OCLC reviews

2.8

35% would recommend to a friend

(283 total reviews)
avatar

David Prichard

28% approve of CEO

26% positive business outlook

OCLC has an employee rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars, based on 283 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The OCLC employee rating is 27% below average for employers within the Information Technology industry (3.9 stars).

Reviews by job title

283 reviews
2.0
Jul 19, 2018

Potential to be better

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The people working for OCLC are mostly great. There's a sense you're doing something good for the world by connecting information to people around the globe. There's potential to make OCLC a much better environment with some changes.

Cons

For starters, the GTech directors need to be re-evaluated and dealt with. They promote favoritism of their buddies and protect their own self-interests. They promote a toxic environment and pretend to live the OCLC values when in reality they act in the exact opposite manner. Somehow they keep scooting by without repercussions and it frustrates the lower level employees who see what's going on. Secondly, the technology is about 10 years old and a catastrophe is just waiting to happen. Lastly, some of the 5 star reviews come across as bogus and/or desperate. So much to do, so little time? Can't wait to come back from the holiday break? No one says these things in real life!

1.0
Feb 7, 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Most of the employees at OCLC are genuinely sincere in their love for technology and the library world. I have never met a group more passionate and in love with libraries and library technology. The benefits offered are good and the overall goal the companies tagline strives for is something to get behind.

Cons

There is a fundamental disregard for any employee that does not agree with the current leadership on every level. Employees are encouraged to share their opinions of the work place, only to have leadership take those private opinions to the rest of the company and declare the employee as the real problem. Technology is laughably behind the rest of the industry but new features continue to be pushed out for a small, vocal minority of customers while majority want stability and issues fixed in the products. System issues that were predicted years ago are coming to a head and the blame is on the workers. CEO spends more time talking about how to work and the benefits of work and the philosophy of leadership than actually being a leader. The company feels like an afterthought and revenue is all that's on his mind. Building is rotting from the inside. Flooring and carpet from the 80s make the air thick and moist, while the "new and improved" renovated floors promote an open floor plan that no one likes or wanted. Offices have been removed in favor of shared spaces where little work is done. Full WFH is seen as an impossibility despite 2 years of it, and leadership sweeps any feedback under the rug. There is little regard for the actual needs of libraries unless they fill the coffers to the brim, only for the products and support of them to be lackluster as little to no money is spent on hiring much needed staff or raising wages to the appropriate market level. Company claims wages match the library market, despite being a tech company, but it is only a tech company when that title benefits the company and brings in awards rather than improving workers wages. It's depressing that a company with so much potential is willing to burn through passionate workers for the sake of having the bar graph with next years revenue higher than the last.

1.0
Feb 7, 2023

Arrogant and Condescending CEO

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Inexpensive food in cafeteria, my manager is good

Cons

I didn't believe the reviews before about how arrogant the CEO is, but WOW. I've never seen a leader so skilled at talking down to his employees and killing motivation. Instead of addressing legitimate criticisms of the company and acknowledging the differences in opinions, he reads negative survey comments out loud to the entire company in a mocking, high pitched voice like a 10 year old might do. Anyone who disagrees with him is told they are welcome to quit if they don't like it. Oh, and if you leave him a long winded negative comment, he'll suggest (to the entire company) that you have something wrong with you and need mental help. But on the positive side, he did tell us we should be thankful he isn't as intense as Elon Musk.

Viewing 4 - 6 of 283 Reviews

Glassdoor has 333 OCLC reviews submitted anonymously by OCLC employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if OCLC is right for you.