Rain Bird reviews

*Don't come to work for the Bird unless you are desperate and if you do, do not relocate your family.* They hire slowly and fire quickly, which is fine but this company goes through people like there is no tomorow. In my area, in one position, we have seen about 14 people shuffle through in ten years. It might work for the company but I don't recommend you subject yourself to the environment if you don't have to - the Bird isn't so great that you should take that kind of risk and the rewards are no better than at another company. You'll read some comments on this board about HR's counter to that statement is that some people cannot hack it - aren't high performance people. Ladies and Gentlemen, it is very difficult to get through the Rain Bird door if you aren't driven and smart. HR may be right..maybe people cannot take the heat - - I would counter, "Why should they if there are alternatives that pay about the same but offer a better work/life balance..." Expectations aren't always clear and they change without notice Poor results of badly planned initiatives are blamed down the chain - "If it failed, it must have been the execution - not the planning" Amazing number of hours - 70+ and not really accomplishing anything substantial No mentoring or coaching - especially how to navigate the Bird's culture My impression is that the ultimate goal is to show senior management how much work is being done without really getting anything done.

- Customers do not matter; Distributors do not matter; Employees do not matter. - Tony L have been described as not being a "people person"; this behavior filters down to the director level and ultimately plays out with all employees in the Commercial and Contractor divisions walking a tight rope. A mistake is grounds for corrective action (aka - you are being fired). - Tribal knowledge = wasted days tracking down the one person that has some insight on the process or product in question - New product development = make up the numbers to justify this product because the number of approved new product plans (BOI's) are on the executives incentive plan; - Obsessive focus on grammar and spelling - Fear of unions causes HR to ban many activities that would allow social interaction including having a cafeteria. If any company needs a union, it is Rain Bird! - Long hours for the sake of working long hours. - Very limited process & procedures; no training; very confidential about market and sales data ( We are up ++); no org charts; no job descriptions; no appreciation for your work How could I have missed these clues during the hiring process? - The interview sales pitch 1) "There are more senior positions available than there are qualified people to fill them". Of course, this comment came on the heels of describing the company culture as "hiring only the best" and being "over achieving"...if this was true, why is promotion from within nearly impossible? 2) High turnover is sold as "Many chose to leave because the culture is too demanding" where in reality, choose to leave = asked to resign. 3) No opportunity to speak to anyone but those on the interview list. Other companies encourage interviewees to have lunch with others on the team, but not Rain Bird. They could say something like "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE". - signature required for arbitration agreement (deters lawsuits for unfair firing practices). - employee handbook is HUGE - metal detectors in the lobby (keeps employees from harming their boss) - Silence in the cubical areas - no meetings in offices, discussions/brainstorming, laughter.