employees cant afford to shop at their own company....

5.0
May 24, 2011
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Austin Goodwill has ALOT to offer. I did not know this before I began working for Goodwill, but the retail stores fund their Workforce Development Programs. In fact, Goodwill's mission is to "put people to work." Goodwill aims to work with people that possess barriers to employment and help them find jobs. There are 3 major departments within the Workforce Development Program at Austin Goodwill: Job Source, Youth Services, and Community Rehabilitation Services. Each program is designed to help a specific population in the community work towards their employment goals. Pro's of working at Austin Goodwill within Workforce Development : - youthful culture - accepting culture - everyone that works in Workforce Development truly cares about implementing Goodwill's mission and the population that Goodwill serves - a lot of trainings and free CEU's - decent pay for a non profit - will hire people right out of college, so you can get case management experience - even if you don't have a social work degree - pretty good benefits. Also, most Workforce Development employees have company paid cell phones that you can use for personal use as well. - Employee Assistance Program for employees that need help with counseling, budgeting, etc. - Partial tuition reimbursement if you want to get your Master's Degree - Constantly growing/changing environment

Cons

You can feel overworked / underappreciated at times. Also, there is not very much room for advancement. Many department coordinators and managers have been at Goodwill for a long time and do not want to leave. I get the feeling that most people use Goodwill as a place to get a few years of Case Management experience and then move on.

Viewing 7 - 9 of 9,237 Reviews

Glassdoor has 9,739 Goodwill reviews submitted anonymously by Goodwill employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Goodwill is right for you.