I only worked at REi as side job and have my regular full time job…what I saw in my 5 years working at REI is a company that wants employees to drink the CoolAid, wants customers to think the company is super progressive, and yet….there are employees working there that have been there 15-20 years getting paid just a little more than new employees - and they only got raises because REI was scared of employees unionizing. They also cut hours so much and they give hours to new employees over more tenured ones. I think that a lot of employees that start working there are super excited to be around all the gear and nice folks…but it’s so dangerous to get stuck working there. there’s not that much upward mobility, and if you get stuck there in non-management roles for decades…well then you have to accept seeing the constant stream of new folks that no very little, that get the same or just a little less than you. I think REI wants to have this image as being progressive and fair as a company but…it’s little more than a Walmart dressed up in a green REI vest (or…maybe with Walmart you get more career advancement?) I just wish for REI employees to be careful about buying so much into the company IF it doesn’t help them. Wages are low, hours can be cut and given to newer folks. There is a real reason why Berkeley and New York unionized. Just be careful working here please…don’t get stuck. No matter how much gear you can get at discount, no matter how many cool people you meet…if it doesn’t pay you well, if you don’t get enough hours…then it’s not worth it.
