For decades, REI was an authentic, employee-focused company. It had been on the Forbes 100 best places to work list for 21 years straight. Since coming out of the pandemic, REI has begun to replace (or outright force out in many cases) much of the old leadership guard with leaders from other retailers, such as Amazon, Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc.. Seemingly overnight the culture shifted from one of implicit trust, ownership over your work and decision making, and a relentless focus on the people experience to one of micromanagement, no decision making ability in your own work, and a general air of hostility and mistrust towards anyone who had been at REI for more than a couple of years. It became a situation where your very experience and tenure were viewed as a threat to new leadership. Additionally, leaders with a large degree of experience, knowledge and authenticity in the outdoor community were consistently replaced with leaders with retail experience at other retailers, but little knowledge, experience or authenticity with or in the outdoor community and the members they serve.
Additionally, they are 100% aggressively targeting union activity with extremely dubious and questionable tactics from an ethics and values standpoint. Many of the co-op's members would be very disappointed in the company's posture and activities in this space if they had more line of sight to way they are choosing to prosecute their agenda.
